Please help us--where to send child with significant health problem?

[Anonymous]

To 3:51, I too have OI. Physicians can give names if families waive HIPAA and give their consent to pass on their names. Some people have done this and serve as resources to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 3:51, I too have OI. Physicians can give names if families waive HIPAA and give their consent to pass on their names. Some people have done this and serve as resources to others.

In the 15 years I've been going to Shapiro, as recent as last month, never has he asked me to waive HIPPA to serve as a resource to OI families. Has he asked this of you?

[Anonymous]

In Va, I think two great options are MSNV or Pinecrest. Both are tiny schools known for being nurturing yet academically challenging. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Va, I think two great options are MSNV or Pinecrest. Both are tiny schools known for being nurturing yet academically challenging. Good luck!

MSNV would be a nightmare for a child with a walker or wheelchair.

[Anonymous]

OP here, finally getting a chance to check back. Thanks to everyone so much for the wealth of information! we have been looking at your suggestions. We are a little nervous about religious schools as we are lesbians and I am a doctor for Planned Parenthood. So Catholic schools are definitely out...not sure about Episcopal schools. We are looking at the Kensington, Takoma Park, Silver Spring areas so far. We do want to be close-ish to DC if possible so that my wife can see the kids at dinner and help with homework and such. Everyone has really nailed the requirements we have--we love the idea of a progressive school and have scanned the websites for Lowell, Sheridan and Green Acres. Our daughter would love those schools but she would likely break there way too easily, and we have the same concerns of course about publics--the independence issue is huge. If she were jostled wrong on the playground it could be a major incident and that is traumatic not only for our daughter but also for her classmates and teachers.

However we will be looking closely at the two publics listed above--calling them is on my to-do list for Monday! I am also planning to call WES, SSFS and...what was it called? SSESS? I can't keep up with the acronyms

thanks again to everyone. we have upped our housing budget btw to 3000-3500

[Anonymous]

OP, I recommend that you look at Friends Community School in College Park. It's a single-story, nearly new, accessible building, a wonderful Quaker community, progressive education, a number of same-sex parent households, and is for grades K-8. Also a fairly easy drive from close-in Silver Spring if your other children were to attend a public school there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I recommend that you look at Friends Community School in College Park. It's a single-story, nearly new, accessible building, a wonderful Quaker community, progressive education, a number of same-sex parent households, and is for grades K-8. Also a fairly easy drive from close-in Silver Spring if your other children were to attend a public school there.

That's a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, finally getting a chance to check back. Thanks to everyone so much for the wealth of information! we have been looking at your suggestions. We are a little nervous about religious schools as we are lesbians and I am a doctor for Planned Parenthood. So Catholic schools are definitely out...not sure about Episcopal schools. We are looking at the Kensington, Takoma Park, Silver Spring areas so far. We do want to be close-ish to DC if possible so that my wife can see the kids at dinner and help with homework and such. Everyone has really nailed the requirements we have--we love the idea of a progressive school and have scanned the websites for Lowell, Sheridan and Green Acres. Our daughter would love those schools but she would likely break there way too easily, and we have the same concerns of course about publics--the independence issue is huge. If she were jostled wrong on the playground it could be a major incident and that is traumatic not only for our daughter but also for her classmates and teachers.

However we will be looking closely at the two publics listed above--calling them is on my to-do list for Monday! I am also planning to call WES, SSFS and...what was it called? SSESS? I can't keep up with the acronyms

thanks again to everyone. we have upped our housing budget btw to 3000-3500

The Episcopal church has a wonderful history of advocating for LGBTQ rights, and does not teach pro-life beliefs. While there may be individuals who are prejudiced at Episcopal schools, I don't think there will be more than at secular schools, or Quaker schools, and overall you will feel very welcomed.

[Anonymous]

Grace in Kensington one level with relatively recently rehabbed restrooms. There's a student who uses a walker in the younger grades. Kensington goes to 3 different pyramids for public--the better two are Walter Johnson and BCC. This house would go to WJ and walking distance to Kensington-Parkwood elementary.

http://www.homes.com/property/4309-ambler-dr-kensington-md-20895/id-400013288298/

[Anonymous]

I know you are looking private but you may want to check out Bridges Public Charter School in DC. I can not remember what grades t is through right now but it may be able to accommodate all of your children.

[Anonymous]

It would be great to have two first graders with physical disabilities at Grace. It is a wonderful class, very diverse. (e.g., Black, white, Asian, Jewish...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the suggestions that you're getting for the Episcopal schools are good ones. I'd add St. Patrick's to the list, although it's probably the least likely to have space at this point in the summer.

