Schools for autistic children have a huge influence on the lives of kids with autism. They are where kids with autism learn a variety of skills that will help them function well in life. They also teach them about autism and its effects, and how to communicate with other people.
There are many schools that are excellent for autistic kids, including some of the best public schools in the country. But you’ll want to check that the school is a good fit for your child. You’ll need to think about five key aspects of the school, so you can gauge whether it will meet your child’s needs.
Program
The main focus of a trường dạy trẻ tự kỷ should be on the specific needs of your child. This is especially true if your child has mild or moderate intellectual, learning, or attention challenges. The school should have a special education department and a staff of professionals with expertise in autism.
In addition, the school should have an individualized education plan for your child. The IEP should be tailored to your child’s particular needs, and it should be created as a cooperative effort between the school staff, your child’s teachers, and educational specialists.
Depending on the severity of your child’s autism, they may need to attend a special classroom or be integrated into a mainstream classroom. The amount of time they spend in a mainstream class will vary, but it should be enough to allow them to meet the academic standards for their grade level.
They should be able to learn from their peers, and they should have access to activities like art, music, science, and sports. They should be able to get social skills training and practice those skills in their mainstream classes, as well.
The individualized education plan for each student is designed by the child’s teacher and other professionals working with your child, according to the guidelines of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). There are several programs available for students with autism that are based on behavior analysis principles.
These include the New England Center for Children, which provides a variety of day services to children from 14 months to 22 years old with autism or other developmental disabilities. The center has won numerous awards for its exemplary programs.
ASD Nest
Dorothy Siegel’s son, Sam, was diagnosed with autism at age three. Her goal is to change the way schools teach kids with autism. The organization she founded, ASD Nest, now operates in 39 elementary and middle schools in New York City.
She uses an approach called Positive Behavior Support, which involves teaching children coping strategies and how to replace problem behaviors with appropriate ones. This approach, which she developed with a team of experts, has been praised for helping kids with autism build friendships and reduce behavioral problems.
Inclusion with Support
If your child is bright and does well in a traditional classroom, inclusion with support could be a great option for them. They will still be able to participate in regular classes, but they will also have the help of a specially trained aide or support worker. The aide will be responsible for providing a variety of support services, including one-on-one instruction, adapted curriculum, reduced homework, and more.