A Special Thank You from Handcrafted Hope

Our NHA middle and high school students from the Handcrafted Hope Program would like to thank everyone that came out and supported their sale event on March 27. The event was a great success in so many ways. We couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of our staff, students, volunteers, community members, families and friends.

This year we had a unique item at the sale: Custom laser cut picture frames. A donor purchased a laser for our program and the kids have had a blast learning to cut and engrave items. For this year’s event, we provided order forms for attendees to purchase their own custom picture frames. The students did a great job of fulfilling those orders.

NHA Still Accepting Applications for 2025-26

New Horizons Academy (NHA) still has openings for students for the 2025-2026 school year! NHA is finalizing its 2025-2026 student enrollment at all three of its locations, so please get your applications in TODAY!

Currently, NHA serves special education students from over 25 different school districts from across nine Northwest Ohio counties through its regional special education PK-12 school campus at 220 Lawrence Ave. in Wauseon, its Greater Toledo Area Campus at 6201 Trust Dr. in Holland—just off of Airport Highway, and its Career Center and Special Grounds Coffee Shop at 854 S. Shoop Ave. in Wauseon. If you are looking for the right special education placement for your preschool to high school student, a place where your child feels like he or she fits in, consider NHA.

NHA’s Wauseon & Springfield Township Campuses:

NEW—Accept Autism Education Plans (AEPs), based upon a medical diagnosis of autism
Are regional preschool to 12th grade special education schools
Have a 1:2—staff to student ratio
Specialize in individualized, personalized education
Provide strong academics, community involvement, life skills classes, and vocational training
Offer early intervention, (EI) conductive education (CE), sensory integration, occupational therapy (OT) & speech/language pathology (SLP)
Participate in the College Credit Plus (CCP) Program
Are Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Schools
With individual education plans (IEPs), accept both the Autism & Jon Peterson Scholarships as payment in full.

NHA’s Career Center & Special Grounds Coffee Shop:

Prides itself on small classroom sizes (5-8 students)
Works with young adults up to age 21
Targets functional academics, vocational skills training, and work study placements
Provides on-site work study placements through its Special Grounds Coffee Shop including kitchen and food prep, coffee bean flavoring and packaging, counter and customer service work, and maintenance and cleaning
Helps transition high school students and special needs young adults into community work study programs
Provides job coaching and transportation to community work sites
Community work site partners include Ace Hardware, Chief Supermarkets, Triangular Processing, Mahnke Orchards & Lily Creek Farms, Goodwill, Together We Can Make a Difference, Lott Industries, Culver’s, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, and many others.

Our mission is to help your child achieve the greatest independence possible through early intervention programs, classes, community activities, life skills training, vocational placements, and job coaching.

Steps to Enrollment:

Call the school at 419-335-7272 for more information.
Submit a copy of your child’s IEP or AEP & ETR for review.
Schedule a school tour, interview, and student assessment.
If accepted, complete student enrollment paperwork, and provide proof of residency.
Complete and accept the Autism or Jon Peterson Scholarship.

For more information on New Horizons Academy or to schedule a tour, contact Admissions Coordinator Ronda Rupp at 419-335-7272 or via email at rondar@sarasgarden.org.

Congratulations 2025 Graduates!

New Horizons Academy (NHA) is pleased and proud to announce the members of its 2025 graduating class!

On May 18, nine NHA graduates celebrated their high school accomplishments at NHA’s 2025 graduation ceremony where they received their high school diplomas, certificates, and graduation seals.

This year was extra special as six of the nine graduates were from our Springfield Campus.

The Class of 2025 included:

Cahill Anspaugh
Joseph (Gabe) Carter
Cierra Flores
Bryce Hammond
Gavin Leal
Richard (Ricky) Murphy
Cooper O’Neal
Justin (JT) Tanksley
Lee Yockey

“We were so excited to celebrate this big day with our graduates and their families,” shared NHA Principal Marty Friess. “Graduation is one of my favorite school events, because we get to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our students, as well as, thank their parents for their dedication, commitment, and trust in us…sharing their children with us and letting us help them to grow, succeed, and graduate. I hope everyone enjoyed this year’s 2025 graduation ceremony.”

