big kids
BY BERMUDA CENTRE FOR CREATIVE LEARNING
Thriving in a School Environment Where
Different is Normal
F
itting in at school can be the
difference between success and
failure. For students with diag-
nosed learning differences, finding a
place to learn that not only accepts your
differences, but also provides a space
to thrive together, has been invaluable
for the parents of Joshua Kelly. Joshua,
age 10, was diagnosed with Prader-Willi
Syndrome when he was a month old,
explained his mother Shirley Kelly.
Those diagnosed with Prader-Willi can
often show mild to profound learning
disabilities, so she and her husband
Shannon, knew to keep their eye out
for any signs of difficulty. By the time
he was in his second year at Somersfield
Academy, it was becoming financially
difficult for the family to pay for school,
his therapies and a para-educator. The
family took Joshua out of school and
started to look into alternative school-
ing plans. “We had no concrete plans
at the time,” said Mrs Kelly, who is a
teacher. “We knew we weren’t pre-
pared to send him overseas alone, so
10
home-schooling was our top option. But
God certainly had it all laid out for us.”
They learned about the Bermuda
Centre for Creative Learning (BCCL)
at just the right time, and the fam-
ily enrolled him at the school. At the
time, the school, which is dedicated to
empowering students with diagnosed
learning differences by providing a non-
traditional learning environment, was
in the early stages of forming.
Now three years on, she said, Joshua
“simply loves school”. Joshua added, “I
like reading books and playing Kahoot
in math class, we get to work on math
problems online. I also like when we
swim at the National Stadium – I’m a
fast swimmer.” The school has adapted
and accommodated Joshua’s learning
differences. “It’s hard to write sen-
tences,” said Joshua. “My teachers give
me special paper with lines that helps
make my writing neater. When I first
came to BCCL, it was hard for me at first
to go on walks to the parks, but now it’s
easy because I’m used to it. Reading was
also hard, but I read at school and also
with my mom and dad at home, and I
got a lot better.” What has stood out the
most for the family about the school has
been the flexibility in terms of working
with Joshua’s learning challenges. “My
son and many like him thrive on order.
BCCL is very organized,” explained Mrs
Kelly. “The school is also flexible where
it matters. Everything they do is with our
kids in mind, and not an added ‘accom-
modation’ as is the case in traditional
schools. This makes our kids feel normal
and accepted, rather than a diversion
from business as usual. The teachers
are all specialized and supportive, and
they genuinely care about the kids and
it shows.” Extra therapy, such as speech
and occupational therapies, are all
integrated into the school day. Mrs Kelly
said the advantage is that it allows for
more family time instead of running
between appointments.
“Joshua and the Kelly family,
represent what is possible when schools
and families partner together to help a