Schools like Green Acres and Lowell, while lovely and a great choice for many kids, are probably not going to be the best choice in this situation. There's too much movement within the classroom in a very progressive environment, which can be hard for a kid with mobility impairments. If other kids are working on the carpet, for example, a child who is using a wheelchair that day will be excluded. The Episcopal schools are a little more traditional in that kids are often at desks, and will have their "place" in the classroom, which can then be tailored to their needs. I know that the spaces at Grace and W.E.S. are also accessible, with open hallways etc . . . I have never been in C.E.S..

I'd also look at St. Andrew's, but I don't know whether the space at St. Andrew's is accessible. The lowest grades are in a church, and church settings are sometimes problematic because the spaces aren't purpose built.

The other thing I'd think about is whether the MCPS schools that were designed with accessibility in mind would work. 2 schools come to mind. One possibility would be Forest Knolls in Silver Spring, which has a reputation as a lovely school for all kids, but is also the site of MCPS's physical disabilities program. The kids in that program probably have more consistent needs than your daughter (e.g. they may be full time wheelchair users, and may have other issues like needing high tech computer systems), but they're fully included which means that the classrooms and bathrooms are designed for them. Forest Knolls is also a very diverse school, including socio-economic diversity, and as a result has Title 1 funding that they use to keep classes under 20 in the early grades.

Another school to look at is Bethesda Elementary. Bethesda is considered one of the best inclusion programs in the area, probably the best in the county. They house the School Community Based program, which serves kids with severe multiple disabilities, and again include many kids with significant mobility challenges in their classrooms, so they're really good about physical space and using technology. The Bethesda Elementary area is more expensive, and you'd probably be looking at an apartment rather than a house, but it might be doable if you took the money you'd put towards tuition and put it towards rent.

Bethesda ES is known for being inclusive of special needs kids. But frankly - it is big and VERY chaotic - especially in the entrance/lobby area during start and end times, during lunch and recess times, and especially during special events (ie Science Fair, etc). Many larger schools have similar chaos during these times but I really would not recommend that environment based on the concerns you shared for your child (especially without seeing the school at those times for yourself). And the principal can be difficult and dismissive of parent concerns - which is also not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, finally getting a chance to check back. Thanks to everyone so much for the wealth of information! we have been looking at your suggestions. We are a little nervous about religious schools as we are lesbians and I am a doctor for Planned Parenthood. So Catholic schools are definitely out...not sure about Episcopal schools. We are looking at the Kensington, Takoma Park, Silver Spring areas so far. We do want to be close-ish to DC if possible so that my wife can see the kids at dinner and help with homework and such. Everyone has really nailed the requirements we have--we love the idea of a progressive school and have scanned the websites for Lowell, Sheridan and Green Acres. Our daughter would love those schools but she would likely break there way too easily, and we have the same concerns of course about publics--the independence issue is huge. If she were jostled wrong on the playground it could be a major incident and that is traumatic not only for our daughter but also for her classmates and teachers.

However we will be looking closely at the two publics listed above--calling them is on my to-do list for Monday! I am also planning to call WES, SSFS and...what was it called? SSESS? I can't keep up with the acronyms

thanks again to everyone. we have upped our housing budget btw to 3000-3500

If you are looking at Kensington, the Stephen Knolls p.s. focuses on kids with physical disabilities:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/knolls/

A lot of the kids have walkers etc. without cognitive delays.

Yes, Sandy Springs Friends School is SSFS.

[Anonymous]

You'll love Takoma Park it's a very inclusive city and it's on the subway line, really wonderful feeling of being in a town with adowntown, etc. Almost like New England. Wish I'd found it before buying elsewhere, and the elementary school will work for your 2 older kids, but is huge. What about the Sheridan School? It's in DC but one of you will drive her. I know nothing about its layout or how busy it is, but I know the school is progressive. It's worth a phone call, anyway.

Homeschooling isn't an option? You both work?

Also, Grace Episcopal is small... do call them. I've known Takoma Park parents to choose it. ..

[Anonymous]

Stephen Knolls School is a separate public day school which provides a Special Education Program for students who range in age from three to twenty-one years, with mild to severe cognitive deficits and multiple disabilities. Stephen Knolls School provides collaborative comprehensive educational services utilizing a transdisciplinary approach within a center-based school. THIS IS ON ITS WEBSITE. It is not a good option for you.

People really should not comment if they don't know what they are speaking about. The correct school is Forest Knolls.