Cisco Center

Reviews 3

NA

Nancy Sheppard

Cisco Nochera has wonderful intentions with Cisco Center,,, He is a deeply caring man who is very passionate about the growth and development of children with special needs. However, he is moderately "hands off" with the day to day happenings within Cisco Center. Aside from Cisco, the only actual therapist/special educator on staff is his wife, Carla. The rest of the helpers are high school or college students who dont have licenses or anything. Initially, my son enjoyed Cisco Center but overnight his entire perception changed. He was afraid to go, was unhappy and we saw a stark difference in his behavior. Upon beginning ABA therapy midway through his time at Cisco Center, his ABA therapist wanted to do inclusion within the setting of the school (partially at my request so maybe she could find out what was going on when I wasnt there). Cisco was very happy to let her provide inclusion but she was met with a lot of push back from Carla, who refused to listen or work with my sons therapist; even going so far as accusing her of causing my sons behavior challenges within the center (though I had heard very differently from staff members prior). The staff was unwilling to meet the unique needs of my son and werent willing to collaborate with my sons private therapy team. Their approach to special education and sensory integration is very heavy handed some of their methods are outdated and could be seen as potentially harmful to the students. The facility is a house that was roughly converted into a school setting and is often dirty and smells very dingy. I observed ant problems on the second floor. There is very little community support for the Center and there is a significant lack of organization within the facility and amongst the staff. There simply isnt enough money to achieve Ciscos dream... hire the appropriately licensed and trained staff, have an adequate (and clean!) facility and to help the community. While they advertise it as a preschool setting, it is truly just a daycare. My husband and I made the decision to pull our son out of Cisco Center after just a few months. He is now attending Marley Glen Special School and is absolutely thriving. He has made more progress in the week he has been at Marley Glen than the several months he was at Cisco Center. I dont want to feel like we wasted our money (and, believe me, the tuition cost is EXTREMELY high) at Cisco Center... Some of the staff members (while having no formal training, certifications or licensed) are truly wonderful people who honestly care about the students, I feel that parents need to truly investigate their options and make sound decisions on whats best for their childs particular needs. It saddens me to put such a negative review and the only reason I give 2 stars is because of Cisco Nochera and the handful of staff members I felt I could trust to care for my son. However, this is not a preschool, the understanding and training of special needs is antiquated, its dirty, disorganized and they are not very receptive to collaboration and inclusion. If this school is going to rise to their cause, they need greater support, greater funding, they need to be willing to let down their pride and allow for up to date training and staffing, they need to have someone coming to clean and exterminate the building, a more active board (who seems unwilling to actively raise awareness and fund raise for the school... their answer to costs is simply to raise the tuition) and a more preschool based approach for the students instead of the continuous level chaos that greets the students each and every day.

CA

Catherine Thomas

As a parent who has received instruction from Cisco and Carla Nochera for my son with triplegic cerebral palsy who does not speak, I would like to give a completely different look at this small, hands on preschool center for special needs. Cisco and Carla are the opposite of antiquated teaching styles - they tackle individual needs with an outside of the box approach. It is not always obvious what goal they are working toward, but I have seen dramatic improvement in not only my own son, but most importantly in the children who attend the Center who are on the autistic spectrum. Cisco and Carla, as a team, are able through what appears to be magic to an outsider, reach into the world of those children and find a pathway to our world. I have seen this over and over again. As a videographer, I was called upon to interview parents of children that this incredible team has worked with and it was amazing to hear the stories of how their children were changed by this dynamic duo. In the field of special education, both Carla and Cisco have over 30 years experience. They have developed a program that WORKS to get children school ready and able to succeed in a regular classroom. I have felt so strongly about this couples gifts in the special needs community that I became a member of the Cisco Center Foundation Board of Directors. To suggest that the Board has been remiss in its job to fundraise for the Center is misinformation. We have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Center through a multitude of fundraisers. Board members have provided their own personal funds and contacts to rebuild the Center from a devastating fire, provide essential equipment and set up a scholarship fund for the neediest of children. The community overwhelmingly supports the Center along with wonderful organizations like Kiwanis, Rotary, Avergan Foundation and Friends. It is a necessary alternative for those children that do not thrive in the public school sector and although I recognize that some feel it is an expensive option, I would have them look at the cost of sending their child to any other private facility that offers special needs education from 2 - 6. Firstly, they will find that there is no private facility in this area until the child reaches age 5 and those facilities that are in other counties can run from $40,000 to $80,000 a year. The Cisco Center is a bargain. We are dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to make the Center a place of excellence on every level. That dedication along with the love and care that each staff member brings to the table is a combination that can only lead to success.

MI

MILANIA VARGAS

The Cisco Center has been the best center for my daughter and family. This center has helped my daughter and me to understand that no matter the condition of any child there is HOPE. Yes. HOPE. My daughter was diagnose with Autism back in July 2015 by her pediatrician I was very devastated and sad. I started doing my research on centers and schools that would be able to help me and my daughter understand her condition and how to help her. I found the Cisco Center and WOW!!!! Let me tell you since the day she started my daughter has made a 360. The Cisco center and his staff have totally change our lives completely. My daughter is now talking, singing, smiling, jumping, etc.. Now my daughter tells me mommy I LOVE YOU. Do you now what that means to a mother that was told not to expect that I LOVE YOU from her daughter? This means my world. Cisco center is all about the childs needs and also to teach the parents ways on how to help the child and you. This center cooks, sings, has speech therapies, coloring, dancing, etc.. Its clean organize and the staff is very well educated and prepare to teach and help our children. Also what i love about the center is that they include the families of the children to be part of everything. Everyday I give God thanks for putting Cisco, Carla and his staff in our lives because without this center I really dont know what my life and my daughter would of been. Thank you for everything that you have done for my family. Do I recommend this center absolutely yes. With no doubt I will. 100%.

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