Accommodation for ASD in selective high school interview

[Anonymous]

This is a legit question. People mocking the OP are totally ignorant of what it’s like to be an ASD kid. The switch from standardized test to interviews (with current HS students, apparently!) has major implications for these kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Just what we need...more litigation. You know lawsuits aren't free, right? You also think the school is going to write down all the smoking gun reasons why the kid was rejected.

My recollection from when my kid did these interviews (this was back when there was still a Walls entrance test) was nobody wrote anything down...they used to interview the parents, so at least they didn't write anything down for us, but I don't recall seeing anyone with a pad for notes.

It all seemed like nonsense and I guess the rumor back then is your acceptance was just tied to your entrance test score anyway.

Yes... but now there is no entrance test. It's a totally different ballgame in terms of the importance of the interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a legit question. People mocking the OP are totally ignorant of what it’s like to be an ASD kid. The switch from standardized test to interviews (with current HS students, apparently!) has major implications for these kids.

"Your kid sucks and you probably suck, too" has been the constant chorus for anyone talking about issues with the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

The interview is an opaque way to privilege kids from certain schools and neighborhoods and weed out kids with disabilities. They would be better off if they just allocated a certain percentage of seats by ward or feeder; at least people would know the process and could rank schools accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they can’t get through an interview they probably aren’t ready for the school.

Wow! Ableist much?

+1. Not surprising, disabilities are sometimes overlooked or less prominently discussed in conversations about diversity and inclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The interview is an opaque way to privilege kids from certain schools and neighborhoods and weed out kids with disabilities. They would be better off if they just allocated a certain percentage of seats by ward or feeder; at least people would know the process and could rank schools accordingly.

Agree completely. And bring back the test scores. At least it's somewhat objective unlike every other item on the rubric they're using now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Oh boy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWW and Banneker have 0 kids with IEPs. That tells you a lot about their attitude toward students with disabilities.
FWIW, my autistic teen (not at SWW) is an excellent interviewee -- it's easier than regular reciprocal conversation for her. This is a skill that can be taught.

I know of a student and a recent grad from SWW who are autistic.
Both went through the test and interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Just what we need...more litigation. You know lawsuits aren't free, right? You also think the school is going to write down all the smoking gun reasons why the kid was rejected.

My recollection from when my kid did these interviews (this was back when there was still a Walls entrance test) was nobody wrote anything down...they used to interview the parents, so at least they didn't write anything down for us, but I don't recall seeing anyone with a pad for notes.

It all seemed like nonsense and I guess the rumor back then is your acceptance was just tied to your entrance test score anyway.

Depose them. I’m 100% serious. This has been building up for a while. DC has zero programs for 2E kids and it’s not OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a bright kid with autism to do?

Did you reach out to the school and ask for an accommodation.

If I were you, I would ask if your child could be 1st interview of the day when the school is not crowded and they are not already running late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a bright kid with autism to do?

Did you reach out to the school and ask for an accommodation.

If I were you, I would ask if your child could be 1st interview of the day when the school is not crowded and they are not already running late.

I think that the school needs to clarify how they are ensuring that interviews do not lead to bias in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The interview is an opaque way to privilege kids from certain schools and neighborhoods and weed out kids with disabilities. They would be better off if they just allocated a certain percentage of seats by ward or feeder; at least people would know the process and could rank schools accordingly.

Agree completely. And bring back the test scores. At least it's somewhat objective unlike every other item on the rubric they're using now.

This. Who do they think they are fooling.

Might just as well come out and say they are favoring disadvantaged kids from certain neighborhood and cannot accommodate kids with IEP well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Just what we need...more litigation. You know lawsuits aren't free, right? You also think the school is going to write down all the smoking gun reasons why the kid was rejected.

My recollection from when my kid did these interviews (this was back when there was still a Walls entrance test) was nobody wrote anything down...they used to interview the parents, so at least they didn't write anything down for us, but I don't recall seeing anyone with a pad for notes.

It all seemed like nonsense and I guess the rumor back then is your acceptance was just tied to your entrance test score anyway.

Yes... but now there is no entrance test. It's a totally different ballgame in terms of the importance of the interviews.

It's a student interview. DCPS would fold before they would let student interviewers get deposed and be subject to discovery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Just what we need...more litigation. You know lawsuits aren't free, right? You also think the school is going to write down all the smoking gun reasons why the kid was rejected.

My recollection from when my kid did these interviews (this was back when there was still a Walls entrance test) was nobody wrote anything down...they used to interview the parents, so at least they didn't write anything down for us, but I don't recall seeing anyone with a pad for notes.

It all seemed like nonsense and I guess the rumor back then is your acceptance was just tied to your entrance test score anyway.

Depose them. I’m 100% serious. This has been building up for a while. DC has zero programs for 2E kids and it’s not OK.

So, you spend your own money and sue. Stop suggesting somebody else fight your battle.

Great look deposing a 16 year old student who is on the interview committee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically the kiddo is awkward in social interactions. Doesn’t make eye contact well. Takes some time to process questions. Can come across as rude if you don’t know the situation. When people know the situation and factor it in the kid comes across better and as thoughtful.

If they do not get selected I’d sue. 100% serious. Make them show the documentation about how they made the decision and what role the interview played.

Just what we need...more litigation. You know lawsuits aren't free, right? You also think the school is going to write down all the smoking gun reasons why the kid was rejected.

My recollection from when my kid did these interviews (this was back when there was still a Walls entrance test) was nobody wrote anything down...they used to interview the parents, so at least they didn't write anything down for us, but I don't recall seeing anyone with a pad for notes.

It all seemed like nonsense and I guess the rumor back then is your acceptance was just tied to your entrance test score anyway.

Depose them. I’m 100% serious. This has been building up for a while. DC has zero programs for 2E kids and it’s not OK.

So, you spend your own money and sue. Stop suggesting somebody else fight your battle.

Great look deposing a 16 year old student who is on the interview committee.

civil rights cases have fee shifting provisions, hon. and if that 16 year old is playing a role in disability (or other) discrimination for school selection, then they can be deposed.