I see a trend that has been occuring in my son's autism class in a public Elementary school. My son and one other classmate are nonverbal with the other children being verbal to various degrees.
Whenever I pick up my son he is sitting alone or with an aide or two and sometimes the other nonverbal child is nearby doing a stim with his hands to his face. The rest of the class and teacher are in another area engaged in school work.
I mention this to the Assistant Principal and am told that since both me and that other parent pick up our kids instead of them taking the bus as the rest of the class does, that they are finishing their day up and that is why it appears this way.
No matter if I get there at 2:05 or 2:15 my son is basically sitting there doing nothing. So this would not be the case if I arrive at 1:49 or 1:57? They even had the two nonverbal kids sitting near each other and working together.
I realize they are at the same level basically, but why not integrate them with the other kids. One time my son tapped another kid on the shoulder to initiate play and make social contact. Instead the other kid complained to aide that my son hit him and the aides are questioning why my son did this.
No one bothers to see what the antecedant is to the behavior and what my child is trying to say, do or accomplish. His state testing scores dropped half to the lowest score possible for math - 15 for the CAPA. I called the school and said this contradicts the IEP and want to know what they are doing.
The other nonverbal child does not have a picture schedule according to the AAC person as he does not have trouble with transitions. What kind of response is this? A child who cannot communicate needs some form of structure and they are not really using it for this kid. The parent speaks limited English and we have been at the same schools now for five years.
We both don't want our kids at this school or class and the other one is filled so we are basically stuck. You would think some sort of bell would go off for the school if the two families with children who are nonverbal have issues with aides and teachers.
How is your nonverbal child treated in the classroom? Do they have a voice box system, a communication tool, do they sit among verbal children?
Please share your observations of any segregation you may know of within the special education system.
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Comments: 9
At my son's school, which is a public school, they have a pretty neat program. The school district has taken some of the employees children that are 3 and 4 years old and basically made a "day care" for them at my son's school and put them alongside the special needs kiddos, including my son, at certain times of the day. At first, I was skeptical and I guess I wanted to shelter my son, but it has helped him with "inclusion" and social contact with typical children. It also introduces special needs kids to the typical children so they learn about kids who may be different than they are. They all seem to get along great. It started last school year and again this year.
I like it. As far as the aides and teachers.....sigh....I can't complain.
I personally question whether the LRE part of the IDEA is resulting in what I consider basically child abuse in some schools. I am not saying your son's school is guilty of this of course. I question the ability of special needs teachers to go from classroom to classroom and adequately meet the needs of all children with special needs.
I do agree with the other members. If you are there as often as you can, the teachers/aides will be on their toes and expect you to show up unexpectedly. I have heard some bad things about other schools in my area, and it is unexceptable. Bonnie, good luck and I know you are a strong woman....and I know you will take care of business! LOL!
You have every right to show up at any time. What I've done is come about 15 min before lunch to eat with him (the typical kids always have parents visiting at lunch), and swing by the classroom to walk to lunch with them. That might be an idea for you.
Everyone who goes there for assessments, etc gives me glowing reports. I have one aide in there that sees me and tells me to get another aide, yet she cannot say anything to anyone so I am stuck.
I hope to get some good feedback when child development specialist goes there in next two weeks.
The other parent tells me things as he sits there often and watches, but they only let him stay for so long as he goes several times a week. This was the past few years and not sure if he has started this yet and will ask him.
His english is very limited, but he tells me - aide no good, need new aide.
Thanks for the comments and advice to all who posted.