Education

Giulietta was about eighteen months old when she first attended a neighbourhood program, accompanied by a nanny. At that age, she couldn’t communicate, walk independently, or participate in any activity without physical support and facilitation. Despite these constraints, Giulietta loved school. She loved desk activities that challenged her, puzzles, books, anything that engaged her mind. She especially loved circle time, particularly when there was music, which has always ca

First Day at MJDS What the kids needed from an education point of view was beginning to take shape for me in 2011. By that point, it became clear that what we envisioned was Benji and Giulietta immersed in a regular school with a customized program so that they could work and interact alongside neurotypical peers. I had searched far and wide for special needs schools, explored public schools, and hit barriers and limitations wherever I went. The public school system could not

Following the nursery school experience and after researching other programs in the city, I realized that Benji would not fit into a traditional schooling model. What he needed was a small school with customized learning that would help him build foundational skills: basic things that others took for granted, like walking, pointing, holding a utensil, simple communication. At that time, we still believed there were off-the-shelf approaches that could benefit him if only we co

Finding the Perfect Inclusive Nursery for Benji When we left Philadelphia in 2006, Benji was 18 months old. Upon our arrival in Toronto, I sought a nursery school that could accommodate and stimulate him so he could have social interactions and gain skills like any other child. We specifically moved into a neighborhood where a reverse integration nursery school supported children with diverse skills and needs. It was within walking distance from our home, and I could drop Ben

Learning Through Covid The COVID-19 pandemic brought unique challenges for Benji and Giulietta’s learning. Much of their programming relies on community-based activities, trips to the mall, social circles, volunteer experiences, and hands-on learning in real-world settings. When everything shut down, these opportunities weren’t available, and we had to rethink how to keep them engaged and making progress toward their goals. We got creative when schools and community programs