The 22-year-old Mississauga resident, who has Down's Syndrome, wanted to learn more after graduating from high school, but there wasn't such a school in the city.
Susan Longley, a local retailer and her husband Kevin, a financial analyst, decided to change that for their daughter and others who want to continue to learn.
CALtech, a continuous adult learning program for people with intellectual disabilities, is the result. Everything about the school reflects their daughter's willingness and desire to learn and grow every day. Even the name is an acronym for her full name — Cheryl Anne Longley.
It opened earlier this month and six students have passed through the doors of the two-teacher school, located at a meeting room at the Central Library. Classes run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students are taught literacy, computer skills, math, science and humanities. The latter includes special interest subjects and visits from community guest speakers.
Cheryl is already making gains, says Longley. She has learned to count by twos and is happy to do homework at the end of each day at school. She's also exhausted and ready for a nap by 4 p.m.
The programs are adapted for the learning level of each student and stress life skills. For instance, students will be taught etiquette, simple banking and Internet skills. They will also learn how to properly set a table and behave in a high-class restaurant.
"Basically, I asked Cheryl what she wanted to learn in school," said Longley. "She told me she wanted to learn about dinosaurs, aliens, geography and Donald Trump. She wanted homework, tests and projects."
Longley knows other families have children in similar circumstances. Her long-term goal for CALtech is to grow the student population to 40 or 60 students over the next two years.
"This is a dream come true for me," she said. "I always thought that there would be something like this and now there is."
The school charges $80 per day, which covers teaching staff and rent. Parents can help cover the costs of CALtech through a Passport Initiative of the provincial government, Longley said.
The Passport Initiative provides opportunities for individuals with a developmental disability who have left school. Participants can receive funding for activities that encourage their personal development and help them achieve their potential.
jslack@mississauga.net