Congratulations to our 2025 graduates!

Inaugural A.R.N.I.E. Award Winner

It is so hard to believe that the school year is already over. As we reach the end of the 2024-25 school year, we reflect on both the joys and struggles of the past year.

One sorrow that will remain with us forever was the sudden and unexpected loss of Arnie. Arnie meant so much to so many of us. He was an instrumental part of the entire Sara’s Garden organization, from the hyperbaric center to the school and coffee shop.

To honor Arnie’s devotion and embodiment of the mission of Sara’s Garden, we have established an annual “A.R.N.I.E. Award” for one NHA student who exhibits traits that made Arnie so special.

A = Above & Beyond: Exceeding expectations or going further than what is required or anticipated in a given situation. Putting forth exceptional effort, performance, or commitment that surpasses standard duties or obligations. Doing what needs to be done without being asked.
R = Respectful: Showing consideration, courtesy, or regard for others. It involves treating people with dignity, listening attentively, and behaving in a way that acknowledges their worth or opinion even if you disagree with them.
N = Neighborly: Exhibiting friendly, helpful, or kind behavior typical of a good neighbor. It involves being considerate, cooperative, or supportive in a way that fosters a sense of community or mutual care.
I = Inspirational: Motivating a person to feel hopeful, encouraged, or driven to take positive action or pursue a goal. Uplifting others through our words or actions that spark a desire to improve or achieve something meaningful.
E = Empathetic: Having the ability to understand and share the feelings of another student or staff member. An empathetic person can sense what someone else is going through emotionally and respond with compassion and care.

Each campus nominated students from freshmen (9th grade) to 22+ that they believed exhibit these characteristics.

At this year’s graduation ceremony we announced that the winner of the first annual “A.R.N.I.E. Award” is Cahill Anspaugh from our Springfield campus! Cahill received numerous heartfelt staff nominations, all reiterating the pleasure of working with him since he started at NHA in 2021. We have watched Cahill grow in so many ways and are so proud of his evolution into a confident young adult.

Congratulations Cahill!

A plaque containing the names and campus of each year’s winner will be displayed in the SG lobby with a framed picture of Arnie accompanying it.

What is an Autism Education Plan (AEP)?

What Is an Autism Education Plan (AEP) & How Can It Help My Child Access the Ohio Autism Scholarship?

In the past, all students needed an individual education plan (IEP) to qualify for an Autism Scholarship in Ohio; but for many autistic students, when the public school evaluated them, the school did not feel that the students’ disability was getting in the way of their academic progress and would not give them an IEP…even though the students already had medical or psychological autism diagnoses.

To address these students behavioral, emotional, sensory, vocational, executive functioning, and therapeutic issues, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) developed an Autism Education Plan (AEP), so parents had another way to support their students’ needs.

An AEP is a document that outlines services for a child with autism. It’s used in the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) to help families choose private or alternative public service providers. Because AEP’s are so new, many parents and even schools are unfamiliar with them.

If you are looking for additional assistance, through a nonpublic school or private provider, for your autistic child and your home school district does not think your child qualified for an IEP, please consider and ask about an AEP. The qualifying pathway is to the right or you can access it at:

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships/Autism-Scholarship

Again, since the AEP is so new, many schools are unfamiliar with it, what it includes, and how to write it. For the Autism Scholarship, the home school district needs to complete the AEP, so it can be submitted to the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) for approval before the scholarship can be approved, finalized, and available for student services.

For families and public schools that need assistance or more information on the AEP. Sample AEP forms are below and may be used as a template. Just remember that the goals and objectives should target non-academic needs and activities such as: behavioral, emotional, sensory, vocational, executive functioning, or therapeutic concerns.

