The McLean School: ASD kids need not apply

[Anonymous]

As the parent of a child with dyslexia and ADHD, I appreciate having options for schools that specifically target children like mine. ASD is a very different diagnosis and it would be detrimental to try to serve children with ASD in the same environment as children with LDs.

I’m not sure why OP can’t appreciate that and target schools that would serve her daughter well.

[Anonymous]

“Detrimental”, PP? Really? Be careful with over-generalizations. Especially those that are both inaccurate and hurtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Detrimental”, PP? Really? Be careful with over-generalizations. Especially those that are both inaccurate and hurtful.

There’s a reason McLean says they don’t serve those children well.

[Anonymous]

My child graduated from McLean School last year. He had several friends in his class with ASD and we have known several over our years at the school. Perhaps what the Co-Head of School meant was that McLean serves less well those with ASD who need more support than they have available. I would agree with one of the other posts that being transparent can be helpful in searching for a new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a child with dyslexia and ADHD, I appreciate having options for schools that specifically target children like mine. ASD is a very different diagnosis and it would be detrimental to try to serve children with ASD in the same environment as children with LDs.

I’m not sure why OP can’t appreciate that and target schools that would serve her daughter well.

Because kids on the spectrum can also have LDs and ADHD. You cannot just discriminate against a disability category as a blanket matter with no consideration of the details of the case. If Mclean wanted to have criteria about not taking kids with histories of behavioral or disruptive issues, low IQ, or observed inability to participate in group work - or the child just needs more educational supports than the target student population- that’s fine. But many many kids on the spectrum don’t have those issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child graduated from McLean School last year. He had several friends in his class with ASD and we have known several over our years at the school. Perhaps what the Co-Head of School meant was that McLean serves less well those with ASD who need more support than they have available. I would agree with one of the other posts that being transparent can be helpful in searching for a new school.

It would be nice if they clarified what they meant. It’s even possible that Mclean is too low achieving academically for many kids on the spectrum. Lots of autistic kids are gifted and mainly just need more flexibility and acceptance but not support for learning disorders and attention. But I’m sure the Mclean head would never say “We are an option for kids who need more academic handholding - kids mildly on the spectrum will do better in a mainstream private.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a child with dyslexia and ADHD, I appreciate having options for schools that specifically target children like mine. ASD is a very different diagnosis and it would be detrimental to try to serve children with ASD in the same environment as children with LDs.

I’m not sure why OP can’t appreciate that and target schools that would serve her daughter well.

Because kids on the spectrum can also have LDs and ADHD. You cannot just discriminate against a disability category as a blanket matter with no consideration of the details of the case. If Mclean wanted to have criteria about not taking kids with histories of behavioral or disruptive issues, low IQ, or observed inability to participate in group work - or the child just needs more educational supports than the target student population- that’s fine. But many many kids on the spectrum don’t have those issues.

They didn’t categorically say anything except that they don’t serve ASD kids as well.

Of course there are kids with ASD who would do well there. There are also kids with ASD who would not do well. All they did was acknowledge that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child graduated from McLean School last year. He had several friends in his class with ASD and we have known several over our years at the school. Perhaps what the Co-Head of School meant was that McLean serves less well those with ASD who need more support than they have available. I would agree with one of the other posts that being transparent can be helpful in searching for a new school.

It would be nice if they clarified what they meant. It’s even possible that Mclean is too low achieving academically for many kids on the spectrum. Lots of autistic kids are gifted and mainly just need more flexibility and acceptance but not support for learning disorders and attention. But I’m sure the Mclean head would never say “We are an option for kids who need more academic handholding - kids mildly on the spectrum will do better in a mainstream private.”

That isn’t fair to kids with LDs. My kid is dyslexic and has ADHD, but her IQ is 136 and she maxed out the visual spatial reasoning sub test. That’s not unusual for kids with dyslexia. So to say McLean is too low academically is a bit insulting.

[Anonymous]

I sat at the same open house. The line was “don’t serve as well”.
Which to me - invites a conversation for each individual applicant with that diagnosis.
Nobody said “we don’t serve”.
Nobody said “don’t apply”.
Nobody said “you’re not welcome here”

[Anonymous]

Same - there too. I heard “as well for those on the autism spectrum disorder whose primary needs are social or emotional”.

