“Ivymount is known as a leading special education school, but over six decades it has grown into multiple schools, outreach programs, home-based and professional services and a collaboration center.” – Susan Holt, CEO and executive director
11614 Seven Locks Road
Rockville, MD 20854
301-469-0778
info@ivymount.org
“Ivymount saved my daughter. I’m not being dramatic.” “You guys are the PLATINUM standard for special education.” These are among the comments that families have posted on social media about their young or now-grown children’s experience with Ivymount.
Founded in 1961 as the Christ Church Child Center, what began with one student and one teacher/director now serves more than 250 families and employs 240 staff as the Ivymount Organization. Across six decades, Ivymount responded to the community’s needs, creating intensive, evidence-based programs and services for unique learners, including autistic children and young adults and those with other disabilities. The nonprofit organization now includes the Ivymount School, The Maddux School, Endeavors Outreach, Ivymount Community Outreach and Services, and the Ivymount Professional Collaborative.
“For six decades, Ivymount has paired excellence with compassion,” says CEO and Executive Director Susan Holt. “To create the highest-quality programs, we invest in staff training and partner with other professionals and universities. But families tell us we’ve transformed their lives because we equally prioritize caring.”
With a passion for the mission and families they serve, close to 40 percent of staff have been at Ivymount for five to 30-plus years, helping neurodiverse children grow into young adults with increased academic, social, job training and self-advocacy skills. “Ivymount teaches [us how] to interact with a non-neurodiverse designed world…and to advocate for changes,” says Ahnya, a high school student. It’s part of the Ivymount philosophy to recognize potential in every learner and design programs and services to help them reach it.