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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fairchild special education program offers individualized lesson plans

Michael Anderson Elementary School paraeducator Kerry Dorcheus works on a writing assignment with second-grader Daniel Tabora, 7, who has autism. The school at Fairchild Air Force Base is one of the few in the nation to offer a special education program for airmen’s children. (Colin Mulvany)

Daniel Tabora is a whiz at math. Communication, on the other hand, is a challenge.

The second-grader will frequently respond “yeah” to inquiries, even when his brain is still making sense of the words spoken to him.

Tabora is autistic and his mom, Leidy, considers her family fortunate to have ended up at Fairchild, one of the nation’s few U.S. Air Force bases with an intense special education program for children.

If an airman’s child has needs, such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or dyslexia, “usually the military will locate the airmen where their children can get help,” said Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes, a spokesman for the 92nd Air Refueling Wing.

Leidy Tabora was referred to the program by other people on base. When Daniel can’t communicate, he might hurt himself or other kids, or run away. “The program is really helpful to my son.”

The elementary school located on Fairchild Air Force Base is part of the Medical Lake School District. Although the school is public, a majority of the 405 students have parents who live or work on base. There are 45 children, including Daniel, in its special education program.

Principal Darlene Starr is proud of the district’s special education program for elementary school children because its individualized lesson plans seem to be helping.

The principal and special education director work with the children, pairing them with the right teachers and a paraeducator who stays with them throughout the day.

The students learn in small groups, work with specialists and spend time in mainstream classrooms throughout the day. The students also spend time one-on-one with specialists. Depending on their need, it could be a Braillist, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist or mobility specialist. Each student, as required by law, also has a customized learning plan. That “really makes a difference,” Starr said. The key, however, “is consistency.”

Leidy Tabora says daily behavior charts and notes each day help keep her updated about her son’s progress.

“She’s a great partner,” said Ann Everett, Medical Lake School District special education director. “No one knows her son better than her.”

Daniel has made a lot of progress. While he couldn’t be around a lot of classmates in the first grade, last week he read his in-class story out loud in front of the class.

“I call him one of my moments of magic,” Everett said. “Daniel is right on track.”