When four Mid-Island families couldn't find an educational opportunity that fit the needs of their children who have autism and other related disorders, they formed the Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization, a not-for-profit society.

Some time ago the families realized, even though most of them had tried, that the regular school system was more than their children could handle with their sensitive response systems, so a number of them gathered together and joined School District 71's distance education program supported by a local tutor.

When they lost their tutor last January, the time had come they decided to build their own facility to house the distance education program and other educational opportunities.

Working together as a society, they pooled their money, rented and renovated an appropriate space they call McGarrigle Place, and created a program, guided and supported by School District 71's distant education teachers. The program is designed to meet the special needs of each of the four children involved, all boys, who range in age from 9 to 15.

It took just five weeks from the time the families first gathered last January to discuss their challenges until their children moved into McGarrigle Place.

Of course the parents and grandparents were especially busy during those weeks tearing down, patching and painting walls, finding and arranging furniture, finalizing agreements with School District 71, hiring staff, and more.

As hard as they worked, it was more than a few adults could manage in such a short period of time, so it won't be a surprise to those of us who live here to learn that total strangers soon appeared to help out and local businesses were quick to donate as well.

A refrigerator, stove, carpet and more turned up from here there and all over.

"I'd walk in and there would be total strangers here building a facility to help my son," Janice Dunn, who represented the families, told me. "It made me cry," she smiled as tears once again filled her eyes.

And the generosity is still continuing. A number of local service clubs have recently donated to the school and more donations are expected.

There are still many needs to be met including: work to complete the kitchen so they can teach basic life skills, soundproofing and equipment for their small gym, and contributions to cover the cost of specialized programs such as gymnastics, art and music therapy, therapeutic riding, and field trips.

You can reach the school at 758-3787. It's located at 2231 McGarrigle Road.

The four families share the cost of the lease, hydro, insurance and other related expenses, for a total cost of $350 per month, and School District 71 covers the cost of two computers, science and other specialized materials, and two full-time staff who are supported by a teacher and a special needs teacher who designs individual programs for each of the students.

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

The families are hoping to attract four more students to McGarrigle Place. Sharing the cost between eight families would make the program much more affordable. A total of eight students, however, is all they feel they can handle.

When I asked Janice to describe her vision of the future for McGarrigle Place, she described a facility just outside the city that would give the students access to animals and nature. Sounds good, and with these families at the helm, I suspect it's doable.

Neighbourhood Heroes are people who do things that make a difference to themselves and to those they touch. There's no doubt, these four families and all who volunteered to help them are true Neighbourhood Heroes.