Which district for HFA?

[Anonymous]

MCPS or DCPS? Lower elementary school?

[Anonymous]

MCPS - they have established programs that are stable. DCPS decides they are going to move in a different direction and the program that was working goes away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS - they have established programs that are stable. DCPS decides they are going to move in a different direction and the program that was working goes away.

In which Es, MS and Hs? It’s a huge huge 500 sq mile county and not all areas work for our commute.

[Anonymous]

If you think a self contained program might be appropriate, then definitely Mcps (and they'll bus him to the appropriate school, regardless of where you live). If you think inclusion is appropriate, dcps might be better -- mcps provides more support via paras, while it seems easier for mainstreamed students in dcps to get time with special ed teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think a self contained program might be appropriate, then definitely Mcps (and they'll bus him to the appropriate school, regardless of where you live). If you think inclusion is appropriate, dcps might be better -- mcps provides more support via paras, while it seems easier for mainstreamed students in dcps to get time with special ed teachers.

DP. Is that true for middle and high school too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think a self contained program might be appropriate, then definitely Mcps (and they'll bus him to the appropriate school, regardless of where you live). If you think inclusion is appropriate, dcps might be better -- mcps provides more support via paras, while it seems easier for mainstreamed students in dcps to get time with special ed teachers.

DP. Is that true for middle and high school too?

I don't know. My friends in mcps with autistic children in MS and HS are either in self contained programs (and generally happy) or mainstreamed with only a resource class for support (which is sufficient for these particular students). The DC people I know, including us, left dcps after ES.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not DCPS. FCPS if you can swing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS - they have established programs that are stable. DCPS decides they are going to move in a different direction and the program that was working goes away.

In which Es, MS and Hs? It’s a huge huge 500 sq mile county and not all areas work for our commute.

That is the great thing about MoCo - they have buses that will take your child to the right program.

Tilden Middle School is known for having a really good program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think a self contained program might be appropriate, then definitely Mcps (and they'll bus him to the appropriate school, regardless of where you live). If you think inclusion is appropriate, dcps might be better -- mcps provides more support via paras, while it seems easier for mainstreamed students in dcps to get time with special ed teachers.

DP. Is that true for middle and high school too?

We are in MCPS with an Autistic child (don't use functioning labels but the diagnosis is Level 1). She was in the "home school model" for most of elementary school (general ed with supported classrooms). In middle school we asked for her to be moved to the Asperger's program but don't let anyone fool you that it is easy - at least it was not for us. There are plenty of Autistic kids mainstreamed in MCPS and only a very small number of spots in the special programs. We had to really fight for them. Some don't have as much of a fight and I'm not sure why - the few I have talked to got easily moved to the specialized programs becuase they had more outward "behaviors" that the teachers in mainstream couldn't deal with. There are many more programs in MS and HS, but some are only for Autistic kids (Aspergers, Autism Resources Services, Autism Services) and which one depends on academic functioning (Aspergers = typically grade level or above, ARS typically 2 or more years behind, Autism Services = high support needs). And then there are programs like Bridge (self-contained with inclusion opportunities and not under the Autism umbrella but mostly Autistic kids), ESES and SESES (emotional disabilities), RICA (residential) etc. It's not perfect by any means but we are relatively happy with MCPS, and yes, if you kid is placed in a specialized program they are bussed from home to the school where the program is housed.

[Anonymous]

I hear that MCPS is decent if you have a boy. If you you have a girl, I’m told they are few girls in these programs so they leave. Not sure which districts are better, we’re new to this with a late diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

We’re in DC, not DCPS but a charter. High school. It’s been ok, especially elementary which was great and I had none of the eligibility struggles I’ve read about on here. But we were already in a well regarded charter when issues become apparent. Because of the lottery, I can’t recommend moving here. Now in HS and I think it will work out ok but there are lots of uncertainties with the lottery etc.

I hear the Francis Stevens HFA program is ok but no direct experience. That’s elementary, DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I’m in Arlington with a HFA kindergartener and having a good experience so far. But of course we are just a few weeks into the school year. I’m happy to report back once we’ve gotten further along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think a self contained program might be appropriate, then definitely Mcps (and they'll bus him to the appropriate school, regardless of where you live). If you think inclusion is appropriate, dcps might be better -- mcps provides more support via paras, while it seems easier for mainstreamed students in dcps to get time with special ed teachers.

DP. Is that true for middle and high school too?

We are in MCPS with an Autistic child (don't use functioning labels but the diagnosis is Level 1). She was in the "home school model" for most of elementary school (general ed with supported classrooms). In middle school we asked for her to be moved to the Asperger's program but don't let anyone fool you that it is easy - at least it was not for us. There are plenty of Autistic kids mainstreamed in MCPS and only a very small number of spots in the special programs. We had to really fight for them. Some don't have as much of a fight and I'm not sure why - the few I have talked to got easily moved to the specialized programs becuase they had more outward "behaviors" that the teachers in mainstream couldn't deal with. There are many more programs in MS and HS, but some are only for Autistic kids (Aspergers, Autism Resources Services, Autism Services) and which one depends on academic functioning (Aspergers = typically grade level or above, ARS typically 2 or more years behind, Autism Services = high support needs). And then there are programs like Bridge (self-contained with inclusion opportunities and not under the Autism umbrella but mostly Autistic kids), ESES and SESES (emotional disabilities), RICA (residential) etc. It's not perfect by any means but we are relatively happy with MCPS, and yes, if you kid is placed in a specialized program they are bussed from home to the school where the program is housed.

I have some fears that MCPS will be less willing/able to work with “behaviors” since they have all the alternative placements. My DS has been fully mainstreamed in DCPS but with a lot of effort at times. I wonder if MCPS would just give up on him being mainstreamed.

[Anonymous]

It takes a lot of effort to get in to the programs in MCPS. It's really unlikely they would push your child into a program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes a lot of effort to get in to the programs in MCPS. It's really unlikely they would push your child into a program.

You might get a decent IEP on paper but they will not do much for HFA if the kid is doing ok.