If you speak to Taylor about her dreams for her future, she will excitedly tell you, “After school, I want to work in a bakery.” For Taylor, who has thrived in Agora’s special education classes and online learning model, there is no question about if she can do this. She sees no limits and believes fully she will be a valuable worker. And there is joy when she imagines spending her days baking her favorite thing—brownies!
However, this level of excitement didn’t always exist for Taylor and her family.
“We had a very negative experience at our brick-and-mortar school,” said Taylor’s mother, Michelle. “With her autism diagnosis, everything was overwhelming. Taylor didn’t fit into their box. It wasn’t working at all. She just wasn’t learning.”
Michelle also heard from many parents of Taylor’s peers that their children faced bullying and other experiences that destroyed their self-confidence before coming to Agora. Potential bullying was just another item on the list of reasons Michelle decided to move Taylor out of a school that “wasn’t the place for her” and into a learning environment that was.
Midway through her third-grade year, Taylor joined the Agora family. Now, at age 20, Taylor is looking at one more year with Agora while she simultaneously is preparing to transition to her next chapter in life through the support of PRIDE—a work-readiness program in Allegheny County.
Taylor’s story with Agora is an inspiring example of the ways cyber charter schools customize programming for special education students and give them the expanded support they need to become productive, fulfilled adults that contribute to their community. Agora’s staff considers it an amazing opportunity that we can continue to work with our special education students until age 21.
“We came to Agora at ground zero and they really turned Taylor’s whole attitude toward school around,” said Michelle. “Agora was so flexible. The IEP team worked with her, my input was always welcome, and I was included in every decision. As Taylor got older Agora provided opportunities that encouraged complete independence as much as possible.”
Michelle and Taylor also appreciate the ways the cyber education model can accommodate circumstances and allow Taylor to make up a class by watching a recording. In addition, Agora works with her schedule which currently includes engaging with nonprofit organizations that support other aspects of her learning. That Taylor’s teachers were available to meet her outside of class time—and that they had the ability to explore a variety of learning methods—have also been key to Taylor’s ability to thrive.
“Not every child fits into the square box, we need other options so our children can be successful,” said Michelle. “Agora tried many different methods of learning—like videos, polling, breakout rooms and activities with peers. This kept her attending. Agora was the piece that allowed her to get her confidence back and become more independent.”
Agora believes that even if a child has a learning difference, they have a ton to offer. Taylor’s success as a student and a young adult embracing the world in front of her speaks volumes to what can be achieved if that potential is nurtured with professionalism and support from every person invested in their happiness.
It’s fairly easy to conclude that this happiness exists in Taylor’s life—especially when it comes to her experiences with the work readiness program Agora has helped her prepare for. The full-time PRIDE program provides training experiences through real-world opportunities in the community and activities within the classroom.
“I work at Bella’s restaurant where I can walk to,” said Taylor excitedly. “And Grandpa Joes, the YMCA, the Seesaw Center and more. I think it’s cool learning how to get jobs, and to do the work like setting up for the restaurant.”
Taylor is also learning life skills like doing laundry, making meals and making price comparisons for grocery shopping. Agora is proud to have provided Taylor with the learning to support the development of these skills.
“Now she is ready to go out into the world,” said Michelle. “Agora and cyber school completely changed everything.”
