Michael Academy offers these children the opportunity to have early intervention through therapy based learning. Our children are able to learn and grow in an environment that does not overwhelm them, cause them anxiety, make them feel insignificant or “less” as so many of them do in the larger mainstream facilities who are not always equipped with the knowledge and understanding of these conditions. They offer a structured environment where the children follow daily routines and planned activities of learn and play. Since opening, the children who have walked through the doors of Michael Academy have blossomed into little people who are now able to socialise with peers and even within their homes and families. Whilst once withdrawn and intimidated by the mere sight of strangers and family members, they are now engaging and interacting on a social level many parents never thought would ever be possible. They have learnt to express themselves and their emotions more appropriately and in a manner which is more socially acceptable than before and are able to enjoy and experience the outside world in a new way due to the ability to cope better and to fear less as they have slowly been taught and introduced to so many new things that have given them the confidence to begin to feel comfortable within themselves and around others. Academically the children learn through play and structured learning activities. They are taught in a small environment, both individually and in small groups, often using the hand over hand method until they are able to work on their own. Learning includes all areas of vocabulary, sentence building, fine motor, gross motor, colours, shapes, weekly themes, arts and crafts, baking, and the general curriculum of mainstream facilities at a pace they are able to learn at. My little girl, Kimaya, who is autistic and 6 ½ years old now, would never have developed and grown into the special little person she is today without Michael Academy. She was almost non-verbal; lacked social skills; had minimal receptive communication as well as verbal communication skills and experienced huge meltdowns due to frustration when not being able to cope with everyday situations. The love, patience and gentle guidance of the committed teachers at Michael Academy has had a phenomenal impact on her growth as an individual. Through early intervention and the committed loving environment at Michael Academy she is a different person to the little girl who first started with them. Thanks to them there is great hope that she will, in the very near future, be able to mainstream into a “normal” school, for lack of a better word. They are different, not less; and so deserve a place where they can learn differently and be supported differently until they grow and learn to reach their full potential.