Reply to Seeking parents of children with DS/SN who attend Woodrow Wilson High Schoool

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP - can you say more about the Whitman program?[/quote]

I don't have a child in the program so don't have direct experience.  It's called Living for Independence and some (maybe many?) of the kids stay until age 21.  There is a mix of special needs in the program.  As I understand it the kids have some special classes and attend some mainstream classes (I think usually with a student buddy).  The school also has a corollary sports program and a very active Best Buddies program.[/quote]

Thanks for the information.[/quote]

I'm the "blunt" poster above.  To give you a context for my perspective, I'm a special educator who also has a small private practice as a tutor.   Through my private practice I've gotten to know the programs I describe below.

MCPS actually has a pretty wide range of programs for kids with disabilities.  I can describe the options in the Southwestern part of the county best (Bethesda Chevy Chase (aka BCC), Walt Whitman, and Walter Johnson clusters) but there are equivalent programs in other parts of the county.  You can find out what programs any school has by googling the name of the school and the words "school at a glance" and then looking in the "School Programs" box on the right hand side. Given the wide range of functioning for kids with Down Syndrome, any of these options might be appropriate.

1)[b] Inclusion options:[/b]  For both kids who are able to access grade level curriculum with scaffolding, support, and modified expectations, and for kids who benefit from alternative curriculum delivered in a general education environment. MCPS has inclusion programs in every high school in the county.  These include co-taught classes, remedial classes like Read 180, support classes (where a kid takes a class like Algebra, plus a second period of "Algebra Support", resource rooms where kids can work on assignments from other classes with the support of a special educator, paraprofessional support in classes, and related services.  MCPS also has a pretty extensive array of vocational options at the Thomas Edison School, and run buses back and forth to every high school so that kids can split their day between vocational and academic classes. The Bethesda Chevy-Chase cluster uses a "home school" model which basically intensifies the inclusion support, and allows for some very complex kids to receive the majority of their education in a general education environment.

2) [b]Learning and Academic Disabilities[/b] these programs generally serve kids with average range IQ's, who need more structure and support to access grade level curriculum.  I think the line between what I described above, and the LAD program are pretty blurry.  All 3 high schools I mentioned above have LAD programs.

3) [b]Learning Centers[/b] also serve kids who are working on MCPS's "regular" standards, but  are usually a little more complex.  They may have borderline IQ's or mild intellectual disabilities, they may have some degree of autism or difficulties with attention and regulation, or have significant speech and language needs.  They may also be farther behind academically.  For whatever reason, these kids do better with smaller class sizes, specially trained teachers, and specialized curriculums.  They may also be working on standards from previous grades in addition to or instead of the standards from their current grade.  Walter Johnson hosts this program.

4) [b]Learning for Independence[/b] serves children who are generally working towards an alternative diploma, and have a developmental disability, such as an intellectual disability, TBI, ASD etc . . . Children in this program are working on vocational skills, and functional academics such as using money, and reading written instructions.  Walt Whitman, and Walter Johnson both have LFI programs.

5) [b]School Community Based[/b] programs serve kids with more significant developmental disabilities, who may be working on basic communication skills, navigating the community safely, and other similar goals.  Walter Johnson and Walt Whitman both have SCB programs.

MCPS has other programs as well, such as those for autism, asperger's, hearing impairment, and emotional disturbance.  They also have some specialized schools for the kids with the most severe needs.  These programs aren't as likely to serve students with Down Syndrome, unless they also have other disabilities as well, such as a student who has Down Syndrome and Autism, or who has DS and is deaf.

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