schooling?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2004
schooling?
7
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 8:38am

You all did such a wonderful job responding to my ealier question (and I have so many ready to go) that I thought I would go ahead and throw another one out there.. Are your children in main stream classes, special education or homeschooled?? We have had quite a few problems putting ds in the main stream classes and I am frankly getting a little tired of going in to school and picking up, finding out that he has been suspended for calling the teacher stupid, and having them call me constantly.. (now that he has an actual dx you would think they would realize that some of his actions are not in his control) But they still treat him like the omen child when I go in to register him for school!! Thanks to all that reply!!

Jennifer

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 8:46am

Lol, I just had to laugh reading your post.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 9:19am

My son is mainstreamed with a full time one-on-one aide. He'll be in 6th grade this yr. He has a lot of modifications & accomidations on his IEP to make it work. Having a sensory diet and schedules breaks last yr really helped.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 11:00pm

Hi Jennifer. I'm mostly a lurker right now as I'm still sorting things out (dd diagnosed with AS recently) but had to respond.

My dd, Haley, has been in mainstream classes up until last year when things just completely fell apart. We had just moved and the stress just sent her over the edge. The school didn't know how to handle her and in the process of it all just made matters so much worse. We finally were able to get her diagnosed but the school year was a shambles. We ended up pulling her out and setting her up with a home tutor for the remainder of the year.

I am meeting with the school people and special ed tomorrow actually in regards to what we will do for this coming school year. Both of Haley's therapists believe she should be in a special ed program at least for now. I will see what options are there and see what I can make happen. I wouldn't mind mainstream as long as Haley had an aide there but I don't think this school district offers that. Will have to find out tomorrow about it all.

Whatever is decided, I hope all works out well for him.

-- Jill



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Asp
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 12:19am

I to am in the still working things out stage as our Dx is new. I am due to have a meeting with our school district to find out what is offered. Josh though prior to Dx had some modifications in his IEP to include extended time for tests, a separate room for testing , preferential seating (closer to teacher away from doors and windows where he was greeting everybody walking by.) he was also getting OT and a social skills group. My main grip was that the testing modifications only seemed to be used when they had state testing otherwise he stayed in the classroom. Josh though was his own worse enemy there.
This year we will finally be in a inclusion classroom. Where regular kids and spec-ed kids will be mixed and there will be 2 teachers in the room. The main teacher and the other one to assist the kids. the idea is that she or he helps all the kids so you don't know who is or isn't special ed.

I am also still in the reading everything under the sun books about Asperger's. This time I am reading The Apserger Parent by Jeffery Cohen. Mainly he is saying that it does vary state to state, school, district on what they themselves are willing to do.And it isn't your child's fault. the school just does not want to deal with a special needs kid. It is up to us though to decide if it is worth fighting or not. But remember, if they do not want to teach you child in their environment, then the school: district must pay for the best environment suited for your child. If the school district can prove that they absolutely can not teach your kid or better yet you can prove it they you can push for them to pay.

So check the laws of your state and do bring in an education Advocate if needed. Look them up in your phone book or request the district find you one. I know my SIL works for our local Education Advocate and i am not afraid to mention it, usually most go by donations.

You child should be taught in the least restrictive enviorment needed. But again the school should be paying for it if they can not provide this option.

Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2005
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 8:37am

My ds Noah (9) -AS has been in "mainstream" preschool, kindergarten and he just finished 3rd grade in a gifted school. However, we have made the decision to homeschool him this year. He is not a behavior problem and does well academically but there's many things about the public school (at least our district) that are bothersome. Bullying began to be a real problem for my ds this year and the school barely addressed it-so safety is one issue. I would say the main thing for my son is the stress level for him at school is so high that it sucks the life out of him and doesn't make learning fun at all. He's too highg functioning to get any help - they mostly look at him and say "well Noah has got a lot of things going for him he's doing great" RIGHT! But he comes home a basketcase.

He can hold it together at school - doesn't meltdown (maybe a few tears sometimes) doesn't hit or act out, but given the behavior of some kids (they're horrible!) I wouldn't blame him if he did hit them! I would rather spend my energy teaching him rather than discusssing endlessly "how we can help Noah" and then not really having any answers or trying to get the school to get the bullies to stop bullying. Our solution (for now) is to remove him from the situation. Private school (a smaller school would be ideal) may be in the future but it's SO EXPENSIVE.

It is a nerve wracking prospect to think that he is not going to public school this year
but I've met a lot of people and gotten tons of helpful info. and now I'm really excited that my son gets to learn without all the stress.

Good Luck
Jane

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 9:36am

Jill,

The school is supposed to provide what ever your child needs to access a Free Apropriate Public Education in the least restrictive environment. Its the law under the IDEA or Individuals with disabilites Eduation Act. So there really is no such thing as "what the school offers", its what your child needs. Of course if you don't know that they'll certainly not tell you.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: dragonfairy2
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 11:00pm

Cait was in special ed preschool and 1/2 of K. Then she was mainstreamed with an IEP and supports including sometimes an aide on and off up to 5th grade. 5th grade she finally really needed a 1:1 aide for at least 1/2 day. Then in middle school she was placed in a specialized Asperger program with specialized class for 2 periods and mainstreamed with an aide for all academics.

Mike has been in a special day classroom with a 1:1 since beginning 3rd grade. He had an 1:1 in mainstream in 2nd but it wasn't enough. Next year in 5th he will be mainstreamed for about 1/3 of the day with his 1:1 aide an in SDC for the rest of the day with his aide.

Renee

Photobucket