Money Matters: Scholarship Program Gives New Hope to Family

By Ken Wright

This is the story of a sweet little boy who is getting the attention in school he needs – thanks to the new Georgia Special Needs Scholarship.

My 7-year-old son, Edmund, is a special kid. Like most parents feel about their child, I think he is pretty terrific. Edmund has a tender disposition and is compassionate and caring to others. He also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

We knew Edmund could be a handful when he was in pre-school and he had a difficult time sitting still and listening during story time. Sitting still seemed to be as challenging a task as asking a little boy to do calculus. He also had trouble drawing pictures and using scissors.

By the time he was in kindergarten, his public school was constantly calling the house. His frustrations in school led to frequent and destructive temper tantrums. For a public school teacher with 20 students in her class, Edmund’s issues became overwhelming.

Edmund’s mother and I were beyond frustrated. I couldn’t understand why they were unable to help him. Even the additional special education instruction he eventually received didn’t adequately address his needs.

That’s when our research led to the discovery of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, formerly known as SB10. This new program provides a state-funded scholarship for children who want to transfer to a private school that might better meet their needs. To qualify, a student must have attended a public school the previous year and had an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Edmund met the criteria!

We went to the Georgia Department of Education Web site (www.specialedoptions.com) to determine the amount of Edmund’s scholarship and then started shopping for the right school. Fortunately, there were several schools that focused primarily on his issues.

We chose a school designed solely for children with ADHD and behavioral challenges. With a ratio of three students per teacher, its intimate setting was especially appealing. After spending a few weeks in summer camp there, Edmund agreed it would be a fun place to attend school. It actually turned out to be a miraculous place.

When he had temper tantrums at school, the day did not stop for him, or us, or any of the other students. The staff knew just how to work with him. As a result of continuity in instruction, Edmund’s academics have improved.

We are proud that he is now completing second grade arithmetic although he only just completed the first grade. In addition, he has improved his reading and handwriting skills which have both been enormously challenging for him.

Our new school also offers support to the entire family by sponsoring monthly meetings for the families to network and share strategies in coping with the challenges of raising a child with severe ADHD. Through these informal exchanges we learned of a pediatric psychiatrist who has helped Edmund tremendously.

The tuition is certainly a challenge for our family since I am a stay-at-home dad who takes care of Edmund and his 3-year-old brother while their mom is at work. Without Edmund’s Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, I don’t know what would have happened to our family. As I look back at the last two years, I can clearly recognize that our entire family was under enormous stress. When one family member is challenged by a learning difference such as ADHD, the entire family feels the impact.

The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship has been an amazing opportunity for our family because it makes a unique education available for children who need it most. Though we struggle to pay our portion of Edmund’s
tuition, his success and happiness makes it worth the effort.

Ken Wright, an actor and stay-at-home Dad and his wife, Julie Smith, have 2 sons, Edmund and Gareth. The Wright family lives in Clarkston, Ga.

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Scholarship Opportunities

United Healthcare Children’s Foundation
The United Healthcare Children’s Foundation is offering grants to help meet costs on services such as speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics and eyeglasses. The goal of the Foundation is to fill the gap between the medical services/items your child needs and what your commercial health insurance plan will pay for. Parents work with the Foundation on submitting invoices/bills for approved medical services/items after their health benefit plan submits initial payment (if any) to the health care provider. Grant funds are not paid directly to the family. Visit http://www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html to review the grant criteria and apply.

Kiddos’ Clubhouse Foundation
Kiddos’ Clubhouse Foundation is awarding $2,500 scholarships to families who demonstrate a fi nancial and therapeutic need for their children. The goal is to provide a quarterly scholarship to pay for therapy services or equipment. Past scholarship recipients have used the monies for music therapy, ABA and therapy equipment. The application can be accessed a www.kiddosclubhousefoundation.org or by calling 678-527-3224 (ext. 11) for an application to be mailed. The deadline for the next scholarship is September 30.

Family Web sites and blogs
The non-profit Vital Interventions Accessible, Inc. has launched their Beacon of Light Program. Without incurring any expense, parents of children with autism and other special needs can now set up individual Web sites and blogs providing updates on their child’s condition and progress. These sites also offer a means for friends and family members to donate on behalf of the individual child. The Beacon of Light Program:

• is an easy and innovative way to keep everyone connected and involved with your child’s progress.
• is a place where you can tell your child’s story complete with photos.
• is a discreet way for others to donate money on behalf of your child for approved therapies and interventions.
• allows parents to submit receipts for approved therapies and interventions for reimbursement.

Go to www.vianow.org for more details and set up your site today!

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