EVERY VOICE MATTERS
Community Partners
Connections School of Atlanta is a nonprofit organization providing high school education, community engagement opportunities, and young adult transition services for students with autism and other sensory, motor, and communication differences. We believe differences are not deficits and advocate for the benefits of neurodiversity in communities, higher learning institutions, and the workplace. We strive to educate others on inclusion and accessibility and create pathways for our graduating students to become valued, contributing members of society.
Hirsch Academy is a dedicated neurodiversity affirming school and we are committed to celebrating the unique strengths and perspectives of every student. Our team feels passionate about creating an environment where neurodivergent students not only receive quality education but also experience a sense of belonging and autonomy. We believe when students feel seen, heard, and understood for their individual perspectives and capabilities, it boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to embrace their strengths. This mindset is what is needed to create a safe space so our students can learn more about themselves, be curious about the world, and to discover what they deserve and need to thrive in all areas of life. Our students bring a variety of sensory, regulation, learning, and communication differences and the scope of differences we support is broad, reflecting the diverse nature of our neurodiverse world. Our dedicated staff presumes competence in our students and offers a curriculum that aligns with age-appropriate standards, including individualized accommodations students might need to access Common Core and Georgia Standards, with yearly accreditation from the Georgia Accrediting Commission. Our curriculum stands as an innovative framework, crafted to deliver meaningful content that ignites curiosity and critical thinking. Embracing differentiated learning approaches and communication tools, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), The Hirsch Academy ensures inclusivity across diverse learning and communication styles. Beyond the foundation of The Common Core Curriculum, students also participate in a variety of subjects and electives including Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Art, Neuroscience, Blog Writing, STEM/Coding/Robotics, Physical Education, Chess, Yoga, Mindfulness, Swimming and Friday Hikes. Our leadership team incorporates intensive training for the staff that remains up-to-date throughout the year, adapting and guided by the specific needs of each student. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 3:1, and a class size of no larger than six students, we are able to empower our neurodivergent students to actively engage, foster connections, and develop autonomy as both problem solvers and learners.
NIA is a microschool serving autistic minimal speakers and nonspeakers. We are an intentionally small school to give our students the specialized attention they deserve. We have a 2:1 or lower student-staff ratio and small class sizes. This means we are able to design a curriculum by using each child's strengths to help them reach their goals.
Students experience a culturally affirming, challenging academic curriculum that includes STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math), language arts, social studies, and fitness. At NIA, we adapt our curriculum for minimal speakers and nonspeakers and offer communication support including low-tech (e.g. letterboards) and high-tech AAC. We have a licensed speech therapist on staff certified in S2C. NIA is a proud member of the Village Schools. We are an educational ecosystem of microschools (tiny schools) that work together to create a small-group, inclusive learning environment. NIA students have lots of opportunities to interact with autistic and non autistic students during academic and social activities.
All Minds Academy is a community driven high school program aimed to fill a significant gap in the education of neurodiverse students who communicate best by spelling either because they are unable to speak or because their speech is limited and does not consistently reflect their true intentions. Many of our students have not been able to experience education in safe and supportive environments due to their sensory-motor and communication difference.The All Minds Academy team consists of experienced educators and practitioner-parents skilled at supporting students with sensory-motor differences. We ALL embrace a competence-presuming paradigm of respect and dignity.
Noah offers peer and/or family support from his neurodiverse perspective regarding all things nonspeaking autism. Drawing on his lived experience facing and overcoming the tricky reality of being a nonspeaker-including dysregulation, motor loops and trauma-Noah partners to provide empathy, insight, encouragement and strategies for nonspeakers to thrive.
Our mission is to teach life skills and work habits to young adults and children with special needs through the use of construction, woodworking and craft thereby assisting with future employment opportunities.Our Occupational Therapists are licensed and experienced in their field, bringing a passion for craftsmanship and woodworking into a clinical setting.We want to share these skills with those who can grow from them and use them to enrich their lives.
Based in Woodstock, GA, the Spellers Center Atlanta is a robust learning center where nonspeakers come to learn the Spellers Method as well as participate in group lessons & social events. Spellers Center Atlanta was started by Dana Johnson, PhD, M.S., OTR/L, cofounder of Spellers Method. Ignited by the drive to support spellers and their families in their spelling and intentional motor journey, the team at SCA prioritizes coaching to teach and improve upon your child's motor skills. Specifically, we support motor planning development in the areas of activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, and toileting; hobbies and recreational activities; and academics or school related tasks.
Noah offers peer and/or family support from his neurodiverse perspective regarding all things nonspeaking autism. Drawing on his lived experience facing and overcoming the tricky reality of being a nonspeaker-including dysregulation, motor loops and trauma-Noah partners to provide empathy, insight, encouragement and strategies for nonspeakers to thrive.
FOCUS seeks to create a community for families of children with disabilities in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. FOCUS offers wraparound programs of support to children, teens, and young adults with disabilities and to their families. More than 5,000 families of children with disabilities come to FOCUS to find comfort, hope, fun, and equipment.
ReClif is a fitness-based therapy center designed to empower individuals with autism. Conceptualized by Reece Blankenship, a non-speaking autistic who communicated via letter board his vision to help himself and others on the spectrum, ReClif offers unique solutions to the question of autism.The mission at ReClif is simply to create a space where our clients can grow and thrive physically and intellectually.
Leaders in local School Programs
These leaders have been completed the S2C practitioner training and help support their staff and students with understanding and using alternative forms of communication.

