Will schools tell you honestly about if they take ASD kids?

[Anonymous]

I have an ADHD child with many social cue issues and some definite cognitive rigidity. He doesn't qualify as ASD yet but I think he touches the edge of the spectrum regardless (as do his therapists). He has no behavior issues.

So many schools supposedly don't take ASD kids based on this forum, but we really would love to move him to a private where the teachers and kids are kind and the school is open to ND learners. I don't want to put my son through a bunch of interviews and get him excited about schools where he really doesn't have a chance. If I call the admissions offices, will they be open either me about what kinds of profiles they take and don't take? I am thinking of schools like Burke and Field and SAES, for example.

[Anonymous]

We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

Following. How did your child do (or is doing) at Field?

[Anonymous]

In my experience, they try to be upfront, but I also think that it can be hard for them to know without understanding your child's full profile, just like for any applicant. Some ASD kids would do great in a particular setting, and others would struggle. It is a spectrum, as we all know, and which areas kids struggle or succeed in vary a lot between individuals.

We had one school say that they did not generally think kids with SN were a good fit for them. It was a little offensive (since we are looking there for our other kid who is NT), but I also appreciated the honesty because they really don't feel they can do a good job of supporting kids with different needs.

Other schools asked us to apply and see how he fit in. Maybe they would review a neuropsych ahead and talk with you about the chances of the kid fitting or not.

[Anonymous]

I know at Commonwealth they reviewed our Neuropsych test results before we applied to see if we fit the profile. They didn't have our child visit until we had cleared that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

Following. How did your child do (or is doing) at Field?

Socially it was a good fit (although disrupted by the pandemic). Academically, they weren't able to provide as much support as my child needed -- although that was also made more difficult by the pandemic and not every autistic student also has learning disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

Following. How did your child do (or is doing) at Field?

Socially it was a good fit (although disrupted by the pandemic). Academically, they weren't able to provide as much support as my child needed -- although that was also made more difficult by the pandemic and not every autistic student also has learning disabilities.

Thanks. We're in 3rd grade elsewhere now and still working out the learning profile through additional testing. What LDs are you all managing? We might have language-based differences.

[Anonymous]

Even if the school lets your kid in, they don't have to keep him in if it doesn't work out for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

Following. How did your child do (or is doing) at Field?

Socially it was a good fit (although disrupted by the pandemic). Academically, they weren't able to provide as much support as my child needed -- although that was also made more difficult by the pandemic and not every autistic student also has learning disabilities.

Thanks. We're in 3rd grade elsewhere now and still working out the learning profile through additional testing. What LDs are you all managing? We might have language-based differences.

Mild dyslexia, which is mostly dealt with through using audio books, but more of a bigger deal is disability in written expression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked at burke and field a few years ago for my child with an autism diagnosis (and we submitted the neuropsych). Burke told us not to bother applying because "autistic students don't usually do well here." Field was very welcoming and we were accepted.

Following. How did your child do (or is doing) at Field?

Socially it was a good fit (although disrupted by the pandemic). Academically, they weren't able to provide as much support as my child needed -- although that was also made more difficult by the pandemic and not every autistic student also has learning disabilities.

Thanks. We're in 3rd grade elsewhere now and still working out the learning profile through additional testing. What LDs are you all managing? We might have language-based differences.

Mild dyslexia, which is mostly dealt with through using audio books, but more of a bigger deal is disability in written expression.

Thanks. We “live in your neighborhood.” So are you still at Field? It’s on our shortlist for the future.