About Oakstone
Oakstone Academy is dedicated to providing an excellent education for all children, inspiring and empowering them to reach their own unique potential. This is a school like no other in the nation. It was founded on the concept of providing a challenging academic experience partnered with high standards for social behavior, while including children on the autism spectrum. The result is a highly-rated private school that offers a competitive college preparatory curriculum.
In this unique environment, we have found that all students thrive: students without disabilities benefit by
developing leadership and service skills that not only build self-esteem, but act as a basis for future success. Those with disabilities are immersed in daily activities with peers and are supported to maximize their membership and overall success. Our faculty and parents work together to help each child towards fulfillment as a total person: one who has a sense of understanding and compassion for others as well as courage to act on their beliefs.
Mission
The Children’s Center for Developmental Enrichment (CCDE) through its school Oakstone Academy is dedicated to providing an empirically- based and quality-driven education for all children, inspiring and empowering them to reach their own unique potential. We believe in the potential of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to be competent learners and important contributing members of our community.
At Oakstone Academy we support and educate families on the benefits of a holistic approach to the treatment of children with ASD. Faculty and parents work together to help each child toward fulfillment as a total person; one who has a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and courage to act on their beliefs. Our classrooms provide excellent inclusive opportunities for children with ASD to learn alongside students without disabilities, while researching the effectiveness of these inclusion models.
History
In the fall of 1999, three families with children with ASD, Rebecca Morrison, PhD., and Nikki Kerns, M.S. established a non-profit corporation called The Children’s Center for Developmental Enrichment (CCDE). CCDE was formed to bring hope and action together for children with ASD. CCDE’s mission was to develop an empirically-based education model for the inclusion of children with ASD (U.S. Department of Education Grant # H324M030199) and their typically developing peers; support families as they navigated education and treatment pathways; and increase community awareness and acceptance of individuals with ASD.
In the fall of 2000 in donated space in an area church, CCDE formally opened their doors to 34 children. CCDE purchased its first facility in 2002 on Oakstone Drive providing a more appropriate name for the school portion of the organization. Currently, CCDE dba Oakstone Academy serves over 500 students from preschool through high school. CCDE also owns five facilities including a full size gymnasium and natatorium. As of 2015, Oakstone Academy graduated five senior classes with college scholarship offers collectively topping three million dollars. Oakstone Academy students have been accepted to universities all over the country.
Although the educational services are the largest component of our organization, CCDE also provides many critical services to central Ohio. These services have expanded to include: early diagnostic evaluation, psychology, behavioral, and social skill programs; speech and occupational therapy; therapeutic massage and cranial sacral therapy; transition and vocational education; continued research in the areas of the education and treatment of children with ASD. In addition, CCDE helped launch a non-profit medical center in 2011, The Oakstone Health Center, and continues to serve as a sole board member.