Hope Academy, founded in 1997, provides an alternative to traditional educational programs. The mission of this academy located at Advent is to provide each student with academic challenges while insuring personal success. Both preschool and academy classes are inclusion-based. Special needs children learn side-by-side with typical peers, providing an opportunity for all to learn that differences are to be celebrated rather than feared. Each preschool class of eight students includes one child with autism or a related disorder. Academy classes range in size from ten to eighteen students, including up to two students with autism or related disorders. The small, personalized classes allow Hope Academy to foster knowledge, character development, and social responsibility.
Hope Academy At Advent
Since 1996, Advent has provided Hope Academy with space in the form of classes rooms, access to kitchens, play areas, and related support.
In 2007, Hope Academy was granted the use of the Advent House in addition to the majority of the classrooms in the Education building.
Hope Academy also receives funding from Advent as one of several missions supported by Advent.
This DVD is designed for families, pediatricians, and caregivers as a resource that will inform, educate, and support their understanding of autism spectrum disorders. This HOPE Link DVD is divided into four segments:
Colby's Story: A Journey of Hope traces the journey of one child from birth through his teenage years, including an overview of autism and the intervention of Applied Behavior Analysis. (21:50 minutes)
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Visual Overview provides a more detailed compilation of information about the symptoms of autism, using videotaped clips of a variety of children at different ages. (27:36 minutes)
A Conversation with Morgan: Asperger's Syndrome gives a glimpse into living with Asperger's Syndrome from the perspective of an insightful, articulate 13-year-old. (16:35 minutes)
HOPE Academy: A Story of Hope describes a unique school specifically designed to include children with autism in classrooms with typical peers. (6:44 minutes)