Shachaa Music Ministry Inc (I AM ACADEMY)

My name is Anna Moore, I am an advocate who has been fighting for the rights of special needs children since 2007. When my own child on the autism spectrum was abused in the public school system by restraints. He was only 7 years old and weighed 52lbs.... He didn't have behavior issues he had sensory issues and was completely misunderstood and treated horribly. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, in fact restraint & seclusion has become an epidemic all across the United States.

Hands Off!
 https://vimeo.com/47090103


I created a program in 2012 that catered to special needs children on all ends of the spectrum and all different abilities. I started with six children and more then doubled enrollment every year, all by word of mouth. Almost all of my students were abused by restraint, seclusion and aversive treatments in the school system. The system is broken and our most vulnerable children are paying the price. If you don't have a child with a disability you probably don't know what our children are subjected to at school or what your children may be witnessing.

( watch video https://youtu.be/QyTfOnPLnSM ) 

While fighting for laws to ban restraint & seclusion we must open safe schools that cater to special needs children.

I AM Academy is that school!

All students are not the same in the way that they learn and should be taught and treated as individuals. Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment where all students can learn, develop and participate in instructional programs that promote academic achievement free from harm. We do not problem solve via force we create trauma-sensitive environments and supports that encourage children to participate more fully in normal everyday activities and community life.
We provide social, life and leisure skills which are not provided in most schools. Speech, language & occupational therapy will be offered on premises. We foster learning in a safe environment for all of our children and ensure every student is loved and treated with dignity and respect.@ 

Empowering Autistic children, Down Syndrome, Progeria, Tourette's Syndrome, Intellectual and Developmental disabilities and all other related disabilities.

There are 67 counties in Florida and our hope is to have a school in each one. We need your help to make this a reality by donating so we can open our first "I AM Academy" school. We are committed to hiring teachers and staff with the right credentials,  attitudes and behaviors toward the children they will be interacting with. Many families, have experienced disappointing interactions with schools and professionals, so trust and openness is a must. We will build a strong rapport and relationship of mutual respect and partnership with our families. We will listen and be responsive to the family members concerns and priorities and interact with respect and honesty.

Please make a tax-deductible donation to I AM Academy inc., a nonprofit 501C3 to support these important initiatives. Your help is needed to get our doors open for the new school year in August 2015. Your donations will pay for a surety bond that will allow us to accept the McKay Scholarship. The scholarship pays the tuition for Florida children with an IEP or 504 plan to attend a school of their choice. We need to purchase insurance coverage. We also need tables, chairs, computers, desks etc..

Sincerely,
Anna Mineo Moore
Owner, I AM Academy