My first thoughts are to tell you that if this school is a parent-run school, then the teachers there are more than likely not certified teachers. Teachers in most private schools do not have to hold a state teaching liscence. So I am curious as to what kind of sp ed teaching she has done in the past. That being said, you are right, no one at that school probably has any knowledge in anything that is appropriate for your son. Also, private schools don't have to follow IEP's, so I am again amazed that they were even considering an IEP. Usually you have to take whatever they offered.
I am a public school special ed teacher, so I am sure that you can say I am a little biased. And I know that you say your public school system has no money. BUT by law, money can not be a reason for them to not provide the services your son needs. In my opinion, other than sending your child to a special school that specializes in ASD, your best option for getting the educational services your son needs is public education. I know you say you pay your own therapist. And I think it's great you have the money to do so. But I would at least visit your public school that he would attend, see what they have to offer, listen to them, and then make the decesion. Don't make the decesion not to utilize public education only because you know they are in a financial upset right now. I know sometimes it does, but it should not have anything to do with your son getting his free and APPROPRIATE public educaiton. You might be surprised at what they can offer. But good luck no matter what you decide. And please understand that I am in no way trying to persuade you one way or the other. I am just suggesting you at least find out info about all your options before making your decesion.
Hello, My name is Maisa and I'm the lucky mama of Sam age 7, diagnosed July 2006 with PDD-NOS and profound phonological disorder. Also mom to Alex, 17 mths (he thinks he's 3).
I'm not sure where to begin. Yesterday, after a week of trying to track down and de-code the new local IEP independant school regualations, my son's school presented me with a paper outling what services I could expect from them.
Quick back-ground: Sam is in gr.1 at a small independant, parent run school in a rural area. He has spent 2 years in the K program and this year he moved into a blended K-1 class M and W with a gr. 1-3 program Tu and TH. Sam has a TA full time. Our school has 35 students, 3.5 teachers, a fulltime TA and two support parents in everyday. Sam struggles with all the typical ASd stuff but with loving support he was making progress in leaps and bounds. ( I know his TA LOVES him) . As a small school running on a shoestring budget I knew I'd have to make some consessions and as the first (diagnosed) asd kid, there would be a steep learning curve, but I always felt heard and supported by the school.
I began to have some doubts 2 wks ago when I recieved a call from the new teacher stating that Sam HAD to go home NOW .He was BITING and SCRATCHING! Now, I know Sam can reach that level but it doesn't come outta nowhere. I raced to school and found my kid in a state I don't see often. Turns out teacher removed the beloved bucket of knex, Sam's latest obsession. Sam had pretty much free access to it for weeks. He shows up Tue morn and it's gone, no warning. I decided Sam needed a few days at home till I had a chance to educated Teacher (her resume says she taught sp ed and I know at least two of her past students were asd)
Meanwhile the IEP deadline loomed. A meeting was finally arranged (by me) and I couldn't have been more inspired by MY paid providers and couldn't have been more shocked at Teacher"s complete lack of knowledge regarding IEPs. Four hours later my Behav. Consult./fairygodmother announced it was a good IEP. Teacher impatiently announced that she, "couldn't tell a good one from a bad one, it is what it is" and that she'd like to get home." I went home feeing good about the IEP, not so good about Teacher.
Yesterday morn, I get a call telling me the school had a paper they needed to me sign. This paper outlined that they could offer Sam time in the reg class with my support 9-12/ M-TH, If Sam did not choose to participate in the activity he could take "the box" (a "special" box with 5 small toys in it) to a corner of the class and play with it until he choose to participate. If he left the class area I was to take him home. They would offer Sam a TA from 12 to 3:30 where he would be allowed to work on special projects. It was noted there was no budget for special math of science programs. (In the past month Sam has almost mastered most gr 3 math concepts and is working on gr.3 level science projects at home.And he has just begun recognizing his first sight words!)
Don't know how I mustered up the tact to say essentially thanks, but no thanks- without any profanity.
So, what do I do now? Sam would be lost in the public system (sadly. our local district is currently paying back 1.9 million in "mis-appropriated" funds and sp. services are bare bone and badly managed) Best school for asd is the catholic school-not my cup a tea but would still consider it if it wasn't for the 45 min commute each way. Everything is pointing at homeschooling but I'm overwhelmed just thinking where do I start? what does Sam need?
