Families on Maryland’s Lower Shore may soon gain significantly better access to special education services. Two new facilities are slated to open in Wicomico County within the next year, expanding local options for children who require specialized support.
Chimes International and the Benedictine School are both well‑established providers for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities and are preparing to launch new sites in the county.
Julie Hickey, Vice President of Children’s Services at the Benedictine School, said the upcoming location will offer a full range of services, including speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, nursing care, behavioral support, social work, and counseling.
Demand for this level of care has long outpaced availability on the Lower Shore.
Chimes CEO Stephen DaRe noted that the region currently has only one specialized school serving the entire Eastern Shore, despite thousands of students needing services. As a result, families often face long commutes and limited choices.
The Benedictine School is currently the only option of its kind in the area and receives referrals from Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties, which creates a significant travel burden for many families.
The new Benedictine facility in Wicomico County is expected to open in September. Chimes plans to follow with its own school in 2027. While Chimes operates a site in Millsboro, Delaware, that location serves adults; the new Wicomico program will focus on children from kindergarten through about age 10.
DaRe emphasized that even with these expansion with the anticipated arrival of a Kennedy Krieger Institute campus, the region’s needs will still exceed available resources. Still, he said the progress is meaningful.
Local leaders believe that with multiple providers offering different specialties, there is room for all of them. There’s hope that the new facilities will greatly improve opportunities and access for children and families across the Eastern Shore.
