HFA/ADHD in DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a success story for students with ASD (and ADHD) in a DCPS school or DCPS-funded private placement?

[Anonymous]

Yes. The HFA program at SWS is a gem.

[Anonymous]

Private funding for Ivymount for hfa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The HFA program at SWS is a gem.

What happens after SWS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The HFA program at SWS is a gem.

What happens after SWS?

Wish I knew. Hopefully there will be a middle school option in place by then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The HFA program at SWS is a gem.

What's the "trick" to getting in? They always seem to be full!

[Anonymous]

Lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawyer

We did not have a lawyer or an advocate. Our child was identified as a good fit by the IEP team and DCPS central. Plus we were lucky that funding for a new tranche of kids came through right when we had a need.

Hopefully DCPS will set up more HFA programs, especially since they're not going through with the Stevens program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lawyer

We did not have a lawyer or an advocate. Our child was identified as a good fit by the IEP team and DCPS central. Plus we were lucky that funding for a new tranche of kids came through right when we had a need.

Hopefully DCPS will set up more HFA programs, especially since they're not going through with the Stevens program.

He had his flaws, but getting the HFA programs up and running was a priority of Nathaniel Beers, not sure there's anyone now at DCPS with quite the same background and commitment.

I've heard from people in the DC Special Ed community that DCPS is focused on "doing better on inclusion" -- which they do need as well. But not sure what, if anything, this means for expansion of HFA programs. Hopefully they can/will address all of it.

[Anonymous]

^ The HFA program at SWS is fully inclusive. It's for ASD kids who can be fully mainstreamed. So if DCPS wants to expand inclusion the SWS program provides a successful model.

[Anonymous]

NP -

We are moving to town and are very intrigued

1. approx'ly how many HFA kids are in each grade at SWS?
2. Which grades are covered? It sounds like it is k-5
3. What is the typical profile, eg at or above grade level, no disruptive behavior etc
4. How many Spec Ed hours would a typical kid have (or in what range is the typical participant)
5. How much "embedded" social pragmatic instruction/scaffolding is there given that this is typically the biggest challenge for HFA? How is it accomplished?
6. Is Ivymount involved as they were with Stevens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP -

We are moving to town and are very intrigued

1. approx'ly how many HFA kids are in each grade at SWS?

There are two cohorts of 8 kids each. So eight kids in grades 3-5, and eight kids in grades K-2. So about three kids per grade, with some variation. (Note: There may not be openings.)

2. Which grades are covered? It sounds like it is k-5

See above. That said in practice it really starts in 1st grade. Last year there were no kids in K.

3. What is the typical profile, eg at or above grade level, no disruptive behavior etc

My child is at or above grade level without disruptive behaviors, which seems typical.

4. How many Spec Ed hours would a typical kid have (or in what range is the typical participant)

My child receives less than 5 hours of special education per week. I have not seen other IEPs.

5. How much "embedded" social pragmatic instruction/scaffolding is there given that this is typically the biggest challenge for HFA? How is it accomplished?

There's a pull out social skills class that utilizes Unstuck and On-target and other curriculum. Plus there's a resource room for when kids need a break. Also, most kids eat together in the Strategies/resource room, not in the cafeteria-- though some prefer the cafeteria.

There are also aides in the classroom who assist the kids.

6. Is Ivymount involved as they were with Stevens?

The program started through an Ivymount partnership but I'm unclear on what if any affiliation still exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP -

We are moving to town and are very intrigued

1. approx'ly how many HFA kids are in each grade at SWS?

There are two cohorts of 8 kids each. So eight kids in grades 3-5, and eight kids in grades K-2. So about three kids per grade, with some variation. (Note: There may not be openings.)

2. Which grades are covered? It sounds like it is k-5

See above. That said in practice it really starts in 1st grade. Last year there were no kids in K.

3. What is the typical profile, eg at or above grade level, no disruptive behavior etc

My child is at or above grade level without disruptive behaviors, which seems typical.

4. How many Spec Ed hours would a typical kid have (or in what range is the typical participant)

My child receives less than 5 hours of special education per week. I have not seen other IEPs.

5. How much "embedded" social pragmatic instruction/scaffolding is there given that this is typically the biggest challenge for HFA? How is it accomplished?

There's a pull out social skills class that utilizes Unstuck and On-target and other curriculum. Plus there's a resource room for when kids need a break. Also, most kids eat together in the Strategies/resource room, not in the cafeteria-- though some prefer the cafeteria.

There are also aides in the classroom who assist the kids.

6. Is Ivymount involved as they were with Stevens?

The program started through an Ivymount partnership but I'm unclear on what if any affiliation still exists.

Thanks!