Reply to Newsweek: "Schools Are Killing My Son's Autism Support Under the Veil of Equity"

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Reply to "Newsweek: "Schools Are Killing My Son's Autism Support Under the Veil of Equity""

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?[/quote]

I truly don't think there are any, which is what makes me suspicious of the entire "article," which is really just the equivalent of a blog post. It seems that MCPS is phasing out this specific approach, which is sort of a "magnet" for kids with autism. Current kids will finish, but new kids will attend geographically closer programs that serve kids with autism and other learning differences.

Now, I think there's an interesting discussion that folks could bring to the table about whether autism-specific programs are better than programs that serve a variety of kids on the diploma track, but I don't see those arguments being made. More importantly, the insistence that this is about "equity" makes it seem like the author is trying to turn it into a culture war discussion instead of a "how to best meet the needs of kids with IEPs" discussion. [/quote]

The components of this program are already considered evidence-based practice. Removal of this program will eliminate much of what’s considered EBP for ASD programs.

http://www.autismdiagnostics.com/assets/Resources/NSP2.pdf

https://ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/sites/ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/EBP%20Report%202020.pdf

[/quote]

If I were a parent in that system I’d read and print these and call an IEP meeting asap. Check all the specific types of intervention being used currently. Ask how each intervention type will be implemented to the same standards in the proposed new setting. Ask what training new teachers will have received to ensure this happens. Ask how teacher student ratios will affect these interventions. Ask for expected outcomes under the proposed system.[/quote]

Unfortunately MCPS probably calculated that the staffing level provided by Darnestown is not legally required by the IEPs and was above and beyond. They’re just going to put these kids back into non-cat programs that don’t have the same diploma-bound expectations and watch some kids fail out due to behavior, and the rest learn the bare minimum. [/quote]

How is using evidence-based practice going above and beyond? There’s established case law on this subject:

https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/autism.index.htm

[/quote]

Unless the IEPs all have the staffing level written in (doubtful) they will feel free to cut back. And will claim they are “still doing evidence based practice” at the new placement.

The thing is, it is extremely difficult to force the school to change teaching/discipline methods holistically with an argument that the IEP isn’t being followed. You can argue to get into programs that exist (like Darnestown) or for discrete related services, but if you’re arguing that the non-specialist teacher needs to follow a comprehensive model with fidelity, never gonna happen. So all these parents are going to be able to do in practice is sue for private placement. Note - I am talking about how it actually works, not how it should work. [/quote]

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