Experiences w Public/Private Sector Schools for Children w ASD - RICA, Ivymount, KT, Hoover Bridge?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have feedback on MCPS public and private sector schools for children w ASD/Autism (high functioning). In particular, any experiences/opinions on RICA, Ivymount, Katherine Thomas, Herbert Hoover Bridge?

[Anonymous]

Ivymount can be really hard to find a space in-they are picky about who they accept, sometimes they run waitlists, and they don't take kids with too difficult "behaviors".

There is also a private school called The Frost School in montgomery county that takes children with high functioning autism, but I have heard mostly negative things about it.

Auburn in Silver Spring is a possibility as well, but they are also pretty choosy about who they take.

[Anonymous]

RICA is for students with emotional disabilities (w/behaviors). The Frost School IMO is excellent. My son went there (Oakmont - the program for kids with ASD) and it was very tailored to each student.

[Anonymous]

Frost is also for students with emotional/behavioral challenges.

[Anonymous]

Please, don't consider the Bridge program. It uses an out of date, overly punitive behavioral level system, which doesn't "work" for many kids with ASD. The bridge program mixes kids with ED and ASD in the same classes without Individualizing behavioral approaches.
There is no real social skills training.
You have to "earn" the right to be mainstreamed.
Restraint of children occurs.
Students are often excluded from class and sent to sit with no instruction in an alternative structure classroom. Too many kids have been emotionally harmed by Bridge, and their parents withdraw them to homeschool and repair the damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please, don't consider the Bridge program. It uses an out of date, overly punitive behavioral level system, which doesn't "work" for many kids with ASD. The bridge program mixes kids with ED and ASD in the same classes without Individualizing behavioral approaches.
There is no real social skills training.
You have to "earn" the right to be mainstreamed.
Restraint of children occurs.
Students are often excluded from class and sent to sit with no instruction in an alternative structure classroom. Too many kids have been emotionally harmed by Bridge, and their parents withdraw them to homeschool and repair the damage.

I'm in total agreement w your assessment of Herbert Hoover Bridge and would not recommend this program for an ASD child.

[Anonymous]

Ivymount and KTS are great schools for kids with ASD. If the county is trying to get your ASD child into Bridge or RICA I would hire a lawyer ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Please, don't consider the Bridge program. It uses an out of date, overly punitive behavioral level system, which doesn't "work" for many kids with ASD. The bridge program mixes kids with ED and ASD in the same classes without Individualizing behavioral approaches.
There is no real social skills training.
You have to "earn" the right to be mainstreamed.
Restraint of children occurs.
Students are often excluded from class and sent to sit with no instruction in an alternative structure classroom. Too many kids have been emotionally harmed by Bridge, and their parents withdraw them to homeschool and repair the damage.

Agree with this 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Frost is also for students with emotional/behavioral challenges.

This is true but they have a program there specifically for students with ASD. It's the Oakmont program which is housed in the same building but has its own teachers, aides, classes rooms, and behavioral system (which is different from Frost the ED program).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ivymount and KTS are great schools for kids with ASD. If the county is trying to get your ASD child into Bridge or RICA I would hire a lawyer ASAP.

MCPS parent. My son attends the Model Aspergers Program at Ivymount. I would suggest touring the school and meeting with the Director to find out more and see if it's a good fit.

Model Asperger Program Information Session - 10:00am Thursday, May 21

[Anonymous]

Just FYI, we have also been told that Ivymount won't admit ASD kids with tough behaviors. They are in a position to cherry-pick. (Not sure if this is an issue for you)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ivymount and KTS are great schools for kids with ASD. If the county is trying to get your ASD child into Bridge or RICA I would hire a lawyer ASAP.

MCPS parent. My son attends the Model Aspergers Program at Ivymount. I would suggest touring the school and meeting with the Director to find out more and see if it's a good fit.

Model Asperger Program Information Session - 10:00am Thursday, May 21

I attended the Model Asbergers Ivymount program and it looks like a solid program. I still need to compare as in "fit" against their Multiple Learning Needs program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frost is also for students with emotional/behavioral challenges.

So is this where the kids go if they have difficult behaviors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Frost is also for students with emotional/behavioral challenges

.

So is this where the kids go if they have difficult behaviors?

Where what kids go if they have behaviours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frost is also for students with emotional/behavioral challenges.

So is this where the kids go if they have difficult behaviors?

Behaviors the public schools can't manage? Depends on the age of the kid. There is also Frost, RICA, Phillips.