In January of 2005, four families realized that the normal school system wasn’t working for their children. Instead of complaining to the world, they decided to work with the school system to create a special school that would work for them. They call themselves the Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization (N.U.K.O.).

In just five weeks, they hired a teacher, developed a partnership with School District 71's distance education program, found and renovated a building and built a school to meet their children’s needs. Each family pays a fee to cover those expenses not covered by the school system.

Their school meets the special needs of children with neuro-developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, tourettes syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The program includes: behaviour intervention, social skills training, sensory programs, occupational and speech therapy, life skills and academic curriculum of course.

Careful not to be overly critical of our public school system, one of the parents, Debbie Gallant, explained that their children are over stimulated in a normal classroom. Given that transitions are difficult for them, they need a lot of one-on-one support and a structured, routine environment where each child is given a detailed Individual Education Plan designed to help them reach their full potential.

“The school’s main goal,” Debbie explained, “is to provide the children with a safe environment where they feel accepted and where the expectations of each of them are met at their own level. So each child follows their own unique program, a program that meets the North Island Home and School Curricula.”

For those who read about our community’s Hidden Heroes each week in this column, you won’t be surprised to hear that as the school has grown over the past two years, support from corporations, service clubs and individuals has been little short of overwhelming.

For instance, when they applied to the Variety Club for a new 15 passenger van, they were given a special deal but they still needed to come up with an additional $10,000 but then, when BC Hydro heard of the shortfall, they were there to meet it. The new van will arrive this fall.

Also when the community was approached to help support a summer camp for the kids, once again the response was excellent. The parents and teachers want to thank the following organizations for their support: Gyro Club, Royal Canadian Legion 256, Coastal Community Credit Union, Lantzville Ladies Auxiliary #257, Nanaimo Hub City Lions, Cedar Lions, Kinsmen, Rotary Lantzville, Royal Legion 10, Women of the Moose, Lioness, Serauxman, Rotary Daybreak and the Knights of Columbus.

Currently the school has almost doubled in size to seven students who are being helped by two teachers and a number of volunteers. However, given that there are 11 families on the waiting list, much remains to be done.

It’s not difficult to become a cheerleader for this enthusiastic and totally committed group of parents. Nor is it difficult to become excited by their goal to acquire their own larger property to meet the needs of all kids in the community who have neuro-developmental disorders.

If you are looking for an opportunity to serve in the community, Debbie says that their board definitely needs a bookkeeper as soon as possible and she would like to see a doctor or psychiatrist on the board as well as a lawyer and anyone else who could help them bring their dream of a new, expanded facility to fruition.

As I was leaving the school, it was obvious that Debbie sees her dream becoming a reality and she sees that happening sooner than later.

“Anything is possible if you believe it,” she enthused and it was easy to see she totally believes in her dream.