SAM I AM A YOUNG FAMILY FINDS A HOME AT ACCESS
2022-2023 PCSSD REGISTRATION OPEN Pulaski County Special School District is now registering students for the 2022-2023 school year. Families returning to a PCSSD school can submit a letter of intent (bit.ly/PCSSD-2223LOI) to return to the District. Families new to the district can register their children through the online registration portal located on the District website (www.pcssd.org). Pre-K student enrollment is also open for eligible 3 and 4 year olds.
PCSSD’s mission is to provide equity and excellence for all students through rigorous college and career readiness instructional strategies. We serve 26 schools in Maumelle, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Sherwood. For families who do not live within the PCSSD zone but wish to attend one of the schools, the Arkansas School Choice Act is an option. The Arkansas School Choice program enables a student in kindergarten through grade 12 to attend a school in a nonresident district. School choice applications are being accepted through May 1 this year. If you have specific questions related to registration and school choice, please contact the Office of Equity and Pupil Services at 501-234-2021.
REGISTER NOW pcssd.org/register
ABOUT PCSSD
REGISTRATION PROCESSES Returning Students - Current PCSSD families can submit a letter of intent to return to the District next school year. The letter of intent will replace the need for returning students to re-register this year. The letter of intent can be found at bit.ly/ PCSS-22-23LOI. New Students - Parents of students who are new to the district can register their children through the online registration portal. The NEW STUDENT registration portal is only for students K-12 who have never attended a PCSSD school and reside in the PCSSD attendance zone. The online registration portal can be found on the PCSSD website. Pre-K - The PCSSD Pre-K program is part of the Arkansas Better Chance program and supported by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. It provides students with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to build on through kindergarten and into elementary school. Students must meet certain requirements. Contact prek@pcssd.org for more information.
Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927. PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.
APRIL 2022
CAN’T MISS THESE!
NEWS & NOTES ICE, ICE, MICKEY
April 14-17
Disney on Ice Dream Big 2022 | Simmons Bank Arena Superlative ice skating and your favorite Disney characters doing their thing — on ice! Check online for times and ticket prices.
NATIONAL BURRITO DAY
April 7
Lili’s and El Sur boast the best burritos. While eating one, play the Throw Throw Burrito Game — a card game and dodgeball rolled into one. (But only if you’re cool with getting hit in the head by a squishy flying burrito — some of us are not.)
BREAKFAST WITH A TWIST
APRIL 9
NATIONAL SUBMARINE DAY
April 11
Call it kismet. It’s National Submarine Day, and there’s a sub you can visit right here in Central Arkansas. The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum is the only place in the world where you can see not one, but two floating naval vessels that bookend World War II: the tugboat Hoga and the submarine USS Razorback. You’ll get to experience the sights, sounds and, yes, smells of submarine life when you step aboard. Did you know that you can have a submarine sleepover or birthday party? Call the museum for details.
Learn About Orangutans; 8 a.m. TICKETS REQUIRED IN ADVANCE Be a part of the wildest breakfast in town! Breakfast with a twist is back at the Little Rock Zoo. An orangutan family will host.
NIGHT LIGHTS
BEST OF THE FEST
April 21-23
April 15-16
Kids Fest Little Rock | Statehouse Convention Center Doors open at 11 a.m. Kids will go crazy for minifigure displays, bounce houses, costumed heroes, princesses, community organizations, video games, tabletop games, a nerf battle maze, photo ops and much more. Tickets are $15.
DO PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET
April 17
Time to hop to! Because it’s egg hunting season in Arkansas. Take your empty basket to “The Great Easter Egg Hunt” at Hamilton’s Farm in Alexander. They will have two hunts for different ages, a petting zoo, kids fun zone, food and drinks, lots of kid’s games, a face painter and photo ops with the Easter Bunny. Adults (16+) are free. At BoBrook Farm’s “Spring Fling and Egg Hunts,” 10 a.m.-3 p.m., there will be hayrides, food trucks (The Crepe Coop and Bird on a Leash), lawn games, farm animals and a fence maze. The Easter Bunny will be hopping about from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for free pictures, and River Bottom Winery will be out with wine and beer. Something for everyone. Admission is $8, and tickets can only be purchased at the door.
