What are MCPS Self-Contained Classrooms Like for Child with Autism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of behavioral problems? General spacey-ness, inability to get work done, lack of friends/inability to communicate well with peers, even breaking down if it's quiet are generally not taken too seriously by MCPS. If he's acting out they may be more responsive. It's the worst but that's how it works.

OP here. He usually responds with fight or flight. So either he runs away or he hits others and destroys property(the entire classroom).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be worse. The self contained classrooms are under staffed, and all of the children have behavior problems that yours will learn, and all of the kids are low functioning, and non-verbal. I wish I kept my child in special Ed, instead of moving over to the self contained autism program. Have you considered trying to get your child a personal aide? It's easier to attain if your child is not in a self-contained classroom.

This an outright lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be worse. The self contained classrooms are under staffed, and all of the children have behavior problems that yours will learn, and all of the kids are low functioning, and non-verbal. I wish I kept my child in special Ed, instead of moving over to the self contained autism program. Have you considered trying to get your child a personal aide? It's easier to attain if your child is not in a self-contained classroom.

This an outright lie.

No, its not. My child is in a self-contained autism classroom in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't see the part about the general learning delays. The Asperger's program is kids who are at grade level or above.

OP here...His last report card shows he is at grade level (for Kindergarten). He is not good when verbal directions are not directed at him (i.e., given to everyone in the class). He can read simple words and understands what sound each letter of the alphabet makes. His math skills are okay if he is concentrating. He can do double digit addition using methods we've taught him and is starting to understand the concept of multiplication. He can watch a movie and tell us the plot, the characters, and the outcome. We are working on translating those concepts to books.

Asperger's program usually starts later. I think in 3rd grade. They sometimes take younger kids but it's more of an exception.

I'm pretty sure most programs start in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of behavioral problems? General spacey-ness, inability to get work done, lack of friends/inability to communicate well with peers, even breaking down if it's quiet are generally not taken too seriously by MCPS. If he's acting out they may be more responsive. It's the worst but that's how it works.

OP here. He usually responds with fight or flight. So either he runs away or he hits others and destroys property(the entire classroom).

That kind of behavior will make MCPS want to put your kid in self-contained. This happened with my kid, but she improved a lot with medication, so she didn't stay there. Have you tried medicating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is in first grade in MCPS and has high functioning autism and ADHD. He has a lot of issues with communication beyond subjects he likes and this has led to a lot of general learning delays and behavioral issues (inability to communicate with his peers). DS is currently in the general education classroom with pull out services but we are wondering if he would be better in self-contained classrooms, particularly once they return to school in person.

He may do better at a learning center like Sandburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of behavioral problems? General spacey-ness, inability to get work done, lack of friends/inability to communicate well with peers, even breaking down if it's quiet are generally not taken too seriously by MCPS. If he's acting out they may be more responsive. It's the worst but that's how it works.

OP here. He usually responds with fight or flight. So either he runs away or he hits others and destroys property(the entire classroom).

That kind of behavior will make MCPS want to put your kid in self-contained. This happened with my kid, but she improved a lot with medication, so she didn't stay there. Have you tried medicating?

OP here...DS is on Adderall and Intuniv and we just increased his dosage. Are there other meds we should consider?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of behavioral problems? General spacey-ness, inability to get work done, lack of friends/inability to communicate well with peers, even breaking down if it's quiet are generally not taken too seriously by MCPS. If he's acting out they may be more responsive. It's the worst but that's how it works.

OP here. He usually responds with fight or flight. So either he runs away or he hits others and destroys property(the entire classroom).

That kind of behavior will make MCPS want to put your kid in self-contained. This happened with my kid, but she improved a lot with medication, so she didn't stay there. Have you tried medicating?

OP here...DS is on Adderall and Intuniv and we just increased his dosage. Are there other meds we should consider?

Anti-anxiety medications. Doctors typically start with an SSRI, but there are others. Our kid eventually ended up on Effexor, which made a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be worse. The self contained classrooms are under staffed, and all of the children have behavior problems that yours will learn, and all of the kids are low functioning, and non-verbal. I wish I kept my child in special Ed, instead of moving over to the self contained autism program. Have you considered trying to get your child a personal aide? It's easier to attain if your child is not in a self-contained classroom.

What a nasty comment. FYI there are kids in gen ed with just as many behavior problems, often they are the ones bringing guns to school and shooting people.

My experience has been good OP but I think some of it is luck, like people are saying it’s understaffed in some places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid the Learning Center at Flora Singer.

Why?

[Anonymous]

OP here. We are trying to consider all options that would work best for DS...is a self-contained classroom or private school better if money is not an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are trying to consider all options that would work best for DS...is a self-contained classroom or private school better if money is not an issue?

Have you thought about working with an advocate? They could help you sort through your options and potential best fits for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are trying to consider all options that would work best for DS...is a self-contained classroom or private school better if money is not an issue?

This depends a lot on your kid. There is no one right answer for everyone.

As PP suggested, an educational consultant/advocate would be able to help you with this. I recommend the Weinfeld Group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HFA kids often go into the Asperger's program. Those are not understaffed. He would spend half the day in self contained with a teacher and two paras, and the other half in general ed with a para for about 3 or 4 asperger kids. He would have to be at or near grade level and comminicate well enough to understand the general ed teacher.

Getting a one-to-one aide is almost impossible in MCPS.

+1. DS attended both the AS program at Sligo Creek (1 teacher and 2 teacher aides) and then later a non-public AS program. Thrived in both--what a difference from the regular elementary school classes where you are "the bad kid" due to an environment that may not be structured to meet your kid's needs and foster success! While missing in-person classes, DS had been excelling in our local high school, with a combination of regular/honors academic courses some with and others without support and a couple of self-contained classes with students of similar needs and academic profiles. Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in first grade in MCPS and has high functioning autism and ADHD. He has a lot of issues with communication beyond subjects he likes and this has led to a lot of general learning delays and behavioral issues (inability to communicate with his peers). DS is currently in the general education classroom with pull out services but we are wondering if he would be better in self-contained classrooms, particularly once they return to school in person.

He may do better at a learning center like Sandburg.

Sandburg is not diploma track. There are other self-contained programs for kids for whom grade level (or close to grade level) academics are appropriate.