School Options Part 1
Having spent time since 1974 with dozens and dozens of families and individuals with autism, and having worked with public school special education programs in my town and surrounding towns for over three decades, I have seen the challenges and joys of education from both sides of the coin. Based on those extensive experiences, I humbly submit a few brief thoughts about school options.
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Parents sometimes encounter teachers or school situations that, for a variety of reasons, do not provide top-quality education experiences for their youngsters with autism. Parents of typical kids encounter those same issues. Although there are some exceptions, we really only have four options when it comes to advocating for the best educational experiences for our children. We will talk about just one of those options in today’s podcast, then discuss the remaining strategies in tomorrow’s edition of School Options.
One particularly effective strategy is to work with the schools, not against them. Sometimes it is necessary to stand our ground and to hire advocates to insure a quality education for our youngsters with autism. But, in many cases, teachers and administrators and therapists are willing to do their best to assist students with challenges related to autism.
Rather than approaching this as an all-or-nothing battle that must be won at any cost, consider working cooperatively with professionals to develop the best possible educational experience for your child. Help people understand the unique needs of your child, explore possible strategies, and work together to come up with some solutions for meeting those needs.
Granted, there are times for parents to stand firm, or to take a stand that is counter to the school’s position. But, in all cases, I encourage parents to answer these before starting a battle:
1. Are they trying to win an argument or to insure a quality education for their child?
2. Are they responding with anger or with reason?
3. Do they anticipate the eventual outcome of the confrontation to be improved educational experiences for their child?
4. Do they view the teachers and schools as enemies or as eventual partners in a quality education for their child?
Confronting the school is just one of four options for insuring the most appropriate and fruitful education for your child. In Part 2 of this series, School Options, we will look at some other possibilities.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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