VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Elementary school classrooms can be unnerving for many, but for a child with autism, the sensory overload can make it hard to focus.
That was the case for Allison Enedy’s son, Thomas, a fifth-grader.
“The environment was overwhelming for him. He would come home and just shut down," said Enedy. "He would just want to get in bed and pull the covers over his head."
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Then, the Norfolk resident founded the Chesapeake Bay Academy: a K-12 school with about 100 students and small classrooms all geared toward students who learn differently.
“They’re intellectually capable, they’re smart kids, but they have things that slow them down in traditional classrooms,” said Dr. Judy Jankowski, the school's principal.
Things like ADHD, autism, dysgraphia and dyslexia.
This is Thomas’s second year at the school and his mom tells me he’s a different kid, learning more than just the grade school basics.
“This is the first year that his teachers have told us he will come and say, 'I don’t understand this, can you help me?' instead of getting frustrated and shutting down,” explained Enedy.
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This specialty school is not cheap at $27,000 a year. However, 60% of the students enrolled are on scholarships or reduced-rate tuition.
“The intention of our board is that we make this available to as many students as possible, and each year we raise nearly $1 million to provide scholarships,” said Jankowski.
Those scholarships are made possible in part by the Priority Toyota Charity Bowl, a yearly celebrity football game held at ODU. Money raised goes to dozens of local charities and enables nonprofits like the Chesapeake Bay Academy to exist.
“The smaller class, the different approach to teaching for how his brain is wired,” said Enedy. "It just made all the difference in the world for him."
The Chesapeake Bay Academy and the Charity Bowl positively make a difference in Hampton Roads.
The Priority Charity Bowl is Saturday, April 13 and you can watch the ODU football team in action during their Spring Game. For more information on the upcoming game, click here.