Shelley Carnes
The Hirsch Academy
Executive Director
Occupational Therapist
Shelley has over 25 years experience in partnering with the neurodivergent community. She is a licensed Occupational Therapist, an Expert DIR Floortime Provider and is one of the co-founders of The Hirsch Academy and is one of the I-ASC trainers for the ACTS certification program. Shelley is a passionate supporter and advocate for the neurodivergent community and is a voracious learner of what more can be done to support and empower the beliefs behind neurodiversity affirming practices.
Michele Kukler
Connections School of Atlanta
Director of Operations
Michele has a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University and a bachelor’s in child and family development from the University of Georgia. Michele holds a Strategic Inclusive Excellence Certificate from Clemson and currently teaches online undergraduate courses in youth development at Clemson. Michele is also a certified therapeutic yoga teacher and leads Friday yoga classes for students. After opening Connections as the first lead teacher and later serving five years as Head of School, Michele is using her intimate knowledge of the organization to manage finances, compliance, and strategy.


Julia Oliver
Connections School of Atlanta
Head of School
Julia has a master’s degree in social work from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Georgia College. Julia completed her practicum for her master’s program at Connections before joining the faculty as Director of Student Transitions. In this role, she designed and brought to life the young adult transition programs that serve Connections students after they complete their core curriculum. Julia went on to serve as Assistant Head of School where her passion for student empowerment, family engagement, and community education grew. As Head of School, Julia oversees all facets of the organization while centering students’ voices and ideas at every level.
Community
Members
These community members have completed the S2C practitioner training and continue to support clients with alternative forms of communication.

Roxy Cuadra-Sewell
Roxy Sewell, MS, RYT-200 is an Atlanta based CRP that worked at the Hirsch Academy and Growing Kids Therapy Center before she branched out and started her own business. Trained in RPM, S2C, and DIR/Floortime, her approach is both skill based and relationship based. Roxy writes her own lessons and uses them as platforms for rich communication and complex thinking. Beyond the boards, as a registered yoga teacher, Roxy offers 1:1 yoga to clients. Roxy's goal is to provide a safe energetic space so that each of her clients rises to meet the full potential of their own self expression.
Katie Asher
Special Education Teacher
Health Coach
I trained my son to spell to communicate and he is now a fluent 27 year old speller who attends college and spells for his classwork. After his breakthrough I went through S2C training because I wanted to offer the same opportunity of communication for other non-speakers and unreliable speakers. My main area of focus is parent education and training.










