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In 1995 Gene and Francie founded the Austin Centers for Exceptional Students, known as The ACES, which was a state certified special education day school serving students from the public schools who had significant emotional disabilities and behavioral challenges.
From a very humble beginning in rented classrooms in a church, The ACES grew to include five comprehensive campuses in the greater Phoenix area and two in the Denver, Colorado area.
The ACES is the largest private provider of special education services in the state of Arizona and the schools now serve approximately 1500 students per day with emotional disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities and behavioral challenges. Since its inception, The ACES has positively changed the lives of over 20,000 students.
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info@austinlegacyfoundation.com
Gene and Francie Austin began their lifetime commitment to children in the early 1960s. Both had undergraduate and graduate degrees in various areas of education and educational administration with emphasis in special education. Their combined administrative experience spanned general K-12 education, special education, early childhood, education in psychiatric facilities, therapeutic rehabilitation, public school district education, private education, and university level education.
From the very beginning, animals have been an important therapeutic part of The ACES. Our first therapy animal was a massive and lovable golden retriever named Dylan, who belonged to our very first teacher. Dylan taught us about the important role that therapy animals could play in providing children unlimited love, stability, serenity, forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance.
The ACES animal collection grew to approximately 150 animals, including mini horses, a mini mule, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks, geese, chickens, peacocks, at least 20 different varieties of birds, emus, hedgehogs, chinchillas, hamsters, and a great variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and geckos.
Almost every classroom had a pet and larger animals traveled to each campus. One of the students’ favorite animals was a Sicilian burro named Okie who loved to interact with students and who brayed loudly when he was not given the attention he felt he deserved.
Our Story
Although Gene Austin died of pancreatic cancer in 2005, Francie and their daughter, Melissa, continued their commitment to the schools and carried on the family legacy. The Austin Legacy Foundation represents the Austin family’s commitment to both children and animals and provides an opportunity to reach beyond the schools to support those in need in the state of Arizona.
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