The Tireless Advocate

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The direction of Carrie Lesley’s life changed dramatically the day her son, Jayden, was born with Down syndrome. At the time, she was on track for a degree in agronomy, but after a divorce and the birth of her son, it was clear that she needed to head down a new road.

“I moved home to Perryton and began subbing part time while I finished college,” says Carrie, who switched gears by enrolling in the Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program to pursue work in special education. “There were more job opportunities in Amarillo, so I moved here in 2003 and started teaching in a [Pre-school Program for Children with Disabilities] class.”

One of the things Carrie insisted on when it came to Jayden’s education was the importance of inclusion. Though he may not have been on the same cognitive or behavioral levels as other three and four year olds, that didn’t mean Jayden couldn’t be in the same class with his peers. To Carrie, it wasn’t a matter of ability or inability.

Obviously, much of what Carrie learned about special education occurred right in her own home. When your son doesn’t start talking until five, you quickly learn other methods of communication. When she felt like his needs weren’t being met with various programs, Carrie took on the role of therapist, but that soon offset her role as his mother. Something needed to change.

“I knew what my son needed and I knew what other kids needed, and I was caught in the middle,” she says. “I tried to pick battles, but in the end they were all battles.”

By 2006, the fight for Jayden’s best interests swelled into a larger mission.

“I knew what I wanted in my mind – a school for infants to kindergarten, because the early years are so important, that would be all-inclusive with therapy services,” says Carrie. “I just cried to my mom every night because I knew in my head it would work.”

The plan was there, but the money wasn’t, which didn’t stop this persistent mother. She consulted an architect, Kelley Lesley, and divulged her whole plan, from the long wide hallway to the “mommy cams.” Sure of her idea, Carrie went to the bank for a loan, for which they required a business plan. Having nothing to present, Carrie went to the West Texas A&M Enterprise Center for help.

Thus began a two-year lull while the details of her business plan, loan acquirement and land search took place. In the meantime, Carrie worked independently as an advocate for parents of special needs children and brainstormed the details of what would eventually become Unique Individuals.

“It was a long and stressful time but we finally bought the land in September 2008 and broke ground that December,” says Carrie. “I was here everyday, which was all chaos because I’m a perfectionist. If I saw a nail out of place, I couldn’t help it. Kelley was the sub-contractor and he got to hear all of my gripes. We lived and breathed Unique Individuals.”

Kelley also heard her gripes at home. The two were married in 2009.

If the building of Carrie’s school took forever, getting their license took even longer. Yet, she wasn’t discouraged thanks to a waiting list of kids ready to start at a new school. Four long, laborious years later, Unique Individuals opened on April 26, 2010.

“Today we have about 170 enrolled, and capacity is 196, so we’re doing well. We have more typical children but those with special needs range from speech delays and autism to Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and other syndromes I’m just now learning about,” says Carrie.

Their staff of 45 includes a full-time nurse, a lead teacher and assistant in each room (most of whom have Early Childhood Education qualifications) and two head cooks who serve an all-organic breakfast, lunch and two snacks per day. The facility maintains strict guidelines regarding food due to a number of allergy concerns and the kitchen can easily cater to the dietary needs of each child.

At first, each classroom resembles that of any other school, but after looking closely you’ll notice each area is handicapped accessible and offers a wide variety of educational tools geared towards children of all intellectual, social, emotional and physical levels. Carrie combines a number of curriculum programs, such as Pinnacle and Math Their Way, to provide an all-encompassing environment for learning. Whether a child has special needs or not, each should have a fighting chance at getting the best educational foundation possible, a pillar of the school’s mission.

Outside of the classroom is a large gym, two playgrounds and Get Well room for respite care with its own ventilation system.

“I love what I do,” says Carrie, who is happy to have Jayden at the school each afternoon with her. “Every child can learn and deserves to be taken care of.”

Click here to learn more about Unique Individuals.

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

Jennie was a columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press for eight years prior to moving to Amarillo in 2008. She is an avid reader, runner and writer.