Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people hate private for asd kids so much? I’ve seen some go to private schools just fine genuinely wondering.

The reality is that very few children with ASD thrive in a mainstream private setting with little or no support.
Private schools promise a lot and deliver very little. They accept students knowing they have ASD only to counsel them out and as soon as they show autistic symptoms.
If a child with asd could be symptoms free all the time they wouldn’t be autistic to begin with.
Can you understand now why we are so angry?

Then why do I know people with asd kids in the dc area, and outside of it, who have had kids go to private schools k-12? Again really wondering.

Anonymous wrote:Why do people hate private for asd kids so much? I’ve seen some go to private schools just fine genuinely wondering.

The reality is that very few children with ASD thrive in a mainstream private setting with little or no support.
Private schools promise a lot and deliver very little. They accept students knowing they have ASD only to counsel them out and as soon as they show autistic symptoms.
If a child with asd could be symptoms free all the time they wouldn’t be autistic to begin with.
Can you understand now why we are so angry?

Anonymous wrote:Why do people hate private for asd kids so much? I’ve seen some go to private schools just fine genuinely wondering.

Speaking for my family, they are under no legal obligation to educate and accommodate your kid. Counseling out a very real

Why do people hate private for asd kids so much? I’ve seen some go to private schools just fine genuinely wondering.

Anonymous wrote:We have a somewhat similar kid at Diener for middle with plans for Parkmont or Nora for high school.

I was going to suggest Diener. My child is not verbal enough for it, but I found the admissions director to be thorough and thoughtful. Other suggestions are Linder, Field, Commonwealth or St Andrews.

Anonymous wrote:OP, what is your resistance to public? IT seems like multiple people are telling you how the privates may not be ideal.

Not op, but MCPS is in a terrible spot right now for gen ed, but especially for SPED. So I wouldn’t be looking at public if I had a choice either.

Anonymous wrote:What about Waldorf?

Please don’t!!
they do not provide any support for neurodivergent students or students with LD.
Their early education program is very nice and might work for some children with ADHD and/or ASD.
But after kindergarten is not a good fit for quirky kids.

OP, what is your resistance to public? IT seems like multiple people are telling you how the privates may not be ideal.

What about Waldorf?

Progressive schools can be a terrible option for autistic kids because oftimes e.g. the rules are unstated, and this... does not mix well with how they usually process information, there's typically more group work, a tendency for more chaotically run classrooms (workshop model vs lecture or even Socratic results in multiple things going on), less likely to have rituals, etc. Count your blessings, and find something more traditional.

I agree with posters who mention Sycamore for now and Nora potentially for high school since they are only 9-12. Parkmont might also be a good option.

Agree that Green Acres is probably not a great fit.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, OP, I wouldn’t disclose the ASD to the independent schools until a while after DC started. They won't notice during the interview process.

I work at an independent school that says it can't accommodate kids with ASD but in reality, we have so many kids who are neurodivergent. Many have never been diagnosed. Your kid will would be completely fine. You just need to get through the door right now.

Worst advice ever.

Anonymous wrote:Green Acres really isn't a good fit for most kids who need any sort of support.

💯. They will lovingly take your app fees though

Green Acres really isn't a good fit for most kids who need any sort of support.

OP here. I really appreciate all the stories shared by other parents who went through a similar journey, especially the family at Field, and those encouraging us to stick with Deal (at least for now).

Also, thank you for all the recommendations. We were aware of many of these schools but not Green Acres. May look into them. Right now I think we will focus on a smooth transition to Deal.