LONDONDERRY — A new organization will open in September providing a whole range of special needs education services.
Bridget Roy, as an educator, said she sees a gap in special needs services that are affordable and can be tailored to fit with services being provided by the school or other institution.
"Our programs will be offered as either in-home services or services provided at the Learn with Me center, located at 25 Buttrick Road," Roy said. "These services will include comprehensive autism spectrum disorder services, preschool programs, early childhood and elementary level language support services, social skills groups, circle time and speech therapy."
Roy said her program services are designed to be an affordable option for families who need special needs services. Her staff comprises educators, two speech pathologists and a board-certified behavior specialist, Susan Solecki.
"We understand that families are often under severe pressure because of the financial demand of educational support programs and services," she said. "We will have staff resources available to assist families in locating grants and scholarships to ease the financial strain. And, we are working to ensure being able to accept all major insurance coverages."
In addition to the special needs programs and services, Roy said another gap she is trying to fill is for specific special needs day care. Her center's location doesn't have sufficient space to provide day care services directly but in the meantime, she is working with specific day care facilities to help them handle special needs day care issues and services.
Services will be offered in homes and at the center. The in-home services and programs will be delivered with a view to moving the client to the center whenever it is appropriate.
The center will offer assistance to families in searching for resources and programs to meet their particular needs. Families will be able to obtain assistance in navigating the state system or in developing an individual education plan. Most importantly, Roy said, Learn with Me intends to offer affordable options so that parents can control not only the cost of services and programs but also the services and programs themselves.
"Often, special needs children need something more than what is provided through the local school system but the available programs and services are often high-end and expensive," she said. "We are trying to have not only the services and programs needed but also the resources available to help with the financial burden."
The in-home services and those delivered at the center will run the gamut from psychological and behavioral counseling and analysis to book clubs, sports readiness, musical programs and art therapy.
"My vision is that I will never have to say to a parent we can't provide the service you are looking for," she said. "If we don't offer it we're going to find a way to accommodate that family."
Learn with Me will begin offering in-home services in September and the center will be open in November at the Buttrick Medical Park in Londonderry. Learn with Me staffers are already conducting interviews with families in preparation for delivering in-home services.
Roy said her center's design is to have a ratio of no more than three clients to a counselor. She is looking at an estimated enrollment of 60 clients by the end of the first year but by then she intends to have increased her staff of five to 15 highly trained and qualified people.
"I expect to have a pretty even split between clients in-home and clients receiving services at the center," she said. "And, I am already working on finding a child care center to add to our center and in-home program and services."
For more information, call 603-421-9944 or go online to www.learnwithmeinc.com.
