a computer screen. it was not going to work. we created the yass prize, jeff and i, to reward educators that came through they came through, even before covid, and especially for children with disabilities that need that kind of personal interaction, it really is a shame how so many of the systems delivered, did not deliver education during that time. initially responded by giving out laptops and chrome books to students in cities, and when i went to visit them in their after school programs, i would get behind the screens and there was no learning going on. nothing. like gone fishing signs. so the people that did come out, like diana and a lot of our award winners, they never took no for an answer, they stayed focused on the students, and they did everything they can to make sure they have the quality education.
oh, congratulations. i mean, that had to feel amazing and all these children you are helping, thank you so much for all you are doing. yes. one of the points i wanted to make before it s over, is that this was also inspired by diana and her personal story. she started out looking at the options available for autistic children in cities, and she could share it with everybody that wants it across the city, and more students will benefit like the students in arizona. our kids deserve innovation, they are suited ford entrepreneurship and problem-solving, if we create the conditions, and that s what our schools will do. more so now fueled by the yass prize. amazing. i m so inspired by both of you, incredible, incredible story, janine and diana, thank you for
we did the same thing. visited children in their homes, tutoring sessions, one of the first schools to open in our state offering appointment-based school, because the show must go on for kids and they need that personal attention, and we gave parents options. we did whatever was comfortable to keep teaching the children and to keep the learning growing. our outcome in academic, social and emotional grew during the pandemic and our enrollment grew because parents know what s best for their kids. sandra: and you said i don t want my kid to be seen as disabled, but a doer, intelligent, productive, so the charter schools we are starting across america will help the children be neuro diverse, who they are, and fulfilled citizens. diana, you had 2700 applicants, janine you were one of them, and you rose to the top and here was the big moment when you found out you won a million dollars. [cheering]
not receive any support at all. and by 2021, the department of education concluded that there are signs that those disruptions may be exacerbating long standing disability-based disparities in academic achievement . in other words, remote learning cracked the gap wide open for families and students with disabilities. and as we continue to assess the damage caused by the covid lockdowns, one school is now getting recognized for going above and beyond to help special needs students during the pandemic. janine yass, founder of the yass prize to transform education on my left, diana dias harrison, founder of arizona autism charter schools incorporated, and honor to have you here off your big night last night, congratulations to you. thank you so much. what did it feel like to receive this award? it was an awe-inspiring moment. it was such a long road and culmination of our work to keep our schools open for kids.
our schools grew during the pandemic because we kept serving them and when other schools were shutting down and not having any services, we had our doors open and we were ready for kids however they were ready to learn. sandra: and you have a very personal path to that. in 2004, your son was diagnosed with autism and you felt he was not getting the education he needed. fast forward, now you are helping so many others. yes, we are, with the help of the yass prize we are going to help even more. we have opened three schools in arizona, and we have a plan to open more autism charter schools, at least one in every major city in america. sandra: remarkable. diana, i know it was your mission early in the pandemic to highlight and reward those parents, obviously like janine and others, going above and beyond, r he cannizing that we can t send these kids home and have them trying to learn behind