So if that’s not your kid, as you state, what’s the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a child with dyslexia and ADHD, I appreciate having options for schools that specifically target children like mine. ASD is a very different diagnosis and it would be detrimental to try to serve children with ASD in the same environment as children with LDs.

I’m not sure why OP can’t appreciate that and target schools that would serve her daughter well.

Because kids on the spectrum can also have LDs and ADHD. You cannot just discriminate against a disability category as a blanket matter with no consideration of the details of the case. If Mclean wanted to have criteria about not taking kids with histories of behavioral or disruptive issues, low IQ, or observed inability to participate in group work - or the child just needs more educational supports than the target student population- that’s fine. But many many kids on the spectrum don’t have those issues.

They didn’t categorically say anything except that they don’t serve ASD kids as well.

Of course there are kids with ASD who would do well there. There are also kids with ASD who would not do well. All they did was acknowledge that.

The intent of the statement was pretty clear and had the intended impact (OP’s child knew she should not apply.) Sometimes evidence of discrimination is hard to prove, but this is overt evidence that is almost as clear as it gets. If by chance it was misinterpreted or misstated then McLean should clarify asap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child graduated from McLean School last year. He had several friends in his class with ASD and we have known several over our years at the school. Perhaps what the Co-Head of School meant was that McLean serves less well those with ASD who need more support than they have available. I would agree with one of the other posts that being transparent can be helpful in searching for a new school.

It would be nice if they clarified what they meant. It’s even possible that Mclean is too low achieving academically for many kids on the spectrum. Lots of autistic kids are gifted and mainly just need more flexibility and acceptance but not support for learning disorders and attention. But I’m sure the Mclean head would never say “We are an option for kids who need more academic handholding - kids mildly on the spectrum will do better in a mainstream private.”

That isn’t fair to kids with LDs. My kid is dyslexic and has ADHD, but her IQ is 136 and she maxed out the visual spatial reasoning sub test. That’s not unusual for kids with dyslexia. So to say McLean is too low academically is a bit insulting.

You didn’t like that, did you? People are SO used to reflexive stigma against autism.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry OP that you and your daughter had this experience! I had a similar reaction on a phone call with the admissions director who repeated several times that she wouldn’t “shut the door” on my son who has LDs because of his ASD diagnosis (also mild) but that they would have to assess his application because they can’t really serve kids well with ASD. I want to go to a school where my son is celebrated not tolerated. It’s next to impossible in the DMV area to find a private school that serves kids with mild ASD but who also have learning disabilities. I found McLean was dismissive just hearing his diagnosis of ASD. Even worse was Siena! When I spoke to their admissions head, they said he would have to have an addendum on his neuropsych proving his no longer meets criteria for ASD in order to be considered. That seemed like discrimination to me.

OP did her research and spoke to a consultant. I’m sorry OP that your daughter had to hear that so publicly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child graduated from McLean School last year. He had several friends in his class with ASD and we have known several over our years at the school. Perhaps what the Co-Head of School meant was that McLean serves less well those with ASD who need more support than they have available. I would agree with one of the other posts that being transparent can be helpful in searching for a new school.

It would be nice if they clarified what they meant. It’s even possible that Mclean is too low achieving academically for many kids on the spectrum. Lots of autistic kids are gifted and mainly just need more flexibility and acceptance but not support for learning disorders and attention. But I’m sure the Mclean head would never say “We are an option for kids who need more academic handholding - kids mildly on the spectrum will do better in a mainstream private.”

That isn’t fair to kids with LDs. My kid is dyslexic and has ADHD, but her IQ is 136 and she maxed out the visual spatial reasoning sub test. That’s not unusual for kids with dyslexia. So to say McLean is too low academically is a bit insulting.

You didn’t like that, did you? People are SO used to reflexive stigma against autism.

This is so true. It’s also true that McLean just isn’t that rigorous. It wouldn’t meet the need the academic needs of a ASD kid like mine, who has ASD and ADHD and goes to a mainstream rigorous private.

[Anonymous]

it speaks really poorly of the school that they dont realize that autism and 'social, emotional' challenge are MASSIVELY widespread now. In my kids class at mainstream private, 50% of the kids have some kind of social emotional challenge and therapy. or more. so idk where ANY school gets off thinking they can get away with not supporting that. it's not something you can opt out of in 2023.