My Two Cents: From Kitchen Table to Multi-State Hub

If you follow me on TikTok, you know I don’t sugarcoat the reality of Deaf Autism. I share my "two cents" because families like mine are drowning in a system that wasn't built for us.

I talk about the meltdowns, the communication barriers, and the systemic failures not to scare people, but because I believe the only way out is through, and the only way through is together.

Who I Am (The Receipts)

I’m Savy Hester. My perspective isn't just a "mom rant." It is built on 15 years of clinical and educational experience in the trenches of profound Deaf Autism.

I am a Late Life Hard of Hearing individual, a mother to a Deaf/Autistic daughter, and the sister and guardian to my Deaf/Autistic brother. I have dedicated my life to fixing the systemic gaps I experienced firsthand. My professional background includes serving as a Director at the Texoma Autism Behavior Intervention (TABI) School, a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and a teacher/coach at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD).

The "Why"

I watched the system fail my brother, CJ. He was a foster-adopt placement who came to us with severe trauma and no language. The school system told me, "We both know he's capped, right?" They were wrong. But because they capped him, he aged out without the skills he deserved.

I almost watched it happen again with my daughter, Tig. In the public school system, she was stuck on number identification. Since bringing her home and using a Language-First, Autism-Focused approach, she isn't just identifying numbers—she is doing multiplication.

The Mission: Map Maker

I am launching Map Maker, a tuition-free microschool for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Autistic students.

Right now, we are grassroots, operating out of my home. But the vision is massive.

This January, we are adding a new student. To serve this student and Tig effectively, I am stopping my paid consulting and workshop work to enter the classroom full-time. We are proving this model works now so we can secure a building and obtain full accreditation through the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) for the 2026/2027 school year.

Map Maker: A Year-Round Bridge School

Our philosophy is built on the belief that every child can learn when supported how they need. We slow down to meet every child exactly where they are and build a personalized path forward.

To ensure clinical integrity, each student is overseen by our Board President and BCBA, Caroline Hartley, with a formal reassessment for "Map Progress" every 6 months to ensure the program evolves with the child. Our staff-to-student ratio maxes at 3 students to 1 staff member to ensure behaviors are caught early, language immersion is constant, and support is consistent.

Our Educational Model

Language-First Instruction: ASL is the primary language of instruction, creating a fully accessible learning environment where students are understood, not just managed.

Three Pathways to Success: We do not use a "one size fits all" approach. Students progress through distinct educational stages tailored to their development:

Waymaker (Foundation & Regulation): This is where many students start—often arriving with language deprivation or trauma history. The focus here is safety, sensory integration, and establishing ASL as a functional mode of communication to stop the cycle of restraint and reactions.
Pathfinder (Fluency & Academics): Once a student is regulated, we bridge the gap between their intelligence and their output. We tackle age-appropriate state standards (Math, ELA, Science) using ASL-first instruction. This is the stage where we see students take leaps in academics and expressive language.
Navigator (Transition to Independence): Our goal is not to keep students forever, but to launch them. This phase focuses on self-advocacy, life skills, and preparing the student to transition back to a general education high school or independent adulthood.

Whole-Family Partnership: We don't just teach children; we equip their families. Parents are essential partners who participate in mandatory training to learn ASL and the skills needed to support their child's communication and emotional regulation at home.

Our Expert Team

Our Board of Directors is a dedicated group of professionals with extensive, relevant experience and a deep personal commitment to our mission.

Savy Hester (Founder & Executive Director): Savy is the founder of Autism Mapmaker. As a Late Life Hard of Hearing individual, a mother to a Deaf/Autistic daughter, and the sister and guardian to her Deaf/Autistic brother, she has dedicated her life to navigating and fixing the systemic gaps she has experienced firsthand. Her professional background includes experience as a director at the Texoma Autism Behavior Intervention (TABI) School, a former Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and various roles at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD), including dorm staff, teacher's assistant, coach, and teacher.
Caroline Hartley, MA, BCBA (Board President): Caroline is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and educator with over 30 years of experience in autism education and more than 16 years in Deaf+ support. In her career, which includes over a decade at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD), she has been dedicated to creating accessible learning environments. As Savy's mother and a fluent ASL user, she brings a lifetime of personal and professional passion for supporting the Deaf+ autistic community to the board.
Ro Hartman, BCBA, RN (Secretary): Ro is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a registered nurse, and the founder of the Texoma Autism Behavior Intervention (TABI) School in Ardmore. She has a proven track record of building successful educational programs and hired Savy into a leadership role at TABI. Ro's extensive expertise in both behavioral science and healthcare provides the board with critical oversight for program development and student well-being.
Ama Glasgow (Treasurer): Ama is a devoted Deaf+ advocate and a trusted former colleague of Savy's from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD). Her work is deeply rooted in the community, where she and her family are active in promoting language access and equity for Deaf individuals. Ama's direct experience and strong community ties ensure that Autism Mapmaker remains grounded in the real-world needs of the families it serves.
Kaylee Ragon (Board Member): Kaylee is a certified Teacher of the DeafBlind at Happy Hands. Her professional focus is on supporting students with dual sensory loss. As the board's primary resource for visual impairment (VI), she offers invaluable insight into creating truly accessible and adaptive learning experiences for students with the most complex sensory and communication needs.

The Ultimate Goal: A Multi-State Hub

We are starting in Southern Oklahoma, but we aren't stopping here.

Families across the country are isolated, fighting the same battles I fought for CJ. Our long-term vision is to establish Map Maker Hubs in multiple states.

We want to build a network where families can access resources, community, and the specific educational maps they need—no matter their zip code. We want to be the connection point that ties these families together so no one has to navigate this journey alone.

How You Can Help Today

The true annual cost of our intensive model is $35,000 per student. However, we are committed to being tuition-free. We believe a family's financial resources should be reserved for other critical therapies that we do not provide, such as Occupational and Speech Therapy.

We have the Board, the credentials, and the students. Now we need the 501(c)(3).

Your donation today helps us:

Bridge the Gap: Keep the school running while I step back from consulting to focus on the students in January.
Make it Official: Fund the legal costs to secure our nonprofit status. This unlocks the ability for businesses to sponsor student seats as a tax write-off, making our tuition-free model sustainable for the long haul.

I’ve shared my two cents on the problems for years. Now, with the backing of this incredible Board and a clear vision for the future, I’m asking you to invest in the solution.

Map Maker School

By Map Maker, Signing Autism School

Map Maker School

The Only Way Out Is Through: Launching the Map Maker Microschool

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