What type of environment is best?

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Should my son (entering third grade next year ) be at a school that specializes in HFA with other AS/HFA kids? He would be mainstreamed in reg ed but have opportunity in social skills class, etc, to interact with other HFA/AS children. One such school exists in our district. Or, should I leave him be. He hasn't exactly made any real friends at this school (although he talks about a few kids). Opinions? Ideas? Experiences?

Get him there now! Seriously social skills training can help out so so much, especcially at that age. Pretty soon bullies will start coming out more and I have heard at schools like that aspie students are treated so much better.

You should have him go to the school that has the social skills training thing, it would really be worth it. I did something like that when I was in elementary school probably because my mother requested it or something I don't really know but I did it and I think it helped me out a lot though I hated the class but in the long run I think it was good for me. Now I'm a senior in high school with just over a month of school left.

our son stayed mainstreamed until he started having problems in middle school....in retrospect, had we even known about aspergers, things would have been different~we would have pushed the school to address social skills and social understanding.
son now goes to a school for people with varying mental disorders ( AS, severe ADHD, NVLD, Bipolar etc)....the school is wonderful, and he's doing tremendously better than he did when he was in district schools

My son does receive social skills once a week. Yet, the few kids he's with are not labeled hfa/as that I know of. This program is for kids with a variety of needs--neurological impairment, too. So, maybe they are in fact on the spectrum.

I post on OASIS (Kirby) and the overall feedback there is that AS children do not get along well with each other. I find this difficult to believe. This is like saying that blind children shouldn't be around other blind children. It doesn't make sense. Yes, maybe if a child is forced to conform all the time to a NT world, then he/she will have difficulty looking in the mirror at another AS child. This is not healthy.

Someone please enlighten me.

You need to be careful, make sure the kids are at his level or a bit ahead. If he is one of the higher functioning kids, it won't be good.

Some programs will place him in a class with non verbal kids or those with behavior problems. Again, this is not a good place to be. He would be better off mainstreamed with support.

I have gotten the impression that your son is mildy effected? Definately he needs help, but you don't want him in a school full of full fledged autistics.

I would demand to see the school, and the class before commiting to it. Although this would be for september, ask to see an equivalent class this year. That should help make the decision.

It can be true. I believe I have AS, my son is DX'ed with AS, and I think my mom has AS. Things got complicated with my sons biological father, because I think he has AS. I got along great with him, but his AS traits, got on my mothers nerves something awful.

Remember, As people are not very socially skilled, they don't adapt to change, and they are not as a general rule, understanding of other people. So, lets just say that someone with AS is poking or shouting or bugging another person with AS. It is going to drive them DOUBLY up the wall!

My son has an IMPOSSIBLE time with a child who is socially inept. Although I think he suffers from fetal alcohol effect, not AS. The kid annoys him so much, he will avoid going ANYWHERE this kid MAY be. I don't push it, because I can really sympathize. (this kid put his hand in a pitcher of juice last week at our local breakfast club).

I did go to a private LD school for two years in grade 4 and 5. A lot of kids had social issues. I made some really great friends there, although we did get a little carried away and goofy. I loved that place, although my mother came to blame it for all my social ineptness. She would say for years, "that place did great things for your acedemics, but NOTHING for your social skills!". It made me feel bad!

If you're meaning an integrated school that features "experts", then yes I think autistic kids would benefit from that greatly. I don't think kids would benefit from being segregated with just special needs kids, teachers and curricula nor would a regular school with contingent support. My son has been enrolled in a special ed class but is in the mainstream class without an aide. The aides and teacher are stationed just outside the room, though, so there is support and tolerance and experience backing Pop's experience.
I believe there is just one integrated school here in the city and I wasn't even allowed to be put on a waiting list for it.

He would be mainstreamed in reg ed. School's speciality for special ed (we have 11 in district) is higher functioning autism. There is another school that houses the lower functioning children with severe disabiilties.

I'm thinking of the support (autistic specialist more in tune with his needs) and a few other hfa in his social group might be nice.

You can always try it. Again, I would advise touring the school before a final decision. What is the worst thing that happens? It does not work. Can't know if you don't try.