Public school autism services in NoVA

[K.Sumers]

Originally Posted by MovingIn2010

We're contemplating a move to Northern Virginia later this year. We have a 6 year old with Asperger's and a 3 year old on the autism spectrum as well. We're trying to find the best school district in the state to move to. Sadly, there isn't a whole lot of info on google. I look forward to hearing your opinions!! Thanks in advance for your help.

Springfield, Gainesville, Alexandria, Haymarket, Purceville, Arlington all have schools and programs within the schools that support children with special needs. Springfield had multiple elementary schools with a focus on socialization and behavioral supports. Gainesville also has multiple programs within their schools to support children with disabilities with a focus on mainstream education and behavioral supports. All of these localities have a large population of families with children with autism and have multiple support groups and activities for families. If you are in need of ABA therapists, speech and occupational therapists in addition to what is provided in school all of these areas have multiple providers.


Also what is the budget because that will also determine location.


K. Sumers

[akalibby1]

I attended an IEP meeting for my son today. He currently attends Chris Yung which is a new school in PWC. All year I was told my son who is autistic (high-functioning) was showing a lot of improvement. This was right up until he was officially diagnosed with autism. Now today during the IEP I was informed it would be best if he was shipped off to another school that can accommodate his needs and where he can receive one on one support. Mind you we tried that for pre-school and he ended up in a classroom with 10 non-verbal children where he digressed tremendously because he is verbal. PWC is not equipped to deal with high functioning autism. The school and their "professional opinions" are designed to ensure these kids don't excel, thrive, and mixed with the typical peers. Dad and I are now forced to look into home schooling because our son made too much progress over the years to trust him in the hands of professional opinions that are not in the child best interest. He strives within routine, here we are in January of the new year after a two week holiday break looking to find him another school because this one has decided to kick him out.

[michael0528]

I have a child with ASD and tourrettes (TIC), school age, grades are a-c range but behaviors in school are tearing him and us up. Inappropriate comments , jokes, suggestions etc. school can't understand and treat like he's a threat or take his comments literally. its causing major issues at home. maxed out on therapy...ABA, Cranial sac., speech, OT etc. i can't be the only one. now psych says he has PANDAS ? someone out there has got to know what type of schooling he needs, recommend a DR. . were pro active all day long but he struggling. please comment

[setisail]

We're in Stafford and have had a horrible experience with the school district as have several moms I talk to at the OT office.
A few friends have had good luck with schools BUT they all had a diagnosis in hand and transfer IEP moving to the area.

[Nawais]

My son will start kindergarten next year in autism class. They still haven't told us which school he will go to and schools are closing next Thursday. He was supposed to go to Bel Air elementary but they do not have special Ed class. Does anyone have any idea which school he may join? I have asked his current preschool a dozen times to give me some names like this or that but they appear to be in total ignorance.

[NC211]

Nawais, we were in the same situation as you until this week. Our daughter starts kindergarten next year too, and had no idea where she'd go for the program. Turns out the person who was responsible for setting up who's going where, passed away recently. So they're a little behind schedule with notifying people, but they're catching up. We heard just a few days ago actually. I think my wife had to call them again, but not sure.