high school

[Guest guest]

I once went to a parent workshop at the Katy ISDistrict office and the

speaker was a woman named Kim Heman and her son with high functioning autism

went

to public school all his life and was graduating from a high school in Katy

with honors. He is very smart but definitely had some issues but I don't

exactly know what they are. Kim and her husband worked very hard with him and

worked the system to their advantage and it paid off. On Monday when I'm back

at

work I will e-mail her and ask her which high school he went to. I don't

have her info at home.

[Guest guest]

I once went to a parent workshop at the Katy ISDistrict office and the

speaker was a woman named Kim Heman and her son with high functioning autism

went

to public school all his life and was graduating from a high school in Katy

with honors. He is very smart but definitely had some issues but I don't

exactly know what they are. Kim and her husband worked very hard with him and

worked the system to their advantage and it paid off. On Monday when I'm back

at

work I will e-mail her and ask her which high school he went to. I don't

have her info at home.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I couldn't help commenting on the high schools. This

last Tuesday we had a speaker at our Autism meeting.

He is Aspergers, diagnosed at 10 and went through many

different schools. His mom stayed the course and

insisted on small classes etc. He is now a senior in

high school at Cinco Ranch and National Honor Society

and well on his way to a professional speaking career.

He is going to be a special education teacher. He

was amazing. He will be speaking at the state

conference. His name is

Jr.WWW.anglefire.com/pro2/jameswilliams. His insight

into the life of autism was amazing. He had great

advice for parents in the area of education. Hope

this helps. His website is above, he started it this

week.

Dawn

--- kwalk_20 <kwalk20@...> wrote:

---------------------------------

Hi All:

Sorry to post the same question again, but does ANYONE

know about the

high schools in humble/ kingwood? Or the high schools

in the Cy-Fair

district?? I'm just desperate for help because school

will be

starting soon and if anyone knows anything it would

really help in my

decision to move.Thanks in advance.

Take care,

Keisha W.

Texas Autism Advocacy

Unlocking Autism

www.UnlockingAutism.org

Autism-Awareness-Action

Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

child with AUTISM.

SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those

touched by Disability:

SeekingJoyinDisability/

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I couldn't help commenting on the high schools. This

last Tuesday we had a speaker at our Autism meeting.

He is Aspergers, diagnosed at 10 and went through many

different schools. His mom stayed the course and

insisted on small classes etc. He is now a senior in

high school at Cinco Ranch and National Honor Society

and well on his way to a professional speaking career.

He is going to be a special education teacher. He

was amazing. He will be speaking at the state

conference. His name is

Jr.WWW.anglefire.com/pro2/jameswilliams. His insight

into the life of autism was amazing. He had great

advice for parents in the area of education. Hope

this helps. His website is above, he started it this

week.

Dawn

--- kwalk_20 <kwalk20@...> wrote:

---------------------------------

Hi All:

Sorry to post the same question again, but does ANYONE

know about the

high schools in humble/ kingwood? Or the high schools

in the Cy-Fair

district?? I'm just desperate for help because school

will be

starting soon and if anyone knows anything it would

really help in my

decision to move.Thanks in advance.

Take care,

Keisha W.

Texas Autism Advocacy

Unlocking Autism

www.UnlockingAutism.org

Autism-Awareness-Action

Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

child with AUTISM.

SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those

touched by Disability:

SeekingJoyinDisability/

[Guest guest]

