Special needs kids make unexpected progress thanks to McGuffey school, teacher, parents sayl

YOUNGSTOWN

Ca’Nei Barnes and Brynn Luce, both 5, were all smiles, entertaining their families at the graduation ceremony of the medically-fragile special-needs preschool at William Holmes McGuffey Elementary School.

Other members of the class are Bria Pearson, Brianna Pollock, Christopher Snipes and LaNiya Strong. Andrielle Dunkin was absent from Thursday’s commencement.

“My daughter is autistic,” said Rachel Watts, Brynn’s mom. “The doctor told me when she was 2 that if she didn’t talk by the time she was 5, she would never talk.”

Three years later, Brynn is a chatterbox and Watts credits that to teacher Cheryl Vanatsky.

“If it wasn’t for Cheryl, I don’t think she’d be doing so well,” Watts said.

Brynn’s also come out of her shell since coming to the school, her mother said.

“I’ve seen a huge difference,” she said.

Kristal Coles, Ca’Nei’s mother, notes differences since Ca’Nei came to the school, too.

“He expresses himself more,” she said.

Ca’Nei suffered a brain injury when he was younger that set him back, Coles said.

“Since he’s been in the class, he’s been more active,” she said.

Read more about the ceremony in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.