I've been reading the advice you moms (and dads) share, and you folks are my new heros. I welcome any insight you may have.
Do your paid specialists have any recommendations? It sounds like you have some good peopleon that end, so maybe get some ideas from them. I hate to say it, but I have such a great system in place at our maintream elem school that I would move to be near it if I had to.
IN regard to SPED teachers having knowledge of ASD kids...BULL. First of all every single one 0f them is strikingly different. I spoke at the University here (USA) to a group of sped teaching students who were seniors and they had no clue about ASD's. It is not being taught with the importance that its prevalence worldwide would indicate that it should!
Good luck...please let me know if there is anything I can do.
If your local school district does not have an appropriate placement for your son, it is INCUMBENT on them to negotiate with the nearest school district that DOES. Then, YOUR school district pays tuition to THEIR school district. Another option would be to get the services of an autism consultant on your son's IEP and send the consultant regularly to this independent school. SOme states allow the school district to send help to private schools. SOme don't. The other option,you have already mentioned. The local Catholic school. I find that really interesting because the Catholic schools around here (Long Island, NY) are notoriously bad with any kind of learning disability or neurobiological disorder. However, things are different in different parts of the country. One option that you might not have thought of is to do exactly what this private school asks you to do. The advantage to that over homeschooling is that it won't take any more effort than homeschooling, your son will be in a situation where other children are available as role models (if he learns from imitation) and potential social partners, he'll stay used to going outside the home to school and you will be doing this school and this teacher an ENORMOUS favor by modeling for THEM and essentially giving them a free education.
We parents of kids on the spectrum get "taught" by our kids SO much that we often forget that the things we learn to take for granted (like obsessions and transition issues) are foreign things to teachers and parents of typical kids. It's really only been in the last 4 or 5 years that schools have been getting SPECIAL ED teachers who have the slightest clue about autism. We on this board all live in a world where ASD issues are the norm. That is not so outside our world, so when we put our children INTO the outside world, clashes of culture take place. There is no other way to put it. Sometimes it's worth it and workable. Sometimes not. Only you can decide based on the current situation and what realistic options you have. Personally, I believe home teaching autistic kids goes against what they need most -- being with peers. Not necessarily just because peers model for them (many ASD kids wouldn't notice if the model were modelling on their NOSE!) but to learn to simply TOLERATE being in the world We parents quickly learn what the world will tolerate from them. AND what it won't. This is a hard but important lesson for everyone.
Just wanted to clarify that in Canada I receive 00.00 year for autism interventions. ( children under 6 receive 40,000/yr). I pay for speech, behavour and am waiting for ot. 0. doesn't cover all Sam's needs. My family is on social assistance and I make ends meet by eating very little ( I have an eating disorder - working on it though) I paid the tuition costs by working as a TA the first year and custodian the 2nd (new baby)
The teacher's at the school are all certified teachers,and have worked in the public school system. Sam's TA is a cerified Youth and Childcare Worker, completed the Para-Pro workshop last year, will complete the SPL Assistant program next year ( also the mom af a adult ASD son and daughter with same speech disorder as Sam )
An independant school in BC is entilled to 16,000/yr for each sp ed student (public schools ,000) An IEP is required before receiving funding.
The public school admin. admitted that they are having a very difficult time providing services and depending on his need we could expect about 20-40 wk for speech and they couldn't tell me about OT because everyday they have more students on their lists. I have spoken to several parents who's children receive these services and the are very unhappy, always fighting to get more, always being told "there's no money"
I am a former TA and I know the public system - all those amazing teachers that "get it", teams working together, students succeeding. It does happen. Sometimes.
All that said, I've placed calls to set a meeting with S. Joe's and with the school district to see what they can offer.
I'm just in the info collecting stage. Does anyone know where to get good info on Canadian laws, homeschooling, canadian message boards- eh?
SOrry -- I forgot you were in Canada. IS there an Autism Society of Canada, just as there is an AUtism Society of AMerica? YOu might google Autism in Canada to see what comes up. I believe there are a lot of Canadians who post on this board. YOu might try a new thread asking about Canada.
I didn't realize you were in Canada. Sorry. But thank you for reading and responding.bumperoony!