Autism educational needs/ best town S shore ma (Boston, Plymouth: school districts, to live in)

[katkim]

Hi-
my 7 yo daughter has high functioning autism and we are looking for school districts around s shore ma that will be willing and able to work with us. our typical son also would need exceptional educational services throughout their elementary and considering middle and highschool.
Can anyone comment?

We were hoping also to live in a tolerant community that is open and accepting. thanks!

[tribechamy]

We're in Braintree and while I don't have first-hand experience with services for autistic children I've been impressed with the specialist resources at the elementary level and particularly how receptive everyone is. The teachers are great. I personally know two elementary children with autism and I think their parents are pleased with the schools.

Overall I think a lot of Boston area communities are accepting, there is a lot of awareness. Any family oriented town that puts an emphasis on its schools will probably be quite tolerant, though I could be generalizing.

[Tangy_Original]

Plymouth has a fair amount of ASD specific accommodations. My old highschool actually has an ASD program and the whole district has phenomenal IEP service. I'd email the Superintendant of the district and he can give you the run down of whats around

[seattle925]

I've had some good and mostly bad experiences with this. Every town will have good and bad programs so you have to check out that specific program. If they will not let you observe a program, that should be a red flag too.
I'd suggest visiting the classrooms.
Look for a few things, like:
Does the teacher stay at her desk and have the aides work with the kids?
Are the students involved with the general ed population?
Are the "Sped Classrooms" in an out of the way location?
And, one of my favorites, Does the teacher look like she is dressed a little too nice, hair perfect...?

To be an effective teacher you have to love the students and be willing to WORK with them, not delegate it while you write reports that tell the parents what they Want to hear. A good teacher will be an advocate and a facilitator, they have to stand up for the students, not let them be hidden away.
You should be able to tell if the students are being pushed along vs educated.