Articles and Quotes From Families

"The wheelchairs and gadgets and friends who speak, travel, and learn differently are an integrated part of the whole landscape of the class, but they are not the curriculum.  The curriculum is reading, writing, stories, graphing, vegetable gardens, and taiko drums, in a normal and interesting kindergarten class that challenges every child on his or her level."
- Janet Allon, Manhattan School for Children Newsletter Volume 13, No. 4 
  (click here to read the article) 

"The impact that this year has had on my daughter cannot be expressed in words but in a real display of empathy, compassion, and sensitivity that has affected how she sees the world-as a place that includes challenges and difficulties-challenges that can be overcome with hard work and persistence."
-Alex and Ken Krimstein

"The teachers have fully integrated all the children.  They have shown my child that we are all the same-we can do activities together and be happy and fulfilled and we can all learn-even if we are different and/or differently-abled."
-Vicky Kahn and Phillipe Lambert

"Our daughter has gotten so much joy out of helping others while reading, walking, holding hands, or just spending time at recess.  She demanded we have her birthday party at a place where all her friends in wheelchairs could attend and be part of the festivities...and they did."
-Merri From

"Our son has learned to read well beyond a kindergaten level this year and can count by 2s, 5s and 10s, as well as being able to do simple addition and subtraction.  We are very happy with his academic growth - but what really thrills us is how his 'emotional intelligence' is being cultivated, challenged, and embraced on a daily basis."
-Jill Bennett and Sara Mays

"She wanted to sit next to Thomas in circle time and push his wheelchair to the table at lunch.  'If I ever need a wheelchair, I want one just like Thomas's,' she told the class, and soon everyone wanted to try out his chair and be pushed around the room."
-Lisa Belkin, The Lessons of Classroom 506, New York Times Magazine September 12, 2004.
(Click here to read the article)