Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in the vision of Ezekiel Preparatory Academy and for supporting our journey to create a school designed specifically for autistic children.

This dream began long before business plans, fundraising goals, or timelines. It began with my son, Ezekiel.

As Ezekiel’s mother, I’ve spent years navigating systems that were never truly built with autistic children in mind advocating in classrooms, sitting in meetings, watching him struggle in environments that didn’t understand how he learns, and constantly asking, “Why does it have to be this hard?” I saw firsthand how much potential is lost when children are expected to fit into systems instead of systems being designed to support them.

Over time, that frustration turned into purpose. I began imagining what school could look like if it were built intentionally for autistic children spaces that feel safe, classrooms that honor individuality, and educators who truly understand and support neurodiverse learners. That vision is what became Ezekiel Preparatory Academy.

One of the most urgent gaps I witnessed was right here in our own community. Families in Lithonia and surrounding areas face a severe lack of accessible, autism-specific educational options. Many are forced to travel long distances every single day just to access appropriate services often juggling work schedules, multiple children, therapy appointments, and transportation challenges. That daily commute takes a real toll, not just financially, but emotionally and physically on families and on the children themselves.

Ezekiel Preparatory Academy is intentionally planned to be located in or near the Lithonia area, so families can access high-quality, autism-focused education closer to home reducing travel strain and allowing children to spend their energy learning, growing, and thriving rather than enduring long, exhausting days just to receive support.

We’ve now reached an important milestone I wanted to share with you.

Ezekiel Preparatory Academy is operating under a fiscal sponsorship with a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which allows us to officially fundraise, apply for grants, and responsibly manage donations while our own nonprofit status is pending approval. This ensures every contribution is protected, transparent, and used solely to move the school forward.

At this stage, we are focused on thoughtful planning, fundraising, and securing an appropriate leased facility in or near Lithonia that can be adapted into a safe, sensory-aware learning environment. Our goal is to open our doors in Fall 2027, and every step we take now is intentionally preparing us for that launch.

Your support helps cover critical early-stage needs such as program and curriculum development, facility planning and compliance requirements, grant preparation, fundraising efforts, and essential administrative startup costs. These foundational investments are what make it possible to build a school that is sustainable, compliant, and truly impactful.

Ezekiel Preparatory Academy is being designed with intention from small class sizes to sensory-friendly spaces and individualized support so that when we open, families can trust that every detail was shaped with care, understanding, and lived experience.

If you’ve already donated, please know that you are part of this story, this vision, and this future. If you’ve been following along and considering giving, this is a meaningful moment to support the early work that makes a school like this possible.

Every donation and every share brings us closer to opening a school where autistic children are not asked to fit in but are seen, supported, and celebrated exactly as they are.

With deep gratitude,

Bennicia Morton

Founder, Ezekiel Preparatory Academy