A Special Needs Academy for Montgomery County

Hi, my name is Destiny Garner and I have founded a nonprofit organization with the Secretary of State of NC called: Infinite Minds Academy Inc.

Myself and our team of board members are starting up a private academy for students with special needs with a focus on children with autism. This academy will be located in Montgomery County. We will serve Montgomery County and surrounding areas.

I have two biological children with autism and I have worked with various autistic children in the foster care system through my bachelor in social work where I learned about the importance of advocacy, connections to resources, family supports, community engagement, and child development.

I transitioned to working as a public special education teacher. I have served as both a resource (pull-out) teacher and as a self-contained teacher where I’ve learned even more about autistic children and their educational, social/emotional, and behavioral needs.

This academy will focus on meeting the individual needs of each child and mastering skills before moving to the next one. Meeting the children where they’re at instead of focusing on grade levels and teaching to a standardized test. Students will not have regular diagnostic high-stakes testing multiple times per school year. They will take one test at the end of the year, with as much time as they need, and with any accommodations they deserve. The teachers will assess their growth regularly throughout the school year without them knowing which takes out the stress and anxiety of passing multiple assessments.

This school will teach valuable life skills, social skills, coping strategies, and emotion regulation that is much needed for children with autism. Sensory needs will be cared for and children can utilize noise canceling headphones, chewys, fidgets, weighted vests/lap pads, compression vests, etc. We will have a designated sensory room where students can go to calm, self-regulate, and release pent up anxiety.

We partner with local therapy and service providers so your child can receive any therapy they need while at school, including but not limited to: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Play Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), mental health counseling, etc.

This school will utilize curriculum that is evidence based to support children with learning challenges to grasp the concepts and skills to grow academically. Children will receive repeated instruction, modeling, one-on-one assistance, specifically designed instruction, and hands-on learning activities. Class sizes will remain very small so the teacher can accommodate and meet each child’s individualized needs.

I have my NC Teaching License in Special Education General Curriculum K-12, I have my Autism Certificate (AC) from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), I was trained by UNC-Chapel Hill’s TEACCH Autism Program in the Fundamentals of Structured Teaching, I have been trained by CPI in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention to assist children during crisis episodes, and I wrote a grant and was awarded the Bright Ideas Grant for an Autism Sensory Room that has been effective for the use of my current students at my current school location.

Lastly, if you noticed, our academy says it’s for “Neurodivergent” students. Even though our focus is on autistic students, neurodiversity encompasses any condition that affects the brain, including but not limited to: ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia/Dyscalculia/Dysgraphia, etc. Your special needs child can still benefit from the structure, training, and services that our school offers.

Please donate to help us jump start this opportunity for the special needs children in our community! Funds will be used for the following purposes: school furniture, school supplies, curriculum materials, sensory items, learning accommodation items, outside play items, etc.

$10,000 is just a starting goal on this platform. But any amount helps. If you cannot donate, prayers and sharing with others is another way to help. Donating unused supplies and volunteering time works too!

From a woman with the desire to help special needs children from both a parenting and professional experience, I sincerely thank you for your time, consideration, donations, and prayers!