Re: Re: Inclusion vs. self-contained/special schools vs. homeschooled

[Guest guest]

We have the exact same set up with my son, 12, and they even included door to door transportation as the school is in the next town. It was the best thing I ever did, forcing the school district is a lot of work, but so worth it in the end. My son is exactly where he needs to be and loves it. Sycamore Art StudiosSycamore Art SchoolDeborah GustlinGraphic & Web DesignArt classes for K-12www.sycamoreartstudios.comwww.sycamoreartschool.comHome: 408-710-0892 Business: 408-710-6070From: bkaspiemom <rachelfran@...> Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 4:24:37 AMSubject: ( ) Re: Inclusion vs. self-contained/special schools vs. homeschooled

My son was in an inclusion class in kindergarten and 1st grade. He was moved to a mainstream 2nd grade class because the inclusion class in the school where we were was not academically on grade level. 2nd grade was okay - not great ... He had 1 friend who had more issues than my son does and a couple of kids liked him... This is all pre-diagnosis but he was still getting services - physical therapy, occupational, speech.

For third grade we moved and he started in the mainstream at a new school ... he made one friend -- a child no one else got along with, and then started having difficulties. Calls from the principal, a teacher who had no clue how to teach him.. Everyone was nice but they just didn't know how to handle him. The school psychologist suggested we look elsewhere and made it very easy to transfer into a private special needs school paid for by the board of education.

We were fortunate to have no bullying issues in either school ...

Max is now happy at a special needs school in a class of 11 with one teacher and two assistants. Pragmatic language and social skills are each a class everyone gets once a week plus he gets his therapies in groups so everything is a mini social skill class. He swims 2x a week and adapted phys ed 2x week; There are a few asperger kids in his class, some adhd, some learning disabled. There is no bullying or teasing. It's a slice of heaven, really.

>

> Just curious how many of you out there have kids who are successfully being

> served in an inclusion setting (basically involved in the class, perhaps

> even invited to a birthday party of 2, by the actual student). How many of

> you think self-contained is the way to go with Aspie's and/or are

> successfully managing to get the social skills in the right place even tho

> kid is in self-contained. How many of you just gave up on the whole thing

> and are homeschooling? Not trying to start a debate or anything because I'm

> sure that what works for one doesn't work for all. Just curious if there is

> a critical mass of kids out there who are actually successfully integrated

> in NT classrooms. Having a little debate with the HFA/AS experts here in

> our school district. Specifically in the older years -- my son is in 3rd

> grade -- as I think it gets much harder socially. Thanks!

>

> E.V. Downey

>

[Guest guest]

I've often wished that there was a school around here for kids on the Spectrum. Sigh.

Everyone should be blessed with feeling that they AREN'T the odd man out.....and that they need their "ways" tailored so that they can fit with the others.

I love your story - very happy for you!!!

Robin

From: bkaspiemom <rachelfran@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Inclusion vs. self-contained/special schools vs. homeschooled Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 6:24 AM

My son was in an inclusion class in kindergarten and 1st grade. He was moved to a mainstream 2nd grade class because the inclusion class in the school where we were was not academically on grade level. 2nd grade was okay - not great ... He had 1 friend who had more issues than my son does and a couple of kids liked him... This is all pre-diagnosis but he was still getting services - physical therapy, occupational, speech.For third grade we moved and he started in the mainstream at a new school ... he made one friend -- a child no one else got along with, and then started having difficulties. Calls from the principal, a teacher who had no clue how to teach him.. Everyone was nice but they just didn't know how to handle him. The school psychologist suggested we look elsewhere and made it very easy to transfer into a private special needs school paid for by the board of education.We were fortunate to have no bullying issues in either

school ...Max is now happy at a special needs school in a class of 11 with one teacher and two assistants. Pragmatic language and social skills are each a class everyone gets once a week plus he gets his therapies in groups so everything is a mini social skill class. He swims 2x a week and adapted phys ed 2x week; There are a few asperger kids in his class, some adhd, some learning disabled. There is no bullying or teasing. It's a slice of heaven, really.>> Just curious how many of you out there have kids who are successfully being> served in an inclusion setting (basically involved in the class, perhaps> even invited to a birthday party of 2,

by the actual student). How many of> you think self-contained is the way to go with Aspie's and/or are> successfully managing to get the social skills in the right place even tho> kid is in self-contained. How many of you just gave up on the whole thing> and are homeschooling? Not trying to start a debate or anything because I'm> sure that what works for one doesn't work for all. Just curious if there is> a critical mass of kids out there who are actually successfully integrated> in NT classrooms. Having a little debate with the HFA/AS experts here in> our school district. Specifically in the older years -- my son is in 3rd> grade -- as I think it gets much harder socially. Thanks!> > E.V. Downey>