Next fall, a local school district will be among the first in the region to offer a national program that aims to help students with physical and cognitive needs. Our Matt Hunter explains.
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The fact James Cuthbertson spends five days a week at kindergarten is not uncommon for a five-year-old -- but it is, perhaps, unlikely considering all he's already been through.
"He got really sick when he was three and a half with a virus that actually moved into his brain," James’s father, William, said Wednesday.
James' father says the illness robbed his son -- one of two twin boys -- of most of his motor and verbal function and nearly much more.
"It was not looking very optimistic early on within the first several days of his brain injury," Cuthbertson said.
Defying long odds, James is now a daily fixture in the special education class at Shenendehowa's Shatekon Elementary School.
"He gets physical therapy, occupational therapy; they work with him on his vision and just some day-to-day things kids need to learn," Cuthbertson said.
"James is amazing,” said Angela Kinne, a special education teacher at the school. “He makes gains every single day."
This coming fall, James will be among the first seven youngsters enrolled in the district's new MOVE Program, which stands for Mobility Opportunities Via Education. It's open to students ages 5 to 21.
"The purpose of the program is to maximize functional movement, communication and academic skills," said Michelle Mylod, the district’s director of special education.
Unlike the current model where students with a vast array of needs work in the same setting, MOVE will provide a specially equipped classroom that allows for standard education to be merged with the types of therapies students like James rely on.
"It's everything they need to grow. It is specific to them, but they are going to have mainstreaming opportunities," Kinne said.
"I just would be very scared to think about where he'd be without that," said Cuthbertson, who visited his son’s classroom Thursday.
Witnessing their son make great strides in the two years since his illness, James' parents are optimistic the MOVE Program will help him achieve even more.
"We know his brain injuries are significant, but we are optimistic he'll be able to be more independent and communicate again, and just be more like the boy we knew before he got sick," he said.