I don't know if that was my situation....Dad was in the Air Force...and I was

(forced) (pardon the pun) to attend many different schools. I was glad that I

spent most of my HS years in El Paso Texas (after that horrid experience in

Indianapolis staying with relatives while Dad was in Viet Nam)......I must

elaborate on the Indianapolis skit....it was the 3rd largest HS in the

country....and looked like a college campus but was very old! and in a bad

neighborhood (usta be in a good neighborhood). I often ate in the bathroom

stall...as I was afraid to go into the cafeteria. Anyway...El Paso was heaven

sent. Who knows...could it be geograpical? El Paso was FUN and had many things

for kids to do --dune buggies, horseback riding (1.50 hour) in the desert,

drive in movies....polite parties (meaning kids were trained to give good

parties) of course not always (ahem) polite but FUN...not your drug,sex scenes

of today. They often have fun-loving parents who checks the parties

periodically and talks to us. Jane

Beth Ward <beth_brittney@...> wrote:I enjoyed high school. Sure, I had

the same hormonal, girls are horribly

cruel at that age and faced the girls must be perfect ladies but boys will

be boys attitude. But, I was never treated what I would consider badly

because of my hearing loss. I was treated like a dumb blonde, but that may

have occurred regardless of my hearing status because I was blonde and I was

a cheerleader. Don't kid yourself, high school is hard in one way or

another for everyone at one time or another. Even the " in " crowd has their

difficulties. It's part of being a teenager. Hopefully, like me, a few

years out, you'll look back on your high school years and remember the good

times more than the bad. Maybe high school was easier for me because I

lived in a small town and had known most of the people I went to school with

since our pre-school days. I've had others with hearing loss from small

schools say they feel the same way that I do. High school was high school,

we weren't left out. We had the same friends we'd always had for the most

part. We had our activities or sports because in a small school everyone

participates in something. I think the best advice anyone can give a high

school student (or college student for that matter) is get involved. The

more involved you are, the more fun you will have, the more friends you will

make, and you'll just get more out of the experience. I was lucky in that,

when I went back to college after losing all but about 2% of my ability to

comprehend speech, I attended a school that really focused on getting

students involved. I didn't live on campus, so if my professors and advisor

hadn't pushed me to get involved with various student groups, I probably

would not have enjoyed the experience nearly as much as I did.

Beth

Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is

Liberty.

[Guest guest]

HI Janet:

I live in Cherokee County and I used to live in Cobb County. Please email me and I can get you information.

Thanks, Heidi Fernandez

-------------- Original message -------------- > Greetings to all, > > It appears that my husbands company will be re-locating to Cobb County- > (as I have written before.) His company has made an offer for my son > and myself to visit for 3 days to meet with schools. Currently I am > looking at Cherokee High School. In October, during the Jewish > Holidays here- when school is out, I am considering a visit. PLEASE! -- > any input for the Galleria Mall area, ANYONE who can tell me about the > the area for a 14 year old Aspie with a co-morbid diagnosis of ADD, > and Pragmatic Speech Disorder as secondary dx. and a school with some > positive special-ed programs, I need to know.!!!! Let me take this > opportunity to thank my special friend "" for all her support! > You ROCK! > Janet > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/23/05 11:39:47 PM, autobun@... writes:

<< It appears that my husbands company will be re-locating to Cobb County-

(as I have written before.) His company has made an offer for my son

and myself to visit for 3 days to meet with schools. Currently I am

looking at Cherokee High School. >>

You may want to contact the Cobb County Parent Mentors. They are parents of

children who are, or have been, students in the special education program and

are employed by the school system to help parents navigate the system. In Cobb

County, they are:

Ijeoma Ajoku

Stacey

Judith Steuber

You can contact them at 770-529-0046.

Also check out their website at www.parentmentors.org

Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

My son is only 4 1/2 so I don't really know about the high schools. But as far as places to live in Cobb County, we like the Northeast or East Cobb area very much. The high schools would be Walton, Pope, or Lassiter more than likely so you might want to check those out. We lived in the Kennesaw/Acworth area for a long time, too, which was nice but the commute south from there to the Galleria Mall area wouldn't be much fun. As far as the Galleria Mall area goes, it's right next to the interstate and there aren't too many residential areas right around there, very commercial area.

Good luck! I don't want to be too negative, but Georgia is very lacking as far as services for autism go. Sad, but true.

[Guest guest]

What does he IEP say? If you want him in reg ed classes.. do it... write it in

the IEP... make sure that it states that a certain percent of his day will be

spent in reg ed

[Guest guest]

Cari,

It is like reading my story from 2 years ago. I also have a Nick, he

is now 17. When he started high school the school had a similar idea

of how school would be for my Nick. It took a year for me to work with

the school to help them see what was possible for Nick and the high

school. Trust me it was the best year of work I have done. Nick has a

great schedule now, is fully included with supports (including peers),

workings in the school store, is in DECA, etc. He is a true member of

his high school class. I would be happy to talk to you about what we

did and how we wrote his IEP to get things to work out. It was not

always easy, and took longer than I thought it should have, but the

outcome far out weights everything.

