McCarton School Parent Shares Views
One parent who sees the learning first hand is Noam Spanier. His 6-year-old daughter Shira has been with the program since January and Spanier says the difference in Shira is "night and day" since coming from public school.
"Shira is a lot more attentive, she is learning a lot and she is more responsive," says Spanier who says his daughter who has since begun feeding herself and being aware of her surroundings.
Although Shira has not been diagnosed with autism, she has an undiagnosed developmental delay, which has kept her from talking, yet through the McCarton School, Spanier says Shira is learning how to communicate.
"She will come up to me when she needs her diaper changed and tap me on the leg," says Spanier who says before Shira may have cried or not reacted.
Shira's workweek averages 40 hours. Spanier says Shira is "the hardest working little girl in the city." And Spanier credits McCarton with the work she is doing.
"I haven't seen anyone care like anyone else" Spanier says about McCarton. "The kids are her kids."#
