Autism has increased significantly and consistently in the United States over the last 25 years.
There are 5.4 million adults in the United States who are living with autism. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1 in 36 children will be diagnosed with autism in 2025. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Although autism can be diagnosed before a child reaches the age of two, most kids are diagnosed after the age of four.
April is Autism Awareness Month. The month raises awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder, promotes understanding and acceptance and advocates for the needs of individuals with autism.
And this is what Cumberland County Christian’s sister school, Beyond the Spectrum Institute specializes in. Founded by Dr. Jessica Respus, Beyond the Spectrum Institute stands as a beacon of hope for transformation, empowering families who seek a nurturing, tailored education for children on the autism spectrum. This year was the first year of the institute’s opening.
“Last summer, my son got transferred to Fort Bragg and we were looking for a school for my grandson,” said Barbara Porter, grandmother of Robert, a 4th grader who attends Beyond the Spectrum Institute. “My son wanted a Christian school and I wanted a private school that specialized in autistic children.”
She added, “I found Beyond the Spectrum Institute on the Cumberland County Christian Schools website and applied for the opportunity scholarship which is the state scholarship.”
Porter describes her grandson, Robert, as being very shy and very sweet most of the time. He has his meltdowns and tries his best to please everybody.
“My grandson is autistic, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and he had a lot of trouble in the public school systems both in Cumberland County when he was here and in Georgia when his father got transferred,” said Porter. “We would get a call every week for him to be picked up from the school because he was having a meltdown so he was missing a lot of school and they kept passing him on to the next grade even when he hadn’t learned what he needed to learn.”
Porter is elated with the institute’s set up and her grandson’s academic progress. “Since he has been attending this school, the turnaround in both his academics and behavior has been amazing,” said Porter. “This institute is designed for autistic kids, they have 10 students in a classroom with 2 teachers and the top of their student desk is a whiteboard so they can doodle instead of having a piece of scratch paper to do their math, they can do it on their desk.”
She added, “They do a lot of innovative type things, have a computer lab and calm corners where the children can calm themselves down when they have meltdowns instead of calling the parents.”
Beyond the Spectrum Institute has partnered with RoboKind.
“They have a little robot that has facial expressions and that is very important for autistic kids,” said Porter. “They have IEP robotics that they program each child’s Individualized Education Program into and the child can go and ask the robot questions and it answers the questions and helps them based on their IEP.”
She added, “They also do some lessons in virtual reality which is really good for these children.”
Beyond the Spectrum Institute caught the attention of Dennis Quaid on Viewpoint and Meg Ryan on Empowered. The institute was selected as the feature school for the documentary entitled “Breaking Barriers for Autism.” The documentary will explore how Beyond the Spectrum Institute is setting benchmarks in education by creating inclusive spaces and delivering innovative solutions for students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential.
“They did the documentary filming in the school on January 29 and 30 and it will air nationwide in April during Autism Awareness Month,” said Porter. “It will continue to run the entire year on major networks including PBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel and FOX.”
The school encourages parental involvement and has Open Houses, educational field trips, a Black Inventors Parade and other events.
“Anytime I have had any questions, the principal, Mrs. Sansbury, has always been available to sit down with me and discuss it,” said Porter. “If someone has heard about the school and wants to make an appointment, they can get in contact with Mrs. Sansbury.”
The school year has been a huge success and plans for expansion are in the works.
“They have gotten so much interest in the program this year that they are expanding the program next year,” said Porter. “Right now, they are in one section of the building and they will expand across the hallway into another section of the building.”
She added, “The elementary and middle school students will be on one side and the high school students will be on the other side.”
Porter has also witnessed tremendous growth in her grandson’s social interactions with others.
“Since my grandson has been attending the institute, he has become more sociable and outgoing and if I take him to the park he will make friends with other kids,” said Porter. “He is now reading, doing his work at school and will come home from school and do his homework without an issue.”
The institute is located in the Eutaw Shopping Center on Bragg Boulevard. For more information visit https://cumberlandccs.com/beyond-the-spectrum/ or call 910-491-3542.