Inclusive school

[melrose7]

We are seriously considering placing DD1 in a school just for special needs kids. We have not been happy with the school she has been in for the last 4 years. I have heard over and over that "we are still trying to figure her out" but how long do I give it when she is making VERY little progress and minimal IEP goals met. She is mostly nonverbal, speaks in 2-3 word phrases, but can't carry on a conversation, is autistic, which causes behavior problems and I feel the school just doesn't know how to teach her and they just make her day as good as possible. The school district is a good one, I just think my DD is hard to teach and I don't have any more time to give them to figure it out.

So the school for special needs kids is 30 minutes from us but we would need to move to that county to get this education for free. We toured and it was fabulous. I had high expections and it exceeded them. I can see my DD doing great there. But of course I just have concerns about her being in a school with only special needs kids. So long story short has anyone chose the inclusive school and been happy with it? I know it depends on the school and the child, just looking for anyone's experiences.

[hillview]

Not quite the same but we are moving DS1 into a school just for dyslexic children. He is very bright and making NO progress on his spelling. We love his current school but it isn't meeting his needs. We don't have to move house, it is a private school (he is in private now). I personally feel like the more help I can get him early on will pay off massively as he gets older.

[egoldber]

So this is a public school but not in your district? Does your district not offer a school like this? And if you move, would you be guaranteed placement there?

I guess I would just thoroughly investigate before going to the step of moving. But if you think you would be just as happy in the other district for your younger kids, and your DD would be guaranteed placement there, then yes I would strongly consider it in your case.

[123LuckyMom]

It sounds like you are willing to move and that the school is a good fit for your daughter. I have no BTDT. So far we believe both our children are neuro typical. If I were in your situation, though, I would do it. Mainstreaming (is that still the appropriate term?) is great when it works. It isn't working for your daughter. I wouldn't be willing potentially to limit my child's development for the sake of that experience of diversity. It may be that when she's older and has gained skills due to this specialized education, she will go back to the inclusive schools, but when that happens, there will be a record of what educational methods work best for your DD, and she'll be farther along and better able to participate fully in the life of the classroom and the school. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[KpbS]

No btdt but there are some special needs schools here (private) that are very highly regarded. Several of them are able to incorporate multiple, specific therapies into the school day with various specialists. I would definitely strongly consider a school like you are describing if moving was possible for your family and you would be guaranteed admission for your DD.

[melrose7]

So this is a public school but not in your district? Does your district not offer a school like this? And if you move, would you be guaranteed placement there?

I guess I would just thoroughly investigate before going to the step of moving. But if you think you would be just as happy in the other district for your younger kids, and your DD would be guaranteed placement there, then yes I would strongly consider it in your case.

This is the only one in the state. It is a public school of the county, which is why we would need to move to be able to go for free. Otherwise we are talking about $80,000. We will be moving from a suburb of a bigger city to an area full of small town. That will be a shock for me ( I have 3 targets within 5 minutes of me, and I don't think there will be one within 20-30).
I am trying to find out about the other schools for my other kids but information is limited. All small town schools.
Most likely she will be guaranteed placement since the other public schools don't have the services for the high need special ed children.

[Sweetum]

Hi!
My understanding of an inclusive preschool is where there is a mix of typical kids and kids with different challenges. That way the kids with challenges get a chance to mingle and learn from the typical kids, and vice versa and everyone is happy.
That said, even if it were a school for children with only needs a lot of the times, especially with Autism and related diagnoses, there is such a variety of needs and also strengths that children, if paired correctly can and do learn from each other. For example, a verbal but socially withdrawn child would do well to be with a child with a child who may have some speech issues but is otherwise very social and is able to seek and bring the withdrawn child out and on the other hand might benefit from the verbal child for communication. I am sorry this is not a great example, but my point is that a good school would put the right mix together, with complementary skills, so they can learn from each other. So, I would pay special attention to the peer group that your child will have and see if what the strengths of the kids are in there and if they can complement your child in her areas of need. I would also check with the school how they go about it and if they pay specific attention to this issue. The big downside to this is that you and sometimes the school cannot control the enrollment of the children - they may choose to move away/out etc.
I also think that sometimes children with autism just do better when they are not around NT kids. It was a hard one for me to understand, but a critical one. For my child, also with Autism, the NT kids move too fast. He does not process things as quickly as they do and hence finds it frustrating to be around them, and then throw in 15 of them and he is completely acting up. On the other hand, in a social group where it is all kids with needs, some with autism and some without, he does much better becuase of the small group (6) and when he is having a hard time, the teacher/therapist immediately intervenes and helps him through. sometimes it behavior, sometimes it's a skill and often times he does not realize that he needs the help and acts up and they are able to catch it immediately.
I know this is hard, and more so when you have to think of your other kids. good luck...

[JustMe]

I have not btdt, mostly because I have no choice that is similar available. I absolutely can relate to dealing with a school system that seems to think they have all the time in the world, that is not giving my dd the services she needs to be successful, that doesn't understand her (although in my case they think they do). I would make the choice to put her in a school for kids with special needs only in a heartbeat if it seemed they would do a better job in understanding and educating my daughter. I want my dd to be able to reach her full potential and getting an education by people who understand her and know how to teach her as well as possible is key. We don't have that in our case, but I would sacrifice a lot if I knew of a way to get it.

I agree with being 100% sure that your dd would be able to go to the school if you move.

[westwoodmom04]

I do not have a special needs child but I do have a SN only school about a half mile from my house. My state is very pro-mainstreaming but this school is grandfathered in. The children there are kids whose parents felt needed an inclusive school, grades k-12, maybe 120 kids total. Many of the kids have mobility issues. The parents love, love the school. Every few years, the state or county threatens to close it and there is an uprising. There is a really wonderful playground there paid for by the PTA designed for sn children. I would go with your gut if you think you've found the right placement for your child.

[sste]

OP, is it an option to 1) rent out your house; and 2) rent a house in the new county. If there is *any* way to make this work I think it is vastly preferable to buying esp since your child's admission prospects seem extremely strong but not guaranteed. Beyond there are issues of whether you will like the new school, whether it will be viable for the rest of your family, etc. There are downsides to this -- it is harder to sell your house while it is rented or post-renters while vacant. Also it is hard to find decent family rental housing and it is generally less than what you would get for the same mortgage payment. However, it seems to me like there is tremendous upside in being able to try out this placement and see how it goes. Also buying/selling are expensive, both directly and indirectly.

Good luck! I would def. go for the new school. I don't even see the choice -- something has to change from what you are describing and it isn't going to change at your current school.