This is a story about going beyond survival. It is a story about real-life families, struggling to help their children with special needs, to not only survive but to thrive, and find a place for themselves in the world, no matter their challenges. Nutley is the home of a renowned school, The Phoenix Center, that welcomes children and families with open arms and addresses their issues, one by one, until there is progress - and hope.
Jaivanese (Java) was a sweet young girl having big problems. She was withdrawn, had some behavioral issues and was struggling in her school.
Rosemary (Rosie) was a growing teenager who had difficulty focusing to keep on task in school, and also was not able to control her 14-year old emotions.
Both girls were enrolled at The Phoenix Center, in need of assistance and guidance. Now, after Java was placed into a less restrictive setting and getting up close and personal help at The Phoenix Center, she is once again back in a school near her home - and doing well with other children with similar issues.
Rosie, who prospered in the structured programming and intense related services at
The Phoenix Center, which included speech, occupational and physical therapy, raised the bar for success very quickly. Now, only one year later, she participated in the Statewide Standardized testing, graduated proudly from The Phoenix Center, and sang the Star Spangled Banner to a proud crowd of families, many who cried happy tears at this young girl’s achievements.
Not so long ago, a child with special needs was sequestered in a dark classroom, and bore the stigma of being different. Having special needs, including Autism or neurological disorders, is now handled with great care and empathy by many schools.
Gone are the days when having a severe learning or brain issue would trap children in a lifetime of dark, meaningless school rooms, just enduring the hours as they slowly tick by, day after day.
The Phoenix Center in Nutley, founded in 1991, is a truly a beacon of hope for many families and their children. Currently, 145 students with autism and multiple disabilities, travel from 62 districts and eight New Jersey counties, to receive a top-notch accredited
education. This school offers services for educational, behavioral and therapeutic needs of students ages five through 21 with autism, multiple disabilities, behavioral and intellectual disabilities.
When you enter the classrooms at The Phoenix Center, you will quickly discover a space where kids with numerous disabilities can laugh, learn and become the very best they can be, under the tutelage of highly trained educators and staff.
Why? This is a very complex and far-reaching approach to schooling, but also a very surprisingly personal approach to the every-day teaching of students with unique, often severe disabilities.
The model for their students is based on a customized evidence-based group of programs that are created for each student. Their anchors for this approach are a hands-on, real-life, community-based instruction model that has changed the lives of hundreds of children and their families in astonishing ways.
“We have a customized approach to curriculum development and instruction,” said Dr. Geraldine Gibbia, co-founder and Executive Director of The Phoenix Center. “ We focus on students’ natural abilities and talents to inform our individualized instruction and draw out their maximum potential.”
During their education at The Phoenix School, students benefit from speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. They also enjoy transition services, which prepare them for life beyond school, a truly notable endeavor. And, these students also
are part of the community, and visit numerous spots right in Nutley, where they can learn about the real world, and practice skills during these very practical life lessons.
Whether it is eating at the diner or visiting the supermarket, these children are gently taken out on local field trips, to prepare them for life beyond their school walls.
Recently, the school received a grant from Seton Hall. This grant funded a new sensory integration room. Children with Autism and other issues often have deep problems with colors or noise or other sensory experiences typical kids and adults just take for granted. The sensory integration room is a very peaceful spot, and offers a quite room
where children with autism and similar conditions can engage one-on-one with gentle sensory stimulation. They can enjoy aromatherapy, or just relax. The staff at The Phoenix Center report that after spending time in this special room, students most often return to their classroom in more functional ways.
This is one space where children can embrace their strengths, and be educated and accepted for who they are, no matter their disabilities.
“All of our learners with disabilities have gifts and talents, and it is the responsibility of those who work with them to uncover those gifts and celebrate each child’s abilities, rather than focus on their disabilities,” said Dr. Geraldine Gibbia
As for the parents, there is a strong support system in place here as well. Teachers or therapists visit students’ homes. There are many social events offered to families, too, since many families with special needs children can feel isolated. There are family restaurant nights, picnics, bowling nights, and other special events, where educators and families can relax and enjoy events together. This stigma-free approach is healthy for both the kids and their families.
Also offered to families are workshops and seminars that are created from parents’ ideas, which have included topics such as accessing adult services, dealing with behavior issues at home, and other concerns.
“By pulling from each child’s innate gifts, we help them rise, like the ancient phoenix, above their challenges to build confidence and achieve greater fulfillment and success in the world,” said Dr. Geraldine Gibbia.
