Are there any TRULY inclusive privates in area?

[Anonymous]

Kids w/physical needs, like all kids, vary in abilities within classroom. Reality is, though, many see a kid (or adult) in a wheelchair or who move differently, and assume they cannot possibly be cognitively on level, or gifted learners. Reality too is that in our area, many schools are comfortable including kids on the milder autism spectrum, with language or even learning disorders, but are NOT comfortable including a kid in a wheelchair, if if that kid can out perform their top student. It takes more 'work' on a school's part to be accessible throughout the day. It is unfortunate, but the reality. I feel for the student who is very bright but just so happens to have limited mobility.

[Anonymous]

PP with the child on the autistic spectrum here again. I honestly don't have the experience to know what it is like to have a child with a physical disability (seems like a weird way to make a distinction, isn't autism physical?) and i don't doubt that there is discrimination. But I do have to gently disagree with the idea that schools are accepting children with mild autistic spectrum disorders. I know tons of families who fit that description whose kids have been shut out of all mainstream private schools, even though they are capable of keeping up. When we applied to my son's school, we did not disclose his diagnosis, we chose to be descriptive about his challenges instead. I believe he would not have been accepted otherwise. And this is a school that is otherwise open to children with learning differences (which is why I say that the school that is right for my son would not be right for my daughter).

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but interested in the answer, as we are also seeking such a school environment. I would be offended from poster #2, as she/he begins with "Are you serious?" Why wouldn't OP be 'serious'? Are you the poster police? That was definitely a rude way to begin a response.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the "rude" poster from above. First, I want to make sure that I didnt offended anyone who has special needs, physicall or mentally challenged children. I know thats a very special and difficult situation. My concern about the question is that it is too open ended and overly broad. What does the poster mean by inclusive. As i said previously, every school is different and the best fit should be determined by the child, your family and with the assistance of as much information as possible.

[Anonymous]

IMO, inclusive means a school that 'includes' kids of different races, cultures, ethnicities, learning styles, physical abilities, religions, family composition or choice--did I forget anything. You can find a school's Diversity Statement or Mission in their materials or on their sites. If you look carefully, many do leave out 'physical abilities' or 'family composition' (meaning no same gender/gay parents) or learning style. All will mention race/culture/ethnicity--Believe it or not, there ARE a few schools in our area (St. Patrick's is one, Lowell is another; For preschool, St. Columba's and NCRC) who go out of their way to be inclusive. And just because a school is diverse, does not mean it's inclusive. Diverse means you see different types of kids. Inclusive means they are made to feel a real part of the community. A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

[Anonymous]

Original "rude" poster here. I get what your talking about re inclusive. I just think it a PC term and frankly not realistic in looking at schools. All of these schools have mission statements etc. But how can you be inclusive when you're talking about $30K tuition bills. Even with financial aid, these schools are generally cost prohibitive for 99 percent of the metro population.

On feeling included, I'm not sure what that's all about. The vast majority of people want to include all their children's friend in event because it make their children happy. My DC attends Beauvoir and I'm astonished at the number of parent who've come up to me and said your "_____ dad, great to meet you becauce my little boy talks about your son all the time."

All these people who feel excluded need a dose of Dr. Laura or something. These are really self-esteem, adequacy or ther problems manifesting themselves in worries about inclusion, etc.

My child are going to school to get the skills, training and intellectual development to be ready for college, life and work! We need more focus on that in this country, not all this self-absorbed parental handwringing and obsession!

[Anonymous]

I don't think the poster is talking about feeling included. Inclusion is a term of art used to describe how differentiated learners or special needs kids are educated. You can put them in a special needs school or program or you can mainstream/include them in a "regular ed" school or program providing for their individual needs in that school or program. I applaud schools like McLean and NCRC that proactively do that. But private schools don't have to do it. That is why we ended up choosing public school for my son who has a physical disability which impairs his gross and fine motor skills. Most public schools use the inclusion model and there is some debate as to whether that is the most effective way for some special needs kids. It works for my son, who is only impaired physically. My son was rejected from two private schools and at the time I wished they would have been more "inclusive-minded." However, I believe with respect to my son they made the right decision. He would have been struggling to keep up in that challenging environment.

[Anonymous]

Rude poster again.

Very well said. I agree with your definition and understanding of "inclusion" as a pedogogical term.

However, from the original post:

...meaning welcome kids from varying cultures/races, same gender families AND kids with special needs/disabilities--even physical?

This is more about PC than style of learning.

[Anonymous]

How old is your child/what grade? How does he feel being in a mainstream environment, if old enough to share feelings. Thanks. I haven't been involved in prior posts, but am in same situation w/my child.