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]This is how it goes on DCUM

“There’s a violent kid in my DC’s class! The parents need to something! Kick him out!”

also DCUM

“Ha ha nobody needs that specialized program for kids with behavioral issues. Stop whining.”[/quote]
Is anyone in this thread advocating for doing away with this program?[/quote]

Well people seem fixated on believing the author is a Moms 4 Liberty type. [/quote]
Huh? That doesn't answer my question on who in this thread is actually advocating for doing away with the program.

I do think this program is beneficial and think it's worthwhile to keep it. Maybe even expand it to different parts of the county. What I would like to know:
What other special needs group require their own special program like this?
How many of these special programs would be needed across the county?
How many staff would be needed to fully staff these programs?
How much money would it cost to run these programs all across the county?[/quote]

I don’t know of any other SN groups that have such well-established data and IEP cases for specific programs like autism does with ABA. There was a big push around 2005 for more programs like this one because school systems got tired of being sued for full home based ABA programs and losing.

Ideally these programs are best started at age 3 with a focus on mostly 1:1 and small group 1:2 or 1:3. Placement in typical classroom is generally limited for the first year or two. This gives time for focus on foundational skills and barriers to learning. It should be a progression where as they age they need less 1:1 instruction and can function more in small group 1:3/4 classes with some pull outs for 1:1 and also join regular ed part of the day. There’s no set time line to that progression, every child is different, but generally speaking the younger they start the younger they can be fully integrated.

I can’t tell you costs precisely but can tell you that a huge portion of the costs is in start up and especially training. If they dismantle this program and just to have to recreate the same thing again it will cost them much more than just continuing it. Replication and focusing on earlier age groups should be key here not dismantling it completely.

FWIW I don’t get the equity argument either. I do think it’s a program worth fighting for though.[/quote]

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