Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lower Montgomery County, so other kids can be in good public schools, and then look at Lowell, Green Acres, or possibly Grace. Or in DC, Sheridan or GDS (and for now before they eventually consolidate the campuses together, the LS and MS are near the Chain Bridge, so at GDS could also live in McLean and send the other kids to good Fairfax County schools)

I'm not sure Lowell the best fit for OP. Old building with LOTS of stairs leading up to the front entrance, but also inside. It seems like it could be daunting if OP's daughter is using a walker. They also put a high premium on outdoor time, going to the field and creek, etc.

I don't have a better suggestion but Lowell feels physically daunting for a kid with mobility issues.

I'd put Sheridan in the same category. Wonderful, warm, welcoming but unfortunately not an accessible building (no elevator) and overnight trips to their Mountain Campus which is also not accessible and a ton of movement and physical activity takes place.

How can Sheridan not have an elevator? They're not a religious program that would be exempt from ADA, and they have done substantial renovations which would have eliminated any grandfathering. They must have an elevator that's hidden away somewhere.

That doesn't mean that they are the right program for OP's kid, or that they problem solve subtle accessibility issues well, I wouldn't know that, but they must have an elevator.

I know that a child in a wheelchair graduated from WES a few years ago, right before my child started there. The then-chaplain made a point of it when I was asking how inclusive the community was. She talked about how he was just "one of the kids" to his classmates and how the cohort did not seem fazed by his mobility challenges.

WES is a small school that goes from 3-year-olds through 8th grade. A new head has just started and a new head of elementary grades, so there is transition, but it is worth a look.

Anonymous wrote:Lower Montgomery County, so other kids can be in good public schools, and then look at Lowell, Green Acres, or possibly Grace. Or in DC, Sheridan or GDS (and for now before they eventually consolidate the campuses together, the LS and MS are near the Chain Bridge, so at GDS could also live in McLean and send the other kids to good Fairfax County schools)

Not Sheridan, it is not handicap accessible in the least bit...small space, no elevator, mountain campus. It's a shame because I feel like the community there would really embrace your child. The lack of an elevator is frankly embarrassing IMO and unacceptable for a school that costs so much to attend and touts acceptance of all, but I'll get off my soapbox. Good luck, OP, I wish you and your family the very best.

I would cross post this in the SN forum. Also keep in mind that some of these private schools might not want to take on the responsibility of your dd. This happened with a friend with a child with mobility issues.

Call Tracy at the OIF, it's located in Gaithersburg, MD, and ask if they can put you in contact with DMV local families with OI children. They can give you perspective on the local school scene. www.oif.org

Considering your housing budget I would recommend looking at Olney,MD. It is not very close to D.C. but the houses are more affordable than Bethesda/Chevy Chase and it is a nice, friendly and safe community. Good schools.
Good luck with your search, hope you find something that works for the whole family!

If you end up in MD, Sandy Spring Friends is worth a look. Good wishes to you all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lower Montgomery County, so other kids can be in good public schools, and then look at Lowell, Green Acres, or possibly Grace. Or in DC, Sheridan or GDS (and for now before they eventually consolidate the campuses together, the LS and MS are near the Chain Bridge, so at GDS could also live in McLean and send the other kids to good Fairfax County schools)

I'm not sure Lowell the best fit for OP. Old building with LOTS of stairs leading up to the front entrance, but also inside. It seems like it could be daunting if OP's daughter is using a walker. They also put a high premium on outdoor time, going to the field and creek, etc.

I don't have a better suggestion but Lowell feels physically daunting for a kid with mobility issues.

I'd put Sheridan in the same category. Wonderful, warm, welcoming but unfortunately not an accessible building (no elevator) and overnight trips to their Mountain Campus which is also not accessible and a ton of movement and physical activity takes place.

For the academics, I'd suggest Feynman School. The school is in an accessible building owned by the county, the classes (& the school) are small, they pace the curriculum to the needs of the students. The school is located in N. Bethesda near the Grosvenor metro - great public schools & plenty of rental units (apt buildings, condos, townhouses) in the area.

Mcps public schools are t small, they aren't great in first grade on accelerated learning, but would be great with accommodations.

I think the suggestions that you're getting for the Episcopal schools are good ones. I'd add St. Patrick's to the list, although it's probably the least likely to have space at this point in the summer.

