What Are Your Experiences With Private Autism Schools? | MyAutismTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up Log in
Resources
About MyAutismTeam
Powered By
Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
What Are Your Experiences With Private Autism Schools?
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭

Hello all,

My son David is a 6 years old very smart boy, he has moderate ASD, we live in Michigan and he goes to ASD class at public school, I was looking for a better school system for him and came across private autism schools in a different states because we do not have such a school in Michigan. Those schools offer small size programs with special education teacher and an ABA therapist in the class to help those kids.

I was wondering if any of you have tried those schools and how was the… read more

posted May 16, 2019
•
View reactions
A MyAutismTeam Member

I found this while I was searching, and I think it is a great summary.

Private Schools Specializing in Autism
More and more private schools are opening which specializes in serving children on the autism spectrum. These schools are expensive since they build in full-day therapeutic interventions including speech, occupational, and physical therapy as well as academics. Tuitions can easily be as high as $75,000 per year. They may also be the ideal choice for your child with autism.

Autism-only schools serve both high and low-functioning children with autism and can do a great job at both ends of the spectrum. Young people with Asperger syndrome may find themselves at home for the first time in their lives at an Asperger-only school. There, they may find true friends, supportive and understanding teachers, and opportunities to thrive in new ways. Children who are more profoundly autistic will find highly trained specialists with the time, energy and commitment to providing intensive, caring 1:1 intervention.

Autism-only schools are often set up based on a specific therapeutic philosophy. For example, there are private schools which spend the majority of the day implementing behavioral intervention. There are others dedicated to teaching through Floortime, and still others with the focus largely on Relationship Development Intervention. If you know what you want, you can find it locally and you can fund it, you're in great shape. If not, you may have to go with the program that's available and fundable.

The downside of a school for children with autism is the world unto itself. While at school, children experience ONLY people who understand and care for them. Their peers are all autistic. Even parents of their peers "get" their autism. Even when the school deliberately creates opportunities for inclusion in the typical world, those opportunities are carefully contrived and controlled. That means that your child with autism will have relatively few opportunities to learn the coping skills they're likely to need when they graduate.

The full website is:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/private-school-p...

posted May 16, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

Nope! I was talking about autistic kids. Our son is in a self-contained classroom for autistic children with limited verbal abilities and behavioral issues. It's a public school, but the classroom is specifically geared to work with ASD kids. It's a 1/2 class; I believe there's a 3rd grade class and a 4/5 class. They're all pretty small- Max's class has seven kids in it, with a teacher, four TAs, one one-on-one TA, and three specialists who come in and out for different hours. The link you added looks really cool! I figure it's just a matter of finding the right setting..... are you willing to move to find the right place for your son? There ARE good schools out there.... I think part of the problem is that autistic kids are so various. A school that's perfect for ten kids would be useless for the next 50 you asked =)

posted May 16, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

My son will be starting kindergarten in a self-contained ASD class like you both mentioned, what are some of the things that you like/don’t like about this classroom setting? Just asking so that I have a heads up what to anticipate...,

posted May 16, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

Thank you, my son also goes to ASD class in public school but I am looking for something better than public school.
Yes I am willing to move if this will help my son and make him independent in the future.
Here is the link for more resources, some of them are schools like the one I sent:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource-guide/res...

I was hoping to know if anyone had this experience with his kid, and tell me if this is a helpful school.

posted May 16, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

Thank you, are you talking about schools for talented kids? those schools do not accept kids with any abnormal behavior.

I am talking about schools only for autism like this one:
https://www.academyofwholelearning.org/

posted May 16, 2019

Related content

View All
Looking For The Best Program For Adult With Autism In Northern Virgina
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Regular Or Specialized School
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Aba
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Lock Icon Your privacy is our priority. By continuing, you accept our Terms of use, and our Health Data and Privacy policies.
Already a Member? Log in