Best schools for child with physical disability

[Anonymous]

Hi - I'm moving to the DC area. My 4-year old has Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. I would really appreciate advice about the best schools in the District - public, private, charter, etc. that would meet his physical needs. Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

When does he turn 5?

[Anonymous]

He turns five at the end of May

[Anonymous]

Great, so this fall your child will have the right to attend the school in which your home/apt is zoned. So if you move to the Janney zone! then your child has the right to attend Janney.

To start, I would definitely call the DCPS critical response team and ask for a list of schools that are handicapped accessible for all grade levels (not just K on the main floor). Then narrow those down to neighborhoods you'd like to live in.

Without moving in bounds (IB) for a given school, you can also apply in the lotteries to OOB and charters - myschooldc.org - and see what happens. But your likelihoods of getting into a school OOB or charter at K are significantly less than they'd be if you just moved IB for that school.

GL!

[Anonymous]

the newer the building, the more likely it is to be accessible

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

For children with disabilities it is not all about what your IB school is.

I would call the DCPS critical response team and ask how you can gt placement in those schools if you are not IB.

Please cross post on th SN forum as people there are more aware of the nuances of how DCPS work for your child.

[Anonymous]

OP - for the last five years we had a student that used a walker and had cerebral palsy. He was very much part of of the student body from being the student body president to participating in the school musical. The school has not been renovated, but managed to meet his needs. I would say it has a very welcoming and committed policy towards children with disabilities.

He graduated last year. Here is a piece that was written about him. You will get a sense of the school from the article. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/eaton-fifth-graders-mark-graduation-with-a-special-send-off/2013/06/23/e1ad9410-dc38-11e2-bd83-e99e43c336ed_story.html

[Anonymous]

Thanks, will contact DCPS and great article about Eaton. Much appreciate everyone.

[Anonymous]

When I toured School within School, they said they have a special program outside the lottery for special needs. I would call and ask about them. Charter-wise, you should definitely check out Bridges. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Definitely check out Bridges. The Sharpe campus is very accessible for physically impaired students. The classrooms have their own Ada compliant bathrooms, large doorways, awesome ADA-compliant playground, etc.

[Anonymous]

How bad is the limb girdle? My niece has that and was diagnosed in pre school but is a senior in high school and still doesn't need a wheelchair. Upstairs and walking long distances are hard for her though. Really she should use a scooter but she refuses.

I wonder if kids with physical disabilities in dc can maneuver around the inbounds rules and get placed in schools that are better for them physically?

I went to eating and looooooved it! Long ago. It does have a lot of stairs but maybe the equipment is still there from when Caleb was there? Deal middle school is pretty big. I wonder if there is an elevator. Hardy middle school might be easier if there is an elevator since it is smaller?

[Anonymous]

I would also suggest look into Bridges PCS.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone!