Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group

Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.

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deleted_user 03/17/2011

does everyones child go to a special school or is it mainstream with a special needs section/helper?

I have been suggested a school for my son when he is 4 , he is 3 now, the classes are for 5 children with 3 teachers and there is rebound therapy which uses a trampoline and a swimming pool. It looks a nice place and has a good review.

he would need to be taken by a minibus which would be a challenge for him at the moment as he tries to stand up in a car seat. I have to put his name down now as there is a long waiting list

thanks

mightymo121646 03/17/2011

my grandson went to a school for children with autism, it is well worth it ,he started when he was around 4 or 5, they were unbelievable with him , he was slowly introduced into an inclusion class he is , they also had the sensory room with the trampoline and swing etc. he is now 9 yrs.old in a public school and in a regular third grade class, he still has some problems because he gets frustrated but he is doing well , the special school was well worth it , hope you get your little one in

deleted_user 03/18/2011

The school sounds great. My grandson is in a special preschool for children on the spectrum and he has come far in a relatively short period of time. I think it is worth a try. Does the school have parent training? My daughter and her husband go for a couple of scheduled hours every two weeks. Once a month they have a general parents meeting. There is communication everyday with a notebook going back and forth between parents and teachers filling in what is going on at home and school and speaking for him.

Does he have to ride the bus? Busing is supplied at my grandson's school but my daughter drives him too and from each day. She didn't feel comfortable putting him on a bus at 3 and I doubt she will at 4.

Good Luck.

deleted_user 03/19/2011

I can give you a legal opinion regarding special ed law. Legally, the school is obligated to provide services on the student's home campus, or the campus they would attend if they did not have a disability if at all possible. The exception (which is part of the Least Restrictive Environment, LRE, requirement in the law) is when the disability requires services that cannot reasonably be provided at the home campus. It is possible that the school district your son attends does not have a 4 year old classroom at every school campus. If so, they could bus him to where one is located. Also, and this is very important, there is no legal waiting list for a child with a disability if they qualify for special education services! If there is a disability and the child requires special services, the school is legally obligated to have those services in place by the third birthday with no exceptions. I know because I put those services in place everyday and it is federal law (IDEA) so no state can do differently. Also, I know that it can be frustrating (I have been the parent of a child in sped as well as the school psych so I understand the frustrations on both sides) but if you do not get the answers you need form the front desk or the principal, speak to the special ed assessment person (the title varies from state to state) because they know the law. Generally, principals and teachers do not really know special ed law or rights. That being all said, I bused my son, at my own request, to get him in the best school and the district went along with it. The bottom line is services, regardless of where they are provided, even though they should be provided on the home campus in the mainstream classroom if at all possible.

deleted_user 03/20/2011

thanks, i dont feel comfortable about putting him on a bus either. i know the school does rebound therapy with trampolines, will ask about parent classes,

sambod 03/21/2011

when he was first diagnosed, my son was in an inclusion classroom for autism, then he went into general ed with a full time aide. now at 13, he is in general ed with support as needed. special schools were i live are unheard of adn the couple that are, it' s like taking out a small mortgage for tuition. I hope the best for you.

Zophie 03/21/2011

The school sounds really great. Will they let you go in and check it out before you decide?

We are in our second year homeschooling with K12. It has been a godsend for us because our public school is so bad here.

mightymo121646 03/26/2011

sambod , my grandson is in an inclusion class , his teacher says he definately needs an aide , but the school will not allow it , she was told not to even bring it up again , my daughter has offered to pay for an aide herself the say no way , i'm afraid hes getting lost and not doing as well as he used to , i can't believe the school wont budge .

deleted_user 04/05/2011

I didn't want my daughter to ride the school bus either. Then I learned that they are not alone in the bus. There is always an aide with them, sometimes 2 depending on the bus size. My daughter was 3 when she started being bussed to the autistic program on the other side of town, 45 minutes away! She is now 6 and associates the bus with school. She wouldn't have it any other way. I learned that she could handle more than what I gave her credit for!

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