Looking for recs on mainstream privates that are inclusive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I think you REALLY need to understand that the kids in mainstream privates in this area are also all very bright AND don't have ASD. Is it fair to force your kid into that situation - only you know the answer to that.

I’m from the area and am very aware. And, yes, that’s correct - only I know the answer. And believe me, I’ve heard your opinions. Thank you. Now I’ll keep open this thread and see what, if anything, comes in re specific schools while completing the current testing/consulting process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add Lowell to your list. They are very inclusove and have many kiddos with different learning needs, including social. Maddux is the best at this age, however!

If your child has any "behaviors" at all, I caution you about Lowell. I frequently see posters toss Lowell out as an inclusive school and that's misleading. Lowell is an inclusive school that prides itself on diversity, but they are very limited in the supports they can provide for kids with certain types of special needs. Lowell is excellent at supporting kids with learning differences. We were at Lowell for three years. DC presented as NT when we enrolled. HFA/ADHD diagnosis came later. We had an amicable parting of the ways when it became clear DS would be better served in a SN private. We have no complaints at all about Lowell; they were wonderful to us. I recommend Lowell all the time to parents of NT kids, and even parents of kids with certain learning differences. But it should not be at the top of the list for kids with ASD and/or behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Lowell to your list. They are very inclusove and have many kiddos with different learning needs, including social. Maddux is the best at this age, however!

If your child has any "behaviors" at all, I caution you about Lowell. I frequently see posters toss Lowell out as an inclusive school and that's misleading. Lowell is an inclusive school that prides itself on diversity, but they are very limited in the supports they can provide for kids with certain types of special needs. Lowell is excellent at supporting kids with learning differences. We were at Lowell for three years. DC presented as NT when we enrolled. HFA/ADHD diagnosis came later. We had an amicable parting of the ways when it became clear DS would be better served in a SN private. We have no complaints at all about Lowell; they were wonderful to us. I recommend Lowell all the time to parents of NT kids, and even parents of kids with certain learning differences. But it should not be at the top of the list for kids with ASD and/or behaviors.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Lowell to your list. They are very inclusove and have many kiddos with different learning needs, including social. Maddux is the best at this age, however!

If your child has any "behaviors" at all, I caution you about Lowell. I frequently see posters toss Lowell out as an inclusive school and that's misleading. Lowell is an inclusive school that prides itself on diversity, but they are very limited in the supports they can provide for kids with certain types of special needs. Lowell is excellent at supporting kids with learning differences. We were at Lowell for three years. DC presented as NT when we enrolled. HFA/ADHD diagnosis came later. We had an amicable parting of the ways when it became clear DS would be better served in a SN private. We have no complaints at all about Lowell; they were wonderful to us. I recommend Lowell all the time to parents of NT kids, and even parents of kids with certain learning differences. But it should not be at the top of the list for kids with ASD and/or behaviors.

I could say the same thing about Green Acres.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Lowell to your list. They are very inclusove and have many kiddos with different learning needs, including social. Maddux is the best at this age, however!

If your child has any "behaviors" at all, I caution you about Lowell. I frequently see posters toss Lowell out as an inclusive school and that's misleading. Lowell is an inclusive school that prides itself on diversity, but they are very limited in the supports they can provide for kids with certain types of special needs. Lowell is excellent at supporting kids with learning differences. We were at Lowell for three years. DC presented as NT when we enrolled. HFA/ADHD diagnosis came later. We had an amicable parting of the ways when it became clear DS would be better served in a SN private. We have no complaints at all about Lowell; they were wonderful to us. I recommend Lowell all the time to parents of NT kids, and even parents of kids with certain learning differences. But it should not be at the top of the list for kids with ASD and/or behaviors.

I could say the same thing about Green Acres.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think you REALLY need to understand that the kids in mainstream privates in this area are also all very bright AND don't have ASD. Is it fair to force your kid into that situation - only you know the answer to that.

