Do Every Public School Have Shadows? Are They A Requirement? | MyAutismTeam

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Do Every Public School Have Shadows? Are They A Requirement?
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭

My son is barely verbal and i believe he needs someone to help him find his class in the mornings and make sure he doesnt run out in front of cars in the evenings while he's waiting to be picked up. I thought shadows were a requirement but this new school doesn't seem to be concerned at all. Are there requirements for public schools?

posted August 28, 2019
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A MyAutismTeam Member

Tiff,
While some schools and districts vary in their areas of speciality...my son loves public school and is in a class room with a teacher and at least two aides for the 8 or 9 students. He is on an IEP and he is also mostly non-verbal but gaining communication skills via signs, technology and body language.
I do not know what state you are in but they should have a district and school website as a source of information to help you decide if it is the best school for your child. I had to speak with someone that worked for the school district to find the best school for him...that had what he needed and they did a wonderful job. The school he was at before I finally asked someone to help me was not up to handle his needs and only pushed him from one staff member to another and refused to let him interact with other children during the 1/2 day...and told me not to waste my time testing for autism that he was just a neurologically disturbed kid that needed to be isolated. Boy were they wrong!
He is autistic (highly functioning) his angry behavior has almost disappeared and he goes all day and from what they tell me he is a pleasure to have...they really care!
Do your research or call someone that has already done research like the director of special education for the school district. do not expect the school to tell you they cannot help, because legally they are suppose too. The director would know the best school for him. Good Luck!

posted August 28, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

If your son has an IEP I suggest you call a meeting & insist your son gets an aide. The public schools will not voluntarily give him an aide, this is standard. You will have to fight for him to get his own aide. I refused to send my son to public school for this reason, they just don’t care about our kids.

posted August 28, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

Shadows are provided through Government agency's. Here in Pa it's OVR. But here in Pa that (shadow programs) are not put into affect until teenage yrs, yrs of transition to adulthood. TSS workers should be available through local agency's for your child in this area of life.

posted August 28, 2019
A MyAutismTeam Member

When my daughter was younger I got services for her from agency's outside of school

posted August 28, 2019

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