EARTH DAY
April 22
Plan a nature scavenger hunt, make a nature collage, pick up trash, plant seeds and be car-free for the day.
Wildwood’s largest volunteer-led festival, and its most magical, Lanterns spans three days and provides fun for the whole family. Explore the park while enjoying entertainment, food and beverages from around the world — all for a great cause. This year’s destinations include India, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Germany and New York City. Proceeds support Wildwood’s grounds and educational programming. Adults (18-plus) are $10 online, $12 at the gate; children (6-12) are $5 online, $7 at the gate; children 5 and under are free!
PARTY ANIMALS
April 29 & 30
7-9 p.m. each night April showers bring ... Wild Wines at the Zoo! At Wild Wines, guests enjoy food from the area’s best restaurants paired with hand-selected wines and liquors. Special appearances by some of the Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors make for a unique event that benefits the Arkansas Zoological Foundation for the Little Rock Zoo. The ticket for Friday night’s VIP Night includes admission to the Saturday night “Mane” event.
SAVVY kids Brooke Wallace, Publisher, brooke@arktimes.com | Katherine Wyrick, Editor, katherinewyrick@arktimes.com | Lesa Thomas, Senior Account Executive, lesa@arktimes.com | Find more at SAVVYkidsAR.com
April marks Autism Awareness Month, which strives to raise awareness, celebrate differences and promote acceptance for a condition that occurs in one in every 44 children in the United States. Central Arkansas has many resources for families, from schools to advocacy groups. We highlight these and feature a family new to the area whose child has blossomed at Access.
HOMECOMING
A YOUNG FAMILY FINDS A FIT AT ACCESS. BY KATHERINE WYRICK
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
eather permitting, Sam, age 5, visits the zoo almost every day after school. His routine is the same. First stop: monkeys, who, on this sunny day, were feeling frolicsome. Next up: penguins, specifically the zoo’s new chick, Betty White. At 6 months old, she’s now as tall as her fellow penguins but stands out because of her fuzzy feathers and general air of befuddlement. We tagged along as Sam — a beautiful boy with rosy cheeks and watchful eyes — led the way. Sam, who is autistic, and his parents, Amber and Kyle Hendrickson, recently relocated to Little Rock from Michigan in large part because of ACCESS. They also wanted to be closer to Amber’s family in Mena. When looking for a school for Sam, Amber and Kyle searched the country, from Los Angeles to Houston, before realizing that everything they needed was right here in Little Rock. April is Autism Awareness Month, the purpose of which is to raise awareness, celebrate differences and promote acceptance for a condition that affects an estimated one in 44 children in the United States today. According to Autism Speaks, autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,
speech and nonverbal communication. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Central Arkansas has many resources for families, from schools to advocacy groups. Here, we share one family’s story. At what age did you have Sam screened and what led you to do it? From an early age, we noticed that Sam preferred consistency and repetitive play. He also had speech and language delays and sensitivity to some sensory experiences. Because of these developmental differences, we worked with a program (where we lived in Michigan) that brought speech and occupational therapy into our home before he was 2. Then we started speech and occupational therapy in a clinic for about a year before we sought out an autism screening and diagnosis when he was 3. We discussed the things we noticed with his therapists and his pediatrician, and we were almost certain Sam was autistic, so we decided to go through the diagnosis process with a professional screening. We were able to recognize these differences in part because of people who have worked for years to raise awareness about autism. My [Amber’s] cousin, Jake, was diagnosed as a child, and he’s in
SAM’S LIKES: The Little Rock Zoo, ACCESS Early Childhood (his teachers, therapists and friends), french fries, little toy figurines of all kinds, jumping on the trampoline, his grandparents, watching movies, dancing. DISLIKES: Changes in routine.
