Re: Need a good private school in state of Georgia!!

[Guest guest]

Some of the families around here have had luck at the Center in

Macon - it is a public school. Other that that, Bibb County schools aren't

know for being too good. I would recommend you look into a home ABA program

and get some inclusion at a public school. If your grandson is fully

insured, you may be able to get insurance to pay for it since HB565 was

passed in July 2001. My experience with schools is you have to find what

you need first and then make them do it. Good luck.

Joy

Need a good private school in state of Georgia!!

> My grandson is reaching the age he will have to enter the school

> system next year and we are filled with dread. Does anyone have any

> information of a good private school anywhere in the state of Georgia

> for autistic/pdd children or even handicapped children?

> Would love one that does aba, but I fear that would be out of the

> question.

> The parents and us grandparents are panicking thinking about the

> little tyke starting school in the special education in Georgia.

> Trust me, I know, I have a 17 year old down syndrome son who has gone

> through the special education program in Georgia. If there is no

> such school in Georgia, which county has the best set-up for

> austistic/PDD children, or does anyone know? The parents are willing

> to move, they are so desperate. The kids are almost non-verbal, one

> is 5, the other is 3. Help is desperately needed for these

> children. They are very alert and engaging.

> Thanks for any help,

> A Grandmother

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Check out atlantaparent.com for a listing of private schools for

special needs... I have heard some will not take kids with autism but

it is a good place to start... good luck! Also contanct

parenttoparentofga.org... they may be able to help.

Lyn

[Guest guest]

If there is no

> such school in Georgia, which county has the best set-up for

> austistic/PDD children, or does anyone know? The parents are

willing

> to move, they are so desperate.

We were VERY happy with the Center in Bibb County (Macon). We

moved here from Warner Robins - only 30 minutes - just so Nicolas

could attend. He was there for 2 1/2 years. There are 3 autism

classes and they are trained in the TEACCH method. He is now in K5 at

an elem. school but is still in an autism program and we are pretty

happy. I feel that there is commitment to the kids and it will

continue on up the school ladder as our children age. Where are you

now? Email me privately and I will be glad to give you more info.

stacey-herrera@...

Joy - it was good to see you post. We missed you at the Xmas party.

Hope you and the boys are doing well.

Stacey

[Guest guest]

I cannot figure out why there is not a school in GA

that would meet these needs (autism/ABA/teacher/tutor

training).

There are SO many families in need in the state of GA

and those of us that are originally from here really

don't want to move out of state. Does anyone know of

anyone that is " thinking " about opening up a private

school? I am sure there are enough parents out there

that would volunteer and help out in any way just to

have the services that their children need?

Oh well-to be so lucky and wish for things that

Georgia doesn't have huh?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Caroline,

I've been thinking the same thing. Maybe we should

all rally together to get one of these big wigs, like

the CEO from Home Depot, a major league baseball or

football player, a lottery winner, etc, to help fund

building and operating a high quality autistic school

in our area. Also, make the tuition affordable so

that all our families are able to send our ASD kids

there. We really need something around THIS area. We

are so close to Atlanta, but yet so far away.

Traveling at least an hour to bring to his

therapies gets old.

I just don't see why the state doesn't offer an

autistic endorsement program to college/university

special ed programs. It would be so easy. You'd

think that they would want to because in the long run,

it would save the state so much (money, etc). I also

think that ALL teachers going through GA teacher

certification programs should receive at least some

training in autism (e.g. a course in TEACCH). It

seems that most counties are just not willing to put

out the money and help out with the training of

current teachers. Our kids tend to be last on the

totem pole. It seems as though the ones that need the

most assistance get the least.

Even Florida has better autistic programs than GA.

--- Caroline Hull wrote:

> I cannot figure out why there is not a school in GA

> that would meet these needs

> (autism/ABA/teacher/tutor

> training).

>

> There are SO many families in need in the state of

> GA

> and those of us that are originally from here really

> don't want to move out of state. Does anyone know of

> anyone that is " thinking " about opening up a private

> school? I am sure there are enough parents out there

> that would volunteer and help out in any way just to

> have the services that their children need?

