Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 21:59     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS has good autism programs depending on the type of support required.

This has not been our experience either. We almost hired a lawyer but ended up pulling our child to do the independent schools route. We were very disappointed with MCPS for our child with ASD


What is independent school route? I am desperately looking for an alternative to MCPS.

There are sooo many great private options in Montgomery County. Our son is in a neurotypical religious school but there are only 9 kids in his grade and he is really able to thrive in a small, quiet environment. There are also schools the specialize in helping kids with ASD. I have heard great things about Katherine T Thomas (and Maddox for younger kids).
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 20:35     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS has good autism programs depending on the type of support required.


My son is currently in MCPS's Autism program at Tilden MS. Our experience is not good at all. We are looking to leave. MCPS in general positions itself as a great school district but it is not.

+1
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 20:13     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MCPS has good autism programs depending on the type of support required.

This has not been our experience either. We almost hired a lawyer but ended up pulling our child to do the independent schools route. We were very disappointed with MCPS for our child with ASD


What is independent school route? I am desperately looking for an alternative to MCPS.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 15:29     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:MCPS has good autism programs depending on the type of support required.


My son is currently in MCPS's Autism program at Tilden MS. Our experience is not good at all. We are looking to leave. MCPS in general positions itself as a great school district but it is not.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 11:11     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Not LCPS. We are stuck here.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 07:45     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:If your child is mainstreamable, with mild or moderate needs - MCPS is not is going to be good. If you are looking for contained placement - MCPS has some decent options, but getting some of them may be challenging due to not enough spots. They will not tell you it's due to space constrains, but they will put you through the hoop jumping saying there is not enough data, go mainstream to determine the needs, etc. Your child might need to suffer for a year before getting an appropriate placement.


+1. We are on year 2 of this headache. More programs cut, more need, and not enough spots…
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2024 08:12     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
If your child is mainstreamable, with mild or moderate needs - MCPS is not is going to be good. If you are looking for contained placement - MCPS has some decent options, but getting some of them may be challenging due to not enough spots. They will not tell you it's due to space constrains, but they will put you through the hoop jumping saying there is not enough data, go mainstream to determine the needs, etc. Your child might need to suffer for a year before getting an appropriate placement.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2024 13:15     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:Hunt Valley Elementary school in Springfield, VA. The school has a wonderful autism center.


+1 We’ve had a great experience in West Springfield.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2024 07:45     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:Hunt Valley Elementary school in Springfield, VA. The school has a wonderful autism center.


FYI, in FCPS if the autism program in your school is full, they will bus your child to a different school. It’s hard to move into a certain elementary zone for special education services and the enhanced autism program isn’t available at every school. I worked at a school in Region 3 last year and we had school-based autism and it was full. There were no open spots in our region and we bussed new kids to Region 4!
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 18:25     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:MCPS has good autism programs depending on the type of support required.

This has not been our experience either. We almost hired a lawyer but ended up pulling our child to do the independent schools route. We were very disappointed with MCPS for our child with ASD
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 17:18     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:My family will be moving back to the DC area next year after some years away. In the meantime, our 8 year has been diagnosed with autism and mild ID. We didn't have children the last time we were living in DC so feeling very uninformed about what school district (or neighborhood in DC) to try to move to. My job is remote and my spouse will have to commute to Rosslyn. Any advice/recommendations welcome.


This family has a different profile, but the thread is nevertheless informative. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1212973.page
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 16:48     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:I have to say that the advice about renting is probably the most important. DCPS was a disaster for our autistic DC, and we moved to MCPS. Thankfully, we had not purchased a home, and could more easily move. I have friends stuck in DCPS because they own a home there and selling/moving is cost prohibitive, and it's been a struggle for them. I would not say that MCPS is the ideal, but it has certainly been better than DCPS for us.


did your child end up in any of the MCPS autism programs?
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 16:01     Subject: Re:Searching for a school district with good autism programs
I have to say that the advice about renting is probably the most important. DCPS was a disaster for our autistic DC, and we moved to MCPS. Thankfully, we had not purchased a home, and could more easily move. I have friends stuck in DCPS because they own a home there and selling/moving is cost prohibitive, and it's been a struggle for them. I would not say that MCPS is the ideal, but it has certainly been better than DCPS for us.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 14:50     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:I have heard very good things about Falls Church City public schools - we are looking to move there from McLean (fairfax county) where we find the classes are overcrowded and our Austistic DC is often overlooked. I can't speak from personal experience but several professionals (SLPs, OTs, etc) have said FCC public schools are great for this.


I have heard they are very open to inclusion, but what happens if your child needs more specialized services or placement in FCC?
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 14:49     Subject: Searching for a school district with good autism programs
Anonymous wrote:My family will be moving back to the DC area next year after some years away. In the meantime, our 8 year has been diagnosed with autism and mild ID. We didn't have children the last time we were living in DC so feeling very uninformed about what school district (or neighborhood in DC) to try to move to. My job is remote and my spouse will have to commute to Rosslyn. Any advice/recommendations welcome.


It would help if you can be more specific as to your child's needs. What level autism? Self contained or inclusion? Behavioral challenges? etc.