An eight-year-old boy named Henry has been painfully aware of a cavernous learning gap for more than two years. His challenges come from a variety of diagnoses, autism and ADHD being two of those. Henry’s needs make it difficult for him to succeed in a traditional school environment, causing Kim, Henry’s mother, intense worry. Fifty-four years old Mensa member Henry is a brilliant man, but his education has always been an uphill battle.
On a deeply ironic note, Henry taught himself to read at 25 months old, displaying incredible genius. His mom says he can’t handle the demands of a traditional school setting. “When Henry’s dysregulated… he will lash out and he’s not in control,” Kim explains. The risk of him accidentally harming others because of his involuntary behavior is the heavy burden on her conscience. “I don’t want him to be in a position where he hurts someone else accidentally and then it will be his fault – but it’s not his fault, it’s because of his diagnoses,” she adds.
Kim ended up cold-calling twenty-one schools. Initially she was just concerned that they’d be able to provide the right sort of education that would address Henry’s unique needs. Sadly, none were prepared to offer this type of support. After a lot of back and forth, an Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) package was ultimately agreed upon and funded at last for Henry. Like many kids with learning differences, this alternative education approach focuses on giving him the supplies and tools he needs to be successful outside of a conventional classroom.
To win this budget required no small amount of political and legal struggle, including an ongoing tribunal against the county council. Kim describes her experience as a “constant struggle,” stating, “It’s a full-time job, it’s absolutely constant.” Kim works her butt off to chase down the resources Henry needs. Despite her landmark EOTAS package getting approval, she still works her heart out. She alleges that “the county council are purposely obstructive and just purposely difficult,” adding to the challenges they face.
Henry’s promise still manages to break through even amongst these roadblocks. Even his mama might go so far as to call him a “genius.” Like any parent, she simply wants him to get the best education and support possible. Thanks to the approved EOTAS package, Henry is receiving the assistance he needs. His family is hopeful that this support will allow him to finally flourish in a tailored learning environment.
