Would you send your typical child to school w/kids with needs?

[Anonymous]

Only asking because we are moving out of the area next year, and have found a wondeful private school in our new neighborhood where 1/2 the kids are typically developing, the other 1/2 have either mild physical challenges, language/speech challenges, or other mild disabilities. The attraction is that all of these kids have to have above average to superior intelligence as indicated through the WPPSI or other IQ test. It is a very child friendly place, developmentally appropriate, great facility space. I am sold, but wondering what others in our position would think? (BTW, my child is typically developing, very bright, will be in first grade next year)

[Anonymous]

My son would fit the bill in that special needs school. He has an above average IQ but has some sensory issues. I think if the program is implemented well and the students handpicked for it, it would work very well. I can't think of a better way to learn compassion and understanding for others.

[Anonymous]

My very bright, very sociable typical child attends that kind of school and we LOVE it. The inclusion atmosphere is good for everyone. You've never been to a nicer, warmer place. All the children are respected as individuals and the differences that place some of them ahead of the curve in some respects are as important as the ones that place them "behind" in others. Can you imagine a better time in life than childhood to absorb this message?

I can understand your concern, but honestly anybody who visits this type of school (like our visiting Grandparents, etc.) always comes away amazed. Inclusion really is a wonderful model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My very bright, very sociable typical child attends that kind of school and we LOVE it. The inclusion atmosphere is good for everyone. You've never been to a nicer, warmer place. All the children are respected as individuals and the differences that place some of them ahead of the curve in some respects are as important as the ones that place them "behind" in others. Can you imagine a better time in life than childhood to absorb this message?

I can understand your concern, but honestly anybody who visits this type of school (like our visiting Grandparents, etc.) always comes away amazed. Inclusion really is a wonderful model.

I'd love to send my 'typical' child to a school like this! Mind sharing which school it is? I only know of nursery/preschools like this. IMO, ALL kids have some kind of needs, and could benefit from extra attention, and learning from kids of all abilities.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely.

My answer, honestly, may have been different 15 years ago before I had both a special needs child and a "typical" one. That's only because I didn't know any better.

[Anonymous]

I'd LOVE for my child to attend school with kids with disabilities. I'll admit that OP since you pointed out it was a school for kids with above average or higher cognitive skills, that would attract me more than a school where kids had learning disabilities/cognitive delays. For my child, it is important to me that she has learning peers. And as long as we're honest, I would not send my child to a school where many of them are on the autism spectrum or have behavioral needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd LOVE for my child to attend school with kids with disabilities. I'll admit that OP since you pointed out it was a school for kids with above average or higher cognitive skills, that would attract me more than a school where kids had learning disabilities/cognitive delays. For my child, it is important to me that she has learning peers. And as long as we're honest, I would not send my child to a school where many of them are on the autism spectrum or have behavioral needs.

Have you heard of John Nash? For whom the Nash Equilibrium is named? And the subject of the movie "A Beautiful Mind"?

If you want to prevent your child from being exposed to people on the Autism Spectrum, you need to be prepared to protect her from many of the brilliant and talented minds of our civilization, for example: Edison, Einstein, Jefferson, Mozart, or Warhol (among countless others) if you can. Maybe she'll get contaminated by association, and you don't want to risk that.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course. If, as OP said, the kids were typical in their cognitive development.

[Anonymous]

Have you heard of John Nash? For whom the Nash Equilibrium is named? And the subject of the movie "A Beautiful Mind"?

If you want to prevent your child from being exposed to people on the Autism Spectrum, you need to be prepared to protect her from many of the brilliant and talented minds of our civilization, for example: Edison, Einstein, Jefferson, Mozart, or Warhol (among countless others) if you can. Maybe she'll get contaminated by association, and you don't want to risk that.

Not PP, but these folks were aspergers, not what most consider 'classic' autism. I think/hope what PP meant (and said they were being honest) was that a typical child's educational needs may be far different from a child with autism--with speech/language/social/learning concerns. You have to admit, your typical autistic kid is not Einstein, Jefferson, Mozart...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not PP, but these folks were aspergers, not what most consider 'classic' autism. I think/hope what PP meant (and said they were being honest) was that a typical child's educational needs may be far different from a child with autism--with speech/language/social/learning concerns. You have to admit, your typical autistic kid is not Einstein, Jefferson, Mozart...

Sure, I'll admit they were not described by "Kanner's Autism". But the point stands that Asperger's IS Autism and the DSM-IV backs me up on this. The ASD children that you'll run into in the mainstream academic environment are almost without exception HFA (High-Functioning Autism) or Asperger's. They may suffer varying degrees of social awkwardness, but not distracting in class (other than the fact they'd rather talk about the Periodic Table than, say Hannah Montana).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only asking because we are moving out of the area next year, and have found a wondeful private school in our new neighborhood where 1/2 the kids are typically developing, the other 1/2 have either mild physical challenges, language/speech challenges, or other mild disabilities. The attraction is that all of these kids have to have above average to superior intelligence as indicated through the WPPSI or other IQ test. It is a very child friendly place, developmentally appropriate, great facility space. I am sold, but wondering what others in our position would think? (BTW, my child is typically developing, very bright, will be in first grade next year)

Why are you attracted to a school with kids with only high IQs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd LOVE for my child to attend school with kids with disabilities. I'll admit that OP since you pointed out it was a school for kids with above average or higher cognitive skills, that would attract me more than a school where kids had learning disabilities/cognitive delays. For my child, it is important to me that she has learning peers. And as long as we're honest, I would not send my child to a school where many of them are on the autism spectrum or have behavioral needs.

Oh dear. I'm not sure I can tell which special needs are acceptable and which ones aren't. Would it really be so terrible for your second grader to share a class with a child with CP or Downs? Is the only valuable learning experience one that will help on the SATs? You don't think there's something profoundly beneficial to everyone involved to be the playmate and friend of someone who walks (or wheels) through life on such a different path? I don't think any SN parents are trying to get their cognitively-impaired children into your child's AP Chem class, after all. But we think there's something beautiful in ALL the 6-year-olds (even the ones in wheelchairs!) getting to go to the playground together.

I don't know who to feel most sorry for right now.

[Anonymous]

Well then I am going to get SERIOUSLY flamed by the PA police on here. I do care about which 'needs' are in my child's school. Not all schools (or teachers) are capable or experienced in teaching every child's needs. If the child has a physical challenge, language/speech disorder, but can handle a rigorous curriculum, and my child is not the only non-disabled student, then I would love for my child to attend any school that is as wonderful as the OP describes. But there are limits, and any honest parent would agree. I don't know if ADHD with severe behavior problems (and yes, some kids with autism and sensory issues exhibit these behaviors) is considered "special needs", but YES I will admit I would have concerns enrolling my child in a school where half the class has kids with these issues.

[Anonymous]

Me, too. Wouldn't enroll DS in a school where 1/2 the kids in his class had major behavior differences due to autism, ADHD, regulatory disorders and the like.

Hearing impairment, use of wheelchair, sight impairment, cerebral palsy, moderate Downs, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Me, too. Wouldn't enroll DS in a school where 1/2 the kids in his class had major behavior differences due to autism, ADHD, regulatory disorders and the like.

Hearing impairment, use of wheelchair, sight impairment, cerebral palsy, moderate Downs, sure.

But then your precious children would have to wait for those kids in wheelchairs and who use walkers. God forbid!