OFF TOPIC: Problems with discrimination

[Guest guest]

Hi Listmates,

Sorry to post off topic, but I need to ask a question.

I have 2 children diagnosed with autism, who are both

doing very well. They both are verbal and are able to

attend regular proschool with very little assistance.

Everyone involved with my children ( school system, a

very experienced therapist, director of the preschool

and preschool staff) feel as though this is an

appropriate placement for my sons. However, this year

a number of parents have approached the chuch where

the preschool is located (and of which I am a member)

complaining about my son being educated with their

children. They are basing their complaints on a very

few number of incidents in which my son scratched

another child ( in one incident the child hit him

first) which I have been assured were no greater in

number or intensity than similar behaviors they have

seen from other typically developing children in the

class. There have been no other incidents since the

beginning of the year. My question is, I was recently

told by the director of this school that my son could

not attend my first choice of classrooms because the

school has made a policy that there can only be 1

special needs child per classroom, and another child

within the program needs the benefit of the more

experienced teachers. So they placed my son in

another classroom. Is it legal for a school to refuse

my right to choose which class my son will attend

solely on the basis of his disability when the parents

of typically developing children are offered that

choice? Also, eventhough my older son has attended

this preschool since he was 2 and is going into a

regular kindergarten unassisted next year, he was

denied entry to their kindergarden classroom also

because he is autistic. Is this leagal because they

are a private institution? Please reply privately to

: Sailorspe@..., so as not to clog the list with

off topic posts.

Thanks,

Spencer

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