What is the Best Type of School for Aspies?

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I can tell my expirience. I hated my parents because they wanted me to stay at school (a special school wasn't an option because they were too far away) so the choce was only pubblic school or home. Now I'm adult and I've a child myself (probably with my own "brain" - Aspenger) and I bless my parents.

I didn't have a "natural" feeling with human beings, expecially the one with my age and I was always bullied, but I was already able to avoid "too strange behaviours" at the age of 10. I still remember with fear the 11-16 years string (I was bullied/hurt basically everyday). But without it I shouldn't be able to learn how to cope with it (after 16 years old). Think about it, when he will be an adult and people will see in his curriculum why he was at home, what he should say? When he will search a job? Will his partners be so different than school child? How can he understand how to manage people if he doesn't work with them, I know it seems "arsh" but I think (given the right support) that moving him out of school will be a small-term benefit but not a long-term one.

A note:
the school you choce (I don't know how it works in your country, I'm italian) should match the attitude of your children. For istance I've a great attitude with numbers, science and tecnology (I'm now a researcher in physics) and I did a "scientific school", school should be something that your child feel necessary for his goal. I wanted to work in physics, it was in that time the only things that attracted me (when I say only I mean ONLY) and I known what I must do to do it. School. University. Also if it's a pain. Also if teachers are something strange and other students are aliens.

I had been in the regular public school system from k-7th grade. It was a living hell. Besides History and suprisingly reading I strugled in prety much everything. Socialy well I was the kid everyone made fun of. When my class had field trips I beged my mom to drive me to them so I wouldn't have to be stuck on the bus with my class mates. She allways refused. in the Summer between my 7th and 8th gade years my parents started looking in to difrent schools. As much as I hated school, I hated the idea of being removed from public school even more. I felt as if I had failed at something important. I went to the school for my 8th grade year and for that summer. It did not matter that the small classes were ideal, Our teacher showed us a movie or slides from a recent trip she had taken once a week. That if we earned it we could go to McDonalds on friday for lunch. that I did not get picked on. I resented it the whole time I was there. When I learned that I would be returning to public school for the 9th grade I was on cloud 9 that day.
I look back at my suituition and going to the privet school was not as bad as it seemed at the time. I think it would have been better if my parents had sent me to it ealier much eailer. I would not have had the sense of failulr that I had.

I suggest asking him what he wants & use those as your main criteria. Then offer him a choice if you can.

(I was diagnosed this spring at 27, so (grain of salt)...)
I attended Catholic private school until eighth grade when, after two years of begging, my parents switched me back to public school. The private school was great for elementary, but when I got my choice of highschools I chose public. I had my choice of the local Lutheran High (extremely small, but excellent academically), the local Catholic High, & my public school. After taking entrance exams for the private schools, I settled on the public because the others did not have the subjects I wanted (Japanese & computer programming). My graduating class was 450ish students & the school contained a nip over 2000 students.

If I had a child it would be public school all the way.

Sheltering an AS child from the world is not going to help them later in life. The only time I would consider something else was if a bullying situation got really out of control.

Private schools - NO. Bullying is the WORST in these.

Special ed: NO. How do you think that will make your child feel? Defective if you ask me. This is only a valid option if your child actually has severe aspergers as opposed to high functioning.

Home schooling - See my comment above about sheltering your child from the real world.


All in all it depends what makes your child the happiest.

I was offered home schooling when I had very bad problems as a kid. I flat out refused straight away.

My kids go to regular public school with IEPs. I have looked into charter schools who teach the montessori way (free). It sounds like my son would enjoy school a lot more if he went there. They just opened one up nearby, but not close enough. Plus, they just opened up. I think he is doing fine where he is, although i do like all the hands on type of learning the montessory schools do. My daughter would especially loves this as she learns with her whole body and not just with her ears and a pencil. Their school does a little more hands on than they did when i was in scool though, which is a step forward, i suppose.

Public school. Yes, it may be a challenge, but it prepares for real life. We're not always going to have all of that support and seperation from NTs and we need to learn how to integrate into the world.

Yes, it will be a struggle, but it is a nessecary one.