Oasis Academy was more than a school; it was a journey in connection, growth, and learning in Dickinson, Texas. Founded to serve autistic children aged three to fifteen, Oasis Academy began inside a local church and later expanded to a free-standing building, growing alongside the families and children it served. Over six years, the school welcomed over sixty students, providing a foundation in academic learning, communication, and social-emotional development.

From the beginning, Oasis Academy was designed to be therapeutic and relationship-driven because we know that connection is the most powerful way to support a child. Our approach combined music therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, and even karate, creating opportunities for students to explore, engage, and develop confidence in ways that honored their individual needs. The school was alive with joy and community, including our two school mascots, rescued cats that the children cared for, fostering responsibility and empathy.

Oasis Academy was a family school in every sense. We valued long-term partnerships with parents, learning alongside them about their children’s strengths and needs. We advocated for students as they transitioned into more traditional school environments, ensuring that each child’s voice was heard and supported. Through this work, we discovered the transformative power of social-emotional learning and the critical importance of empowering parents as partners in their child’s development.

Even after the school closed in 2023, the legacy of Oasis Academy continues. We still provide grants for therapy to seven students who were enrolled, ensuring that the lessons, support, and connections cultivated during our years together continue to grow. Oasis Academy was a journey that taught us as much as it taught our students about connection, collaboration, and the extraordinary potential of every autistic child when given the support and relationships they need to thrive.

Following the closing of the school, Ashley opened Bloom Developmental Center, a therapeutic clinic for autistic children aged 18 months to 6 years old. At her clinic, she provides intense, individualized play therapy for families, teaching them about connection and relationship-based approaches to development.