Mom to Nick 17 and Noah 8 both with Down syndrome

Colorado

On Apr 22, 2009, at 1:51 PM, CMancari@... wrote:

>

>

> Well, Jeff, Nick and I toured the high school Tuesday.? Nick and I

> are scheduled to go back on Thursday and then Nick will go 4 more

> times (ride the bus and spend the day) before the end of the school

> year.? Saying I'm a little disappointed is an understatement.??

> Seems like the school system has decided Nick will be in the

> segregated special ed classroom where based on what the teacher

> said, I'm assuming he will spend his entire day (in other words no

> more inclusion in a regular ed class).? We are scheduled to talk to

> the director of special ed next week.

>

> Jeff seems to think part of my problem with this classroom is I know

> 2 of the students in the class and what I know of them compared to

> what I know Nick is capable of doing (when he wants to work) is Nick

> is more advance than they are.? Also, the life skills portion isn't

> want we were told it would be (it's what we specifically said we

> didn't want).? We were told he'd be in this classroom all day except

> for 4th period, when the entire class goes to gym and then lunch.?

> Their mornings were working on calendar, reading, math, life skills

> (grooming, laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping {I think}) and the

> afternoons were devoted to socialization.? This isn't what I've

> always dreamed and worked to get for Nick.? I'm torn though because

> even though I feel Nick is capable of doing more, Nick has no drive

> or determination to do more.?

>

> What is the right answer?? Do we allow him to be in a setting that I

> truly feel won't be as academically or mentally challenging enough

> for him?? Or, do we push to get him in a different environment where

> he will be challenged but due to his lack of drive and determination

> will cause more behavioral issues and shut downs?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Cari

> Mom to Nick (15, just happens to have DS), (9, missed the

> gifted program in WV by 5 points -- will test again next year) and

> Zachary (7, he wants his own IEP meeting)

> Wife to Jeff

>

>

[Guest guest]

Way cool how things are going... sounds like a nice mix of learning at

his level, inclusion, and modifications (e.g not dressing for PE) so

that he has the most opportunity to succeed in all areas! I am looking

forward to high school in some ways because there are more options in

terms of " levels " of classes... there is everything from self-contained,

resource, and then regular ed but really really low level in math and

language arts.... lots more options than at our home middle school,

where it's regular ed, a couple resource classes, and that's it.. if we

wanted any classes in a self-contained placement, we'd have to bus

across town.

Yet again I am amazed that administrators, who you would THINK would

know the rules, decided to just change placement and hope no one

noticed... really, it's scary to me because if they are doing this all

over the place, I wonder how many times it must work b/c parents are

unaware... probably way too many! Good for you for getting this fixed

right away!

, mom to (14), (12 DS), and Sammy (11)

On 9/17/2010 4:51 PM, CMancari@... wrote:

>

> This is Nick's second year at the high school (he's attending the one

> he would attend without a disability too!). High School started a

> little rough -- last year after I about had a fit over the original

> placement that we being led to believe he was getting (self-contained

> classroom with students that based on what I knew of the students, as

> I know several of them from other activities, Nick was more advanced

> than). We met with the head of special ed and she agreed that was not

> the proper placement and sent the IEP specialist to straighten things

> out. IEP was reconvened at the end of summer and Nick was to spend

> part of the day in the self-contained (science/math/ind.living

> skills), reading & pre-voc would be with a teacher that taught, I'm

> assuming here, more LD students as would History (but with a different

> teacher) and PE would be with the kids from the self-contained class.

> IEP was written for this year to be the same.

>

> Anyway this year at the start of the year I find out that someone

> (Vice Principal & Pre-Voc teacher) decided Nick would be in the

> self-contained classroom all day. Self-contained teacher has confirmed

> that Nick is more advanced than her other students and, like me, she

> feared he would act out more if bored and she was having difficulty

> trying to figure out how to keep him engaged without losing the other

> students. I told her that was in violation of his IEP -- she agreed.

> Problem was the Vice Principal (who is over special ed students) was

> saying that the other teacher could only have 8 students and she had

> those already. Quick call to the board office (thankfully Nick's home

> base teacher was proactive for me) and the VP was informed no, she

> could have 12 students and Nick was to be assigned to her class. Nick,

> teacher and staff spent the next week trying to figure out a schedule

> for Nick. Finally got one that would work but lost the independent

> living skills (so sad, NOT) so IEP had to be reconvened.