Helping Arkansas Children Since 1899
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his early 20s now. My aunt and uncle, Christy and P.T. Plunkett, have been incredible autism advocates for years. Because we’ve seen their journey firsthand and have learned from them, we knew what to look for, and we weren’t afraid. For us, the stigma of diagnosis had been removed, and we didn’t see autism as something that needed to be “fixed.” Now we understand it as a different, valid way of experiencing the world. Helping people become more aware of autism does make a difference as we move beyond just awareness to autism acceptance in our communities. We look forward to a time when all autistic people experience inclusion, respect and equity, and that takes work. What’s one of the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome thus far? For parents of children with disabilities, it can be a challenge to figure out where to get services and therapies to best meet their needs. When the pandemic began, we were living in Michigan, and Sam was attending a special preschool in one place while going to a clinic across town for other therapies. We started looking for options that would meet most of Sam’s needs in one place. That, plus a desire to live closer to my family, led us to consider options in Arkansas. We started talking with ACCESS, and we were blown away by their model. We relocated just over a year ago, and we’re thankful that ACCESS is a perfect fit for Sam.
MEET WILLOW: DAUGHTER, SPIRITED SIDEKICK, AND FRIEND TO ALL “Other ortho groups don’t have the attention to detail it takes to cater to kids. It just takes a different kind of service to handlepediatric cases.” - Terri Tharp (mother) READ MORE ABOUT WILLOW THARP AND THE SPECIALIZED APPROACH WE TAKE TO PEDIATRIC CARE AT SNELLARKANSAS.COM
RESTORING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 1911
Little Rock n Bryant n Conway n Fayetteville n Fort Smith n 800-342-5541 Hot Springs n Mountain Home n North Little Rock n Pine Bluff n Russellville
How has parenting Sam changed as he’s gotten older? Are there new joys/challenges? Because Sam’s development is on a different timeline than a neurotypical 5-year-old, sometimes it feels that parenting him hasn’t changed that much over the years. Things we were working on when he was 2 years old are things we’re still working on now. But that reminds us of the joy in small milestones, which is something every family can and should appreciate. For example, when Sam tries an unfamiliar or nonpreferred food, it’s a big deal and worth celebrating. We’re grateful for people who remind us that progress is always progress, no matter the timing. Can you give any advice to parents of a child who has been recently diagnosed? Hold on to the truth that a diagnosis doesn’t change anything about your child. We tend to panic with a diagnosis, but your child is the same person, before and after. They will need extra support, but they also need acceptance. Also, as much as you can, make a commitment to listen to autistic people. There is a growing movement of autistic adults who are speaking out about their lives and experiences, and they are sharing the beauty of neurodiversity with the rest of us. For its many faults, we have come to value social media for its ability to connect us with a broader community that affirms neurodiversity. We love to learn from autistic adults (follow #ActuallyAutistic), and their perspectives continue to inform the way we support Sam. Their influence is why we choose to use the phrase “autistic person” instead of “person with autism.” Autism is not a disease, nor is it something that can be separated from a person. We also follow a lot of speech and occupational therapists on social media, and one of our favorites is a woman named Cari Ebert (@ cariebertseminars), whose teenage son is also autistic. Recently she shared these thoughts, and they are a good summary of our approach to parenting Sam: “Autism is not a disease or an illness with symptoms that need to be cured; it is a different, yet valid way of being human. Autistic children learn, play, communicate, process sensory information, and interpret the world differently from neurotypical children. It is
EXTRA RESOURCES? WE'VE GOT YOU: ACCESS ACADEMY Little Rock Phone: (501) 217-8600 Web: accessgroupinc.org THE ALLEN SCHOOL Little Rock Phone: (501) 664-2961 Web: theallenschool.org AAROC (ARKANSAS AUTISM RESEARCH & OUTREACH CENTER) Little Rock Phone: (501) 454-8542 Web: aaroc.org