I’m from the area and am very aware. And, yes, that’s correct - only I know the answer. And believe me, I’ve heard your opinions. Thank you. Now I’ll keep open this thread and see what, if anything, comes in re specific schools while completing the current testing/consulting process.

NP. It's so ignorant to think that there are not ASD kids at mainstream privates who are doing well. For K, try Chesterbrook if you are in Virginia. I think they only do junior K but I know a few kids who have done well there recently. If you are in Maryland you might want to call Harbor. I think it goes to 2nd or 3rd grade and it's very nurturing. I do think it can be great if you can afford it and you have the time to give your child the most possible support at this age so that he can be mainstreamed later and do well so while I completely understand your desire to look at mainstream privates you may be happier in the long-run with a SN school at this age. Many Maddux graduates, for example, are doing very well now in mainstream privates but I wonder if they would be struggling more if they hadn't had that early childhood support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think you REALLY need to understand that the kids in mainstream privates in this area are also all very bright AND don't have ASD. Is it fair to force your kid into that situation - only you know the answer to that.

I’m from the area and am very aware. And, yes, that’s correct - only I know the answer. And believe me, I’ve heard your opinions. Thank you. Now I’ll keep open this thread and see what, if anything, comes in re specific schools while completing the current testing/consulting process.

NP. It's so ignorant to think that there are not ASD kids at mainstream privates who are doing well. For K, try Chesterbrook if you are in Virginia. I think they only do junior K but I know a few kids who have done well there recently. If you are in Maryland you might want to call Harbor. I think it goes to 2nd or 3rd grade and it's very nurturing. I do think it can be great if you can afford it and you have the time to give your child the most possible support at this age so that he can be mainstreamed later and do well so while I completely understand your desire to look at mainstream privates you may be happier in the long-run with a SN school at this age. Many Maddux graduates, for example, are doing very well now in mainstream privates but I wonder if they would be struggling more if they hadn't had that early childhood support.

Harbour is extremely close to Maddux. Of course there are ASD kids at all schools, the issue is the degree to which they are impacted. A lot of kids who are not diagnosed until much later likely do "fine" at mainstreams even if they struggle socially etc.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean physically close? It is not close at all in terms of philosophy, style of teaching and the types of kids they attract. Unless you mean they are both have very understanding environments which they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think you REALLY need to understand that the kids in mainstream privates in this area are also all very bright AND don't have ASD. Is it fair to force your kid into that situation - only you know the answer to that.

I’m from the area and am very aware. And, yes, that’s correct - only I know the answer. And believe me, I’ve heard your opinions. Thank you. Now I’ll keep open this thread and see what, if anything, comes in re specific schools while completing the current testing/consulting process.

NP. It's so ignorant to think that there are not ASD kids at mainstream privates who are doing well. For K, try Chesterbrook if you are in Virginia. I think they only do junior K but I know a few kids who have done well there recently. If you are in Maryland you might want to call Harbor. I think it goes to 2nd or 3rd grade and it's very nurturing. I do think it can be great if you can afford it and you have the time to give your child the most possible support at this age so that he can be mainstreamed later and do well so while I completely understand your desire to look at mainstream privates you may be happier in the long-run with a SN school at this age. Many Maddux graduates, for example, are doing very well now in mainstream privates but I wonder if they would be struggling more if they hadn't had that early childhood support.

Harbour is extremely close to Maddux. Of course there are ASD kids at all schools, the issue is the degree to which they are impacted. A lot of kids who are not diagnosed until much later likely do "fine" at mainstreams even if they struggle socially etc.

Just to clarify so there isn't confusion later -- Harbor is a PK-2nd mainstream school that is currently on Bradley, in the same general physical vicinity as Maddux, but they recently announced that they are moving to a new, as yet undetermined, location. Harbour (with a u) is a SN school for more complex kids in Annapolis. Two totally different schools, but people get them confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean physically close? It is not close at all in terms of philosophy, style of teaching and the types of kids they attract. Unless you mean they are both have very understanding environments which they do.

