Association to Benefit Children

Merricat's Castle School

In Merricat’s Castle School’s three beautiful and lively classrooms, preschoolers learn academic skills as well as the lessons of patience, kindness and caring. Typically developing children and children with special needs are cherished and grow together in a nurturing setting where the process of learning is an adventure in acquiring social, intellectual, emotional, creative and physical skills. A special education staff coordinates medical, psychological and language services, and families enjoy parent workshops, counseling and a close involvement in the life of the Merricat’s community. A beautiful new playground encourages children to enjoy safe, outdoor play throughout the school year. ABC’s Merricat’s Castle first broke new ground for disabled children by successfully advocating in the courts for a mainstreaming policy that would fund the inclusion of children with special needs in preschool programs. And by also championing its inclusive paradigm, Merricat’s has become the national model for preschool inclusion. The combined success of its advocacy and its design has paved the way for widespread change. 115 children are enrolled in the 2008 academic year.