Download AEP Planning Form & Plan (Must be printed on school letterhead)

Student does not have an active lEP including students home educated)

School District understands IDEA requirements provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) at 20 U.S.C. 1400, and related federal regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 300 (October 13, 2006) and affirms that the school district has satisfied its obligations under IDEA to a student presenting a private diagnosis of autism.

After district affirms it has satisfied requirements under IDEA:

If the district determines there is an adverse educational impact due to autism, the district develops an IEP in accordance with IDEA that details appropriate educational and related services
The IEP and ETR are submitted to the Autism Scholarship System by the district
The provider submits the application and supporting documents
OR
If the district determines there is no disability and no IEP is developed, the district develops an AEP
AEP includes one or more services listed on the DEW checklist and any other information the district, at its discretion, wishes to provide
AEP is submitted to the Autism Scholarship System by the district
The provider submits the application and supporting documents

NHA Vocational Skills & Work Study Expansion

New Horizons Academy (NHA) is so excited to announce its Vocational Skills & Work Study Expansion at its Springfield Campus in Holland! With the completion of the Skills Lab renovation, SO MANY vocational opportunities have opened up for our special needs students.

Springfield Skills Lab & Coffee Cart
After over a year and a half of fundraising, renovations, and inspections, NHA has officially unveiled its new Skills Lab for students’ daily living skills practice and work study use. Thanks to the Roach Foundation and other funders, the Skills Lab includes one room with a full coffee-making station to support our Coffee Cart and Blessings in a Box Program and another room with a washer and dryer to practice daily living and laundry skills.

Blessings in a Box
In addition to the Coffee Cart, the Skills Lab is also supporting our Blessings in a Box Program in the Springfield Township and Greater Toledo Area. The Blessings in a Box Program was created to give our students the opportunity to go out into the community, and bless local businesses and organizations with coffee that is brewed and delivered by our students. Blessings in a Box helps our students to develop stronger communication, customer service, and vocational skills while also getting to know their community better and providing great coffee.

Blessings in a Box kicked off in late September with trips to Proclaim FM and Springfield Fire Station #51 and followed up with deliveries to Anne Grady Services in December and The Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio in mid-January. Our goal is to continue to brew and deliver coffee to local businesses in the Holland/Toledo area each Monday throughout the school year.

Special Grounds Coffee Truck & Mobile Skills Lab
Thanks to the Zeisloft Family Trust, the Special Grounds Coffee Truck is now on the road every week to Springfield! The coffee truck is a real–life mobile skills lab for our special needs students. It allows our students to practice their food service, brewing, communication, customer service, financial management, and other work skills in a community setting. Stop out, and have our students (along with their job coaches and staff) serve you Special Grounds coffees and sweet treats! For a complete weekly coffee truck schedule, check out our Special Grounds Coffee Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SpecialGroundsCoffeeCo/

NHA Now Accepting Applications for 2025-26

All three New Horizons Academy (NHA) locations are STILL accepting new students for this spring semester and are now starting to accept applications for the 2025-26 school year! NHA is so pleased to announce that it is accepting new students for its regional special education PK-12 school campus at 220 Lawrence Ave. in Wauseon, its Greater Toledo Area Campus at 6201 Trust Dr. in Holland—just off of Airport Highway, and its Career Center and Special Grounds Coffee Shop at 854 S. Shoop Ave. in Wauseon. For more information or to begin the application process, complete the online interest form at https://newhorizonsacademy.org/family-resources/apply/

If you are looking for the right special education placement for your preschool to high school student, a place where your child feels like he or she fits in, consider NHA or its Career Center in Wauseon or its Holland or Springfield Township Campus. At NHA, kids come first. We exist for our students; our students do not exist for the school. Students don’t have to fit into the classes. The classes and programs are designed to meet the student’s individual needs. Please complete the interest form (https://newhorizonsacademy.org/family-resources/apply/) to set up a tour, and find out if we are the right fit for your special needs student.

