Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op,

I don’t think any of these schools are in person yet. It’s possible to get private placement at KTS and Ivymount. Since Ivymount runs most of the year, more expensive than the other two schools you mentioned.

I would get an advocate to help you figure out the best placement.

Personally, I would look into Auburn vs. KTS or Ivymount.

You may also want to try the Newton school in VA—it’s in person or hybrid.

We are in the process of hiring an advocate. We had one IDLP meeting with DS's case manager where we raised all the concerns I mentioned in my original post and we held one separate meeting with the principal. We requested an IEP meeting. I think Ivymount is in person. The McLean school is not yet. DS has no issues wearing a mask and he wears one for two hours each day with his ABA therapist.

Our experience as well. The whole process was relatively cordial but I always used an advocate and when she said came with a lawyer. My kid's first year of school was worth far far more than all the advocate fees paid over his lifetime as well as the small legal bill.

If you want the school system to pay, you should hire an attorney and be prepared to sue the school system.

Not true. We didn't sue the school system. We did have an advocate who helped us (an educational consultant.) Our school system agreed that private placement was best for him. (The process takes almost an entire school year though.) But you could pay on own for private and still get placed by the school system. No guarantees you would get placed at that school though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op,

I don’t think any of these schools are in person yet. It’s possible to get private placement at KTS and Ivymount. Since Ivymount runs most of the year, more expensive than the other two schools you mentioned.

I would get an advocate to help you figure out the best placement.

Personally, I would look into Auburn vs. KTS or Ivymount.

You may also want to try the Newton school in VA—it’s in person or hybrid.

We are in the process of hiring an advocate. We had one IDLP meeting with DS's case manager where we raised all the concerns I mentioned in my original post and we held one separate meeting with the principal. We requested an IEP meeting. I think Ivymount is in person. The McLean school is not yet. DS has no issues wearing a mask and he wears one for two hours each day with his ABA therapist.

Our experience as well. The whole process was relatively cordial but I always used an advocate and when she said came with a lawyer. My kid's first year of school was worth far far more than all the advocate fees paid over his lifetime as well as the small legal bill.

If you want the school system to pay, you should hire an attorney and be prepared to sue the school system.

Not true. We didn't sue the school system. We did have an advocate who helped us (an educational consultant.) Our school system agreed that private placement was best for him. (The process takes almost an entire school year though.) But you could pay on own for private and still get placed by the school system. No guarantees you would get placed at that school though.

Anonymous wrote:McLean teachers do not have either the training or the experience to teach your son.

Talk to the admissions person at the other schools you mention (plus Auburn). If you give an honest description of your son's strengths and weaknesses and what kind of support he needs, they will be able to tell you if they might be a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op,

I don’t think any of these schools are in person yet. It’s possible to get private placement at KTS and Ivymount. Since Ivymount runs most of the year, more expensive than the other two schools you mentioned.

I would get an advocate to help you figure out the best placement.

Personally, I would look into Auburn vs. KTS or Ivymount.

You may also want to try the Newton school in VA—it’s in person or hybrid.

We are in the process of hiring an advocate. We had one IDLP meeting with DS's case manager where we raised all the concerns I mentioned in my original post and we held one separate meeting with the principal. We requested an IEP meeting. I think Ivymount is in person. The McLean school is not yet. DS has no issues wearing a mask and he wears one for two hours each day with his ABA therapist.

If you want the school system to pay, you should hire an attorney and be prepared to sue the school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never been a fan but at that are you could also look at Lourie Center.

Thanks...I will definitely look into the Lourie Center. I see on their webpage they are focused on social and emotional wellness but how are they academically. DS is intelligent but it is very focused on what he likes. At three, memorized hundreds of different types of ocean animals; at 5 he got into dinosaurs and learned everything about them. During class last week, the students in DS's class was asked to name things that started with each letter of the alphabet and for T, one child said Pteranodon; DS turned to us and said Pteranodon starts with a P. He puts together large Jurassic World lego sets almost all by himself. However, like many kids with autism, he will only focus on learning and talking about things he likes. Given that DS is capable of learning and exceling academically, I don't want him to be placed in a program that can't support him reaching his academic potential.

Any of these schools aren't going to place a huge focus on academics and at some point you are talking about interest and he needs the basics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like auburn or ivy mount to me.

Ugh, not Ivymount.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like auburn or ivy mount to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in 5th. We are in a self contained classroom in MCPS. DS has ADHD/ASD/Anxiety. I never thought I would homeschool but here I am. DL is a clusteref.....

I know you said you could not commit to homeschool for the year because you both work full time. Where is your son doing DL? Is he home with you or is at daycare or in a pod?

I ask because my son does virtual homeschool. It’s asynchronous but takes him no more than 2 hours in total per day to cover 6 subjects. If he’s tired, he starts later. If he gets up earlier, he starts earlier. If he needs a break, he takes one.

It leaves a lot of time for playing Legos and reading.

We will look into the asynchronous virtual programs. I can take two hours a day to homeschool, but they most likely won't be consistently the same two hours. DH can also help support homeschooling; however, like me, we can't always be doing it on a consistent schedule due to meetings and important assignments due with little turnaround time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op,

I don’t think any of these schools are in person yet. It’s possible to get private placement at KTS and Ivymount. Since Ivymount runs most of the year, more expensive than the other two schools you mentioned.

I would get an advocate to help you figure out the best placement.

Personally, I would look into Auburn vs. KTS or Ivymount.

You may also want to try the Newton school in VA—it’s in person or hybrid.

We are in the process of hiring an advocate. We had one IDLP meeting with DS's case manager where we raised all the concerns I mentioned in my original post and we held one separate meeting with the principal. We requested an IEP meeting. I think Ivymount is in person. The McLean school is not yet. DS has no issues wearing a mask and he wears one for two hours each day with his ABA therapist.