Reply to Applying to mainstream private schools: When/how should I tell the admission about DC's autism?

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Reply to "Applying to mainstream private schools: When/how should I tell the admission about DC's autism?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, instead of looking at the more popular big name privates, you really need to focus on the special needs or very small privates that may be willing to accept kids with mild special needs.  My child had mild special needs and social upon entering was one of them (it no longer is a significant issue). [b] Autism can mean many things from not being able to care for yourself to just mild quirks.  [/b]Some schools will accept mild quirks but none are going to provide the social needs and teaching you need except by going to Maddox or another similar school.  Two years ago when we looked for small privates, only two (except those who would take anyone/terrible for the money) were ok with my child's needs and warm/friendly about it.  One was a tiny Montessori and one was an academic based structured school.  My kid liked both but I choose the academic based.  They were great about pairing my son with two other boys which turned out to be a great fit.  They did minor encouragement but the boys paired so well, it became a non-issue.  We approached it as we have private supports and are just looking for a school.  They were fine with us pulling out for speech and OT although eventually they recommended stopping with OT as they work on writing which we were concerned about.  They were very supportive for about 6 months and the supports slowly tapered off (which for us was good).  I don't see many schools doing it that long term.  Some teachers get my kid, others do not but that would be anywhere, not just this school.  As he gets older, he's quickly outgrowing the concerns and doing ok academically.  While he had a great transition and doing very well considering, sadly, very few schools would consider him.  You are going to have a tuff time.  I'd go look at schools before you waste the money applying and be upfront.  We did, however, have one school say "yes" and then waitlist my kid (i.e. nice way of saying no) but that was a blessing in the end as they were twice as much and academically not as strong.  Its hard.
[/quote]

[i]Actual autism
[/i] never ever means "just a couple of quirks."    Please stop perpetuating this myth.
[/quote]

Says someone who doesn't have a child who either is not on the spectrum or very very mild with an autism diagnosis that the doctor you are forced to us (HMO style) refuses to remove.  Diagnosis is very subjective, so yes, a child can have the diagnosis and outgrow it (i.e. probably wrongly diagnosis but that is another debate and not this one) to many other reasons that the "professionals" choose to ignore.  I also assume you were never in a situation like OP's where your child doesn't fully fit the special needs schools but needs a smaller class size than public can provide.[/quote]

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