These other placement options are in different schools, not the school that abused him. However because the school that abused him is his home school district, they are referring him out to these other schools (placements). I have no intentions at all on Billy going back to his home school district, as they have treated him horrible.
Billy is tactile and even "space" defensive...he will usually only become aggressive when you are touching him or when you are in his "space"for too long....he does send out warning signals to let people know that he feels uncomfortable. He stiffens right up like a statue and becomes unresponsive but once people get out of his space...he is ok. This only happens with people that he does not know...he is ok with people being in his space once he gets used to them, it just takes some time.
When you say your "home school district" is there only one school in your district? Is that why they are looking for placement in another district? I think you owe it to yourself, and your son to thoroughly look into the placements that the district is recommending. Call the Principals and make an appointment to meet with them, tour the schools, and meet the special ed teachers and observe the classrooms. This is by no means a committment on your part to send your child there, but who knows? You may just love one of these schools and feel that it is the perfect fit for your son. You won't know until you look. Also, you should be investigating all schools in your area to see if there is one that will work for your child. Don't rely on the district to present you with options. Do the legwork yourself. You may find something that you feel is appropriate that they did not present to you. That's when you roll up your sleeves and fight like a tiger!I think IBGECKO has a wonderful idea, checking out the programs the schoool district is willing to offer. The program for ASD kids sounds promising! But I also think (and sorry to give you two completely different opinions) if its not broken, dont fix it. Basicly you have a gut feeling that homeschooling is working well for Billy and he feels safe and is able to learn at home, keep doing it. Just because the school district is OFFERING new placements doesnt mean it is the best situation for Billy, and it doesnt mean you HAVE to take them up on that offer.
As far as getting therapies for Billy while homeschooling him, the school can provide the therapies, you take him to and from therapies at the school. That is what I do w/ my DS. He gets Sensory Int. therapy through our insurance, and we take him to our local school for speech 2x weekly. The school likes it because they get the funds for a special ed. student w/o having to provide much instruction and spending a lot of money. I like it b/c my DS gets the therapies he needs and can still be homeschooled. Talk w/ the school, they should be willing and able to help. If they balk and say we dont provide services for homeschooled children, you can point out the following... They provide the therapies for children once they are too old for their states Early Intervention program, from 3 until school age. Tell them to meet you in the middle and let Billy have his therapies at the school. It will be only a few hours a week. Then they get paid for providing services and Billy is there only a few hours a week versus all day 5 days a week.
As far as respite, I TOTALLY understand. No need to feel bad that you need a break from your DS. We ALL do, we are human. I am unsure if that is provided through the local school district or through the stae. Hopefully someone on the board can point you in the right direction.
So, check out the programs they are offering if you want. But if he is doing well at home, I would say keep him there. Maybe he will be ready to try public school in a few years, maybe he wont. You can get social activities galore for him through other avenues. Some things we do are (all of them either free or low cost) ; free library programs, book clubs, swim lessons, horse riding lessons, visiting local museums w/ another ASD child, parks etc. We also belong to a local homeschool support group and attend a homeschool/public school program once a week. My DS does rockwall climbing, swimming and gym games with other homeschoolers once a week. Our public school system runs the program, it is free to us, and they get the funds for providing the programs for the kids. A win-win situation for all of us. Maybe you have one in your area. Try calling your surrounding cities school district offices and asking about a homeschool program.
Ok, Iv rambled on long enough. If you need more info about homeschooling or need to know laws in your state, email me and tell me which state you live in and I will try to help you :)
Maybe I am missing this in your post, but is the only placement option through that school...when they say ASD program, is it still there?
IMHO, I would be very cautious and leary of sending him back to that school...if that is the only placement option and homeschooling is working, I might stick with that.
And I don't know the laws or anything and someone else might be able to help out more in this department...but I wouldn't think they could deny him schooling if he's not on meds...I wouldn't think that is the school's choice...especially if he isn't too bad with agression, like you said.
Hi everyone. I was wondering if you could give me input? Billy, as some of you know has been and is currently homeschooled due to abuse from his school district. I feel good that I home school him but also kind of bad because I need to get him more services including respite because we are constantly together. I hope you all do not take that the wrong way, I enjoy being with Billy very much, I love him sooooo much, Just sometimes I need a break. Anyway, the school district called yesterday and suggested a couple of options for Billy. They suggested a placement, that I know nothing about yet, someone is supposed to call and let me know. The other placement is possibly a program for asd kids.
Billy is sooo very anxious and I am afraid that any placement will completely trigger him into aggression, fear, etc. He is not on meds. I am not saying that meds are bad (Chris is on meds and needs them badly), I do not want Billy on meds. I feel that he is ok without them for right now. He can be aggressive but, not real often, and it is usually short lived. I am afraid that if I put him in a school placement that they will want to put him on meds (as this has happened with Billy before). The place that Billy was going to go didnt even know him and they said they might put him on meds, and when I said no, they said well, then he cannot go here. I do not want him on meds, he does not need them. I think that with intensive therapy (PT, OT, ST, Social skills training, etc.) that he would learn and be ok. He has never has the therapy that he needs and he has never had an FBA or a BIP.
Because of the abuse, both Billy and I have trust issues with schools. I want him to be happy. I just do not know what to do. Do I try a different placement? or do I continue to homeschool him? He feels safe here with me, and I think that now that he is officailly Dx with autism, that I can get him more services and the supports that he needs at home and in the community. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Kath
bumping for fordexpr1... for further input from others...A school ABSOLUTELY CANNOT require your child be on any type of medication to attend. That is ILLEGAL, and they cannot deny him his education becuase of a lack of medication.[QUOTE=fordexpr1]aww, thank you so much hope2. It is great to have support here. Billy was locked in a closet type thing (about the size of a small stand up shower) for a year and a half, everyday while in school. I just thought I would tell you, as I have told others. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]
That's sickening! Is that legal?