Welcome to Appalachian Banner Academy!

My son was diagnosed with Autism when he was 4 years old. For him, the lack of social awareness combined with impulsivity led to significant behavior struggles when he reached school age.

We struggled through 5 years of education in the public school system. We tried everything they had to offer him; early intervention, general education inclusion, and finally, a contained Special Ed classroom, but did not find a good fit for him.

He would act out to gain attention or access help because his social communication was significantly delayed. All of these behaviors were an inconvenience for the teachers. They felt ill-equipped to meet my son’s atypical needs while teaching other typical children. My son was seen as a hindrance to the learning of others, a distraction.

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After years of trying to educate about Autism and advocate for my son, I knew there simply had to be more out there for him. He deserved more. As a mother of a child with Autism, it’s not an option to stop fighting for what my son needs.

 

Appalachian Banner Academy is the result of the flame that was sparked inside of me when I realized my son deserved more. It’s a result of the passion of a mother who will never give up on her child, a mother who realizes she isn’t the only one feeling desperate for her child to find their place in this world.

 

Our Academy will see behaviors for what they are, an effort to communicate and connect. Children with Autism have a much tougher time figuring out how to navigate the world. My son and others can learn to navigate this world more appropriately with the proper approach and intervention. That is the important work we are doing at Appalachian Banner Academy!