Map Maker is building a new kind of school for children navigating a world without a map. We are creating a year-round, tuition-free microschool in southern Oklahoma, set to open in 2026, for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Autistic and need American Sign Language (ASL) to access their world.

Our Founder's Story

Map Maker was founded by Savy Hester, whose connection to this mission is both professional and deeply personal. As an educator, Savy has seen the systemic gaps that leave complex children behind. As a Late Life Hard of Hearing individual, a mother to a daughter who is Deaf, Autistic, and medically complex, and a sister who helped raise her Deaf Autistic brother, she lives the reality of those gaps every single day. This combination of lived and professional experience is the foundation upon which our school is built.

The Need We Address

In our community, families with complex children face an impossible choice. The public education system, despite its best efforts, often lacks the specialized resources to support a child who needs a visual language like ASL in a trauma-informed, sensory-friendly environment. These children are caught between worlds, and their families are left feeling isolated. We exist to complement public resources—to be a safety net that can catch the kids whose profound and specific needs require a different approach.

Our Unique Educational Model

Our philosophy is built on the belief that all behavior is communication. We slow down to meet every child exactly where they are and build a personalized path forward.

• Language-First Instruction: ASL is the primary language of instruction, creating a fully accessible learning environment.

• Three Pathways to Success: Students progress through distinct educational stages tailored to their development: Waymaker (Foundations), Pathfinder (Fluency), and Navigator (Transition to Independence).

• 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.

A Community-Funded School

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. Our school is funded entirely by a community of individuals, corporations, and partners who believe in our mission and want to invest in a tangible, local solution. We are actively working to obtain our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to ensure all contributions are tax-deductible.

Map Maker, Signing Autism School

The only way out is though, only way through is together.

Map Maker School