I think that the goal should always be regular education if possible. The fact that your child is so high-functioning and is barely on the spectrum tends to lead to that direction. You seem to have amazing instincts and have already educated yourself.

Have you gone to observe either of these classroom options? What you see there will be enough for you to make a solid decision. First call and ask permission to come observe. Be clear that you really want to be a fly-on-the-wall. Make sure that you don't spend your entire time there talking to the adults but get some time to just sit and watch how the teachers interact with the kids... especially the kids that are struggling. If either school refuses to let you observe, well that kinda is a bad start isn't it?

I think that you should do what you think is best for your child. If this other program offers her complete services and your insurance is going to pay a portion then why wouldn't you do that. I know I would with my son. The B23 service may not want to lose you as a client, but it is really not about them. It is about your little girl and you are her advocate. I encourage you not to doubt yourself because you are the one who really knows her. I know that you will make the best decision for her no matter which decision it is. Good luck!

I am really impressed that you did that kind of in-depth research to find the proper classroom situation for your daughter! It's so encouraging that she is showing interest in her peers and can mimic them--that's great and so important for her development. Personally, I agree with the choices you're making, but you have to be comfortable with them. I agree with the previous respondent who speculated that the B23 program didn't want to lose a client. I have also noticed that sometimes a team gets excited to work with articulate, well-informed parents and can be disappointed to lose both a (HFA) child they enjoy and parents who are involved. My son has had an aide shadow him for recess and she is very skillful at guiding him with a light hand--it's an approach I have seen work well.

Thank you. Someone else said a similar thing, about if you can provide this for her why wouldn't you? I've just been so surprised by their reaction to this. I guess I'm a little naive. To be completely honest I haven't been very impressed by most of her B23 therapists. Some have been good, but others have been terrible. From the one who was supposed to see Alex five days a week and literally cancelled on us an average of 2 times a week due to various ailments and over-shared her depression medication challenges. To the the ABA therapist who, although a really nice person, continues to choose activities that Alex is way beyond. I could go on and on. I appreciate the service, we are beyond lucky to have B23 but I'm really disturbed by their tendency to push their own agenda, even at the expense of the child. These kids should be treated individually and they ought to be working with the parents to help them find the most affordable and appropriate therapy and treatment programs for their child as they transition out of B23. maybe it is their local SpEd, maybe it's not, but they should present options. I also feel like, if their team members were so interested in continuing a therapy relationship with us after she ages out, they might have tried a little harder instead of canceling on me every other week, continually showing up a half hour late and often times screwing up my daughter's eating and sleep schedule or worse, flat out lying to me by telling me that I'd have an impossible time finding a preschool who would allow a shadow in the classroom that wasn't B23 because it's a major legal concern and that she doesn't know anyone who's had any luck doing that. Really in your 20 years of working, you've never seen that? Sure it happens but it wasn't my experience at all. If I had taken her advice like I almost did, we could have missed out on something that may be life-changing for daughter. Ugh...sorry, vent officially over. I think I just need to go with my gut and just hope I make the right decision for her.

My son is in a regular classroom at his school and he has an aid every day to help him in any need that he may have, and he is doing so good, and he was diagnose border line within the spectrum. I think Robin is right do what you think is best for your girl and besides if it doesn't work you can always go back to your B23 service.