HS-to push or not

[Anonymous]

Hoping to tap the collective beehive. We will be entering the admissions cycle for 9th grade for our anxious (but high functioning) social communication disorder DC who attends a small independent school. It would be easy to apply them out and consider similiar, small insulated schools. We have no doubt our DC would do well in a similar school environment. However, we are torn on if we should be keeping our eye to pushing/placing our DC in a school environment in which they will be required to use more skills (and therefor pushed to develop them) and therefor be potentially more prepared for normative situations that arise in college. This type of school environment would be larger and provide less relational teacher supports due to the simple size.

Anyone BTDT?

[Anonymous]

I would go with the schools that seem most skillful in developing these abilities, regardless of size.

It's not really the size of the school overall, it's the adult-child ratio, willingness to provide support, and skill of the staff, right?

[Anonymous]

I would send him to the school that meets his needs and allows him to be successful now. There are colleges of all sizes and support levels, so I wouldn’t let that worry you.

My son went to a small supportive private school and he’s now at a small supportive college. He had lots of options for colleges of that profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would send him to the school that meets his needs and allows him to be successful now. There are colleges of all sizes and support levels, so I wouldn’t let that worry you.

My son went to a small supportive private school and he’s now at a small supportive college. He had lots of options for colleges of that profile.

I agree. We did the opposite and it led to a mental health crisis and we essentially lost a years worth of tuition while addressing that.

[Anonymous]

You know your child's temperament. When NT kid is pushed, he's able to rise to the occasion and grow his skills. When my autistic kid is pushed, she gets overwhelmed, shuts down, and learns nothing. It's really hard to learn when your nervous system feels under attack and pushes you into freeze, flight, or fight.