>

> Oh well-to be so lucky and wish for things that

> Georgia doesn't have huh?

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I've been doing some similar research for my son who

turns 4 in January.

Below are 3 programs I know of and can personally

recommend:

Special Needs Preschool and Primary of Gwinnett,

Lawrenceville. Loving staff; group speech, OT and

recreational therapy sessions. .

The Model Classroom at Faith Lutheran Church. TEACCH

based, but using a variety of methods.

The Lionheart School, Alpharetta. Seems to be an

excellent program, though very pricey. Started by

parents of special needs children.

http://www.lionheartschool.org/

Here is some information I found online. You'll have to

check to see which ones accept children with autism.

Comments not mine:

Adaptive Learning Center

2509 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta, GA 30062. 770-509-

3909. Pre-K-grade 5. Adaptive Learning Center provides

therapy and education to young children with, or at risk

of, developmental disabilities in Dunwoody and Marietta.

Atlanta Speech School, Wardlaw

3160 Northside Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30327. 404-233-

5332. K-grade 6. For children with learning

disabilities. Mission is to teach children how to learn

independently in a regular educational setting through

individualized programming in a nurturing environment.

Bedford School, The

2619 Dodson Drive, East Point, GA 30344. .

Grades 1-9. Learning disabled, classes of 8-10. Academic

remediation, remedial help with physical skills, peer

interaction, self-esteem.

Building Blocks, Speech Pathology Services, Inc.

750 Hammond Drive, 4-100, Atlanta, GA 30328. 404-459-

9192. Ages 2-5. A curriculum-based approach to learning.

Children enhance their motor, academic, speech, language

and social skills through fun, enriching programs.

Cottage School, The

700 Grimes Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30075. .

Grades 6-8 and 9-12. Accredited school serves

adolescents with mild to moderate LD/ADHD.

Individualized and summer programs, small classes.

Hope Springs Christian Learning Center

1309 Monfort Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. 678-442-

8785/ . Small, ungraded classes for learning

disabled students 8-13 years of age. Includes one to one

NILD therapy.

School, The

1246 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306. 404-377-

7436. Ages 4- 18. Serves children with language-learning

disabilities and differences which limit their good

learning potential. Small classes, individualized

programs, specialized tutoring. Goal: independent, life-

long learners.

Lullwater School

705 South Candler St., Decatur, GA 30030. .

K-grade 8. Providing alternative education for creative,

right-brained learners. Program supports social,

emotional, intellectual growth. Success with ADHD and LD

students.

Mill Springs Academy

13660 New Providence Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004. 770-360-

1336. Grades K-12. Small college preparatory, accredited

day school that focuses on motivation, socialization and

academic success; laptop for learning program.

Sophia Academy

1199 Bellaire Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30319. .

Grades 1-5. A uniquely different Christian school for

children with learning differences.

Hope this helps,

Michele Bovell

[Guest guest]

One more...

http://www.josephsams.org

Here's what they have to say on their website:

The ph Sams School, Inc. is a private, non-profit

school serving children ages eighteen months through

fifteen years who have mild to severe intellectual

and/or physical disabilities or diagnosed developmental

disabilities. The school provides intense educational

training as well as speech and language therapy for its

students.

The school is located in Fayetteville, Georgia and

currently serves children from several south

metropolitan counties. There are no geographic

restrictions for attendance in the program although the

majority of students reside in Clayton, Coweta, Fayette,

Fulton, and Henry counties. The ph Sams School is

the only privately operated school of its kind serving

children with intellectual and/or physical disabilities

or developmental disabilities in these counties south of

Atlanta. Families of many of our students travel more

than sixty miles because of the lack of comparable

services in other localities.

[Guest guest]

>> Does anyone know of

> anyone that is " thinking " about opening up a private

> school? >

I am " thinking " of opening a center there. It won't happen for

another couple of years though because I'm helping with the opening

of a center in Tallahassee. If I do open a center, it will be

modeled similar to the one in Tallahassee.

Shauna