so long mainstream, hello AI class at special needs school

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today we made the final call to pull our 5 yo autie from mainstream kindergarten and switch him over to the Autistic Impaired class at the county wide special needs school. we were hoping there was an in between option, but unfortunately the local school district doesnt have separate AI classes, only ones for CI (cognitive impairment) and EI (emotionally impaired). the county intermediate school district has an entire school for special needs kids, including AI kindergarten. for 1-2 weeks while we get an IEP established (must have one before he can start at the new class), he will be getting one on one instruction with the resource room teacher at his current school for an hour twice a week after school hours.

this was ultimately not a hard decision, as K has been simply non-functional at school for 2 1/2 weeks. from the second he walks into class he is in overload mode, running around the class, trying to escape, crawling under and over tables, not listening to anyone. the aide has essentially become a security guard, she has to stand at the door because he regularly makes a break for it and tries to escape the building. he has learned nothing in this time, he CANT learn anything when he is so overwhelmed. i have never seen him look or act more autistic than when he walks into that classroom and starts stimming and bouncing off the walls.

the new AI class isnt the perfect placement, but it looks like the only viable alternative right now. they keep a ratio of about 5 kids to 1 teacher with 1 teacher assistant, and its actually the same building where he went to headstart preschool for the last two years, so the school itself will be familiar. i am pretty sure he has met the teachers before as his headstart class interacted with some of the other classes there. our main concern is that, at least last year, all the kids in the AI class were cognitively impaired auties, and K despite being a year behind them was well above what they were working on in class. we will have to make sure they keep him challenged enough to really progress academically.

if this doesnt work out either, i have a virtual school option lined up. we will switch to that if we have to, as long as its at least another month down the road where our house will be ready and we will be moved and my SO will be home full time.

I hope it proves to be a good placement. Our elementary school hosted the county autism class for a while, and it was actually a really cool place. So much so that they had NT kids from the regular school lining up to volunteer. While most of the kids were severely challenged, one was actually ahead, they did teach her at her level. So, here's hoping. It sounds like you are busy working all the options so at least you have plan C.

Just wanted to tell you that my heart is with you. You are doing the best you can with what you've got! I know how I would feel if were in your shoes (((hugs))). This might turn out to be a very good place for him. Even though the other kids may be below him developmentally, he is likely to benefit from the greater interaction time with adults.

I hope it proves to be a good placement. Our elementary school hosted the county autism class for a while, and it was actually a really cool place. So much so that they had NT kids from the regular school lining up to volunteer. While most of the kids were severely challenged, one was actually ahead, they did teach her at her level. So, here's hoping. It sounds like you are busy working all the options so at least you have plan C.

Would it be worth getting a copy of the state academic grade-level standards and insisting on some academic goals in his IEP to meet those standards?