Mainstream childcare and kindergartens were simply impossible to get into due to his severe disability, which stemmed from a rare genetic disorder that caused global developmental delays and low muscle tone.
Running out of options, Amy feared Louis would be left behind.
“We found ourselves at Banmira Specialist School through their Early Education pathway,” she said.
“We were apprehensive because we hadn’t had a great experience trying to get him into a typical kinder, and he has really high needs.”
To the parents’ surprise and relief, the experience vastly differed from what they had encountered in traditional settings.
“As soon as we came here, we felt like we found our people and our space,” Amy said.
“The staff treated him like Louis – they were super inclusive and genuinely happy to have him.
“Nothing was too difficult, and that’s continued on in his schooling.”
Louis is now a happy seven-year-old attending the junior campus at Banmira.
His learning plans are individually tailored to his needs, and over time, Amy has been in awe of his progress.
In fact, some nonverbal skills his parents had been developing for years were rapidly forged within just a few months of Louis working with his teachers.
“In the early years, we were trying to work out what he likes and doesn’t like off different cues,” Amy said.
“We started seeing him reaching out for things, even just to touch us when he wanted something.
“He’s become very intentional with his movements and very clear with what he wants to communicate, and we think that’s all the school and the teachers doing – they just put so much work in.
“He has also become so much more social ... as soon as I wheel him into the front doors, he’s smiling.”
Louis’ success in the classroom is communicated to his parents via the school app, conversations at pick-up time, and his report cards.
Upon receiving his first report card, Amy worried it would not be pleasant to read, highlighting all the things her child could not do.
Little did she know, it was one for the refrigerator.
“It says, ‘Louis does this, and he’s done that’, and ‘We’ve seen him progress with this and this’,” she said.
“It’s so nice to see it put on paper, all the things that he’s been able to achieve.”
There are big and small victories in the parenting world.
For the Dann family, Banmira was a huge win.
“We can’t speak highly enough of the school,” Amy said.
“For people like us whose child has such high support needs, leaving him with other people is a really big deal, but my husband and I never worry when we leave Louis.
“He’s so well cared for and supported, the staff are incredible, and the new campus is a huge bonus.”
– Taylah Baker
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