Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 05:14     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:Nooooo don’t do it. They cannot accommodate the emotions of a special needs child and quite frankly, don’t really want to. Most can’t even handle gifted kids. Absolutely go public.


+1
As a Catholic mom of a gifted child with LD and ADHD at an ADW school, I could not agree more about our school being unwilling to accommodate and surprisingly intolerant.
Anonymous
Post 12/02/2025 08:44     Subject: Re:Catholic school for autism?
If the school allows an aide-You will have to provide and pay for the aide. Additionally that aide will need to go through a clearance process-Virtus to be allowed onsite. Please also know they don't do IEP's so the school is not under the same obligations as public schools for accommodations.
Anonymous
Post 12/01/2025 09:24     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
OP diocesan schools typically don’t have the resources to accommodate many special needs. Staff, money, etc.

If an aide is permissible you still may find the teacher and admin is resentful of the situation.

This is not the avenue I’d explore if I had a child that needs at in person aide specializing in ABA.

And yes I had a child in Catholic school and they’d counsel out for lesser concerns.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 12:36     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:Nooooo don’t do it. They cannot accommodate the emotions of a special needs child and quite frankly, don’t really want to. Most can’t even handle gifted kids. Absolutely go public.


That’s quite a sweeping statement with no facts given to support it.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 06:09     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Nooooo don’t do it. They cannot accommodate the emotions of a special needs child and quite frankly, don’t really want to. Most can’t even handle gifted kids. Absolutely go public.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 03:46     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Basilica School of St Mary has their Mater Dei program, which is fantastic. They just did an Open House specific to the program - I would call up to see if there is another scheduled soon.
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 01:43     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Go public - much better support. I say this as parent with a child in catholic school. Accommodations offered are a joke.
Anonymous
Post 06/07/2025 11:46     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:Do you need to be catholic for your child to be accepted to those programs?


No, I went Catholic schools and was not Catholic. They take money from Catholic and non-Catholic families.
Anonymous
Post 06/07/2025 11:44     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:If you are in ADW or ADB, then definitely talk to the Catholic Coalition for Special Education. They support the inclusion of students with IDD. Some schools that have a track record for including students with significant disabilities include: Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Bartholemew's, St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary's Rockville, St. Louis Clarksville, and Holy Redeemer Kensington. I am sure there others.

The Archdiocese of Arlington also has programs. I know less about them. The Basilica school of St. Mary's, and St. Mark's in Vienna are two I happen to know of with inclusion programs.

If your kid doesn't have a significant cognitive, language, or global delay, you may find that approaching a school that doesn't already have an inclusion program works too.


OP: Wow! Thank you! My DC is in an inclusive classroom without a dedicated aide, but it is a special education early childhood center so there are speech, OT, special ed teachers, and ABA therapists in the building. I will miss it next year. I wish they had kindergarten. What I think is not significant may seem too much for some - LOL
Anonymous
Post 06/07/2025 11:34     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? Our Arlington diocese schools allows children to have aides that the parents provide. I am not sure about ABA, specifically.


OP: Thank you! This is good to know. Arlington is not too far from us if we need to go there for school.
Anonymous
Post 06/07/2025 11:31     Subject: Catholic school for autism?
Anonymous wrote:Are you really sure you want ABA? Adults who went through it often report feeling coerced and misunderstood.


OP: It doesn't have to be ABA, but we are in ABA now and love it. It's supporting a lot of good speech, school, and OT skills. I trust our ABA therapists too. I know adults with ASD have and are reporting bad experiences and it concerned me initially. However, the approach seems to have changed or at least is different with my child. Our therapy is play-based and we have very caring and well-educated/trained therapists. I have come across many schools and teachers that lack a basic understanding of autism and having a therapist at school who does may help my child's inclusion experience. At this point though, I just want a place to allow an aide for my child.