Kindergarden:Cluster vs Mainstream | Autism PDD
If she is imitating she may do be better served in nt class ..mine was nonverbal to us~she had words but not for us or functional and we were told by our consultant/therapists that the autism classroom is best for totally nonverbal and she was considered verbal..she would be the only girl too..
We opted out of it and done intense 1:1 full time ABA for over 3 years till she was 6 and she made huge progress..by time she started kindergarten she was potty trained, talking in full sentences, able to attend for hours, read, write, follow peers in play and games, transition and follow the rules of all day kindergarten totally mainstreamed without supports..she could of never made that kind of progress without intense ABA or being in the autism classroom.
I hope the nt classroom is going to have people knowlegable on autism and ABA to help your daughter..and just like the last poster noted they are some doozy behaviors from nt kids to watch out for..Sarah learn some new commands from them that we had to undo
I'm going against school recommendations and not placing my daughter in an autistic cluster for kindergarden. I've enrolled her in a performing/fine arts magnetinstead. I guess I'm just looking for feedback/ support that I'm making the right choice. I feel she's made alot of progress in her pre-K setting but I think she needs something more. She's been imitating some of the lower functioning kids and has been the only girl in her class for 2 years. She's bright and ahead academically but she's easily distracted and lokes to get out of her seat. She verbal but has no real backand forth conversation and can usually answer yes/no questions. She'll be starting a full day pre-K program at the school with gen ed kids so I think it will be a good way to test the waters.
When my son was in pre-school, he was in a small class with other ASD kids. In 4K, they placed the ASD kids in a classroom with NT children for peer modeling. His class was set up the same way this year in Kindergarten. I think being in a class with NT kids has been very beneficial. However, I just want to point out that while there may be ASD kids with behaviors you don't want your daughter imitating, there are going to be NT kids who also aren't the best role models.
I would have done the same. Interest and joy are able to change behaviors, music and movement develop brains, and normal peers may accept her. Good luck. Don't give up too soon...all new paths need some wear and tearThanks for the responses. I think it's going to be a hard road ahead for her.
She's bright but very innattentive. She had her first day of summer pre-k and had a meltdown because she lost her headband. Also the teacher said that she wouldn't sit for story time etc without either the teacher or the aide wiht her one on one. I'm hoping it will get better.Again, I cans see why an autistic cluster would be a good idea but I've also heard from mom's whose kids were behaving the same and by the end of the year they were almost or at peer level.
I know that some NT's aren't the best role models but her imitating the low functioning non verbals kids was just getting to be too much.
I'm going to print up the "10 things about autistic kids" for the teacher now,maybe it'll help them both.
I think you are making a good decision. Since your daughter is already
modeling the social behavoirs of peers, why not expose her to typical
peers whose behaviors are better developed. She will have the
oppurtunity to interact with peers who will be more fluent than her. My
son is at typical preschool with a 1:1 shadow aide. We are doing the
following to make sure that things are going as smoothly as possible.
1. The 1:1 shadow is a behavioral aide. She is there to help him with task
diection; redirecting him to task when he is noncomplient/distracted;
maintaining clear and firm limits and managing behaviors when he tests
that;supporting him as he expresses is idea;guiding him through
transitions; and facilitating social interactions through modeling and
coaching.
He did not start out doing well at circle time(story time) he worked at it.
He did not start out well with playing with others, he worked on that as
well. The one thing that my son had was well developed pre-academic
skills. EVerything else he worked at. It has been over a year and he is a
different kid. It wont come in one day or one month, but with strong
suppports at school and home, it will come just wait and see.
Kathy
Copyright Autism-PDD.net