Building a Community of Courage, Joy and Growth

"We need t-shirts! We need a mascot!"
Noah had only been in the door for three minutes on what was his very first time at the school and already he was making clear that this was a community--and one that he was proud to help build!

Noah and his family heard about Cajal Academy while on a four month family hiatus in Costa Rica. After a (very) long distance interview process, they made the decision to relocate from Brooklyn, NY to Stamford, CT upon their return, so that Noah would be able to join our program. Asked what made them decide to pass up 2e alternatives in Manhattan and leave their beloved Brooklyn, Noah's mom replied,

"I loved how Cajal described the work they do as not merely adapting to the children's neuro-atypical minds but as empowering the children to learn from their differences and take advantage of the things that make them unique."

Noah's "Onboarding" week was full of adventures and evaluations as we prepared for his official start, but it didn't take more than 7 or 8 minutes for the boys to bond. Watching them, we were reminded that making a new friend is a beautifully simple thing--yet it’s something that twice exceptional kids have learned not to take for granted. It can be hard to find other kids who "get it" that they might have intense interests that others don't share, or that they aren't trying to "show off" when they push themselves in the areas where they soar. It can be even harder to find kids with whom it feels safe to struggle despite being so bright, or who will celebrate your victories over challenges that might seem “easy” to your peers.

This is something we'll focus on a lot as our program continues to grow. All children have strengths and weaknesses, but in twice exceptional kids the gulf between the two can be particularly apparent--especially to them. Where a specific cognitive or neurological deficit stands in your way, it can seem unpredictable or even arbitrary whether you will succeed or fail. Alas, pop culture only supplies a very binary set of storylines to help kids understand it. This leaves far too many kids (of all ability levels) convinced that they're "dumb," "bad" or both. Turning these limited lenses on their peers, it becomes hard to find common ground or to offer each other meaningful empathy or support.

We aim to change that. At Cajal Academy, we see that when we educate kids about the science behind why they struggle, we give them a perspective on those challenges that allows them to understand that it's not about character, intelligence or worth--it's just part of the great diversity of being human. Meanwhile, sharing the science behind why a peer may struggle over something that comes easy for them, we engender the kind of real empathy that allows whole communities to grow.

At the same time, we are committed to applying this same science to systematically work towards closing those gaps. Through our individualized programs, we dig into the data in each child's profiles to leverage their strengths while "quarantining" their weaknesses, allowing them to experience their own gifts while using neuroplasticity to build up the neural networks required to perform the low-lying skills.

Noah’s Mom explained that this was another way that Cajal Academy stood out from the other programs they had considered:

"When I researched other 2e schools their programs were often built around one specific psycho-educational difference; like a school for children with dyslexia or one for children with ADHD... But Noah's profile wasn't that clear cut and we had only begun to scratch the surface of what was going on for him in the classroom. Cajal welcomed that complexity, even expected it, and I see Cajal as part of the journey in understanding Noah's brilliance and challenges."

Even with small, scaffolded steps, overcoming our challenges takes courage, and the leap of faith that together we will grow. That's why we reward the kids in our program for trying things that feel like they're going to be hard, not for nailing the things they already know.

Of course, there's nothing more potent for generating courage than community, so our highest praise is reserved for cheering someone else on as they find the courage to tackle something that you already know how to do.

And that is how we knew that Noah was just the right child to officially expand our pilot program. From the outset, you'd be forgiven for thinking that he and Kaido are opposites in some pretty meaningful ways. But what they share is not only a hunger to grow, but a deep appreciation for the value of having a community that truly supports you as you do it. Together, they are already charting new ways for kids in a school to interact, with openness, science and empathy.

We can’t wait to see where this partnership will go!