Would like to hear your opinions

October 15, 2009

Today I looked at Westview School in Houston for my son. I was wondering if

any of you had experience with Westview and what your opinions are.

Here are mine: I really liked it. It is still more than we can afford but it

seems like a really good structured program. I am still wondering if Sammy is

too high functioning. On some levels he really belongs there and on others not

so much. I am really torn about what to do. He really is behind with certain

aspects of functioning in the classroom. He desperately wants to play with

other children but doesnt know how and he comes home everyday saying I dont know

why So and SO wont play with me. He has good language he just doesnt have good

receptive language and his skills vary from day to day on what he actually takes

in. He cant focus on an activity and aimlessly wanders around the classroom and

his fine motor skills are quite behind and they wont improve in the classroom he

is currently in. I really dont know what to do in this situation. I think a

special needs school would be greatly beneficial on most levels but if he is the

strongest as far as skills go in the class that is a very bad thing because he

mimics others...

Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated because we are so lost right now!

Dara

October 15, 2009

Here is my take on Westview as a former mother of twins attending as well as an

employee: They do a fantastic job with younger kids and older children who are

academically REALLY below grade level for whatever reason. BUT - all children

try to emulate their peers, even kids on the spectrum. If they are surrounded by

autistic behavior all day, than that is what they will copy. Westview tries very

hard to teach them acceptable behavior but the fact is that they cannot replace

typical peer interaction. Even at a specialized school such as Westview, kids do

get their feelings hurt! And it's for the same reason that they get their

feelings hurt somewhere else: a class mate doesn't want to talk to them, play

with them, sit next to them during lunch...

And while teasing, bullying, or rude behavior to classmates is not tolerated,

they still feel left out. This may be compounded by the fact that each class

only has about 8 students in it.

Westview does a wonderful job by providing small, structured groups with lots of

breaks to move around and individual attention. But the longer they stay at

Westview, the more they will fall behind acadenmically and socially. And while

Jane , the director will tell you that they teach an individual

curriculum, they really do not. The curriculum is the same for the entire class,

not for each student. Westview may be a great choice if you want him to stay a

year or two to gain more confidence, mature a bit. You may want to look into a

smaller, typical private school if your son is fairly on grade academically. I

know students who have successfully transferred to The Branch School as well as

the Redd School. I know this is a hard decision and I don't envy you. Feel free

to email me off list if you have more questions!

October 15, 2009

My son has been attending Westview for the last 5 years. How old is Sammy and what grade is he in now?

R.

Would like to hear your opinions

Today I looked at Westview School in Houston for my son. I was wondering if any of you had experience with Westview and what your opinions are.

Here are mine: I really liked it. It is still more than we can afford but it seems like a really good structured program. I am still wondering if Sammy is too high functioning. On some levels he really belongs there and on others not so much. I am really torn about what to do. He really is behind with certain aspects of functioning in the classroom. He desperately wants to play with other children but doesnt know how and he comes home everyday saying I dont know why So and SO wont play with me. He has good language he just doesnt have good receptive language and his skills vary from day to day on what he actually takes in. He cant focus on an activity and aimlessly wanders around the classroom and his fine motor skills are quite behind and they wont improve in the classroom he is currently in. I really dont know what to do in this situation. I think a special needs school would be greatly beneficial on most levels but if he is the strongest as far as skills go in the class that is a very bad thing because he mimics others...

Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated because we are so lost right now!

Dara

October 15, 2009

Sammy is 5 years old but is doing pre-k for his second year.

>

> My son has been attending Westview for the last 5 years. How old is Sammy and

what grade is he in now?

>

> R.

>

> Would like to hear your opinions

>

> Today I looked at Westview School in Houston for my son. I was wondering if

any of you had experience with Westview and what your opinions are.

> Here are mine: I really liked it. It is still more than we can afford but it

seems like a really good structured program. I am still wondering if Sammy is

too high functioning. On some levels he really belongs there and on others not

so much. I am really torn about what to do. He really is behind with certain

aspects of functioning in the classroom. He desperately wants to play with other

children but doesnt know how and he comes home everyday saying I dont know why

So and SO wont play with me. He has good language he just doesnt have good

receptive language and his skills vary from day to day on what he actually takes

in. He cant focus on an activity and aimlessly wanders around the classroom and

his fine motor skills are quite behind and they wont improve in the classroom he

is currently in. I really dont know what to do in this situation. I think a

special needs school would be greatly beneficial on most levels but if he is the

strongest as far as skills go in the class that is a very bad thing because he

mimics others...

> Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated because we are so lost right now!

> Dara

>

October 15, 2009

We actually went to the Redd School. His first year in the toddler classroom

was amazing. Second year was not so good but he was pulled out in november to

go to the day treatment center for his ABA therapy. That summer was awesome and

then last year he was in the directors class and we were very excited about it

but it was a disaster. He cried every morning for drop off had accidents every

day sometimes multiple times a day and they werent using the picture schedule or

filling out the paper at the end of the day so we could help him tell us about

his day... needless to say we pulled him out last year and switched to a

different private school.

>

> Here is my take on Westview as a former mother of twins attending as well as

an employee: They do a fantastic job with younger kids and older children who

are academically REALLY below grade level for whatever reason. BUT - all

children try to emulate their peers, even kids on the spectrum. If they are

surrounded by autistic behavior all day, than that is what they will copy.

Westview tries very hard to teach them acceptable behavior but the fact is that

they cannot replace typical peer interaction. Even at a specialized school such

as Westview, kids do get their feelings hurt! And it's for the same reason that

they get their feelings hurt somewhere else: a class mate doesn't want to talk

to them, play with them, sit next to them during lunch...

> And while teasing, bullying, or rude behavior to classmates is not tolerated,

they still feel left out. This may be compounded by the fact that each class

only has about 8 students in it.

> Westview does a wonderful job by providing small, structured groups with lots

of breaks to move around and individual attention. But the longer they stay at