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Interview with Oakwood Academy PARENT, Carla Hay
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Carla Hay, a parent of an Oakwood Academy alumnus, shared her perspective on the school's child-centred DIR approach, individualized support, strong staff relationships, collaboration with families, social and communication growth, and the lasting impact the program had on her son's development.
Highlights from the interview
I knew that Joseph had lots of skills, but now I was more interested in finding a place that focused more on the whole child: speaking, emotions, sensory regulation, and sensory processing.
I don't really remember any transition issues with Joseph going to the school. That's basically because of their approach. They really do take into account how the kid is feeling and how the kid is doing.
There are many things that he enjoyed, but I think he just felt like it was fun all the time. I think it was the fact that he could go and be silly and have his interests incorporated, all the while building skills.
I appreciated that the staff really listened to me, and there was never a time when a staff member was impatient with me or didn't have the time. They really take the time. They really talk to you.
- The kids are the priority. They work with their interests and work on their skills, no matter how small the skill and no matter how long it takes.The kids are the priority. They work with their interests and work on their skills, no matter how small the skill and no matter how long it takes
I have no complaints about Oakwood itself, how the teachers are with the kids, or how the school is run in terms of the kids and their approach using DIR and how they use that system of learning.
The DIR approach is so different from IBI, and I was surprised at how much they take into account how the kid is feeling. It's very kid-centred.
I was also probably a little bit surprised at how patient they were. They just saw that as part of the process and understood that those are some of the challenges of having autism or other cognitive disabilities. They were able to just work through it.
They really curate who their staff are because it does take a really particular sort of person to do that job.
The school's highest value is really its professional delivery of the DIR program and how committed they are to that approach. They do regular professional development. They have the people who originally developed this program come visit the school, and they're constantly having workshops and training workshops for the parents.
If I did have a concern… I spoke with that person, I spoke with Trillium, it was handled, and my concerns were taken seriously.
I'm just always very impressed. I'm still friends with some of the staff members. If you see them on the street, you're saying hi and stuff, just because they spend a lot of time with your kid, and you do build a relationship. It's a very positive relationship.
The other nice thing about Oakwood is that they do have varying levels of support.
My advice would be: don't be afraid to investigate another type of therapy. Sometimes people get really fixated on one approach, one theory of treatment or therapy versus another.
My advice would be: don't be afraid to investigate another type of therapy. Sometimes people get really fixated on one approach, one theory of treatment or therapy versus another.
My advice would be: don't be afraid to investigate another type of therapy. Sometimes people get really fixated on one approach, one theory of treatment or therapy versus another.
I truly wish I had put Joseph in Oakwood two years earlier. I think the approach, and maybe it changed as he aged, was better for him.
