One of a Kind Thanksgiving celebrates special kids with special needs

Excited voices and the pungent smell of onion filled the small room as a half dozen kids and about that many adults moved between stove and tables — peeling, slicing, stirring, mashing, mixing, heating or just taking it all in.

It looked like a scene that will be played out in countless homes across America as Thanksgiving Day approaches. But this was not happening at grandma’s house.

This Thanksgiving meal — turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and miniature pies — was being prepared Friday at One of a Kind Kids, a West Side nonprofit that supports kids who have chronic medical conditions or disabilities that make it difficult or impossible for them to attend traditional schools.

Monica Garcia-Roach founded One of a Kind Kids, located at 201 Unser NW, in August. She and her cousin, Julia Garcia, make up the staff.

Some are remote learners or are home-schooled, but all benefit from social and emotional support as well as help with their education.

The nine kids who come here range in age from 9 to 23 and deal with challenges that span epilepsy, learning disabilities, autism, anxiety and physical problems that may require periodic hospitalization.

Jonathan Taylor, 16, had transplant surgery for his liver, small bowels and pancreas in 2016. He attends Albuquerque Public Schools classes online, but he comes to One of a Kind Kids for additional help and the satisfaction that comes from being with others.

“I still have medical appointments. I still get admitted to the hospital,” Jonathan said after slicing chunks of butter into a bowl of mashed potatoes. “In regular school, they would count me absent. But here, they don’t count me absent. And Monica and Miss Julia help me catch up.”

Getting positiveMiranda Blea, her eyes stinging and tearing up from a close encounter with onions, switched to peeling potatoes. She is 23 but looks like a teenager. She has epilepsy and intellectual and cognitive disabilities.

Miranda has been at One of a Kind Kids for less than two weeks, but her mother, Elizabeth Garcia, no relation to Monica and Julia, said she already sees the positive effects of the program in her daughter.

“Miranda couldn’t read. She had no friends,” Elizabeth said. “Now she looks forward to going to school. You can see it in her face. She is learning money, times, dates, life skills. She is learning to read two- to five-word sentences.”

Elizabeth said traditional school failed Miranda in every way.

“Miranda does not have a good sense of direction,” she said. “Three different schools lost her. Didn’t know where she was. And they just kept passing her (to the next grade) and she was not learning.”

Elizabeth said she felt like she herself was failing Miranda — until she found out about One of a Kind Kids.

“I know I’m not the only parent who has felt that way,” she said. “They need to have more places like this around the state.”

Miranda and her mother tackled the bowl of mashed potatoes with an electric mixer.

“Roll up your sleeves,” Miranda said.

‘Such a need’

Monica, 47, an Albuquerque native, is married and the mother of two adult children.

She has a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of New Mexico and a special education K-12 certification from Eastern New Mexico University. She has taught K-12 classes in public school, private school and in a hospital school program at UNM Hospital.

Monica launched One of a Kind Kids with her own money. The program is funded by donations and a $200-a-month membership fee paid by the families of those who attend One of a Kind Kids.

She calls the kids she helps at One of a Kind Kids members rather than students.

“I started this because there is such a need for these kids to go to a place where they are accepted for who they are,” she said. “And when kids feel safe and happy they excel.”

Isaiah Duran, 15, said he used to get bullied at school but “everyone is nice” at One of a Kind Kids.

“When Isaiah first came here he had never been accepted,” Monica said. “Here he was welcomed by the other kids. He has friends here.”

Glen Duran, Isaiah’s father, said his son’s grades have gone from F’s to A’s.

‘Quality over quantity’

Cisco Chavez, 9, and his brother, Lucas, 12, have been attending One of a Kind Kids since it opened in August.

“I got yelled at at my school, so I couldn’t learn good,” Cisco said. “What I like best about here is that I am learning.”

Julia Garcia said Cisco could not read when he started at One of a Kind Kids.

“Now he can read a sentence,” she said. “Lucas is autistic and both have learning disabilities. It just takes them longer to understand.”

Julia, 28, is, like her cousin Monica, an Albuquerque native. She has a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and sciences from ENMU and is licensed as both an educational assistant and a substitute teacher for K-12.

She said teaching at One of a Kind Kids is better because there are fewer kids.

“I can help them much more here,” she said. “You have to find a way to teach them. It’s very individualized learning plans.”

But that mean keeping the number of kids in the program low, probably no more than 10.

“It’s quality over quantity,” Monica said.

In addition to helping kids with school classes, One of a Kind Kids offers field trips, job exploration opportunities, work in garden beds once a week and — on this Friday — the chance to make Thanksgiving dinner.

“They planned the menu, shopped online, followed recipes and learned about kitchen safety,” Monica said.

‘Just so grateful’

Finally the meal was ready. The kids help set the table and took drink orders. They joined parents, grandparents and siblings at tables.

“I’m just so grateful to have our place here and to be with all of you,” Monica said.