NHA’s Wauseon & Springfield Township Campuses:

Are regional preschool to 12th grade special education schools
Serving students from 25 different school districts across 9 Northwest Ohio counties
Have a 1:2.5—average staff to student ratio
Specialize in individualized, personalized education
Provide strong academics, community involvement, life skills classes, and vocational training
Offer early intervention, (EI) conductive education (CE), sensory integration, occupational therapy (OT) & speech/language pathology (SLP)
Participate in the College Credit Plus (CCP) Program
Are Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Schools
Accept both the Autism & Jon Peterson Scholarships as payment in full.

NHA’s Career Center & Special Grounds Coffee Shop:

Prides itself on small classroom sizes (4-7 students)
Works with young adults up to age 21
Targets functional academics, vocational skills training, and work study placements
Provides on-site work study placements through its Special Grounds Coffee Shop including kitchen and food prep, counter and customer service work, and maintenance and cleaning
Helps transition high school students and special needs young adults into community work study programs with job coaching and transportation provided

Our mission is to help your child achieve the greatest independence possible through early intervention programs, classes, community activities, life skills training, vocational placements, and job coaching.

Steps to Enrollment:

Complete the online interest form: https://newhorizonsacademy.org/family-resources/apply/
Submit a copy of your child’s IEP & ETR for review.
Schedule a school tour, interview, and student assessment.
If accepted, complete student enrollment paperwork, and provide proof of residency.
Complete and accept the Autism or Jon Peterson Scholarship.

For more information on New Horizons Academy or to schedule a tour, complete the online interest form (https://newhorizonsacademy.org/family-resources/apply/), and our admissions team will get right back with you. Classes begin in August, so begin the enrollment process today!

2024-25 NHA Yearbook Sponsorship

We are so thankful to our sponsors for making our yearbook projects possible.

Each year, our goal is to provide our students and their parents with this very special memento. We hope to raise funds through sponsors in order to keep the costs of the yearbooks as low as possible, so that more students and their families will be able to afford one.

We invite you to consider being a sponsor of this very special project!

We also gladly accept general donations for those not interested in being recognized as sponsors.

COST: $150.00

This level of sponsorship includes a 3.75″ x 4.25″ (approx.) color advertisement in the yearbook, recognition on our website and recognition on social media with a link to your business’ social media page or website.

DONATE NOW

COST: $90.00

This level of sponsorship includes a business card sized color advertisement in the yearbook and recognition on our website.

DONATE NOW

COST: $30.00

This level of sponsorship includes your business or name listed in the yearbook and website.

DONATE NOW

Advertisements are requested to be received by April 30, 2025.
Ads can be emailed in .jpg/.jpeg format to karab@sarasgarden.org.
Ads may be dropped off at Sara’s Garden or New Horizons Academy.

Sara’s Garden is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We’ll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

Back to School Dates

We are so excited to welcome back to school our New Horizons Academy (NHA) students and parents. Please save these back to school dates and activities:

August
14—Springfield Campus Open House from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
15—Wauseon Campus Open House from 4:30-6:45 p.m.
16—Career Center Open House from 4:30-5:15 p.m.
19—First Day of School

September
2—Labor Day—No School
3—Fair Day—No School

For more information on NHA, please call the school offices:
Wauseon: (419) 335-7272
Springfield: (567) 703-1322

Special Thanks from Handcrafted Hope

We want to take this opportunity and thank everyone who came out and supported our students and the Handcrafted Hope Event on March 28, 2024.

As we took this time to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Month, our Handcrafted Hope Program gave our students the opportunity to display their creative sides with the items they made for the sale. At the event our students all had special tasks they were in charge of that day, allowing them to work on their customer service skills & product delivery along with working together as a team.

This event was successful because of all the support given by family, friends, community members, our students and the staff team that worked alongside the Handcrafted Hope Program.