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Sitting in his wheelchair at a highly specialized private school in Manhattan designed for students with severe and multiple disabilities, Joshua Omoloju, 17, uses assistive technology to activate his Spotify playlist, sharing snippets of his favorite songs in class \u2014 tracks even his parents were unaware he loved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a role this deejay is thrilled to fill at a school that encourages him to express himself any way he can. The magnetic and jovial Omoloju, a student at The International Academy of Hope, is legally blind, hearing impaired and nonverbal. But none of that stopped him from playing Peanut Butter Jelly Time<\/a> by Buckwheat Boyz mid-lesson on a recent morning.<\/p>\n \u201cOK, Josh!\u201d his teachers said, swiveling their hips and smiling. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n iHOPE, as it\u2019s known, was established in Harlem in 2013 for just six children and moved to its current location blocks from Rockefeller Center in 2022. It now serves 150 students ages 5 through 21 and is currently at capacity with 27 people on its waitlist, according to its principal.\u00a0<\/p>\n The four-story, nonprofit school offers age-appropriate academics\u00a0alongside physical, occupational and speech therapy in addition to vision and hearing services. Every student at iHOPE has a full-time paraprofessional, who works with them throughout the day, and at least half participate in aquatic therapy in a heated cellar pool.\u00a0<\/p>\n The school has three gymnasiums fitted with equipment to increase students\u2019 mobility, helping many walk or stand, something they rarely do because of their physical limitations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Its 300-member staff includes four full-time nurses and its six-figure cost averages $200,000 annually depending on each child\u2019s needs. Parents can seek tuition reimbursement from the New York City Department of Education through legal processes set out by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, arguing that the public school cannot adequately meet their child\u2019s needs.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n iHOPE focused primarily on rehabilitation in its early years but is now centered on academics and assistive technology, particularly augmentative and alternative communication devices that improve students\u2019 access to learning. Mastery means users can take greater control of their lives. Shani Chill, the school\u2019s principal and executive director, said working at iHOPE allows her to witness this transformational magic each day.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery student who comes here is a gift that is locked away inside and the staff come together to figure that out, saying, \u2018I can give you this device, this tool, these tactiles\u2019 and suddenly the student breaks through and shows us something amazing about themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cYou see their personality, their humor, and the true wisdom that comes from students who would otherwise be sitting there in a wheelchair with everything being done for them \u2014 or to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Some devices, like the one Omoloju uses in his impromptu deejay booth, track students\u2019 pupils, allowing them to answer questions and express, for example, joy or discomfort, prompting staff to make needed modifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n Because he\u2019s unable to speak, Omoloju\u2019s parents, teachers and friends assess his mood through other means, including his laughter, which arrives with ease and frequency at iHOPE. It\u2019s a welcome contrast to what came before it at a different school, when a sudden eruption of tears would prompt a call to his mother, who would rush down to the campus, often too late to glean what upset him.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things we saw when we first visited (iHOPE) was that they knew exactly how to work with him,\u201d Terra Omoloju said earlier this week. \u201cThat was so impressive to me. I don\u2019t feel anxious anymore about getting those calls.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RelatedFor Decades, the Feds Were the Last, Best Hope for Special Ed Kids. What Happens Now?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Yosef Travis, father to 8-year-old Juliette, said iHOPE embodies the idea that children with multiple disabilities and complex syndromes can grow with the right support.\u00a0<\/p>\n Juliette has a rare genetic disorder that impacts brain development and is also visually impaired. She squeals with joy with one-on-one attention and often taps her feet in excitement, Chill said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJuliette has grown in leaps and bounds over the past three and a half years and the dedication and creativity of the staff played a significant role,\u201d her father said. \u201cWhen she is out sick or on school vacation, we can tell that she misses them.\u201d<\/p>\n Travis said his family considered many options, both public and private, before choosing iHOPE.<\/p>\n \u201ciHOPE was the only one that could provide a sound education without sacrificing the necessary supports and related services she needs for her educational journey,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n iHOPE currently serves one child from Westchester but all the others are from New York City. Parents are not referred there by their local district: They learn about it from social workers, therapists, doctors or through their own research, the principal said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those seeking enrollment complete an intake process to ensure their child would be adequately served there. Parents typically make partial payments or deposits upfront \u2014 the amount varies depending on income \u2014 while seeking tuition reimbursement from the NYC DOE.\u00a0<\/p>\n iHOPE does not receive state or federal funding but some organizations that aid its students saw their budgets slashed<\/a> by the Trump administration, reducing the amount of support they can provide to families in the form of services and equipment.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can have classrooms that feel like a babysitting facility with kids in wheelchairs given colored paper and crayons, which makes no sense. Or you have a place like iHOPE, which takes advantage of the age in which we are.