>

> IEP specialist came with a new Behavioral Plan (done by the head of

> special ed -- love her). Plan for now is Nick will work toward walking

> independently from class to class by February 2011. He is to eat at a

> table with typical classmates (IEP specialist's daughter is in Nick's

> grade and has volunteered to be Nick's lunch buddy for now and has him

> eating at her table with her friends). He's under the same rules as

> the rest of the school as far as handling being tardy and lunch

> behavior. (Just need to get the aides to back down -- excuse is they

> are just so protective of the special ed students.) He has

> reading/language arts with the more advanced teacher for 1st period.

> 2nd period is Social Studies with his home base teacher

> (self-contained classroom). The teacher that taught last year is no

> longer teacher special ed and they thought the regular ed class would

> be too advanced for him. 3rd period is Math with his home base teacher

> (self-contained classroom). 4th period Music Appreciation with a

> regular ed teacher but with the kids from the self-contained class.

> Then he has lunch. After lunch he has Science with his home base

> teacher (self-contained classroom). 6th period he goes to PE (alone,

> no aide -- all typical kids), Nick doesn't dress, but for now that is

> best -- locker room isn't supervised and he gets into way too many

> things. 7th period is Pre-Voc with the other non-self-contained

> special ed teacher.

>

> Goal is to have him ready for a job by summer 2011. IEP Specialist is

> hoping to get him on at one of the local golf courses. (Prayers for

> Nick's maturity level and behavior to get to where it needs to be to

> make this happen would be greatly appreciated.) If all goes well, we

> may just opt to have him graduate with his class (2013) and be done.

> (Original plan was for him to walk across the stage and come back for

> one more year of strictly job training.)

>

> Cari

>

>

[Guest guest]

My son started high school this year and is really struggling. He has Aspergers

and is high functioning but completely overwhelmed with all the work, social

issues and has had bullying. he is a bright kid but is so anxiety ridden over

all he has to keep track of that his grades in core subjects are low. He has

inclusion support in main subjects but I feel like I am having to talk with the

school on a daily basis on trying to get his support needs met. He appears like

he understands much more than he does because he is very accommodating. I am

beginning to wonder if he will be able to continue in public high school. We are

in a very high-achieving district so that adds even more pressure on him. If any

one has experience with children of this age, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

my son is not in high school but in reading your post, it got me thinking that taking Dylan out of public school and putting him a private school is best. I've been struggling with it for a year now. I was thinking to keep him with "normal" kids and maybe he will learn some social skills quicker, but now I think that is wrong. There are good private schools here that deal with AS, ADHD etc.

And waiting for the school to come around to our way of thinking is nonesense, while Dylan suffers.

Thanks for your thoughts

Cathleen

From: <tamaoki_s@...> Sent: Wed, September 22, 2010 10:48:18 AMSubject: ( ) Re: high school

I think that your son's experience is common in high school for our kids. My son really crashed when he started high school. He is very bright, but was being bullied. He had some great teachers, but a couple of teachers refused to take his diagnosis seriously. I later found out that one teacher often teased him in front of the class. He started failing some classes and eventually just refused to go to school anymore. His doctor said that school had become toxic for him and that he shouldn't be forced to attend school until his anxiety levels were down. I think you are on the right track by keeping in touch with the school and to keep asking them for help. What worked for our family was to seek out alternatives to the high school (charter schools, online schools, a local homeschooling group). Unfortunately by the time he refused to go to the public school, he was resistant to trying the alternatives. I asked for a tutor from the school district

to come to our home, but he refused to cooperate. So he sat out one semester. I did sign him up for self-study course on Japanese and he enjoyed that. Plus I took him out for outings on the weekend to get him out of his room to have some fun. I found a private school for kids with AS and with the help from an advocate and then a lawyer we eventually got the school district to agree to cover the tuition. He come home from the first day at his new school with a smile on his face. This school changed his life. He was with kids just like him. He had friends and a social life after school. The classwork was challenging, but included the accommodations he needed to succeed (minimal notetaking, projects broken down into small steps, coaching on social skills). In his senior year, he started taking college classes. He's in his second year of college now and continues to lag behind his peers socially, but he has made great progress. Knowing what I know now I

would have put him in this school earlier, not let him suffer while the public schools dragged their feet on giving him an IEP. Hang in there. Let your son know that HE isn't the problem. He can't help the way he is. It's the school failing to give him the help he needs. Keep a good paper trail. Keep putting your requests for help in writing. Be polite with the school employees, but be firm. Let us know how things are going.