not wrong. It is simply different. We cannot change the underlying neurological differences inherent in autistic individuals. Autistic children may have co-occurring conditions with symptoms that do require medical interventions. But the autism traits themselves (the differences) are not in need of ‘fixing.’ Our role as parents, therapists, and educators is to provide meaningful supports, modifications, and accommodations to help autistic children thrive in a world that is not designed for them … We must focus on creating a space for autistic individuals by eradicating ableism and ushering in autism acceptance.” You guys cast a wide net when looking for the right school. What was it that drew you to ACCESS? We had heard about ACCESS through the years, from friends and family, and the school’s reputation was outstanding. The literacy-based curriculum empowers children to communicate and reduces frustration — even children who need a lot of support with speech and language, like Sam. Plus, they prioritize play at every stage. We knew Sam would be in hours of therapy each week, so it needed to be fun. Additionally, we lived out of state and wanted to find a place closer to my family. It’s a gift to have a school like ACCESS in Little Rock. We were also looking for a program that provides therapy services along with preschool in one place, and we loved how often therapists are working with students in the classroom at ACCESS. We’re thankful that ACCESS met all our criteria and more. In what ways have the professionals/therapists helped? Is there one therapy that has made the most difference? Sam loves routine, so the fact that he gets to see his therapists so consistently at ACCESS, whether he’s going to the gym for occupational therapy or engaging with his therapists in the classroom, is ideal. We also see the ways his therapists utilize Sam’s interests. They work very hard to build a secure, trusting relationship with Sam, connecting with him and building on his strengths. They know he loves animals! His amazing speech and occupational therapists find ways to motivate Sam with animals all the time, whether they’re playing with animal toys or going outside to see a turtle in the garden. How do you balance work and parenting? This has been an
ARKANSAS AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES MONITORING (AR ADDM) Little Rock Phone: for children under 3, call 1-800-643-8258; for children ages 3-21, call 1-800-482-8437 Web: pediatrics.uams.edu/specialties/ developmental-pediatrics ARKANSAS AUTISM FOUNDATION Little Rock Phone: (501) 454-8542 Web: arkansasautismfoundation.org DENNIS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Little Rock Phone: (501) 364-1830 Web: uamshealth.com/location/dennisdevelopment-center
METHODIST FAMILY HEALTH Little Rock Phone: (501) 661-0720 Web: methodistfamily.org PEDIATRICS PLUS Alma, Arkadelphia, Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Russellville, Sherwood, Van Buren Phone: Alma (479) 632-4600; Arkadelphia (870) 464-1337; Conway (501) 329-5459; Little Rock (501) 821-5459; North Little Rock (501) 791-3331; Russellville (479) 890-5494; Sherwood (501) 753-5463; Van Buren (479) 471-9600 Web: pediatricsplus.com SCHMIEDING DEVELOPMENT CENTER, UAMS PEDIATRICS Little Rock Phone: (479) 750-0125 Web: sdcpediatrics.uams.edu
ongoing challenge for us, and finding balance is part of what it means to be a parent right now, especially a parent of a disabled child. With professional and parenting responsibilities, it’s common to push ourselves until we have nothing left to give. Living near and having the support of extended family has been critical. We are also huge advocates of therapy for our own mental health and wellness. It helps us gain perspective and parent our child from a place of wholeness. We’ve also tried to find work that allows some flexibility. When Sam was a baby, Kyle stayed home with him. He also worked part time as a realtor, and he chose that career for a time because of the flexibility it afforded. Now, Kyle is a fifth-grade teacher in the Little Rock School District, which has the benefit of a schedule that is similar to Sam’s. For Sam’s entire life, I’ve worked remotely as a public relations professional in an agency, which has also allowed me to control my own schedule in some ways. I’ve recently made a career transition to work on the communications team at Garver, and I’m excited about the way Garver prioritizes a healthy work-life balance for their employees, too. We know these types of flexible career choices are a privilege, and we hope there will be more companies in the future that offer even more flexibility and accommodations to more people. What’s one of your favorite things about being Sam’s parents? There’s so much delight in the life of a 5-year-old! Sam continues to find his sense of humor, and he loves to laugh and make us laugh. We’re always surprised by his wit.
ARKANSAS AUTISM FOUNDATION 2022 AUTISM FESTIVAL & WALK
Saturday, April 16
War Memorial Stadium 10 a.m.-1 p.m.