Where to go next?

[Guest guest]

My son is 4 diagnosed with autism. He has been in public school this whole past

year, and towards the end of the year I started getting a sinking feeling that

he was falling through the cracks. I still feel pretty clueless about what

services he should get etc., so I kind of thought that the school district would

know what was best for him and kind of left it at that. I went to the school one

day to just be there and see how he was doing and I just wanted to burst into

tears. He was totally shutting down at circle time. Covering his eyes and ears,

and being bombarded with fidget toys. It opened my eyes to so many things that

day. So this is why he hadn't met any of his IEP goals for the year, his sensory

overload is just too much for him to work past right now. So I made a meeting

with the special ed director, the principal, and his teacher and told them all

of my concerns. They seemed genuinely concerned and agreed for the most part. As

of right now my son attends the Achievement center in Westlake for outpatient OT

and speech and I just love it there. He really opens up to the environment and

the therapists. So I naturally suggested that he be placed there until he can

establish the core abilities that he needs to be in a class with 15 other

children. The moment I mentioned the schievement center they immediately started

suggesting other places. Granted, i hadn't really looked into anywhere else so i

was open to exploring all the options. But it just seems like they aren't really

open to my suggestion and I'm wondering if it's because of cost. She

reccommended that I look at The Beahavioral Intervention institute of Ohio in

Westlake and The Murray Ridge school in Elyria.I went to BIIO and while I liked

what they were about I just didn't like the feeling that I got when I walked in.

You know how you just get a " feeling " about a place. I'm going to Murray Ridge

this week, but I still am pushing for AC. What happens if they don't agree with

my decisions? Will he just be stuck in public school or do I just have to

settle?

[Guest guest]

IT probably is becuase of the cost. I am experiencing this with my district. Ask for a Prior Written Notice about your request for Achievement Center. You will need this for not wasting your time. Murray Ridge is good, but not if your child is higher functioning once the sensory issues are good. Ask for PWN, get a parent advocate involved, tape meetings and stick with it.

Carol B.