Thanks. I hope we are successful in getting our hold placed in the program, it sounds like it would be exactly what we need.

Anonymous wrote:What about if the child is very bright but needs other academic support like in reading and math? Our DC has social skills and executive functioning goals but also reading, writing, and math. Will they implement those or would DC be excluded from the program because of them?

Yes they will provide support in those areas. Reading and writing are usually in the special ed class, with a lot of individualized instruction. Math is usually in gen ed, but can be done by the special ed teacher. As PP indicated, if your kid is around grade level, then the Asperger's Program would be a good fit. If your kid is well below grade level, then the autism program might be more appropriate since it offers a lot more support. The way to get into the Asperger's Program is to show that the home school can't meet your child's needs, but he is functioning at a higher level than the kids in the autism program.

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in gen ed with an extensive IEP. In what ways is this program different? What is offered in the self contained class(es) and what additional supports are offered when they are included in gen ed?

Access to specialists who really know what they are doing. The teachers are very patient and specially trained and they get a lot of supervision from the autism unit at MCPS which is arguably one of the best if not the best in the country.
Social skills, emotional regulation, executive functioning instruction throughout the day.
A paraeducator to accompany them to gen ed classes and help with challenges and head off issues. The ability to leave that gen ed setting at any time if the child needs it.
The ability to take the gen ed work to the specialized teacher to get help or help advocate or teach the child to advocate if there are challenges.
A peer group with similar challenges that can help with support or at least help make the child feel like she's not alone.
A support group for the parents. At Diamond the parents talk a lot, give each other advice, coordinate playdates to practice social skills.
Support at recess for peer interactions.
A smaller room for lunch.

Anonymous wrote:What about if the child is very bright but needs other academic support like in reading and math? Our DC has social skills and executive functioning goals but also reading, writing, and math. Will they implement those or would DC be excluded from the program because of them?

The typical schedule is 60 percent in gen ed, 40 percent with specialized instruction and that 40 percent usually includes reading and writing because there's such a social skills and executive functioning component to both. I don't know about math but I would assume they would be able to add support in if your child needs it. They say at or above grade level but if your child is "around" grade level, i.e. slightly below, it's possible that may be enough.

We toured Sligo Creek but do not have a child there and we were very impressed with the program. They often combine grades at the lower levels but I think they had separate 4th and 5th grades as there are often more students they pick up as they get older. Most students stay in the program through the rest of elementary and continue to one of the Asperger's middle schools.
The teachers appeared to be excellent and they make an effort to go through the schedule every day and prompt for transitions. The instruction is very individualized. I saw that each child had different reminders and check lists on their desk and that the ratio of kids to adults was so low that an adult would spend a ton of 1:1 time with each child every day.
Most eat lunch together in a classroom instead of in the cafeteria but I heard there are kids that prefer socializing in the cafeteria so they go there for lunch. There is explicit social skills instruction and I heard social-type prompting by the teachers during other times.
It is difficult to conclude too much about the kids because we only observed for a short time but there seemed to be a lot of very bright, little professor types. All were well behaved when we were there but they mentioned they do have kids becoming upset due to becoming overwhelmed, sensory challenges, or other issues. I think the kids with severe behaviors go to the ED programs so this setting seemed really peaceful and a good place to learn.

What about if the child is very bright but needs other academic support like in reading and math? Our DC has social skills and executive functioning goals but also reading, writing, and math. Will they implement those or would DC be excluded from the program because of them?

In the Sligo Creek Aspergers Program, your kid will likely spend half the day in special ed and half in general ed. The special ed teachers are good. There are also two paras in the class for 7 or 8 kids. A para goes with the kids to general ed. If your kid can't handle the general ed setting, then he can spend more time in special ed. The special ed classroom is calm and quiet and they are good at handling behaviors. If your kid is on or above grade level academically but not doing well behaviorally, he would be a good candidate for Sligo Creek.

My DC is in gen ed with an extensive IEP. In what ways is this program different? What is offered in the self contained class(es) and what additional supports are offered when they are included in gen ed?

At Tilden, the special educators are going to be paired with a general educator for science and social studies most likely. They switch years that these two courses are cotaught vs. just paraeducatirs. Your child may be able to handle inclusion math and LA classes. If so, those will also be cotaught. If not, there is self-contained taught by one of the Asperger’s program teachers.

The real benefit is to students who can be out of self-contained most of the day. You probably know already if this is your child.

We are trying to decide whether to fight for this or surrender to private school. Please share your experience. What supports are offered? What is the population of the kids like? How much subject matter expertise do the teachers have? Feel free to share anything you know.