Re: Which is better, PDD or Autistic Classroom?

[Guest guest]

Well for what it's worth here's my two cents. I would suggest that you

think

about class choices in terms of what your child needs to learn. Kids with

autism have a unique learning deficit that is usually not address in a

general PPCD class. Kids in the spectrum DO NOT GENERALIZE. That means,

kids with autism usually do not imitate people around them as much as

children with other learning disabilities. In this, they are completely

different from children with Down's, CP, mental retardation, and learning

disorders. You can plunk a child with Down's in a typical classroom,

and they will slowly start noticing and imitating the children around

them. Kids with autism retreat into their own world. Most young

children with autism also have sound sensitivities and are easily

overwhelmed and overstimulated. Putting a young child with autism

in a typical PPCD classroom with someone who MAY know how to spell

autism is equivalent to taking a child who is deaf and screaming at

them-- " come on, I know you'll hear me if you just try hard enough. "

In the beginning, children with autism must be taught to imitate,

they must be taught to follow commands, they need an environment

that is very calm and not too stimulating until they can at least:

-imitate gross motor movements

-sit and pay attention for about 10 min

-can tolerate being around 10 children in a room for more than an hour

-follow a two step commands

-can tolerate noise for extended time periods without meltdowns

-answer yes and no questions

-ask to go to the bathroom

-greet teachers and peers

-initiate a contact with a peer, either with prompting or spontaneously

-have play skills and be able to play independently.

If you try for a least restrictive environment before your child can

at least do these things, you're asking for trouble.

If your child cannot do these things I would steer clear of the PPCD

class (unless the teacher turns out to having extensive behavioral

training). I would question the the " autism expert " very closely too.

Know that a degree in special education includes no training specific

to autism. I was introduced to a special education teacher for the

autism program at a local school, and her main qualification was that

she had a " gift " for working with kids with autism. She had attended

a TEACCH conference, not gotten any certification, and had a special

ed degree. Yahoo.

Ask very specific questions about

-how much one to one individual instruction the child will receive,

-how structured the day is, what the teacher staff ratio is,

-what methodology is being used

(be forewarned that eclectic methodology is no methodology

and will often cause more problems than it will solve).

-how many children with autism or PDD who have gone through either

program are now mainstreamed or in an inclusive setting.

Just my .20 cents. Good luck.

Which is better, PDD or Autistic

Classroom?

I have a 31 month old non diagnosed autistic son (can't miss the

symptoms but have to wait until Feb. to get the diagnosis). Anyway,

I have been talking to Early Childhood Intervention (PPCD, Keep

Pace, all the same thing) and they said I might have two options

through my school district.

The first option would be to place him into a normal PDD classroom

with other kids other than autistic kids. The second option might

be to place him in a 100% on the spectrum classroom with a very

qualified teacher for teaching autistic kids.

My thoughts were originally to lean towards the second option with

the teacher qualified to teach autistic kids. However, I started

thinking about how special ed wants the least restrictive

environment for these kids and I thought wouldn't it be better if he

was around talking kids from which he could pick up on things from.

Not that some of the autistic kids wouldn't talk (have no idea b/c I

haven't seen the class and it won't be until next year with

different kids anyway) but maybe might have a better chance learning

new things being around other kids not like him. If he is around

other kids who stem just like him but have a great teaching

environment, wouldn't he still think his stemming is normal b/c

everyone else is doing it?

I appreciate your honesty and feedback. I am very new to autistic

scene and am just starting on all the diet interventions and

vitamins and supplements. Now, onto the school side of things.

Thanks so much!

Sheryl

Texas Autism Advocacy

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

Partners Resource Network

www.PartnersTX.org

Autism-Awareness-Action

Worldwide internet group for AUTISM.

[Guest guest]

Renie has PDD and has picked up tons of sayings and

habits...I don't necessarily like, but that she

saw/heard with other kids and ADULTS. Renie is 11

1/2. She went to PPCD in Cy-fairISD. The first one

was great. There was a little boy with a

neuromuscular disease that they would lay on a mat

each day and Renie would get a book and read to him.

The second PPCD class (the district moved it to

another school)was terrible. I didn't know until they

gave me a video of her " progress " to show the new

school that they were having her put pegs in holes.

For 3 hours on this video, she sat and put pegs in

holes about 50 times. They would make her sit and do

it again. I did not know she suffered so badly there.

Now, when we moved she was placed in a Pre-K and she

did real well, she had one and 1/2 school years of

PPCD. It's ok to ask for a Paraprofessional and you

want to do it anyway to help the child with the things

that fall between the cracks. It helps the teacher

out, it helps the child out. You don't want an aide.

Self-contained classrooms, with children with

disabilities would be great, if they were taught

something...I have been to a couple of those for my

job and out out curiousity and Renie would have never

received as much as she has gotten from being around

everyone else. When there are 12 children all with

special needs and only one teacher and one aide, who

is served?

I have a strong belief about the future of society.

1/3 of our country has disabilities (old and young),

what is going to happen, when in 30 years I want to

retire? I won't get to, because not many people take

their jobs seriously enough to understand that their

work is a mission a step in a journey, instead it's a

parked station. My point is this, there will be so

many disabled and elderly people, that more than 50%

our population will be disabled. Who then will be our

managers? teachers? caregivers? doctors? There won't

be many. If all children do not receive all that they

are supposed to be taught, where will we be? We have

to teach and do all we can to provide a way for these

children. They have capabilities beyond our

knowledge.

I didn't mean to stand on my soapbox; but here is one

more thought, as a mother/parent you have to teach

your child too, even if you feel inadequate. I

introduced both of my daughters to the alphabet

while we played on the floor or when we were sitting

together. I told them the sounds. I was working 60

hours a week back then. I am not a teacher. That

simple little inspired time has made a tremendous

different in both, and yes in my daughter who has

Autism. She reads phonetically. They can be taught.

She has trouble speaking, but she can read. She

laughs when appropriate, she follows written

instructions.

Overall, go with your gut! Mother's are right! Listen

to that still small voice of inspiration.

Make a couple of surprised visits thorughout where

ever you decide to have your child assigned.

Candis

---

[Guest guest]

i would take themore qualified teacher vs. LRE because you want what is best

for your child.

at least in the full spectrum class you know you have a individual trained

in dealing with autism. I n LRE classes you dont.

my son is 13 and is still in self contained 7th grade, we just started

trying to main stream into a less restrictive enivoronment and he dont like it.

autistic kids need structure, most of them thrive for it. they like to prepare

for what is next in their own

worlds.

T.REID