• Rubi Reyes •
• Originally published July 12, 2008 at 1:08 a.m., updated July 12, 2008 at 1:08 a.m.

A child with autism sometimes leaves parents with few options.

For parents like John and Melody Handley, their options were to read the brochures given to them and then look for a school or help on their own.

Their daughter Mabry, now 6, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3.

Mabry has had medical problems since the day she was born. Her delayed developmental skills didn’t surprise them, John Handley said.

“We thought it was because of all medical treatment she had received,” John said. “We decided to take her to Early Childhood Intervention.”

ECI is a service provided by Region 3 in Victoria that is able to help babies and toddlers from birth to the age of 3 who have disabilities and delays in their development.

A child may be referred to them by a pediatrician, parent or any social service agency, said Tonia Rozner, coordinator for ECI.

“Once the referral has been made, we screen the child and make an assessment to see if they qualify for the program,” Rozner said.

After the Handleys’ visit with ECI, they took Mabry to a doctor for a formal diagnosis.

“We had to decide what the next step would be for our daughter,” John said.

Mabry then began school at DeLeon Elementary where a new door would open for both Mabry and her parents. Her teacher, Erin Hatley, understood the concerns the Handleys had about the education their daughter was receiving.

“Erin understood that my wife and I wanted a more specialized education for Mabry,” John said.

The education Mabry received at Victoria school district was good, but he felt that with all the different disabilities each child has it’s hard to just focus on one specific disability and child, he said.

So the Handley’s and Hatley took a drive to San Antonio.

“We wanted a school that specialized in autism,” John said.

Although the school in San Antonio was good, it meant relocating and taking Mabry away from the only home she’s ever known.

The idea of relocating changed on the drive home.

“We began discussing options,” Hatley said. “We decided that I could open a school in Victoria for children diagnosed with autism.”

The Handley’s and Hatley agreed that such a school would be good for many families in Victoria.

“If we could make this school happen families wouldn’t have to leave Victoria,” John said. “They could stay here and know that their child is receiving a good education.”

After six months of planning and researching they have formed The Vine School.

“This school differs from what is taught in the school district because it focuses solely on autistic children,” Hatley said.

The school is scheduled to open in the fall and will admit 10 children ages 4 to 8. There will be two lead teachers, including Hatley, and two teacher aides. The tuition is $12,000 a year but is subject to change depending on donations and grants received from the state and private entities.

The Vine School is located at 206 W. Power Ave. at the First United Methodist Church. The school is not affiliated with the church.

The school is currently waiting to receive its nonprofit status.

“Instead of running away from the problem that has confronted us, we are facing it, and at the same time we are able to help others in the surrounding community,” John said.

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