Aug 14, 2019, ABC13, Lynchburg, VA: School for children with disabilities and autism opening next week in Roanoke https://wset.com/news/back-to-school/school-for-children-with-disabilities-and-autism-opening-next-week-in-roanoke A new special education program opens in Roanoke next week. Centra's latest Rivermont School is geared towards teaching students with disabilities and autism on the lower functioning levels. "In addition to traditional classrooms, will have a sensory room, an independent living apartment, a Speech, Physical, and Occupational therapy room, activity room, and outdoor playground. Our team consists of Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts, Special Education Teachers, and Mental Health Associates. These professionals ensure that ABA techniques and methodologies are incorporated throughout individualized programs with an emphasis on communication, academics, life skills, vocational skills, and social skills. We are so pleased to be able to expand these services in the Roanoke Valley," said Brian Summo, the school's principal. The sensory room is where teachers bring students when they need to calm down or refocus their attention…. Centra has 17 Rivermont Schools in the commonwealth to provide therapeutic educational programs for students with special needs -- like autism -- to learn. "It's important to have schools like this in the area because these children need individualized care and instruction," Ferrell said. The majority of the students work one-on-one with teachers. With our area's special education schools growing by five-10 students per year, Rivermont decided to open a second Roanoke location on Riverland Road to focus on students with lower functioning capabilities. 36 students will start on Monday, 25 of those transferred from the old school as their disabilities required a bit more attention. … But, the best thing this new facility offers is a solution to the need for special education schools throughout the Commonwealth. "We have lots of room to grow and I think it will be a while before we get to the point where we are full and have a waiting list so I think we are good for a long time," Summo added….
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
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What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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