My son had a hard time in public school; I received phone calls almost every day about his behavior. He had been making progress in ABA therapy, so I did not understand why he couldn’t get through a day at school without having to be removed from the classroom. During his IEP meetings, the child that they described was not what I knew of my son, and the number of incidents did not make any sense. When I heard that Nicky Altikulac, MS BCBA, was opening a school, I felt like this was the perfect opportunity for my child.
Since attending AKF Academy, his behaviors have decreased significantly, and his ability to self-regulate has increased. He did not struggle academically, but his behavior held him back from demonstrating his knowledge. AKF Academy has given him that opportunity to not only display his abilities but also accomplish even more. What I like most about school is that the teacher takes the time to understand what learning looks like for each student, and they are taught at their individual level.
Sabrina Dixon (2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year)
Finding the right educational environment for an autistic child is a journey filled with both hope and high stakes. For our 8-year-old son, Viaan, that journey led us to AKF Academy in 2024, and it has been the best decision we could have made for his future.
Before finding AKF, Viaan attended a public school. While the staff was well-intentioned, the environment simply couldn’t provide the specialized, intensive focus he needed. We watched as he struggled to meet milestones, and we felt he wasn’t progressing at the pace we knew he was capable of. We knew he had so much untapped potential, but he needed the right key to unlock it.
Since the day he stepped into AKF Academy, everything has changed. The atmosphere of understanding and the high expectations set by the staff have allowed Viaan to thrive in ways we previously only dreamed of. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to his teacher, Ms. Lockett, whose patience and tailored approach have resonated so deeply with him. Additionally, the leadership of Ms. Nicky has created a school culture where ‘special needs’ doesn’t mean ‘limited goals.’
The results speak for themselves: Viaan is now academically at par with regular 2nd-grade standards. Seeing him close that gap and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his peers educationally has given us such immense pride and peace of mind.
To any parent who feels their child is getting lost in the system or falling behind, there is hope at AKF Academy. They didn’t just teach our son; they truly saw him, understood him, and championed his success.”