I have tried and tried, but I am unable to find any private schools
around my area for autistic children. This would help solve our custody
issues, because most of our issues focus on schooling. We had agreed
during our divorce that the boys would go to a private school in
Middletown. They were two years old at the time. Now they are five, and
cannot go to the private school since they are autistic, and the school
isn't equipped to deal with autism.
So i moved 10 miles away to a much better district. This is where our
issues are. He doesn't want them to change schools. He wants them to go
to Middletown, which is under academic watch by the state of ohio. The
school district I moved them to is rated excellent by the state, and is
regarded widely as the best district in our region. Ask anyone in this
area where the best school is, and they will immediately say Lakota.
Anyway, i would LOVE to send them to a private school. i cannot find
any. I found a private preschool, but that will only help for one year.
I am frustrated! It seems like if there are so many autistic kids now,
there would be more services, help, etc for them. There isn't!
Anyone know of any good resources for finding private schools? I
seriously would be tempted to homeschool them, but that would NOT go
over well in court! Their dad would veto that immediately!
Help???
Maybe the Autism Society in your area can point you in the right direction. However, like many of us, you may just have to go with public schools....
I know you can print up school report cards if you need to "make a case"....example, I've printed our current school report card, then printed all elementary school report cards in a city nearby that I'm thinking of moving to. I can compare how they rank and progress they make in special education compared to the current school. If there are NO private autism schools in your area, you just might be out of luck...and doing the research on the schools that ARE available to you will show in court that you are making a concientious decision about this and have thought it through.
FYI ~ The court can't fault you for not being able to meet the private school guidelines...if you knew then that your children wouldn't be accepted by the private school because of autism...neither you nor your ex- would have made that agreement, so now you just have to do what's best for your kids with what is available...sounds like you've already done the research.
Best of luck to you!
~Lesley