High School | Autism PDD

i need to be quick, as im about to head off to work for the night, this is a stern warning to parents, while I was in high school i had some difficulty in class, but the real problem was belonging, fitting in, having friends, being popular.

Around 10th grade I decided it was time to increase my status, and im very ashaimed of the things I was doing. Like many high schools in our nation their was an underground drug ring that supplied narcottics to students. Unfortunatly, seeing that as my opertunity to be somebody, i became involved. I knew this older man, he would grow pot, i would take it, bring it to school, or have friends sell to their friends.

Im very ashimed of this, it got me in alot of trouble later in life, i just wanted to belong, have friends, allies, instantly i became popular, everybody seemed to like me when they once disliked me, all past bullies now became friends, protectors, allies, I had money, power, never has I had such social status, I went to drinking parties, felt like somebody big.

Later in life, the system I put in place to supply students on a rather large systematic scale collapsed, schoolwide drug bust, me and my friends dissapeared into the shadows, hiding while we saw others go down, and tell on those going down the supply chain.

I really dont want to be disliked for this, i mean... it was a youthful offence, a very stupid 1, i knew what i was doing was wrong, but just wanted friends, i got them, but at a horrible cost to myself, my record, the way my parents saw me at this time, and the friends I once had in middle school who liked me for who I was, and seeing what I had become. I learned many lessons, and never repeated that again, later in life these same ppl I used as proxies to help me distribute would end up in jail, homeless, ect... I learned in collage its not the thing too do, the hard way, being caught!

I tell this story as a stern warning, my parents missed some of the signes that something was not right, calls at weird times, bloodshot eyes, loud at night (being drunk sneaking in) expendible cash and no job, going outside for "walks" ect.

Your kids will feel the pressure to fit in, want friends, i fear they may turn to doing things they will regret later in life, its not the way to go, be forwarned, i did fine in the end, but could have done better, i had, to an extent, screwed up my life, i payed in the end for this, i dont want you or your kids to go thru the same. Keep a watchful eye on them, be involeved in their life, snoop around in their room, know who they hang with, check caller ID. My parents made very obvious mistakes (but i love them) I hope you wont do the same, because i know your kids can have a bright future, if they dont let what others think about them get them down, depressed.

sorry for the long, horrifying post, i dont want others to make the same mistake I did.

My ds will start high school this fall. He was in regular classes with a full time aide in middle school. Grades were ok – due to the diligence of the aide. He also had a resource class to help him keep up with class. He will get the same things in high school. He will be placed in an REI? Classroom. These classes have a regular AND a special Ed teacher. Classes that are taught by special Ed teachers only do not qualify for the regular diploma. He will have a delayed passing period – meaning he will change classes after everyone else.

In eight grade the IEP meeting was a transition meeting. It took a while because they look at the long term goals. Will your child graduate, or just get a certificate of attendance? Will he need life skills training, go to college, or technical school?

Will he live on his own, or need support services? The transition meeting will bring up a lot of topics and help determine placement and services for high school.

DS’s high school also offers a self contained class for HFA. It is a class of about 8. They take the general Ed subjects in the classroom. They all attend the same electives as a class and are accompanied by the teachers and aides. In 10^th grade, they branch out a little more on their own, and by 11^th grade, they should be fully mainstreamed. Dorian did not qualify for this because he was too high functionally. (Not sure how they determined this – I would like he to start the first semester in the self contained class)

I have a friend whose son will start his sophomore year. He is well behaved. He spent half the day at the vocational school – working on English, math, and science. Most of this is self paced and computer based or hands on oriented. The vocational school is less crowded. He spent the rest of the day at the regular high school. He did very well.

I would suggest that you start to visit the schools a year before its time to enroll. I’ve found that most school personnel will only share one plan with you – it’s the one they think your child fits in. I had to find out about the other programs on my own. Because of privacy laws, you really can’t ask for another parent’s phone number, but you can always give your phone number to the teachers and ask them to give it other parents of high school students.

Are you a part of a support group? You might get some insight there.

Bumping for a VERY RELEVANT TOPIC....

I personally know 3 boys in same family with aspergers that go to high school..they have resources available to them when needed and are thriving very well..one is great friends with my teen daughter:) They are in boy scouts and ROTC and have a great group of friends. Not sure if private schools will cater too much for ASD kiddos..I would ask other parents who have kids on spectrum going to reg. high school in your area and see what they say:)

Good luck!

I'm already looking into high school. We are a year away as well (he is about to start 8th grade). He has asked me twice already what high school he will be going to. I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 right now, based on his current school's recommendations. Later this fall, I will contact the Principal's and set up appointments to tour the schools and meet with the special ed teachers, since they will need to put together his schedule and carefully choose the most appropriate teachers. The best school of the bunch is my resident school. My main concern is that it is a charter school, so there is some question about the quality of their 1:1 aides and special ed services. My son is fully mainstreamed with an aide, but I depend a lot on the special ed teacher to monitor his progress, choose appropriate teachers, and serve as my liaison as to what is going on on a day to day basis. Gee, this should be fun!

I want to give this one more try. Does anyone have thier child in High School now? How is it going?

I am still trying to get passed the fear of Skylar starting Pre-k for special needs kids this coming school year. I cannot bare the thought of High School.

ShelleyR, Hi!

I don't really know any others on the spectrum Keith's age. I met one mother who is a advicate. She works for the High school in question and her son with Aspergers went to school there. She said he did stand out a bit but what helped him socially was he is tall and played basketball. I am not sure about his behaviors or school work. I assume he did at least fair or he wouldn't have lasted there.

I did speak to the admissions director about autistic students attending last year when we signed up my daughter. The director said an Aspergers student was transfered because he would just get up and leave the room/school the prior year. So I know of one positive and one negitive story there. (My daughter doesn't go there anymore because she didn't do any school work there so we transfered her this year. It was to expensive to send her there and watch her not try.)

Have any of you thought about High school yet? I know for a great many of you this is a long way off.

We have one year left before high school ( How can it be possible?) I am starting to worry a little. Keith has always wanted to go to the Lutheran High School since he was very young. The school is expensive but we may be able to find a way. My worry of course is the autism issues.

The Lutheran high school has about 1500+ students a year. Keith is used to schools that had less than 200 kids Kindergarden- 8th some classes had 7 kids. I really need to check around and see what is available in our area in case they feel he can't handle it. I know what high school we are zoned for but I am not sure it would be a good place for him.

Do any of you have a plan for your teen? Would you like to share?