Kelly,
I am in SC and my son is 3 years old (autism). He starts his preschool tomorrow in a Teacch class for autistic children. Here they offered it to him when they thought he was just PDD-NOS. Their long term goal for him is the Teacch class this year...A dd preschool class next year and a mainstream class with help by kindergarden. I am nervous as this is the first time I am sending a 3 year old to school 5 days a week all day long. I am however excited that he is going to get help in a classroom designed specifically for his educational needs though.
Karrie
Just wondering if most your children are in developmentally delayed or autism classes.
My son Ryan (4yrs.PDD) was in the developmentally delayed class last year for pre-k.
I am having him tested again by the school system to see if he qualifies for to autism class.
I felt like the developmentally delayed class did nothing Great for him, or maybe my expectations were too high. Although the DD class had 15 students in it(which is the max they can have) from what I hear the Autism class max students is 5.
I feel he will get more one on one attention there, he seemed lost in the DD class last year.
Thanks for your input!!!!
Kelly Hi Kelly, When my son was first diagnosed and we put him in school... they (the school) wanted to put him in a class for developmentaly delayed. We had to fight with the school to put him in the class room for ASD students. My decision to fight to put him in that particular classroom had more to do with the teachers. I observed the classrooms and even sat in each one for about a week for a couple of hours a day, with my son. The ASD class fit him better. I have also heard the opposit. You can have a great DD teacher and a terrible ASD teacher. I really think it all comes down to what is the best fit for the particular child. Unfortunatly, the schools here where we live do not make it that easy to pick and choose even though it is your right as a parent. This year, my son is actually in a mainstream classroom with ASD resource only. The mainstream teacher he has this year, used to teach ESE and has a DD son. Again so far this seems to be the perfect fit for my son. But school just started and it's a day to day thing. My son diagnoses when he was 3 was moderate to severe autism. He is 9 now and has come along way. There is no way when we first started out that he would have been able to make it in a classroom that was not set up for those on the more severe end of the spectrum. Are you able to go and check out the different classes? I've found that it is about the teacher. I've had to work very hard to put my son where I thought it best for him. It is sometimes (ok, often) a struggle with the school but that is what is most important for his success. The curriculum is secondary--for Paul it all about improving social skills and having the teacher "get" that so he gets the support and direction he needs. I always meet teacher, sit in on class, talk to other parents and....I hate to say it but I don't trust the school system. I like and want to trust the professionals but I've learned not to. I trust me more! Good luck! Thanks for your help everyone!! Well, the class he was in last year for DD, It was the teachers first time to teach( fresh out of college) that would be our luck! If they let us put him in a ASD class I will for sure be looking and sitting in on the class before I sign papers to put him in there. Like you said it has to be the perfect fit for him. My main goal is to get him into a smaller class..he requires alot of attention..as I am sure you guys can understand that. I just hope the school district does. It won't be the first time we have gone to battle with them and I am sure it won't be the last.
THANKS YOU GUYS!! Kelly
I didn't even know that some school districts have autism classes! AMAZING!! My daughter was in sp-ed preschool (primarily d.d., but three autistic kids in the class). She had a one on one skills trainer with an ABA/Behavioral plan. Good thing too, because her preschool teacher was horrible...didn't even think to have circle time for the kids..she literally did NOTHING the whole year. My daughter is only 4, but the cut-off here is Dec 31, so they suggested she start regular kindergarten this year. Not my first or second choice..but compared to the sp-ed preschool, it was a go. So now she is mainstreamed with a skills trainer. School started last week and things are shakey, but o.k. Kate isn't even the worst behaved child in the class. How do you find out what the district even offers?? I ask at the school, but they plead ignorance.In their view, they are giving her the best they have to offer. I don't even think there are more than 2 private autism schools on the island and one is for older kids. How does everyone else find out what is available. Incase kindergarten doesn't work out, I need a backup plan, but the sp-ed preschool at our school is unacceptable. Mahalo, Renee my son is 4 1/2, and has been only dx since may. he started sp ed /dd pre school this past week and LOVES it. there are only 5 kids in the class now and can only go up to 8. they have 2 full teachers, and a few volunteers. 3/5 kids are autistic. i did not know that they had autistic classrooms. i think the hope is to have him go into kindergarten next year, but i do not know yet. he is very bright and uses language, but his receptive is not very good, and socially, he is a
i am really learning so much from this site, thanks for all of the great ideas. i posted a couple ?'s on the list, if anyone can help me out. thanks, kate
Copyright Autism-PDD.net