And autistic mentor and a autistic mentor aid? I asked for my son to have a autistic mentor for school this was put in his IEP they marked it in as a mentor aid.I was told in the past to watch cause some were hired as 1:1 and some for a group of kids.Im looking for a 1:1 mentor.
Dear dreamy.. excuse me for jumping in but I just noticed your post. Cocoa is right as far as the term Mentor. It usually applies to a peer mentor where typical kids model appropriate behavior for special needs kids. I think you are looking for a 1:1 paraprofessional or Aide who is part of the staff and provides instructional support to children either in a 1:1 or group setting. They would need to mark his IEP 1:1 instructional support/para/aide (each district/state has a different term) who is strictly assigned to him, otherwise he will to share the support with other students. Most districts don't provide 1:1 paras unless the child has an ED (emotionally disturbed) classification and is harmful to himself or others. My son is aggressive and when we lived in NY I got him assigned a 1:1 because he also has incontinence so they gave him one for toileting issues. We now live in CT and he no longer qualifies for a 1:1, some states feel it stigmatizes the child (you know all the No child left behind/IDEA child privacy) but if it is done correctly most times the other children do not know who the para is assigned to because they spread themselves out instead of sitting right on top of the child who gets the services. I am a para sub and I have a son with PDD-NOS and I am all for whatever works for the child to make him fit in and function like all his friends without hurting anyone. Check your state Board of Ed guidelines and Good Luck!WHY? Why do you want a 1:1? What is your definition of a mentor? Does your school havea mentor and an aide, and are they called by different titles because they have different orientation, a different pay-scale? You need to clear this up because it is unclear. The 1:1 aide is for the more severe, or the inappropriate or agressive behavior. It is not a good thing if you don't qualify...its like putting a hearing aid in a kids ear that doesn't talk. Is he hearing impaired or just not choosing/able to talk. A mentor is a normal,general education student of about the same age...a buddy. Someone to have lunch with once a week, etc. A mentor models correct age-appropriate behavior to the autistic student. Does not have to be of the same sex, same race, etc..just from the general population and wanting to be a mentor. Two of my sons are mentors. One has been for 11 years and still is. He is now 25 yrs old.
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