When I was teaching autistic students (before having my own!) I worked primarily with kids who had pretty low verbal skills. My only experience with students with more words came in the last teaching position I had, in a community college. I was pregnant at the time, and so didn't want a full-time job, so I worked as a one-on-one to a young woman with autism who needed academic help, mostly, with bits of behavioural hickups. I spent about six hours a day with her, three days a week. Her others were spend in a resource room, where she had further individual assistance. I don't know what kinds of assistance would be available for your kiddo, but if she was in a setting like that- split between a resource room and a regular classroom- she might do well! Some schools provide "quiet rooms" for kids who need to decompress and escape from noise and overstimulation. In our area, there are independent schools (usually really small) set up for mild to moderately autistic kids who have verbal skills but do not have the behavioural skills needed to be in a mainstream classroom. Lots of options!! Just a matter of finding the right fit.... which can be a pretty good adventure =) Good luck! I hope you find something great for your daughter.

Do you mean in a school setting? With a one-on-one? That's what we've got organised, at last. Our son has serious speech delays and all kinds of behavior issues; in order for others in a classroom to be safe and for our son to progress either academically or socially, a one-on-one was pretty much the best solution. It's a hard place to get to, though! Shouldn't be that way, for sure, but it is =(

Son just completed 3rd grade. 10yr old, verbal. He has had a 1:1 assistant since kindergarden. Spends 90% of his time in general class. Pulled out from time to time for specific sessions. He has had great success with his 1:1 although he can be dependent on her from time to time

@A MyAutismTeam Member 1234I am a grandmother. Both my adult children have high functioning ASD, my 17 yr old grandson has the same. I have always had my children in regular classrooms. I they have had full accommodations. The one thing I liike about inclusion is children with ASD verbal or non verbal, behavioral/ social problem or not have the opportunity to be living in the “real world”. Not sugar coating anything. Plus the learn ‘normal vs abnormal” skills, through modeling from his classmates. My non-verbal grandson benefited immensely from being his peers and making, now long term lifetime intimate best friends. The 3 of them are best buddies since 2nd grade. None of my children or grandson had horrible bullying problems during school years. One reason was I kept in touch with everyone! Weekly if not daily. If there was a problem i called the principal immediately. Go to the school and make friends with everyone even the office workers. You will be surprised at how good things.can be. You just have to make yourself visible , be persistent and proud. After the initial shock of the school wears off (Lol) it will be fine. Not perfect but fine.
If you child will be getting a “shadow”. The shadow will be able to help your daughter understand, narrate and even guide her teachers to facilitate social/behavioral/cognitive and developmental skills. It takes years not months. The “shadow” will be able to help your daughter learn how to socially cope with bullying and social skills effectively, plus report and work with the ESE lead teacher , principal, and Social Worker at the school. I think it’s a win win opportunity. Just make sure your Shadow is qualified and has a good attitude. Hope this help! :)

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A MyAutis...

I’m sorry, I don’t understand. What is the harm of her being in a class of nonverbal students. If you are worried about the reality of bullying in a Gen. Ed. Class then it seems it would be best to keep her where she is for now. Just my honest opinion. I would rather have my very young child in a class full of Autistic children, no shame in that, rather than being mistreated by kids in the Gen. Ed. Class. She could easily regress in a Gen. Ed. Class if she is bullied due to the anxiety she could have to try to cope with.

I’ve seen my 1st child get verbally abused in an Integrated classroom, & it was from the NT kids. He has ADHD & was picked on to the point where I had to move him to a new school because he was emotionally distraught on a daily basis.