Transition to High School Questions...

[Guest guest]

My 14 years old son has autism and is considered severe because of his lack of communication skills. My son has to memorize words so his reading is very poor. He has the verbal skills of a two year old (3-5 word sentences). He has a grasp of basic mathematics (add/subtract/multiply/divide). He cannot tie his shoes but he is an amazing artist! He loves video games but I limit them because they seem to be too stimulating (I have seem him begin a new game and complete the top level within a few hours).

We just moved in February (after living in the same place for 10 years) and he has since developed several new OCD's including touching door frames when we walk into a building, touching his food to his chin prior to eating, etc…

His old school had an all inclusive autistic class (6 boys with 2 aids and 1 teacher) which did amazing work with him (unfortunately this system was detrimental to my other children). The new school system does not seem as focused on academics as they are on social skills (although this has been a tough transition and it may be why it appears this way).

I recently went to what I was told was an ESY meeting and it turned out they actually wanted to review his IEP. I received quite a bit of pressure from his school to make decisions for his future. They want him to "skip" a grade although he cannot even read at a first grade level yet (he is in 6th but they want him to start high school the year after next so he can have 6 years of job training?). They are asking questions about what I feel his ability to work would be. At this point I do not feel he could ever work. I don't know what his options would be and I don't know who to turn too to ask about what happens. I feel the school is only looking at their best interest and not his. I need to know what is available in order to make an informed decision. If anyone has an older autistic child with limited verbal skills I would love to hear how you handled the older years.

Thank-you,

[Guest guest]

Do not allow them to pressure you into anything. Do not move him up so they don't have to pay another year. Advocate for them to use the year to increase reading skills, perhaps using a different reading method than they have been using. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO PRESSURE YOU. Document everything. I have been fighting for four years now, and after I started documenting and applying what I learn from others and from seminars, I am noticed, and close to getting mine in the right placement. YOU ARE HIS BEST ADVOCATE. IDEA tells us this, it is the school administrators that deny us that advocacy. PLEASE DON"T LET THEM PRESSURE YOU INTO ANYTHING !!!!!

Carol