<\/p>\n Shani Chill, iHope principal and executive director Principal Chill said her school is devoted to giving children the tools they need, even if it means absorbing added costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get it from somewhere,\u201d she said, noting iHOPE can turn to partner organization YAI<\/a> and to its own fundraising efforts to pay those expenses so that every child, no matter their challenges, can learn.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018He knows he is in the right place\u2019<\/p>\n Omoloju\u2019 symptoms mimic cerebral palsy and he also has scoliosis. He\u2019s prone to viruses and other ailments, is frequently hospitalized and has undergone surgeries for his hip and back.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe is also very charming,\u201d his mother said. \u201cHe likes to have fun. He loves people. I feel very blessed that he is so joyous \u2014\u00a0even when he\u2019s sick. He is very resilient. I love that about him. He teaches me so much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n This is Omoloju\u2019s fourth year at iHOPE. He\u2019s in the upper school program \u2014 iHOPE does not use grade levels \u2014 which serves students ages 14 through 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n He has made marked improvements in his mobility and communication since his enrollment. And his parents know he loves it there: Josh\u2019s father, Wale, saw that firsthand after he dropped his son off at campus after a recent off-site appointment.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I had a video for when Keith [his son\u2019s paraprofessional] came out of the elevator,\u201d his father said. \u201c[Josh] was beside himself laughing and was so excited to see him. He absolutely loves being there. I know he is in the right place and we love that.\u201d<\/p>\n Principal Chill notes many of these students would not have been placed in an academic setting in decades past. Instead, she said, they would have been institutionalized, a cruel loss for them, their families and the greater community.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RelatedBefore Special Ed, There Was the School-to-Asylum Pipeline. How One Lawsuit Helped End It<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThese kids deserve an education and what that looks like runs the spectrum,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can have classrooms that feel like a babysitting facility with kids in wheelchairs given colored paper and crayons, which makes no sense. Or you have a place like iHOPE, which takes advantage of the age in which we are.\u201d<\/p>\n Chill notes that assistive and communication-related devices have improved dramatically in recent years and are only expected to develop further. She\u2019s not sure how AI might transform their lives moving forward, but highly sensitive devices that can be operated with a glance or a light touch could be life changing, for example, allowing students to activate smart devices in their own living space.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a great time when you look at all of the technology that is available,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Moved to tears\u2019<\/p>\n Miriam Franco was thrilled about the progress her son, Kevin Carmona, 16, made in just his first six months at iHOPE, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kevin, a high-energy student who thrives on praise from his teachers, is also good at listening: Ever curious, he\u2019ll keep pace with a conversation from across the room if it interests him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kevin has cerebral palsy and a rare genetic disorder that affects the brain and immune system. He has seizures, hip dysplasia and is fed with a gastronomy tube.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe was able to receive a communication device, which opened an entirely new world for him and allowed him to express himself in ways he could not before,\u201d his mother said. \u201cHe also became more engaged and independent during his physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. His attention and focus improved when completing tasks or responding to prompts, leading to greater engagement and participation.\u201d<\/p>\n His enthusiasm for the school shows itself each morning, Franco said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see how happy he is while waiting for the bus and greeting his travel paraprofessional,\u201d she said. \u201cIt starts from the moment he wakes up and continues as he gets ready for school. In every part of his current educational setting, Kevin is given real opportunities to participate, with the support in place to make that possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RelatedSupreme Court Unanimously Sides With Disabled Student in Lawsuit vs. District<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Principal Chill said she cherishes the moment parents visit the site for the first time, imagining all their child is capable of achieving.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u00a0 are moved to tears, saying, \u2018Now I can picture what my child can do someday,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Did you use this article in your work?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n We\u2019d love to hear how The 74\u2019s reporting is helping educators, researchers, and policymakers. Tell us how<\/a><\/p>\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iHope-School-Manhattan-physical-therapy-1.jpg\")
Arya Venezio, 12, with physical therapist Kendra Andrada (Heather Willensky)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iHope-School-Manhattan-physical-therapy-2.jpg\")
Edward Loakman, 18, with physical therapist Navneet Kaur (Heather Willensky)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iHope-School-Manhattan-occupational-therapy-disabled-student.jpg\")
Gabriel Torres, 15, with physical therapist Jeargian Decangchon and his one-to-one nurse, Guettie Louis. (Heather Willensky)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iHope-School-Manhattan-occupational-therapy.jpg\")
Aron Mastrangelo, 5, with his occupational therapist, Rose Siciliano, to his left and and his paraprofessional, Emely Ayala, to his right. (Heather Willensky)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shani-Chill-iHope.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Joshua-Omoloju-iHope-School-398x500.jpg\")
Joshua Omoloju\u2019s parents said their son is a happy young man who loves his school. (Nicole Chase)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iHope-School-Manhattan-student-with-paraprofessional.jpg\")
Benjamin Van den Bergh, 6, with paraprofessional Mirelvys Rodriguez (Heather Willensky)<\/p>\n