Heartland Academy expands to meet growing needs for students with autism

LEXINGTON — When Rock Webster started Heartland Academy, he had no idea how great the need for its services were in the community.

Today, those needs have only continued to grow.

Superintendent Doug Devito, who has served at Heartland Academy for eight years, said Webster launched the school with a clear vision to support chldren with autism.

“Wwhen he developed the school, he soon found the need was greater than what we could provide,” Devito said. “As we worked through the process, he found it was time to expand to provide services to more children.”

A growing need in the community

According to the Heartland Academy website, Ohio has seen a 27-percent increase in school-age children diagnosed with autism.

Heartland Academy is moving forward with an expansion to serve more children, adding classroom space and a new gymnasium to its property at 1575 East Main Street.

The expansion, funded by Webster, includes a 100-foot by 50-foot gymnasium and eight new classrooms. Heartland Academy currently serves 60 students and does not cap enrollment.

Devito said the additional space will allow the school to enroll more students and hire additional staff.

“We have the resources, training, personnel and the facility to meet the needs of these students, which public education does not,” Devito said.

Ideally, construction would wrap up by late February or early March, though weather, contracts and worker availability could affect the timeline.

Despite those variables, Devito said the school is eager to move forward and expand opportunities for children.

Heartland Academy operates from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but Devito said families can customize schedules to meet their child’s needs. The school remains open year-round, allowing students to stay in a consistent environment without long breaks.

“There is also no cost for our kids,” Devito said. “It’s year-round, it’s free and we even take care of their supplies.”

It’s a passion, not a job

Heartland Academy employs administrators, counselors, general and special education teachers, aides and classroom assistants. All staff members receive training as part of the school’s de-escalation model, Devito said.

And for our teachers, this work has to be a passion. If it’s just a job, it won’t last.

Doug devito, Heartland Academy superintendent

The school also provides intervention services, therapy services, counseling and behavior support through trained specialists.

Therapy services include speech therapy, which focuses on language and communication using standardized assessment tools and clinical observation to determine strengths and areas of need.

Occupational therapy targets handwriting, fine motor development, sensory integration, environmental enrichment and gross motor skills, with individualized therapy plans developed for each student.

Physical therapy aims to improve independent mobility, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, endurance, motor planning and both gross and fine motor skills.

Heartland Academy also offers project-based learning that can span days, weeks, months or even an entire semester. According to the school’s website, each student receives academic and non-academic tasks designed to engage learning while building personal skills.

Creating a positive, welcoming environment remains a top priority, Devito said.

“Our kids love to come to school,” he said. “For our teachers, this work has to be a passion. If it’s just a job, it won’t last.”