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New school planned
in Vermont to treat students with autism
(April 2008
Issue)
By Elinor Nelson
"We want to create a community, jobs and a place for [students
with autism] to live after they turn 22," Carol Ortlip, M.A., says
of the school she's planning to open in September in Guilford, Vt.
As the number of students on the autism spectrum climbs, there's
an undeniable need for more services in elementary schools - as
well as for older teenagers and young adults with autism. Ortlip,
a special educator at Westminster Center School, is working with
Stephanie Betit, M.A., who also works in special education, to start
INSPIRE for Autism (short for Integrated School Program for Independence,
Relationships and Entrepreneurship), an independent school that
will serve 14 to 22-year olds with autism. The school will begin
with eight students, building gradually to 25.
The autism numbers in Vermont are "in line with national growth,"
which is now increasing at 16 percent per year, states Vermont Division
of Disability and Aging Services Autism Specialist Clare McFadden,
M.A. There are 671 Vermont students ages three to 21 on the autism
spectrum who are receiving special education services and more who
are home schooled or higher functioning and not receiving services.
Ortlip and Betit plan to focus on vocational skills, with students
working on "functional living skills in a real life authentic setting,"
and learning "social pragmatic skills... for instance, to walk into
a room and say, 'hi, how are you?'" Additionally, academic subjects
will be taught, "modified for the students' skills," according to
Ortlip.
In addition to its internal vocational program, the plan is for
students at INSPIRE for Autism to be involved in the community.
Ortlip wants to partner with local businesses to create opportunities.
The school will serve students from the entire region and be located
in Guilford on the grounds of the Omega Optical Company in a renovated
farm house. Ortlip and Betit are in the process of applying for
state accreditation and for grants and Ortlip is confident on both
fronts. She estimates the tuition will be about $40,000, but says
that for many students, it will be paid by their local school districts.
Looking to the future, Ortlip would eventually like to build a
residential program, arrange for some students to take courses at
a local high school and perhaps consult to other communities hoping
to build similar programs. "We want these kids to have real lives,"
she says.
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