Conceptual Evolution

Five years ago, the lives of four professional women (a pediatric physical therapist, a pediatric occupational therapist, a special education teacher, and a business professional and mother to Pattison) intersected because of a little girl name Pattison.  Pattison is a little girl who was born with significant brain damage as well as auditory and visual impairments. This brain damage led to a diagnosis of spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and multiple handicaps.

Pattison has significant developmental and functional delays and constant management of her cerebral palsy and health are imperative. However, with proper management, Pattison's life can be more independent, comfortable, functional, and happy. Pattison's parents Pam and Mark Sloat are realistic concerning her future but want to maximize her strengths to enrich her life skills, cognition, and function. They also hope to prevent secondary problems resulting from the cerebral palsy such as orthopedic deformities.

After attempting to examine the education options in the area and finding the public school system didn't even allow parents to observe a classroom prior to having an IEP in place, Pattison's parents were not satisfied with the educational philosophies and limited therapies offered once they were allowed access.

Cindy Dodds suggested to Pam that they start a school for children like Pattison. Since Cindy has over 20 years of experience, she is very aware of the challenges Pattison will face. Debbie Lamb, an occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience, previously discussed with Cindy their vision of a pediatric rehabilitation facility integrated with a school that promoted continuous therapy support and treatment for special needs children throughout the day.

Cindy and Debbie had known each other for 15 years, had similar philosophies and recognized the need for an outstanding special education teacher to join our team. Kimberly Wilson-Kasack is a special education teacher who specialized in teaching those with profound mental disabilities. At the time they met, she had almost 10 years of experience in the public school system.

After observing Kimberly's high energy and teaching enthusiasm for special needs children, Cindy, Debbie and Pam approached her to see if she would be interested in joining our team.

That is how our founding team was formed.

 
Cindy Dodds, Kimberly Wilson, Pam Sloat, and Debbie Lamb - Taken in 2006 during our very first Summer Camp.

Today, in 2010, Cindy Dodds is working on her PhD and is also the Director of Therapy Services for PACE and Pattison's Academy.  Kimberly (now Wilson-Kasack) is now the lead teacher at Pattison's Academy for Comprehensive Education - PACE, and has a little girl of her own.  Debbie Lamb is still practicing Occupational Therapy in Private Practice and provides services for our summer program and at PACE.  Pam is the director of Operations and Programs for Pattison's Academy.  Pam and Mark now have 3 girls so Pattison is a big sister too - or the neglected middle child depending on how she thinks her day is going.   All the founders are still on the board as non-voting members and are very involved in the day to day operations and planning for Pattison's Academy and PACE.  And in spite of it all, all founders are still married :-)!

And this is JUST THE BEGINNING!

Just see how DREAMS become a reality, inch by tiny inch and with the support of a LOT of people in our community. Pattison's Academy, a 501(c)(3) organization, and PACE Charter School are the first of their kind in the Charleston, South Carolina area to provide the support and choices that parents and special needs children want and deserve