Hi,

In the aspergers program they teach appropriate pragmatic and social skills as well as organizational and problem solving skills that will allow students to participate more independently in the general education program. These students have some of their classes in a small classroom setting and others in the general education program.

That's exactly what my child needs

Thanks for your support.

Anonymous wrote:OP,

As others have stated, it's not enough to just be "at" Tilden or WJ or other. Instead, via your IEP team (and then a Central IEP meeting), it would need to be agreed to that your child needs a change in placement from the home school and into a program at one of the other schools, to meet his needs under the federal access law.

It's never too early to start the process, so reach out and schedule a tour, and then seek and IEP meeting to discuss placement. I am the pp above who attend the annual xminds event in conjunction with MCPS. It was helpful for me.

Yes I'm starting the process.

I have an appointment with the middle school aspergers program manager.

Anonymous wrote:You should come to the XMinds event next week, you will learn exactly what you need to know. Conveniently it will be at JW.

https://xminds.org/event-3282626

Administrators from the MCPS offices related to Autism come and present. There are also lots of other parents with first hand experience.

Thanks I plan to come.

Can I attend all sessions? Because in the registration I need to tick one session topic.

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from Julius West. In my opinion the school is a bit overwhelmed right now by over population, managing the ED program, and changes in the leadership team. I don't think your kid would get a lot of specialized attention other than having a para educator in the room.

He has speech and language sessions + an extra teacher in maths but it's not enough.

Thanks.

My child is in 6th grade. He should be in 7th grade but he re made a class when we moved to US from UK because we didn't have his school report.

In his last map tests in maths and in english he has a 5th grade level. He didn't improve since he's in middle school.

In elementary school he was almost on level.

He definately needs a specific program or he will be far behind.

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that there are many more kids with HFA/Asperger's diagnoses than there are spots in the Asperger's program.

This means that the spots that DO exist are reserved for kids whose current placement is not working and who need the specific accommodations or interventions offered. I'm not saying this to discourage you, but rather to clarify that it isn't enough to have a diagnosis.

I apologize if any of this sounds reductive or condescending. I know how hard it is to navigate a new system so wanted to try to break if down as much as possible.

No I understand. It might be harder than I thought but I'll do my best for my kid.

Thanks.

You will likely need to show that your child's needs are not being met at JW. I would keep a folder of projects and a record of any concerns you have. The goal is the least restrictive environment. If your child is succeeded at his home school, they will not want to move him (and succeeding only means accessing the curriculum not that he is getting high grades)

Ok I see. I hope they'll be supportive.

Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:I know you are new to the system, so wanted to spell something out in case it was unclear from the other answers:

Just being at Tilden may not be enough. You would want placement into the actual program there. For that, you would need to work with the team at your home school (JW) to make a case for why your child's current placement is not working, and what specific interventions are offered at Tilden that are not offered at JW.

Does that make sense?

Yes I didn't know. I'm glad I reached you. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Please be careful about sharing so much identifying information. If my child went to your child's school it would be quite easy to identify you.

Hi,

I don't think I could be identified. Anyway that's not a problem for me. I need help but thanks for your warning.

Anonymous wrote:As a first step, you may want to request a tour of the Aspergers program at Tilden. It is for students who have struggled with regular placement and need more help. There’s a wide range of abilities among students with Aspergers and the Aspergers program may or may not be a good fit for your ds. You’ll probably find more people who are knowledgeable about it on the Kids with Special Needs board.

Yes you're right. I'll make a tour but I feel this program will be more appropriate for him.

He's struggling more and more academically and he's often in trouble with his peers and teachers because of his social interactions difficulties.

Anonymous wrote:
Cher(e) compatriote,

You have to find more info on how to enter that program, by contacting the special education division of MCPS - look on their website.

I have a child in a different special needs program (GT/LD, or gifted, talented and learning disabled), and our IEP team approved of the switch, based on a private neuropsychological evaluation we had done and his behavior at school. In our case, our home address doesn't matter - my child is bused to the right school on a special needs bus.

If your child is high-functioning and capable, perhaps they might also do well in the GT/LD program. We are at North Bethesda (same cluster as Tilden), but depending on your home address, your child might be placed in the other GT/LD program up north.

Yes at Tilden and Ridgeview MS they have an aspergers program.

My child's aspergers has been confirmed by a private psychologist and by an MCPS psychologist.

Someone contacted me she works with middle school aspergers program. She said we might be assigned to Ridgeview. I'll double check with her because Tilden is 6.7 miles and Ridgeview 7 miles.

Thanks for your help!

Anonymous wrote:This is probably a good question for the disabilities Board, if you did not post it there, too.

Is it a special program at Tilden? If so, you will have to persuade your IEP team that Tilden is the best and most appropriate placement for your child. It can't be just based on success rate of the schools with your type of child, it has to be based on something specific in the program that your child needs to succeed in school. If you don't have an advocate, they might be able to help you with this - someone like Weinfeld Educational Group.

Thanks for your reply.

At Tilden they have an aspergers program. I heard at Ridgeview middle school too.

My child's diagnostic has been confirmed by an MCPS psychologist. I suppose it's good reason to change school if at Tilden or Ridgeview they have a specific program for children like mine. Isn't it?

Hi,

Thanks for reply it's clearer for me.

I don't know what good reasons I could give to change my child's school. Any idea please?

I'll talk soon to my child's case manager in his school.

Hi,

We moved to US few years ago.

The school system is still new for us.

I have a child who has been diagnosed with aspergers (High functioning autism). He has an iep plan.

I heard about the support for students with aspergers (High functioning autism) at Tilden middle school in Rockville. I think it could really benefit my child.

They have the best score 26% in MCPS for helping students with disabilities to succeed.

Tilden students attend Walter Johnson high school which has 35% again the best score in MCPS.

We're planning to buy a house within 2 years. We might search one in Tilden and Walter Johnson area but in the meantime we need to enroll our child at Tilden middle.

How can I register my child if it is not our assigned school?

And also do you think it's reliable to choose our house location based on greatschool ratings?

I often hear that MCPS are great but it should be a huge difference between an above average, average and a below average schools.

I already saw a huge difference in the percentage of students with disabilites success rate.

Thanks!

Oh I didn't know I wasn't logged in lol.