Social Groups

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2007
Social Groups
6
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 12:07am
I've only posted a few times, but really value the advice given here. My son (Matthew 8y.o.) is going to be given either an official "educational" diagnosis of HFA or PDD-NOS at our next IEP meeting. We had a meeting with the school psychologist on Friday which outlined all the results of the testing. It was as generally positive as those things can be, but one of the questions that lingers with me is this....
The school Psych said Matthew could continue to attend his regular classes, with pull outs for speech and a class called "intensive social and communciation support". Sounds good, only they don't offer that class at our current school. The other issue is that Matthew has attended this school for 4 years now, and it is the "Science and Math magnet" that has some extras that really help him. So my question is, how many of you have experienced a school based class that works on social and organizational skills and was it worth it enough to change your child's whole environment for it? I am hoping there will be some other options for us, but any BTDT experience is welcomed.
Thanks
Kara
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 8:20am

My son is only 3 (will be 4 in July) and his special ed preschool invokes this kind of therepy, however, the therepy center he gets speech and ot from, has a social skills group.
This is a small group of 4-8 kids, dx'ed and just delayed and it features a speech therepist and behavioal specialist.

Now we are currently trying to get into a out of school social group for 6 hrs per week off school days.

Every state is different. If you are curious about what they recommend for your child ask about the programs they suggest and ask if there are any extra supports you can get for him/her.

good luck

Nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2007
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 12:14pm

What about an afterschool social skills group? In my area we have a place that has all sorts of groups like this for kids who are on the Autism spectrum or ADHD. They do a few other things as well.

If keeping your son in that school for what's offered educationally is important, that can be an option. If the "science and math magnet" really helps him that much, I would keep him in that school and seek something for afterschool.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 4:01pm

hi Kara,


I know we discussed this in chat, but I will say it again for the sake of other members.


I

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 6:11pm

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 10:19pm

Dear Kara,

Welcome to the board. We have had great growth and help from our son's participation in such groups, and our son (age 9, PDD-NOS) continues to benefit from learning social interactions in small settings with professional help. Also the help does transfer to impromptu outside settings ---- it's been exciting to watch him learn so much.

But it seems to me that the law is on your side that your current magnet school should have to provide this for him where he is!!! Not force him to move schools, that doesn't hold with IDEA at all, I believe. You may want to ask Steph and the other gals at Special Education Plans board here at ivillage how to proceed, but it seems to me his current school needs to form such a group for him!!!

Best of both worlds. Stay where he is doing well, learn more where he has challenges... That's what I would insist on...

Sara
ilovemalcolm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2007
In reply to: ncptgirl
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 11:46pm
Thanks for all your input (thanks Paula for reiterating too!). Our first IEP is 5/10. I'll keep you posted.
Kara