New Catholic school opens in St. Louis for students with autism

Published: 2007-08-23

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- A new Catholic school for children with autism is opening Sept. 5 in the St. Louis Archdiocese. The development of the school, the St. Gemma Program for Children With Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Ellisville, is in response to a survey sponsored by the archdiocesan Department of Special Education. Response to the survey was overwhelming, said Michelle Wright, the mother of a student who will be attending St. Gemma. "So the department moved forward and started the school. ... St. Gemma demonstrates our Catholic community's commitment and responsiveness to the emerging needs of that community." The school, in a one-story former residence on the grounds of the Passionist nuns' monastery, will serve children ages 6 through 12. There will eventually be two classes, each serving five students, and each class will have a trained, certified teacher and a trained teacher's aide. A community volunteer will assist with the students, and a trained speech and language pathologist will provide therapy.

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