I'm wondering if anyone has advice for making a descision for my 3 yr old PDD-NOS? They have recommended, a autism classroom ..but, I have mixed feelings. I am not sure what is best for my son. He is very outgoing and talkative, although not always appropriately. I was told that this is a low functioning classroom. I am afraid he may begin to imitate the other children's behaviors. Imitation is a BIG thing with him. Everything he says is a borrowed phrase he has learned from someone else. I am afraid he will not learn to be social appropriately. On the other hand the teacher student ration is good, and they will use ABA, Speech and OT 30 min 2 days a week.
What do you think?
I would visit the classroom first before you make any decisions. What is the alternative if not this class? Would he be in a mainstream with an aide? I'd also find your community support group and ask parents of older children about placement.
My son is in a TEACCH 8:1:2, with 3 full time therapists on staff, and I absolutely know he has the right placement, and that makes me feel great. The program was recommended to me by a mother of an older autistic child that now runs an advocate group - this teacher has 20+ years experience, and is dedicated to helping children with autism.
Is he already in a classroom?
I agree with the above. Visit the classroom and get the full curriculum. DON'T say yes UNTIL you are sure this other classroom is better for your son--especially if he's already in a different class. Leave the option open to stay in his current class if you should decide you don't like the new class.
Are there different classes? We here have a class for classic autism, a standard SDC class for kids who may or may not be on the spectrum but are delayed, and then specialty classes, such as my son's current communicatively handicapped (CH) class. They are also instituting two new classes in my school district, one for children dx'd either PDD-NOS or "high-functioning" (I don't like that term, even if it seems to be complimentary...ETA, this is how my son is classified; formerly PDD-NOS) children, and the other for children who have more behaviors that require one-on-one student to teacher interaction.
Find out if this is the *only* class available. I doubt it is. Find out if there is an SDC (special day class) and ask to visit both.
Good luck--I know this his a tough decision. MyDearColin39395.8105208333
Oh...and I know what you're saying about copying behaviors. Personally, my view on it (but remember, this is based on my own son) is that if he isn't about to copy the behaviors we do want--like talking or going on the potty--then why would he be motivated to copy behaviors such as certain types of stimming? Stimming tends to be really, really personal--it's part of the autistic child. They might copy off and on but would certainly not adopt a certain stimming behavior obsessively, since this isn't the given child's personal stim and isn't necessary to his feeling good/feeling okay. Example: I've heard a lot that siblings sometimes seem to stim, especially when with the autistic sibling, but the non-autistic child is able to stop, and it doesn't get worse under stress, etc. This, for us, anyway, has proven to be accurate...there were a couple of kids in C's SDC who stimmed in certain ways that C never copied at all (hand flapping and toe-walking). C always marched to his own drummer in the NT world so why should he not march to his own drummer in the autistic world as well?
Also, and this may be controversial, but if I'm asking classes which contain students who have *fewer* autistic traits to accept my son, who has more (occasional zoning out, and not 100% great eye contact, etc.), then how can I turn around and say I won't allow kids with *more* behaviors to be with my son? I hope that makes sense. Most of these classes are a somewhat mixed bag. We often say we want our kids in with kids who "seem" less autistic so that they have someone to model, but then why shouldn't our kids also sometimes be the ones to model for other kids as well? Again, that's provided your son will end up copying at all; some don't; that in fact is often one of the most frustrating things, that our kids don't look at other kids and say, "Oh, I want to be able to do XYZ like Mikey!"
Now, if it turns out to be a class where the behavior is severe and/or harmful...head-banging, etc...or where the kids really don't seem communicative at all whereas your son is, then of course, that wouldn't be the appropriate class for your son. But it would be inappropriate on a number of levels, mostly because the teaching wouldn't be at your son's level in general.
Don't worry. Check out all your options before giving anyone a definite yes or no and before okaying stopping other services or his current class if he's in one. MyDearColin39395.8124074074
The classroom I work in is a 6:1:1. You have to have a dx of autism to be in the room. I find all the kids in the room (with the exception of one who has a dual dx) are all appropriatly placed despite their varying skills and behaviors.
I too would check the classroom and see how it is run, and get an idea of the types of children. Also, what is the alternative? An inclusion class, a special ed class for mixed dx's?
Visit the different placement options. Below are some checklists for evaluating classrooms/schools (if a link doesn't work, try deleting any blank spaces in the address). Also talk with them about what you can do if the placement doesn't work out after a trial period. Good luck with your decision.