A Place to Navigate, Communicate, and Thrive

Our School, Our Way

  • ASL Immersion: Language access is the foundation of all learning. To ensure this, our curriculum is taught entirely in American Sign Language, providing students with 100% direct instruction.

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    Practical Behavior Support: We operate on the principle that all behavior is communication. Our staff is trained to respond with co-regulation and skill-building techniques, not punishment, helping students manage stress and develop effective self-advocacy tools in real-world situations.

    • Waymaker (Foundational Phase)

      • Focus: Establishing the "Language of Trust."

      • Curriculum: This is the entry point for students with significant dysregulation or communication barriers. The focus is on establishing functional ASL, reducing frustration-based behaviors, and building co-regulation routines.

      • Goal: The student feels safe, understood, and can make basic needs known without aggression.

    • Pathfinder (Developmental Phase)

      • Focus: Fluency and Executive Functioning.

      • Curriculum: Once regulation is established, students move here to deepen their ASL fluency and begin academic rigor. This phase focuses heavily on executive functioning skills—planning, organizing, and emotional flexibility.

      • Goal: The student gains academic independence and learns to navigate social nuances.

    • Navigator (Transition Phase)

      • Focus: Application and Future-Readiness.

      • Curriculum: The final phase before bridging out. Students apply their skills in real-world scenarios. This includes vocational training, advanced academics, and transition planning for their next environment (public school, OSD, or workforce).

      • Goal: Successful reintegration into a less restrictive environment.

  • Our school runs from Monday to Thursday year round. The main instructional day is from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, providing a consistent and focused learning block. Due to our structure and schedule we have the flexibility to support our families and students as they need, as our student seats will be sponsored we do have an attendance requirement to make sure we are good stewards.  Each student/family will have an agreed upon number of allowable absences per month without prior knowledge.  This policy is based on your family and your family needs, as a medically complex family ourselves we understand that not everything can be accounted for and setting clear expectations is vital.

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    The hours of 8:00-9:00 AM and 2:00-3:00 PM are reserved for weekly 1:1 sessions. This dedicated time allows students to work individually with therapists, specialists, and educators on specific goals without interrupting their core academic instruction.

     

    Typical Instructional Day (9:00 AM - 2:00 PM):

    • 9:00 AM: Arrival & Morning Meeting

    • 9:30 AM: ASL Literacy Block

    • 10:45 AM: Mathematics & Problem Solving

    • 11:45 AM: Lunch & Recess / Structured Social Time

    • 12:45 PM: Thematic Learning (Science / Social Studies)

    • 1:45 PM: Life Skills Application & Dismissal Routine

  • Our model is implemented by a highly qualified team all fluent in ASL. Our ratio for staff to student being low only provides support with full language AND training in trauma informed approaches.  All staff participate in regular, ongoing professional development to stay current in evidence-based practices for our specific student population.  We utilize CPI (Crisis Prevention & Intervention Training) for our behavior management and staff understand that any hands on interventions will be reviewed with the parents and Savy to help build team approaches with parents and staff. We know if we are seeing it in school, you are probably seeing worse at home.  Let's work together to make sure that everyone is safe in school, in home, and in control of their bodies.

  • Our Commitment to the Wider Community

    A school cannot exist in isolation. For our students to truly thrive, they need a community that understands their language, respects their neurodivergence, and champions their potential. That is why our commitment extends far beyond the walls of our future campus. We are actively "mapping" a more inclusive Oklahoma through building out two critical, free public services:

     Monthly Community Workshops: We provide high-level training for families, caregivers, and local educators. These aren't just lectures; they are practical strategy sessions focused on communication access, trauma-informed care, and the realities of the dual identity of Deafness and Autism.

     Structured Social Groups: We create safe, neuro-affirming spaces where students can find belonging. These groups are designed to break the isolation often felt by Deaf Autistic and Nonspeaking youth, fostering genuine connection without the pressure to "mask" or conform.

     

    This work is central to our mission. We aren't just teaching students; we are teaching the community how to include them.

The Vision: Zero Tuition, Maximum Support

At Autism Map Maker & Bridge School, we believe that access to specialized education for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Nonspeaking students should never depend on a family’s ability to pay.

Our goal is simple: $0 out-of-pocket tuition for families.

When tuition is removed from the equation, families can redirect their resources toward what happens at home—investing in private therapies, creating sensory-safe environments, and simply having the breathing room to be a family.

How It Works: The Sponsorship Cycle

We operate on a Community-Led Funding Model. We partner with forward-thinking businesses, tribes, and organizations to sponsor student seats fully.

  • The Cost: A full-year seat sponsorship is $35k. This covers the student’s education, weekly 1:1 behavioral/language sessions for the family, bi-weekly American Sign Language (ASL) classes for parents, and monthly workshops.

  • The Incentive: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, this sponsorship is a tax-deductible donation. For many corporations and organizations, after tax write-offs, the net out-of-pocket cost for a year of life-changing education can be significantly lower (estimated ~7k depending on tax bracket).

  • The Result: The organization gets a tax benefit, the school gets funding, and the family pays nothing but time attending their biweekly sign class, 1:1 weekly session, monthly workshop, and attending one social group outing a month.

Preferential Admissions: Taking Care of Your Own

We believe that communities who invest in us should see the return directly.

Organizations, Tribes, and Corporate Partners who sponsor a seat receive Priority Seating.

This means that if your company or tribe sponsors a year-long seat, that spot is reserved first for your employees, members, or their families. You aren't just donating to a charity; you are securing a vital resource for the people in your own ecosystem.

The Future: A Hub for National Change

We are currently establishing our central Hub. But the need for this specific type of education—blending ASL, behavioral support, and nonspeaking advocacy—is nationwide.

Our vision is to replicate this model across the country, but we won't do it alone. We will do it where the community demands it.

The "9 Desk" Promise: We are ready to duplicate the Autism Map Maker & Bridge School site in any state where there is enough community support.

  • If a community, city, or collective of businesses can secure sponsorship for 9 desks (9 students), we will launch a satellite campus in your area.

  • We bring the curriculum, the training, the "Map," and the operational structure.

  • You bring the community funding and the students.

The only way out is through. The only way through is together.

If you’re interested in supporting our school or programs—whether through volunteering, donating materials, offering professional expertise, or partnering on workshops—please reach out. Tell us a bit about how you’d like to help, your availability, and any relevant experience. Include your preferred method of contact (email or phone) and whether you are comfortable working with Deaf Autistic students who use ASL.

Email: savy@autismmapmaker.org

Phone: (580) 930-1204

We prioritize regulation before compliance and center language access for students who sign. If your support involves direct student interaction, we’ll follow our Language Access & Safety intake to match roles appropriately and ensure training. Thank you for wanting to contribute—your involvement helps us untangle language deprivation and build stronger learning pathways.