Yes, I mean physically close.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for the specific examples, names,
Etc!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact you’re not getting specific names speaks Columbus, right? It’s a unicorn. I’m not trying to be mean but these are the kids that Maddox, Newton, Ieps and social
Skills classes were made for. You sound nice but you’re just not the first one to face this exact predicament. And we already told you the best options.

+1000 OP is chasing a unicorn. I am the pp with the 11 with ASD/ADHD and the number 1 reason DS is going to a SN school for middle school is at the recommendation of his neuropsych, Dr. David Black. OP, what schools does your educational consultant and neuropsych recommend? I am sure you are paying them a lot of $$$$$, you should listen to them.

The good news is that once your child is older, you can always apply to mainstream privates if that is your goal. By then there will have a much clearer picture of your child's abilities and what kind of supports are needed.

We are early in the testing/consulting process, so no recs yet. But we are in mainstream preK now based on prior nneuropsychologist recommendation, which isn’t K, I know, but.... Also, for what it’s worth, we were told by KKI that kiddo has good chance of becoming subclincal at some point. We know this happened with two of his cousins by age 9. They went public (different state) and were denied IEP. So, all of this is running in the back of my mind as we move this process.

OP, you have one foot in hopeful denial land and one foot in reality and that is why it is so hard to advise you. I have no idea what to tell you other than my kid is in mainstream private and they are not trucking with a kid who needs help. They are not equipped to do so. You need to do some self introspection on this process. That is what I see. WTF cares where your child ends up you meet them where they are. That is literally what we are all doing. Get there.

My kid with ASD/ADHD made it on the spectrum by one point on the ADOS when he was 4. I guess you can say he "barely" made it on the spectrum and most people who knew him at that age (and even now at 11) did not think he has any diagnosis at all - I get this reaction all the time including this past weekend - but it is one thing to present as NT outside school and another to be happy and thriving at school.

Everyone in our family attended private schools like the Big 3 but in an even bigger city from k-12 and beyond. According to our neuropsych, DS can manage the academics just fine anywhere. However, I want him to be happy and like school, have friends, etc.

Just because your child with ASD can manage a mainstream private school does not mean he should be sent there. If your child has ASD, they will qualify for an IEP. Yes, even super bright one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think you REALLY need to understand that the kids in mainstream privates in this area are also all very bright AND don't have ASD. Is it fair to force your kid into that situation - only you know the answer to that.

I’m from the area and am very aware. And, yes, that’s correct - only I know the answer. And believe me, I’ve heard your opinions. Thank you. Now I’ll keep open this thread and see what, if anything, comes in re specific schools while completing the current testing/consulting process.

NP. It's so ignorant to think that there are not ASD kids at mainstream privates who are doing well. For K, try Chesterbrook if you are in Virginia. I think they only do junior K but I know a few kids who have done well there recently. If you are in Maryland you might want to call Harbor. I think it goes to 2nd or 3rd grade and it's very nurturing. I do think it can be great if you can afford it and you have the time to give your child the most possible support at this age so that he can be mainstreamed later and do well so while I completely understand your desire to look at mainstream privates you may be happier in the long-run with a SN school at this age. Many Maddux graduates, for example, are doing very well now in mainstream privates but I wonder if they would be struggling more if they hadn't had that early childhood support.

Sure there are ASD kids at mainstream privates. That's the main selling point for SN schools like Maddux. We were told at a presentation for another SN school that their graduates have gone on to many mainstream privates including "all the saints". But these kids are older not looking at K.

[Anonymous]

Maddux is NOT a SN schools. It is licensed as a 'traditional' school and is NOT reimbursable by healthcare insuance carriers because it does NOT treat conditons and it DOES NOT utilize a specialized curriculum.

[Anonymous]

I think ASD pretty much qualifies for a IEP . Now what supports in the IEP are a different matter. Those will also changes from PK through elementary