Op, many of these schools on your list of mainstreams do not want to be known as having kids with asd in attendance. There are parents that send their kids to private to avoid kids with special needs. It’s the truth. They certainly don’t want their names on this list.

How bad is handwriting? If it’s a serious issue, k even at mainstreams is all writing. Huge amounts of it. That’s going to be tough for your kid. If I were you, I’d be trying to set my kid up for success, not just to be able to say oh he’s so mild he’s in a mainstream private! Very bright! Thanks so much for your concern but he’s going to be subclinical in the near future! Which is grating, obviously.

Also “behaviors” isn’t some strange thing. It means, does your kid not participate unless he is helped? That’s a behavior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No need to be suspicious. We prefer smaller (15 kids max), inclusive. But we probbaly need some accommodations such as desk placement, maybe a little playground assistance. Therapies such as handwriting and social skills could be done away from school. SN such as Auburn or Maddux would enable us to do those in school for a few years. Downside is cost, distance, and not inclusive.

We have a tentative list of schools. Care to comment on that rather than me, please?

I would look carefully at McLean. At least when we were there, a few years ago, they did not know how to support kids whose primary need was social rather than academic. Even though the classes were tiny, they were not willing to provide any support at recess, promised lunch bunches didn't happen. Academically, their solution to all academic problems was Orton Gillingham, which is great if you have dyslexia but not helpful for my child whose comprehension difficulties came from asd based difficulties in perspective taking.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:So here's the list we've put together - I think. It's impressive. Thank you so much! I'll keep this thread active/open for a while longer to see what else we learn. Feel free to add/subtract, comment.

SN
Maddux
Auburn
Newton
C/A once in third grade, assuming ADD or other executive function challenges are in play, too

Mainstream
Field beginning in sixth grade
Green Acres, possibly, but avoid if there are "behaviors"
Lowell, possibly, but avoid if there are "behaviors"
ACDS, possibly
Mclean, possibly
Harbor, possibly
Flint Hill, possibly
Chesterbrook, if they have older grades

Reposting the list for comment.

Anonymous wrote:No need to be suspicious. We prefer smaller (15 kids max), inclusive. But we probbaly need some accommodations such as desk placement, maybe a little playground assistance. Therapies such as handwriting and social skills could be done away from school. SN such as Auburn or Maddux would enable us to do those in school for a few years. Downside is cost, distance, and not inclusive.

We have a tentative list of schools. Care to comment on that rather than me, please?

I would look carefully at McLean. At least when we were there, a few years ago, they did not know how to support kids whose primary need was social rather than academic. Even though the classes were tiny, they were not willing to provide any support at recess, promised lunch bunches didn't happen. Academically, their solution to all academic problems was Orton Gillingham, which is great if you have dyslexia but not helpful for my child whose comprehension difficulties came from asd based difficulties in perspective taking.

No need to be suspicious. We prefer smaller (15 kids max), inclusive. But we probbaly need some accommodations such as desk placement, maybe a little playground assistance. Therapies such as handwriting and social skills could be done away from school. SN such as Auburn or Maddux would enable us to do those in school for a few years. Downside is cost, distance, and not inclusive.

We have a tentative list of schools. Care to comment on that rather than me, please?

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand OP. On the one hand her child is so high functioning that they don't even need an IEP and could be mainstreamed as long as class size is small; on the other hand, OP is considering a SN school (typically only considered when the child needs significant supports). Something does not add up.

I'm a former Maddux family and that makes total sense to me. The issues that schools look at to determine eligibility may be different from the social emotional support that Maddux and Auburn excel in.

I don't understand OP. On the one hand her child is so high functioning that they don't even need an IEP and could be mainstreamed as long as class size is small; on the other hand, OP is considering a SN school (typically only considered when the child needs significant supports). Something does not add up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, all of the schools people have mentioned are equally far, right op? I don’t really feel like any actual names have bee given. For acds and burgundy farms, they told me if the kids can’t take himself to a different classroom easily after a session, it wouldn’t work. They also don’t let outside therapists in. And they also kick kids out who are too much.

The reason you’re getting pushback op is because you’re throwing off a serious special snowflake mentality and ugh I hate that term. Your kid has issues, nobody cares if he is acamdemxialt okay, so are most of our children, and kindergarten is actually all about regulation and social skills. If those are issues for him, don’t send him to a private with teachers without sped credentials and expect it to go well. The end.

OP here. Not sure the basis for "snowflake" comment. I've been forthcoming, balanced, and responsive. I have no illusions. I'm simply wanting to get a clear understanding of the options. Yes, I don't think public will work for the reasons I've stated. I'm down to private SN and private mainstream. The fact that I'm soliciting input on mainstream shouldn't indicated anything more than that I'm trying to be diligent, and willing to weather the criticism of be "naive" etc. But if "snowflake" makes you feel better, then that's that.

I think you're being unrealistic and possibly irrational due to fear or lack of understanding of public schools. While not ideal, public schools have a lot to recommend them -- mainstreaming being one benefit. Not sure why you wouldn't even explore the option.

OP here. Class size. My kiddo does best when class size is about 15. Can't get that in publics in my district. Yours?

We have about 20 kids and 2 teachers. I think the autism inclusion classrooms are smaller. Do what you want to do, but deciding not to mainstream due to class size only seems odd to me.