Private schools/day programs in Texas | Autism PDD

I am new to this forum. I live in Alabama where there are no private autism schools or day programs. My son is 5 1/2 (kindergarten) and is on the lower end of the spectrum.

My family is looking to relocate to Texas (possibly the Houston area). Does anyone have any comments about PRIVATE schools or day programs in Texas? I have been in touch with Aim High Academy, Including Kids, Inc., Shape of Behavior, the Autism Treatment Center in Dallas, and Behavior Treatment & Training Center.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

Misti39139.5934259259If you move to an urban area almost anywhere, there are PUBLIC programs for kids with autism. Unless you move to a state that has "dual enrollment," if you place your child in a private school and pay the tuition, the public school is completely off the hook for funding and IEP. Of course, there are state-approved private schools in every state. Those are school that the state lets the SCHOOL DISTRICT place a child in and pay for the tuition and services through public funds. In those circumstances, these private schools function the same way public schools do in terms of being required to follow the IEP the District develops. You need to know all of this before you choose where to move.The only great thing I know of in Houston is that the Connections Center is there. That ids the home of Steven Gutstien, the pioneer behind RDI. I am not sure they have a school, but if they do, and I lived there, my son would attend.There is a new law that will help in Sept that someone mentioned but it's really sad that it only covers up to 6 yrs old. We are in the process of trying to find something in Austin, TX. We have good things about www.capitolschool.com and moore-weise school and another one but I forgot! Anyway, we are strongly looking into the first one for our dd. There are several other places, though, in austin that has ABA programs if you can afford private but I haven't checked them out yet because we are new to the dx. Also, someone here mentioned eanes school district, it's the best one around austin from what I heard from my friend who is a special ed teacher...then 2nd is leander and then round rock but it depends who you ask.

I live in the D/FW area, so can't give any guidance for Houston...but my experience with 2 different school districts in this area now, has been that you have to advocate for you child, and fight for more services, if you don't ask for it, they aren't going to offer it up...I don't know if this is a state-wide thing, or district by district...when I moved my son from one district to another, I was told they would try to "as closely as possible" match the services we were previously receiving (of course, within whatever resources they currently have)...he has not started in the new district, but I'll be watching closely to see what happens...I had to fight them on everything almost, transportation, etc....and they still aren't doing enough, in my opinion...speech therapy once a week?...what a joke! And these are two very well-to-do areas, with plenty high property taxes to fund it...

Again, don't know if it's a Texas thing, or just these districts...

Researching a move to Austin Texas. We have a 4 year old daughter that will need ABA and a good school. How is the Enes School District?

Hi all! I'm new to this forum and live in TX. Misti- don't move to Texas, the services here for children with autism are terrible. My nephew received treatment from the shape of behavior and then attended Aim High Academy. My sister was not pleased with the services from either. Both were extremely costly and staff training was lacking. If I'm not mistaken, the director of Aim High (Kristen or Kirsten Sheils) did not have any formal training in autism and no credentials what so ever to be teaching! If memory serves, she's a lawyer who is a friend of the family of the owners of the school and was given the job b/c she got fired from her last one. Monthly tuition was over 00 and the place did not resemble a school. My sister stopped by unannounced one afternoon and my nephew was playing grand theft auto while his teacher talked on the phone. What kind of school encourages kids to play those kind of video games? Needless to say, she was furious and promptly took him out. He's now in a public school, doing quite well and my sister no longer has a second mortgage on her home to pay for a private school. Do your research very carefully!

I live in Texas and all services such as ABA and speech is totally out of pocket. Insurance is hard to pay for speech with the diagnoses..ours wont.

The schools offer a little speech & OT ...not enough IMHO and no ABA is done in schools here at all.

A new law just passed though for services for our kids up to age 5 starting in Sept for ABA , OT, speech.ect...

...but if your child is over 5 years old they dont qualify.

Edited: I found this link that may be helpful for you:)

Texas Young Autism Project Department of Psychology Psychological Research and Services
Center University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-5341
Phone: (713) 743-8610
Fax: (713) 743-8633 11.Northwest Young
Autism Project Department of Psychology
Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164
Phone: (509) 335-2522

ShelleyR39280.7338194444

I live in Lewsiville and have access to a great BCBA and therapists, as well as developmental pediatrician, speech path that specializes in autism....Dan doc..best healthfood store...and free Autism seminars info:)

If you need anything just pm me:)

No apology necessary. I've learned the hard way that you really need to thoroughly research different providers before handing over thousands of dollars to them. Unfortunately most families are in desperate need of services for their kids while they're still young and end up taking leaps of faith that they end up regretting. That was my sister's experience and I"m just trying to help others so they don't make the same mistakes.

A BIG word of caution about the Texas Young Autism Project- it USED to be a Lovaas replication site and then their status was pulled b/c of poor service and a huge lawsuit against the director Dr. Gerald Harris. I googled Houston Chronicle and Dr. Harris and TYAP and found one of the news articles. I believe the lawsuit is still going on and TYAP has been accused of overbilling, unprofessional conduct, child maltreatment, just to name a few. I investigated this a couple years ago when we were looking for services for my nephew. I even went so far as to go down to the Harris County District Clerks office where I obtained records of the lawsuit. Some shocking stuff in there! I had to pay for the records, but it was worth it. I wouldn't recommend that center. Again, do your research! We have to protect our children.

OOPS!

Tried searching for a helpful link for her and found this one..terribly sorry!!

I know the Autism Treatment Center is for inpatient children. Yes, they have very young Autistic children which are residents. Apparently parental rights were severed for what ever reasons. My son's speech therapist would go to that center from time to time to see clients.

There is the North Star Academy in Grapevine - I know they have a long waiting list and our insurance would not even consider it, so I did not look into it further.