As the federal government shutdown stretches into its 22nd day, local organizations are feeling the strain. Now, one Jacksonville nonprofit school for autistic children has temporarily closed its doors.
The Jericho School for Children with Autism in Arlington, which has relied on state and federal funding for the past 30 years, has been forced to pause operations because federal payments, particularly from insurance provider Tricare, have dried up.
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While the school has received some support from the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarship, the bulk of its funding comes from the federal level.
Jacqueline James, a local mom, said the impact has been immediate and devastating for her 5-year-old daughter, Shanay, who was born a month early with cerebral palsy, a cleft lip, and a cleft palate. Traditional schools weren’t meeting Shanay’s needs, and after a school injury, Jacqueline turned to Jericho…