Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to schools?

[Anonymous]

What if it does not fit their profile any longer? They do not get any supports in the IEP for ASD but just for executive function. Is it true that revealing ASD will automatically shut applicant out from most mainstream privates as well as other specialized schools not specifically geared for ASD?

[Anonymous]

It's up to you what you share. But sometimes it says in the contract that not disclosing things can be grounds for non-renewal.

[Anonymous]

My experience has been that private schools in the D.C. area generally do not want to admit students ASD. If your DC does not need accommodations, I wouldn't disclose it. If you want accommodations for executive functioning deficits, then they will likely ask for evaluation reports, etc.

[Anonymous]

All the schools we applied to asked if there had been any evaluations and wanted copies.

[Anonymous]

EF support can be directly tied to ASD.

Some schools will request neuropsych testing and depending on what they ask for, you may need to submit a report that includes the diagnosis.

If you think ASD does not fit their profile any longer, your parent written response should paint a picture of your child that illustrates this.

[Anonymous]

They request testing and hiding information is grounds for termination. You don't want to go through starting a new school and getting counseled out at some point. You also want to have a positive working relationship with the school. While they may not be allowed to assess, teachers and administrators have enough experience to recognize ASDs and it will be obvious you hid info.

[Anonymous]

Our experience with the application process this year was that schools asked for copies of neuropsych testing and the IEP. But that was for schools that are known to accept some degree of SN. I’m not sure about totally mainstream schools.

Our DC was right on the cusp of the ASD diagnosis and it could have gone either way. We asked for it to be included in the eval as a diagnosis in hopes that it would lead to more support from the school. In retrospect, that might have been the wrong decision. We thought about asking the psychologist to redo the evaluation report leaving out the diagnosis but the findings were also mentioned in the IEP.

[Anonymous]

We've moved a lot and as a result, have attended a number of schools. I disclosed once, but DS is very very mild. Even so, I had to submit a formal evaluation stating that he did not qualify for therapy, doctor and teacher evaluations from the last 3 years of daycare. Private not known for SN.

Second school I did not disclose, but like others said, it may let you into the school, but it shuts the door on executive functioning support. DS doesn't qualify for IEP or anything so I was ok at that point with the tradeoff.

One private school we toured, I asked the teachers re: ASD and they got this look on their face that made me instantly backtrack. We didn't apply there but I don't think they would have let us in after I said those words (not in DC).