School Is Where My Friends Are

Advancing Life Learners

It is a common misconception that non-speaking individuals prefer solitude. In reality, they possess a deep and innate need for connection, and they grieve profoundly when isolated. Through the breakthrough of spelling, our students have revealed that they crave friendship just as much as anyone else. This shared journey led one student to name our school “The Healing Place.” It serves as a sanctuary where the pain of silence is replaced by the joy of community and education.

Our logo features an open hand cradling a puzzle piece to capture this mission. The open hand symbolizes acceptance, steady support, and love. The puzzle piece represents the complex inner world of autism. Together, they signify the mind and body striving for alignment. The "hand that spells" bridges the gap between the autistic individual and the world. It unlocks the God-given right to communicate and invites true compassion through understanding.

Words of Non Speakers

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“Having autism is hard. Giving love is always so important. Giving kindness is quietly noticing all of us. If I had a voice I would say life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get, but with this school I know what I am going to get. I am going to get love and help. Everyone needs love. I feel so lucky to have this school. God knew I needed more help. He allowed me to get accepted and now I can spell to communicate. If God is miraculous, He lives to help us. God is miraculous. I love my school. How happy I am to spell to communicate. Everyone needs kind people to help them. My wonderful teachers help me. I find my interesting life hard, but life is wonderful with my school. I live a sad life, but I live a life full of hope."
- Kayden, ALL Student

"We need you to know that you are special. We also need you to know that autistics are full of intelligence and that we need you to believe this. Most people don't believe, but we are. We regulate more when people teach us academics that challenge us because they believe we are intelligent and full of potential. Please be people who believe in us all."
- Zander, ALL Student

"Having people teach us stilling times is important to our happiness and wellbeing. When we have opportunities to be still, we make connections for long lasting friendships with our autistic peers. Being still requires a lot of effort at first and some may think we are bored, but we actually don't get taught how to be still unless someone helps us. We still best when we are surrounded by autistic friends and teachers allow us to regulate without others talking. It is easy to still myself now that I have people who understand my efforts and needs because they think I can. I love and appreciate stilling time with my friends. Autistics are intelligent and can learn how to control their bodies with those who know we can too. We appreciate and need people who can help us learn more than what others believe we are capable of."
- Trent, ALL Student

"I want to say that my autistic friends and I regulate when we are being taught lessons that make us feel smart. We heal our insides when people treat us like the intelligent autistics we are. Math is really enjoyable to me because it helps me regulate. Autistics need people to see what we can do and then believe that we can do even more. We always know who believes in us and who doesn't see us as intelligent people. I think my New York friends are intelligent too. Believe that they are because they need to show you."
- Crosby, ALL Student