Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 14:08     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can’t answer your specific question about GDS but I would disclose this to a private school so that you can have a conversation about best fit.


I disagree. Schools like GDS are looking for reasons to exclude since they can choose their students. If 2 student have the same or similar profiles - one has ASD and the other doesn't- who do you take? This is a no brainer.


Agree. If you disclose autism, you are wasting their time and yours. Now they have to find a way to reject you politely and you get to sit through several months of false hope. Apply and don’t disclose, or don’t apply. It’s pretty simple.

Private schools are mainly about exclusion — focusing resources precisely on the students who they choose. That is a large part of what makes the education so good. A byproduct is that the kids also learn from the schools how to sound inclusive while being exclusive. Which is a pretty important skill today, it turns out.
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 13:59     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You are fooling yourself if you think that your child’s current teachers and future teachers won’t know this one way or the other. If it was present enough for you to receive a diagnosis, they notice as well. Teachers see this every day in all schools. Keeping these types of things secret,

A) long term will hurt your child
B) shows a lack of trust in the institution
C) communicates your own shame in this learning difference to the child and others.

I know you worry that people will think less of your child’s abilities but your child is just fine and these diagnoses are just that. They are information that doesn’t negate your child’s individuality or potential. Sharing a diagnosis helps the school and teachers understand what your child needs to learn best, even if you think they don’t need accommodations now. Please talk to a therapist about your own fears here and be honest with the school no matter where you end up. Your child deserves it.


Agree wholeheartedly, let's stop pretending teachers don't know...we totally do..and it's so helpful to provide the testing so that your child can actually get what they need. Quirky is totally fine, but wouldn't it be great if their neurodiversity were acknowledged, understood, and supported? We are doing such a disservice to kids when we act like there's nothing different about them, and honestly, they know it! Particularly as they get older.
Why not help that child navigate a tricky world with a sense of who they are in all their beautiful complexity and be able to advocate for themselves? They will also probably find out that there are many other folks out there like them in some ways, and wouldn't that be cool?


No teachers are clueless. Seriously you sound like you have no experience navigating this issue.
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 13:36     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
With advancements in science and medicine, many things that lacked formal diagnosis in prior decades are now being described with much more precision. How is this surprising or even controversial?
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 09:09     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
Anonymous wrote:Quirky used to refer to things like being into drama club, poetry club, artistic interest, etc. Now it's a code word for not being NT? Sheesh.


Nothing has changed except the rates of diagnosis for neurodivergent. So those "quirky" kids were likely neurodivegent without a diagnosis. Sheesh.
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 09:08     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
Anonymous wrote:I can’t answer your specific question about GDS but I would disclose this to a private school so that you can have a conversation about best fit.


I disagree. Schools like GDS are looking for reasons to exclude since they can choose their students. If 2 student have the same or similar profiles - one has ASD and the other doesn't- who do you take? This is a no brainer.
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 08:58     Subject: Do you have to share ASD diagnosis when applying to GDS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You are fooling yourself if you think that your child’s current teachers and future teachers won’t know this one way or the other. If it was present enough for you to receive a diagnosis, they notice as well. Teachers see this every day in all schools. Keeping these types of things secret,

A) long term will hurt your child
B) shows a lack of trust in the institution
C) communicates your own shame in this learning difference to the child and others.

I know you worry that people will think less of your child’s abilities but your child is just fine and these diagnoses are just that. They are information that doesn’t negate your child’s individuality or potential. Sharing a diagnosis helps the school and teachers understand what your child needs to learn best, even if you think they don’t need accommodations now. Please talk to a therapist about your own fears here and be honest with the school no matter where you end up. Your child deserves it.


Agree wholeheartedly, let's stop pretending teachers don't know...we totally do..and it's so helpful to provide the testing so that your child can actually get what they need. Quirky is totally fine, but wouldn't it be great if their neurodiversity were acknowledged, understood, and supported? We are doing such a disservice to kids when we act like there's nothing different about them, and honestly, they know it! Particularly as they get older.
Why not help that child navigate a tricky world with a sense of who they are in all their beautiful complexity and be able to advocate for themselves? They will also probably find out that there are many other folks out there like them in some ways, and wouldn't that be cool?


With due respect, you actually don't "totally" know. This is why neuropsych evaluations are necessary. Teachers are not qualified to render the diagnosis. ASD is a spectrum and it's gotten to the point where people erroneously assume that every weird kid is autistic. I say this as someone with a child on the spectrum, so I am not in denial. When a kid doesn't need accommodations/extra support from the school, but a school will discriminate in admissions because of the label, I see literally no reason to disclose. And although your sentiment about neurodiversity being "acknowledged, understood, and supported" is lovely, it's a fantasy. These schools don't want such kids, but they sure do talk a big game about their inclusivity.