Community Partners

Connections School of Atlanta is a nonprofit organization providing high school education, community engagement opportunities, and young adult transition services for students with autism and other sensory, motor, and communication differences. We believe differences are not deficits and advocate for the benefits of neurodiversity in communities, higher learning institutions, and the workplace. We strive to educate others on inclusion and accessibility and create pathways for our graduating students to become valued, contributing members of society.

Hirsch Academy is a dedicated neurodiversity affirming school and we are committed to celebrating the unique strengths and perspectives of every student. Our team feels passionate about creating an environment where neurodivergent students not only receive quality education but also experience a sense of belonging and autonomy. We believe when students feel seen, heard, and understood for their individual perspectives and capabilities, it boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to embrace their strengths. This mindset is what is needed to create a safe space so our students can learn more about themselves, be curious about the world, and to discover what they deserve and need to thrive in all areas of life. Our students bring a variety of sensory, regulation, learning, and communication differences and the scope of differences we support is broad, reflecting the diverse nature of our neurodiverse world. Our dedicated staff presumes competence in our students and offers a curriculum that aligns with age-appropriate standards, including individualized accommodations students might need to access Common Core and Georgia Standards, with yearly accreditation from the Georgia Accrediting Commission. Our curriculum stands as an innovative framework, crafted to deliver meaningful content that ignites curiosity and critical thinking. Embracing differentiated learning approaches and communication tools, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), The Hirsch Academy ensures inclusivity across diverse learning and communication styles. Beyond the foundation of The Common Core Curriculum, students also participate in a variety of subjects and electives including Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Art, Neuroscience, Blog Writing, STEM/Coding/Robotics, Physical Education, Chess, Yoga, Mindfulness, Swimming and Friday Hikes. Our leadership team incorporates intensive training for the staff that remains up-to-date throughout the year, adapting and guided by the specific needs of each student. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 3:1, and a class size of no larger than six students, we are able to empower our neurodivergent students to actively engage, foster connections, and develop autonomy as both problem solvers and learners.

NIA is a microschool serving autistic minimal speakers and nonspeakers. We are an intentionally small school to give our students the specialized attention they deserve. We have a 2:1 or lower student-staff ratio and small class sizes. This means we are able to design a curriculum by using each child's strengths to help them reach their goals.

Students experience a culturally affirming, challenging academic curriculum that includes STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math), language arts, social studies, and fitness. At NIA, we adapt our curriculum for minimal speakers and nonspeakers and offer communication support including low-tech (e.g. letterboards) and high-tech AAC. We have a licensed speech therapist on staff certified in S2C. NIA is a proud member of the Village Schools. We are an educational ecosystem of microschools (tiny schools) that work together to create a small-group, inclusive learning environment. NIA students have lots of opportunities to interact with autistic and non autistic students during academic and social activities.

All Minds Academy is a community driven high school program aimed to fill a significant gap in the education of neurodiverse students who communicate best by spelling either because they are unable to speak or because their speech is limited and does not consistently reflect their true intentions. Many of our students have not been able to experience education in safe and supportive environments due to their sensory-motor and communication difference.The All Minds Academy team consists of experienced educators and practitioner-parents skilled at supporting students with sensory-motor differences. We ALL embrace a competence-presuming paradigm of respect and dignity.

Noah offers peer and/or family support from his neurodiverse perspective regarding all things nonspeaking autism. Drawing on his lived experience facing and overcoming the tricky reality of being a nonspeaker-including dysregulation, motor loops and trauma-Noah partners to provide empathy, insight, encouragement and strategies for nonspeakers to thrive.

Our mission is to teach life skills and work habits to young adults and children with special needs through the use of construction, woodworking and craft thereby assisting with future employment opportunities.Our Occupational Therapists are licensed and experienced in their field, bringing a passion for craftsmanship and woodworking into a clinical setting.We want to share these skills with those who can grow from them and use them to enrich their lives.​

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Noah offers peer and/or family support from his neurodiverse perspective regarding all things nonspeaking autism. Drawing on his lived experience facing and overcoming the tricky reality of being a nonspeaker-including dysregulation, motor loops and trauma-Noah partners to provide empathy, insight, encouragement and strategies for nonspeakers to thrive.

FOCUS seeks to create a community for families of children with disabilities in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. FOCUS offers wraparound programs of support to children, teens, and young adults with disabilities and to their families. More than 5,000 families of children with disabilities come to FOCUS to find comfort, hope, fun, and equipment.

ReClif is a fitness-based therapy center designed to empower individuals with autism. Conceptualized by Reece Blankenship, a non-speaking autistic who communicated via letter board his vision to help himself and others on the spectrum, ReClif offers unique solutions to the question of autism.The mission at ReClif is simply to create a space where our clients can grow and thrive physically and intellectually.