Schools like Green Acres and Lowell, while lovely and a great choice for many kids, are probably not going to be the best choice in this situation. There's too much movement within the classroom in a very progressive environment, which can be hard for a kid with mobility impairments. If other kids are working on the carpet, for example, a child who is using a wheelchair that day will be excluded. The Episcopal schools are a little more traditional in that kids are often at desks, and will have their "place" in the classroom, which can then be tailored to their needs. I know that the spaces at Grace and W.E.S. are also accessible, with open hallways etc . . . I have never been in C.E.S..

I'd also look at St. Andrew's, but I don't know whether the space at St. Andrew's is accessible. The lowest grades are in a church, and church settings are sometimes problematic because the spaces aren't purpose built.

The other thing I'd think about is whether the MCPS schools that were designed with accessibility in mind would work. 2 schools come to mind. One possibility would be Forest Knolls in Silver Spring, which has a reputation as a lovely school for all kids, but is also the site of MCPS's physical disabilities program. The kids in that program probably have more consistent needs than your daughter (e.g. they may be full time wheelchair users, and may have other issues like needing high tech computer systems), but they're fully included which means that the classrooms and bathrooms are designed for them. Forest Knolls is also a very diverse school, including socio-economic diversity, and as a result has Title 1 funding that they use to keep classes under 20 in the early grades.

Another school to look at is Bethesda Elementary. Bethesda is considered one of the best inclusion programs in the area, probably the best in the county. They house the School Community Based program, which serves kids with severe multiple disabilities, and again include many kids with significant mobility challenges in their classrooms, so they're really good about physical space and using technology. The Bethesda Elementary area is more expensive, and you'd probably be looking at an apartment rather than a house, but it might be doable if you took the money you'd put towards tuition and put it towards rent.

I think Kensington is a good option - relatively close in, Montgomery County. BUT, be very mindful of where the lines are drawn for public school. Sad but true, its all about the train tracks. Generally speaking, south of the train tracks gets you into "better" schools. (If this was in the public school forum people would probably start throwing flames at me but a look at the test scores and that the county admits that Einstein is an under performing HS.....tells you I am not maybe so far in my statement.....)

I can't speak to Grace Episcopal (in Kensington, mentioned a lot on the thread) - but heard good of it.

What I can strongly recommend is that you contact Washington Episcopal School (Bethesda) and see if they have K openings. Skipping all the other discussion to get to what is your initial question/concern - the starting point of your quest - it is highly accessible for the NTK/1st grade program (as well as other grades). I know of at least one child that had accessibility issues that has attended.

Besides the obvious (ramps to get in the school, elevators in the school), there is plenty of "space". The Kindergarten classrooms are super well set up for what you are looking for. There are tables (no desks) but also a lot of floor time - spacious. The classrooms also have doors that open directly to the playground which would make going outside for recess just so much easier. There is also a bathroom in the classroom (with a wide door/accessible). Everything those kids do and interact with is completely "at their visual/reach level".

I always "own" my postings. Besides contacting me through DCUM - my email address is cmezoughem @ gmail.com if you have other specific questions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like OP is looking for a private. Consider Brookewood in Kensington, MD. It's small and all girl.

And in one of the least accessible spaces I have seen for a school.

Sorry, that's the wrong word to leave out.

Brookewood's classrooms are tiny and they're wall to wall desk, there are tons of stairs.

Anonymous wrote:Lower Montgomery County, so other kids can be in good public schools, and then look at Lowell, Green Acres, or possibly Grace. Or in DC, Sheridan or GDS (and for now before they eventually consolidate the campuses together, the LS and MS are near the Chain Bridge, so at GDS could also live in McLean and send the other kids to good Fairfax County schools)

I'm not sure Lowell the best fit for OP. Old building with LOTS of stairs leading up to the front entrance, but also inside. It seems like it could be daunting if OP's daughter is using a walker. They also put a high premium on outdoor time, going to the field and creek, etc.

I don't have a better suggestion but Lowell feels physically daunting for a kid with mobility issues.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like OP is looking for a private. Consider Brookewood in Kensington, MD. It's small and all girl.

And in one of the accessible spaces I have seen for a school.

Grace episcopal in Kensington has small classes and has accommodated students with walkers