Anonymous wrote:Oh,they are businesspeople first! Obviously they fill the classes with all comers and then kick out the more challenging kids if the class is over full. Of course your program is successful if you cherry pick your clients!

Yes, I'm starting to think this is what happened. The class size is limited to 6-8 kids per age group so they must have found "easier" kids to fill the class.

The emails sent to me rescinding the acceptance talked about how DS maybe ready for Unstuck at a later date and how we should consider sending him to MAP b/c of how well MAP can meet his needs.

Oh,they are businesspeople first! Obviously they fill the classes with all comers and then kick out the more challenging kids if the class is over full. Of course your program is successful if you cherry pick your clients!

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry about the rescinded offer. Was the letter rescinding the spot abrupt or detailed? I'd be interested to know. I had a child do two years of the Unstuck camp at Edmund Burke and we were very happy with the program. I do know that they had a strict screening process for the camp, and our psychiatrist was impressed that DC was accepted, saying a lot of her patients apply but few get in. (I say "get in" not like it's Harvard, but because of the fit -- they apparently have a very specific autism profile they're looking for.) I do think it helps if your child's diagnosis comes from CNMC vs. other hospitals or doctors.

It was very detailed as to why the offer was rescinded and I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is why we were accepted in the first place if they had reservations that my kid was not a good "fit".

Ivymount could just as easily have told us that they needed more observations/information before we were accepted. What they did was to tell us we were accepted without any inkling that the offer could be rescinded and then tell us a month later that DS did not "fit" into the program.

If I had known the offer could be rescinded or that the acceptance was conditional, I would not have told my child that he was going to this program and get him all excited about going. Now I have to tell my kid with ASD that he will not be going afterall!

These people run a social skills group for autistic children and the letters were very apologetic about "how this occasionally happens" - so they make a habit of doing this to autistic kids?!?

I'm sorry about the rescinded offer. Was the letter rescinding the spot abrupt or detailed? I'd be interested to know. I had a child do two years of the Unstuck camp at Edmund Burke and we were very happy with the program. I do know that they had a strict screening process for the camp, and our psychiatrist was impressed that DC was accepted, saying a lot of her patients apply but few get in. (I say "get in" not like it's Harvard, but because of the fit -- they apparently have a very specific autism profile they're looking for.) I do think it helps if your child's diagnosis comes from CNMC vs. other hospitals or doctors.

Anonymous wrote:OP -- just want to say I think I know who your doctor is, and I agree with your assessment. Let me know if you ever want to vent offlist.

Will love to speak to you offline.

For those wondering who this doctor is: "The neuropsych evaluation should not drive school placement"... but doctor X's opinion should and trumps all, I guess.

OP -- just want to say I think I know who your doctor is, and I agree with your assessment. Let me know if you ever want to vent offlist.

Anonymous wrote:what did he want you to do four years ago -- MAP?

I hate when the professionals dismiss the parents. Yes parents are not professionals or experts, but their perspective is very valid.

No, too young. He wanted us to send DS to Maddux and/or Auburn. MAP for later. Not a big fan of inclusion this guy.

what did he want you to do four years ago -- MAP?

I hate when the professionals dismiss the parents. Yes parents are not professionals or experts, but their perspective is very valid.

Anonymous wrote:OP -- its got to suck to go from loving your school to wanting to leave. Sorry to hear your doctor disappointed you as well.

Our doctor was a huge disappointment. This year we had a lot of issues at school that we have not had in previous years. The only things that have changed was a new grade and a new Sp Ed department with a new Sp Ed teacher who had zero experience as a Sp Ed teacher. So when we contacted our dev pediatrician with all the new issues, he used it as an opportunity for "I told you so's" and how we had brought these problems on ourselves by not listening to his sage advice about school placement four yrs ago. He was so sure how "right" he was that he missed that the school was not following the IEP.

He means well but he should check his ego. We are no longer working with him.

OP -- its got to suck to go from loving your school to wanting to leave. Sorry to hear your doctor disappointed you as well.

Anonymous wrote:If the behavioral plan doesn't work out, have you thought about moving to FCPS public schools? The special ed services there are supposed to be much stronger than in DCPS.

Even if the behavioral plan works, we will switch schools. We were planning to move out of the area in three yrs anyway so we may do it a bit sooner.

Anonymous wrote:I thought Auburn didn't take public placements-are you planning to private pay?

Yes.

If the behavioral plan doesn't work out, have you thought about moving to FCPS public schools? The special ed services there are supposed to be much stronger than in DCPS.

I thought Auburn didn't take public placements-are you planning to private pay?

I haven't told DS yet that he won't be going to Unstuck because of the neuropsych eval and I may simply put it off until Winter break.