Best Schools/Programs for Autistic Kids? (Spokane, Everett: co-op, how much, house)

[tparbs]

Hello, everyone!

I know people get referred to a different thread, but I think there's a lot of us parents out there who are frustrated with the school systems here, and I can't find useful info on that thread.

My son attends Sunrise Elementary here in the Valley and is in 2nd Grade. He's very high functioning and is in a self-contained room. His only interaction with his typically functioning peers is gym, art, recess, and lunch. Totally unacceptable. I'm tired of fighting to get him mainstreamed at his IEP meetings (which I'm often requesting!). If you met my son more then likely would have no idea he's autistic. He does NOT belong in a self-contained room.

I'd love to hear from other parents out there who are also frustrated or have found a better solution. I'm willing to drive my son to a different school if they will take him. I live in the Valley in the Central Valley School District.

I want to add the the AIM program at McDonald Elementary school here in the Valley is EXCELLENT and, I believe, had a tremendous impact on my son. I can't say enough how much they helped my boy. Unfortunately, that program cuts to 1 1/2 hrs a day when they reach Kindergarten, then after that a child no longer qualifies. But AIM is excellent for those with kids ages 3 (?) through Kindergarten.

I hope to hear from you parents and educators/specialists! Thanks for your time!

Terri

[moderator cut: email]

[Deena160]

This is enlightening. I was under the impression with reading the district website that the AIM program was schoolwide, not just preschool. Hmmm...we were looking at the Central Valley District specifically because of it.
My son is high functioning, but has always been in an enclosed classroom where we live in Everett WA. He really didn't get much chance for mainstreaming until middle school. He's in 7th grade now and has done PE, art, and choir mainstream. It's a fine line between wanting to protect him and letting him fly, maybe fall.
Good luck trying to find something out. It's like pulling teeth. Even asking various teachers and therapists here I've come out with completely different answers. The only thing I'm pretty sure of is that you may be able to go to a different school within your district, but you won't be allowed to go outside your district. :~/ D

[tparbs]

Hmm...schoolwide? Do you mean district wide? Or just within McDonald Elementary? At any rate, if that's true, that's changed since my son attended. He left the AIM program 2 years ago. When he went, kids attended until Kindergarten, and as I said, they went for 1 1/2 hrs in the morning at the end of their time in AIM.

I want to add someone I talked to said the principal has changed since then, and from their web site, I don't see any of the teachers that taught there when my boy was there. I hope it's still a good program. It is SO needed!

Sounds like Everette isn't much better then Spokane. I'm so sick of fighting "the system". My son--and yours--has a legal right to the least restrictive environment. But getting that to actually work isn't easy. Schools and teachers want to do what's easiest and cheapest for THEM. Not what's best for our kids.

But I'm not giving up on my son. I was advised to go over his IEP and write a letter to the school's special services director. To go over what issues I want resolved. And I will have a mediation service if it isn't resolved. Keeping it polite, but to the point.

My Yahoo and MSN messenger icons are at the top right of this post if you would ever like to chat!

Hang in there!...oh, are you still planning on moving to Spokane?

Terri

[Danzinger]

Maybe I can send you in a good direction. Try West Valley School District contact the Millwood Early Childhood Education Director I believe her name is Nancy. If memory serves me she will be of great help. I have raised 11 kids half of wich were not mine. I live in the Central Valley school dist, and to me seems overcrowed. In order to change districts all you need to do is fill out a Choice form, very easy. The staff at WVSD has been very key in helping my kids reach/surpass the goals set in thier IEP. I hope I'm not just sending you in another circle, but give them a call I will e-mail you the contact info

[Deena160]

[Problems getting into this thread? Had to get to it the long way round...]

Yes, I meant district wide (schoolwide meaning all of the schools) and thank you, Danzinger, for your info. Have your kids' IEP's been mainly for mental, or have you had physical disabilities as well(I also have a child with Cerebral Palsy)? Hadn't really considered West Valley since most of the homes that would suit us have been in CV and Dist81.
We're still planning to move to Spokane. We're in the process of getting our house ready to put on the market within the next month. We're planning a trip out your way in a few weeks.
I've never had to fight about my son's IEP. It's just been a struggle between his actual abilities and his comprehension, also his maturity level. His reading is great and technically beyond his 7th grade, but I can't get him past wanting to read 2nd and 3rd grade books. It made it very hard to put him in a mainstream reading group when he was in elementary. They tried, but it was an odd fit to find other kids who read/spelled as well as he did, but didn't understand what they were reading. Same with math--he does fine until you try to put it into story problems. Forget about ever passing the stupid WASL (I can't even figure out some of the questions!).
The only thing I've gotten ticked off about and felt had to be dealt with has been some minor bullying and the fact that they gave him a regular combination locker instead of a key.
Anyway, I think I'll need to figure out who to talk to in the different districts. Maybe I can set up some interviews on one of the 4 days we'll be there. :~) D

[Deena160]

Just wanted to add that from all accounts Spokane isn't any worse then Everett. I have counted myself lucky--I know we don't have the best school system in the States but there are others so much worse. I've been on parents' support websites and have been absolutely appauled with how bad other states are in getting services for special needs kids. At least our district has special classrooms and programs set aside for autism and as soon as he was old enough for preschool, my son had a place in them that I never had to fight for. :~) D

[Danzinger]

My kids IEP was for mental problem. as far as Central Valley goes they are very willing to let kids choice out to another district. West Valley also has a couple of project based schools I dont know if they will meet your needs. They let kids learn at there own speed some kids move really really fast athers not so. The thing I like about the project based schools / lack of social clicks, everybody gets along, diversity is well accepted.

[Deena160]

What exactly is a "project based" school? :~) D

[Danzinger]

Sorry it has taken so long to reply, this Q is best answered by my 14 year old daughter she is a student at a project based school

A project based school is a school that focuses on "hands-on" learning and allows the students to learn at their own pace. Basically they do more out in the field work instead of learning from a text book. For example, instead of learning about how to do different science tests, the class will actually go on several field trips and really do the experiments themselves. In some of my science field trips, we have learned to test wind speed, soil quality tests (potash, phosphorous, nitrogen, etc.), and much more. Project based schools also focus on strong relationships with the students and the teachers, so the students feel comfortable with asking for help.

[Deena160]

Cool! That would be great for my eight year old in a few years, but I don't know about a district allowing a child to choice out(we call it a varience) who is in a wheelchair and needs extra funding for an educational assistant? Might be tricky.
Right now she is in a parent co-op at our local elementary school. There's one co-op class per grade level. Each student has an adult(parent, grandparent, etc...) who agrees to work in their classroom half a day each week. That means there is often 5-6 adults(including the teacher) to work in a class of 24 kids. The classes go on an average of one field trip a month, whereas the regular classes are lucky if they get two the whole year. Have you heard of anything like that in your area? It's one thing I will REALLY miss. :~) D