For families raising children with special needs, education is not a one-size-fits-all model. It cannot be. As both a mother of children with special needs and an educator, I have seen that reality firsthand.
Every child learns differently, but for children with autism, speech delays, or intellectual disabilities, the right environment can mean the difference between frustration and progress, between falling behind and moving forward.
I have three children, two of whom have unique learning needs. My son, Hosea, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and is nonverbal. His twin sister, Nala, has speech delays and intellectual disabilities.
The responsibility of every parent is simple: find what works for their children. That is not always easy, but I knew traditional school environments would not work for my kids.
For students with special needs, the structure, pace, and sensory demands of a classroom can create barriers instead of opportunities. Those students need an educational model that meets their needs.
After researching different options, I enrolled my children in two of Alabama’s K-12 programs: Alabama Destinations Career Academy, where my twins, Hosea and Nala, are enrolled, and Alabama Virtual Academy, where my youngest daughter, Samya, attends.
As an educator, I understood the importance of a strong curriculum, but I also needed flexibility and individualized instruction. These academies provided both.
For my children, the difference has been life-changing.
At Alabama Destinations Career Academy, Hosea has been able to learn in a calm, distraction-free environment that supports his needs. Without the sensory overload of a traditional classroom, he has begun to engage in ways I once thought were out of reach.
He is now recognizing letters and speaking words, milestones that are deeply meaningful for our family. Nala, also enrolled at Alabama Destinations Career Academy, has made tremendous progress.
Nala can revisit lessons, and she receives daily individualized support. She has grown more confident in her speech and reading. Today, she reads aloud with pride and participates actively in her learning.
At Alabama Virtual Academy, my youngest daughter, Samya, is on a different path, but she still benefits from a flexible gifted student program that allows her to learn at her own pace in an environment that supports her growth and builds confidence each day.
These moments may seem small to some, but for families like mine, they represent everything. That is why access to educational options matters. Not every student’s situation is traditional, and the standard model simply does not work for everyone.
Online learning through programs like Alabama Destinations Career Academy and Alabama Virtual Academy has given my children the opportunity to learn in a way that works for them, not against them.
It has allowed them to build confidence, develop skills, and move forward at their own pace. That is what educational freedom should be about. Today, we can move beyond outdated models that assume every child learns the same way.
We have the tools to provide flexible, individualized education that meets students where they are. For children with special needs, these options are not a convenience. They are essential.
Without access to high-quality online academies, many families would be left without a viable path forward. Children who need a different approach would be forced into environments that do not support their success.
My children are proof of what is possible when families are given a choice.
I urge policymakers to recognize that educational freedom is not about politics. It is about ensuring that every child, regardless of their needs, has access to an education that works for them.
Because when we provide the right environment, we do more than educate. We unlock potential. And every child deserves that chance.
Loviessa Butler is an educator and mother of three students enrolled in Alabama Destinations Career Academy and Alabama Virtual Academy.
