Help!! Moving to DC: looking for consultant

[Twinsmama]

Any recommendations of a educational consultant to utilize to help us select schools for my 8 yo twins with Asperger's?? Even an advocate who is familiar with the schools? Desperate. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

http://downeyschoolconsulting.wordpress.com/

[Anonymous]

We use Rich Weinfeld for my 6 yr old with Asperger's. He's been great!

http://www.weinfeldeducationgroup.com

[Anonymous]

Has anyone worked with anyone on Rich Weinfeld's team (other than Rich)?

[Anonymous]

Never heard of him or Downey. Every single educational consultant we've tried seems to be more disturbed than our SN kids. I think the field - since it is in its infancy - attracts loons and those that have significant psych. problems themselves.

Why don't you start over, and tell us in Special Needs, the age of your children, diagnosis, and where you plan to live. Then the SN group (usually kind) can give you some concrete answers as to school availability in the area. There aren't many. I don't think you need the extra expensive of a consultant. Every dollar we spent on them (and we tried four) was wasted. You can figure it our yourself.

[Anonymous]

+1 on the post above. Wow, I could have written it myself, down to the fact that we tried three or four, and some of them were all on the spectrum of being different levels of disturbed, and that the money spent on this was a complete and utter waste. In fact, pp, I'm now curious as to who your four were.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I am Twinsmama the OP. You make great points and I tend to agree with what you are saying about PhDs. I don't want to over complicate things!

I have identical twin girls with Asperger's dx(HFA). They currently are in mainstreamed classrooms with pull out or resource (30 min) and Speech and OT during the week. They are sweet kids and this relo really scares me. My husband is with the Feds. At this point, we will either be in one of two places: the Gaineville area or the Chantilly/South Riding areas. I was hoping a consultant can help me from having a complete stroke/breakdown during this transition (HA!) by helping me figure out which school would be the best for for them. But perhaps that isn't what these individuals do? I have reviewed some private schools online for kids w/ learning differences, and while they look wonderful, the tuition was in the $25K range (can't happen unless we win the lotto).

I really appreciate your responses.

[Anonymous]

I will look up the info on Rich. Thanks for taking the time to help me!!

-Twinsmama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I am Twinsmama the OP. You make great points and I tend to agree with what you are saying about PhDs. I don't want to over complicate things!

I have identical twin girls with Asperger's dx(HFA). They currently are in mainstreamed classrooms with pull out or resource (30 min) and Speech and OT during the week. They are sweet kids and this relo really scares me. My husband is with the Feds. At this point, we will either be in one of two places: the Gaineville area or the Chantilly/South Riding areas. I was hoping a consultant can help me from having a complete stroke/breakdown during this transition (HA!) by helping me figure out which school would be the best for for them. But perhaps that isn't what these individuals do? I have reviewed some private schools online for kids w/ learning differences, and while they look wonderful, the tuition was in the $25K range (can't happen unless we win the lotto).

I really appreciate your responses.

Where is your DH's job? My sense is that Fairfax schools offer better and more special ed supports than Loudoun or Prince William. I would start off in Fairfax public and see how they do before spending money on private schools and ed consultants. If they are doing well in your current school in the mainstream class with supports, why not start with the same here and see how it goes? The IEPs should convert over.

[Anonymous]

I would probably start a new thread with the pertinent information re: diagnosis, age and geographical requirements.

A consultant can be helpful, in my experience, but they are expensive and the costs mount quickly. You're looking at $180 to $200 an hour plus travel.

[Anonymous]

+1 on the above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will look up the info on Rich. Thanks for taking the time to help me!!

-Twinsmama.

I'm the pp who recommended Rich. We have used him for the past two yrs ever since DS was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was four yrs old. I really like him. We have only used him for our IEPs however not school recommendations b/c we were and are still at a DC charter, language immersion, that we really like.

You should talk to him. Rich was a MoCo school official at one time and he is familiar with what programs are available for ASD especially gifted SN kids and the private schools, SN and mainstream, in this area. He is very soft spoken and not contentious at all. He does not have to be since most school officials at least in DC and MD know him by reputation if not in person. Well worth the money for us.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

From Twinsmama (OP)- sorry I am accessing on phone, easier to respond this way!

The hub is in fed government. I agree; we should try the same situation as we have here. I am in central Illinois (Springfield). While our school is great, I would suspect that the system in NoVA would be better...Illinois is pretty much the bottom of the barrel for everything (and we tend to elect governors who end in prison. ;-/ ).

I appreciate the info about Rich. So, it sounds like you used him as an "advocate" for your meetings? Good to hear he isn't off-putting. I appreciate the help. Thanks so much for taking time to respond to me.