Having attended Christian high schools, my husband Jeryl and I have a deep appreciation for Christian education. Jeryl graduated from Western Christian in Salem, and I and our two children graduated from East Linn Christian. As a graduate and father of two East Linn Christian graduates, I can personally testify to the strong spiritual foundation that East Linn Christian provides. Many adults with special needs, especially young adults, can live with their parents or other family members.
People with special needs who live with their parents don't have to experience the sometimes stressful transition to a different type of housing when they reach adulthood and are generally surrounded by caregivers (members of their family) who have experience with their specific special needs. In many cases, Medicaid funds can be used to pay family members who care for their children in their own homes. But as any young adult will probably tell you at one time or another, living with parents isn't always a good solution. In some cases, the child's special needs will be more difficult than parents can handle. In other cases, a child's parents may be a bad influence on the child or may even abuse the child or steal government benefits.
In many cases, a person with serious special needs and minimal assets will qualify for Medicaid coverage, which will pay for care in a skilled nursing facility. East Linn Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally granted or made available to school students. I am licensed to teach in grades 5 to 12 in the state of Oregon and through the International Association of Christian Schools (ACSI). In my mind, I thought that I would teach for a year and then apply for a job in a public school with a better chance of getting a job with some experience. Even though I couldn't openly share my faith, I felt very secure in my ability to model Christ for my students and colleagues in a silent way. After about 15 years of teaching, I decided that I should start working on a master's degree to learn more about how to be a Christian school teacher.
I was able to coach basketball in high school for several years before my children were born and college volleyball when my daughter was in high school. A few years later, when I was asked to consider the position of principal of the elementary school in East Linn, I knew that God was calling me to serve full time in Christian education. I taught at Albany Christian School for 4 years and then applied for a fourth grade position at East Linn Christian and got that job. At the end of the summer, I still didn't have a job in a public school, so I filled out the Albany Christian application and got an interview. I had received an application from the Albany Christian School, but I really didn't want to teach there because I intended to be a missionary in a public school.
The summer after getting my teacher certificate, I had several interviews in public schools, but experienced teachers beat me. It was in my high school years that I set out to study abroad; I knew it wouldn't be an easy path, I would need a miracle to study at a university in the United States. As an expert on Christian education, it is important to understand what special requirements may be necessary for students with physical disabilities attending such schools. East Linn Christian Academy is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students regardless of their physical abilities. The school has implemented various accommodations such as wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms as well as specialized equipment such as hearing aids and Braille readers.
Additionally, teachers are trained on how to best support students with physical disabilities so they can participate fully in all aspects of school life. In conclusion, East Linn Christian Academy is dedicated to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students regardless of their physical abilities. Additionally, teachers are trained on how to best support students with physical disabilities so they can participate fully in all aspects of school life.
