MCPS and ASD - HELP!
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Anonymous
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I could write a book here, but basically we've been struggling with MCPS for over 2 years. Our DD has HFA and some academic challenges related to her ASD. She needs increasing social skills support and 1:1 coaching to resolve social conflicts, but no other "behavioral" issues (she has not been a behavioral problem in school). We have been told twice over the last two years that the Asperger's program is not a good fit for her, but her IEP team at her home school agrees she needs more support than they can provide in the gen ed setting. We have hired advocates, consultants, therapists, we have had her therapists write letters that she needs a different placement - all to be told at a recent IEP that Asperger's isn't the right placement but perhaps her file needs to be referred to the central office. I know that means considering other placements within MCPS and maybe even private - but I'm so confused i trying to determine what is the right fit. We thought Asperger's because she has ASD and to us - all of her issues are connected with that. But the Autism Unit says no - she needs too much emotional/academic support (??!). But we think she is too high functioning for a private placement. We feel totally stuck between a rock and a hard place.
What placements have worked for your child with a similar profile? We are exhausted and at the end of our rope. We can't afford Auburn, Commonwealth, etc. |
Anonymous
| OP again - also, does anyone know what it means that Auburn is on the list as an "affliate" school? |
Anonymous
| I'm sorry you're going through this. What grade will the child be in in the fall? |
Anonymous
| What are your DD's academics like? There's a Learning Center at Jones Lane ES that's specifically designed for students with autism that you should maybe ask about. If she's significantly below grade level, that's probably why Autism is saying no to the Asperger's program, but that could also mean Jones Lane might be a good option. If she's NOT significantly below grade level, well, just because Autism said no to Asperger's doesn't mean CIEP wouldn't put her there anyway to try it out. |
Anonymous
| The Asperger's programs are for students who are at, or above, grade level, but who need daily instruction in social skills and executive functioning. |
Anonymous
+1 If your DD needs extensive support, these programs are just going to frustrate you and her further. |
Anonymous
| Are you really poopooing a private placement? This is the dream for most SN MCPS parents. Your advocate should also be weighing in here about where she thinks your kid belongs. Are you still using her? Have you even toured the privates? You should really find out what they have to offer your kid. |
Anonymous
| Op here: we don’t object to private placement at all!! Here’s the thing: she has minimal academic struggles. She is on grade level in reading - slightly below in math. She has some comprehension issues when it comes to inferences. So her academic needs aren’t “significant” by MCPS standards. Cognitive ability average to superior, depending on the tested area. She has executive functioning and social issues. They also cited “emotional” needs - but the only evidence of that are she has errors in her social perception and is unhappy with her school situation. |
Anonymous
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My kid is well above grade level and needed more behavioral/emotional support than yours was in the Asperger's program. They did fine with her. They do offer a lot of individualized instruction, so I don't see why they would have a problem with your kid.
Laura Solomon is the advocate who got the placement for us. She is EXTREMELY aggressive and MCPS knows her all too well. In fact, you might get the placement just by threatening to hire her. :lol |
Anonymous
Do private speech or a reading tutor this summer for the inferences/comprehension. MCPS will not help. |
Anonymous
Imagine what happens to the quality of the program if many students who are poor candidates are admitted because their parents threaten to hire an extremely aggressive advocate or attorney? How does that turn out for the students who are perfect candidates? Will they be properly served if staff is overwhelmed try to meet the needs of students who don't fit the profile the program is intended to serve? |
Anonymous
MCPS is very haphazard about how they decide placements. If there are any actual criteria, they certainly spare no effort in hiding what they are. They also don't provide enough spots in their special programs. Maybe if more parents advocated aggressively for their children, MCPS would be forced to actually meet the needs of the children they are supposed to be helping. |
Anonymous
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I have a child in the Aspergers Program and agree 100% that MCPS is not at all transparent about what child "fits" the program.
To be honest, the kids in that program have to deal with a LOT of transitioning from their Aspergers classroom to the mainstream class for academics. It can be tough on a child who may not be able to handle all the coming and going. They also have to be able to go to gen ed for a lot of the day. So, if there is a lot of IEP time for academics, then this may not be the place for your DD. But, it is odd to me that they won't consider the Aspergers class if your DD is not doing well in an inclusion setting. Do you know where you are going to be placed next year? |
Anonymous
| Avoid the Bridge program at all costs. |
Anonymous
Why? Which one? |