Area resident Tyler Hogg gets a lesson from his teacher at the new Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center (BRAAC) satellite center in Buena Vista. The school opened on Wednesday, August 19 and can serve 8 students with autism in a one-on-one situation. The school is housed in the Blue Ridge Baptist Church on 11th Street in Buena Vista. (Photo by Patte Wood)

The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center Site Opens In BV Local Autistic Children Can Go To School Close To Home By Patte Wood Staff Reporter   With over 30 families with autistic children in Rockbridge County and a child of their own with autism, Patti and Jim Cook became active in forming a local support group for families dealing with autism when he took a job with VMI about two years ago. They formed a support group called the Rock Bridge Family Services. Up until now, the only options for schooling of autistic children not integrated into the classroom were the Blue Ridge Autism Center in Blue Ridge and the Achievement Center in Roanoke. According to Rockbridge County Schools Special Education Director Twila Brown, The Blue Ridge Autism Center formally located in Blue Ridge, VA has recently merged with The Achievement Center in Roanoke that both served as private day schools. The merger of the two organizations has resulted in The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center (BRAAC). At the urging of the Rock Bridge Family Services, BRAAC is opening a satellite center in Buena Vista which will allow students from our area to be served in Rockbridge County. The school (located in Blue Ridge Baptist Church) will begin serving students on August 19, which coincides with the opening day of school in Rockbridge County. The center will follow the Buena Vista City Schools calendar for inclement weather unless otherwise noted on Channel 7 news. Patti Cook is the director for the new center in Buena Vista and is very excited that they will be able to accommodate 8 students with 7 slots already filled. The Blue Ridge Baptist Church is donating the space free of charge that will include three classrooms, storage, office and office equipment, meeting hall and playground. Tables, chairs, bookshelves, computers and playground equipment have also been donated by area organizations. The school uses the Applied Behavioral Analysis method adopted in the U.S. from the work of Ivar Lovaas that teaches a student in small steps and uses data to determine their needs. The school will have one teacher for every student. On Saturday, August 22 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., parent Valerie Hogg has organized Rock 'N 4 Autism, a benefit concert and fundraiser for the school to be held at Glen Maury Park. Local area bands performing include Myriad, Lies Fail and Every Waking Hour, also featuring Madrone from Roanoke and The Hackens Boys from Bridgewater. There will be activities for all ages including dunk-a-cop, pick-a-duck, paint-a-face, and toss-a-balloon. There will also be food and refreshments. The proceeds of this event will be donated to the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center in Buena Vista. For fund raising information contact Valerie Hogg at 261-1173. For more information on the Buena Vista satellite center contact Patti Cook at 261-1289.

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