Hampshire Country
S c h o o l
hampshirecountry@monad.net
During the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's, long before most of the educational and mental health world became aware of such students, Hampshire Country School was developing its understanding of the unusual children and adolescents who have such severe problems in other settings but can become talented, friendly, humorous, and successful in a small, manageable school community where their skills, interests, and temperament are understood and respected by those around them.
Before they come to Hampshire Country School , many students have been in special educational or treatment programs designed primarily to help them manage their “disabilities.” They are frequently given the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome or nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD). Some may also receive such diagnoses as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression, Tourette's syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, or some other label. There is no question that some cases of Asperger's syndrome and NLD may be extremely debilitating; and such children may indeed need special education, major therapeutic intervention, and/or medication. A surprising number, however, may actually need just a supportive social world that they can understand, a community that shares and values their interests and abilities, and an environment that can tolerate or adapt to their social blunders and mistakes.
Hampshire Country School has never relied on diagnostic categories in approaching its students. In fact, the needs of such labeled students are very similar to the needs of many children who would not necessarily be given a diagnostic label: a need for personal guidance, attention, and support from caring adults; a need for a life style with clear expectations but also with tolerance for occasions when those expectations are not met; a need for a smaller, more manageable community without the overstimulation and pressure to conform often found in large schools; and a need for an educational program that provides a high level of intellectual challenge but also a slow enough pace to address basic weaknesses in specific skills and development.
Hampshire Country School is not just for students with Asperger's Syndrome, NLD or any other specific disability. However, for more than half a century, the school has made the education of high ability students with such difficulties its special interest and area of expertise.
|
