To only individuals and families of people with AUTISM?

Question

Hi there,

I need your kind help and genuine advice concerning a situation.

Our 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with autism two years ago. She attends an autistic school full-time. It's her second year there.

Should she switch into a mainstream public school, she would be clearly entitled to additional funding from the government for her educational needs [owing to autism, of course].

We have the following two options for her to choose from. In both cases, she would be getting the same amount of funding, of course.

My QUESTION is: Which option would be best for her do you think? What are your reasons?

Thanking you in advance for your generous support.


[Continued below...]

1) To attend the mainstream public school FULL-TIME with additional funding and assistance by an Integration Aide.

Pro: It’s much comfortable for little children to attend *one* school rather than always switch between two.

Con: She might feel a social “outcast” at the mainstream school.


2) To attend the autistic school 3 days a week, and the mainstream school 2 days a week.

Pro: She'd get the attention she needs within the low teacher-ratio environment at the autistic school. There would be other students, who would share in her [autistic] traits.

Con: It wouldn't be a good idea to study part-time in both schools. It might feel that she belonged nowhere in the long run.

[To be continued below...]

Some background info about my autistic child:

She is high-functioning, fluent in speech, has mild autism related sensory issues, has average IQ. She is painfully shy and withdrawn, although she *yearns* for forming friendship. She is very sensitive and has social uncertainty issues. In other words, she is extremely nervous and not confident [just the opposite] in social circumstances, but YEARNS for friendship. She feels sad the she "doesn't know" how to socialize.

Thank you so much for your time and advice!

Ryan's Mom: Thank you for your reply.
Actually, I am not keen on getting her education 5 days a week at the autistic school.

So, our decision would be to choose between the two options mentioned above [5 days mainstream, or 2 days mainstream and 3 days autistic per week, that is]

Answer 1

I have an 8 year old son who's high functioning Asperger's. He's is completely mainstreamed in a regular classroom and academically is at grade level. You mentioned that an aide would be provided for your daughter should she attend a regular class. Although this would be ideal I wouldn't count to heavily on the school district complying with that request. The school will more than likely look for other options to provide to her without hiring an aide.

Because of autistic traits even when there is a desire to belong these children do not possess the ability to engage socially, deal with normal peer situations/stress and over all cope with environmental stimuli within a regular class setting.
As a parent we naturally want to help our children learn how to deal with these situations but you need to keep in mind that due to the Autism there will be a limit as to how far you can push her in any one of these areas. We have been struggling the last two years with my son in school because of these very issues. He is now going to get a lot of additional services but no in class aide. Personally I want to steer clear of this because it's one more thing that separates him from his peers. The down side to inclusion for him includes not coping well with general noise levels which become overwhelming to him and thus he'll shut down and refuse to do work. Not handling comments made by peers or misinterpreting something said then he becomes emotionally upset which can trigger whole host of responses.

One key thing to think about is how will your daughter handle transitioning. Mine doesn't transition well. Autistic kids in general thrive on routine, small class environments and structure. Going into a regular school environment will not provide this for her. Since she's so young she might do fine adjusting to a K level classroom but once your past K the whole classroom environment and expectations change. If you get places with a less structured teacher it could make the year tougher for her. If you get a teacher who's more stern it could make it harder for her. Although regular teachers do their best to meet their needs there is only so much they can do because of the number of children they teach. My advice would be if you think she can handle transitioning then give it a try and see how it goes but make sure you have a stipulation in the IEP that she can return full time to her current program should you feel she needs it. With out that the school may not let you move her back.

Personally I wanted my child to deal with the regular classroom because this is what he's going to face throughout his life but it's an up hill battle and there are days I think he would be much better off in a spec. ed. class.

Answer 2

This is a sensitive question. My nephew is autistic and his mom was in major denial for awhile. Now he is going to a school for autistic children and is faced with the same choice. He was in childcare for about four years and was extremely hard to handle. He would cry and scream all day and disrupt the whole center. Parents would often walk in to pick up their children and question if there was anything wrong with him...mentally. She finally did place in mainstream classes, with the additional help and attended a meeting after school one day and came home in tears. Alot of the parents, although not knowing the situation with an autistic child, felt that they didn't want her child in their child's classroom because their kids would come home complaining that he would still disrupt the entire class with his sudden outbursts. They totally resented her and lashed out at her unexpectedly. She has all the family support possible but people can be cruel. If you do place her in mainstream just keep daily contact with her teacher and other faculty if possible. Good Luck and GOD bless.

Answer 3

I personally would lean towards the public school as it offers consistency and that is very important. She will feel more like she belongs there if she if there full time as opposed to part time. Some schools offer a buddy program where the special needs student is paired with a typical student to help them in social situations. The buddy is usually picked based on qualities that make them suitable and compatible with your child. Our youngest son has always been in public school, in his autistic class part of the day and mainstreamed as much as his skills allow. They have a buddy program at his school and it has helped him immensely in social areas. He loves it there and we have only ever had 1 problem with him being treated poorly or teased by other children and that was when he was 4 years ago (which also happened to be the first year they moved the special ed program for autistics to this campus).

Answer 4

I think you would need to get it in WRITING from your school that an aide would be guaranteed before even thinking too much about the public school if you really want an aide.

I know the schools get funding but if it's anything like here the principals are responsible for deciding where that funding gets spent and a lot of time it's on new photocopiers and coffee machines rather then on aides.

Getting IEP's and help from the public system is problematic in a lot of places. Be sure to visit and talk with the school and/or school board if necessary before you switch.

My son has Aspergers and we decided to homeschool instead when he was going into grade 5. I've never looked back and am so thankful we don't have to deal with that. He's been able to mature at his own speed and does well with kids his own age now. I know that's not for everyone though.

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Answer 5

Is there any way you could try to get to know some of the children who would be in her class at the public school before making the decision?

If she can make friends with someone beforehand, that might make a manageable bridge for her, where a class full of strangers would be impossible. You said she wants to socialise and one-to-one she might manage it. But if she can't cope with one non-autistic child, a whole class is going to be really tough for her and she might need the days away from them.

Answer 6

i would do the main stream school 3 days a week and the other school 2 days a week.

I have a cousin who also has autism and he functions a little lower then your daughter but he is doing really well in both schools and doesnt seem to have many problems. he also has socializing issues but they are getting better.

Couin is now 12 and has many friends from both schools.

Answer 7

I think public school full time is best. My sister in law has autism and has been going to public school since she began school and is now 16. She is doing great there and in no way does she feel like an outcast. She loves it. Especially when they go out on field trips. She always comes home very excited about her days. Good luck with your baby!!

Answer 8

I am a nanny for an autistic boy and I think if you have a special school and she is doing well in it I would leave her there. Other kids can be VERY cruel to disabled children and it can make their behavior even worse. I have noticed a change since he started school this year.

Answer 9

My nephew is autistic nad he does go to public school. He gets alot of services at school. I would check at your public school and see what would be available for your child.