HCS (Public School Programs)

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Try Schmalz Elementary in KISD:

Schmalz Elementary

18605 Green Land Way

Houston, Texas 77084

Spring Branch ISD also has some autism programs, and I don't think they are

turning anyone away. Like other districts, SBISD does not seem to be

publicizing the existence of these programs.

Preschool

The PPCD autism program (CUBS program) is at Bendwood Elementary: 12750

Kimberley, . Bendwood is a tiny campus with a fabulous

playground and an awesome sensory-motor lab. The CUBS program utilizes

TEACCH and ABA. IMHO, the administration at Bendwood was a dream to work

with. On the downside, Bendwood serves only special needs preschoolers and

GT elementary students, so there aren't any opportunities for inclusion with

typical peers.

Elementary

The elementary autism programs (APPLE program) are at Rummel Creek

Elementary 625 Brittmoore, and Buffalo Creek Elementary, 2801

Blalock, . These programs also utilize TEACCH and ABA.

SBISD also has another program called AIM, which is to support higher

functioning ASD/Aspergers kids who are primarily in general ed settings.

That program is at Terrace Elementary. 10400 Rothbury, .

Middle School

There's an AIM program at Memorial Middle School 12550 Vindon,.

My son had the teachers at Bendwood and Rummel Creek. They're good

teachers, caring and hard-working, and their hearts are really in teaching

children with autism. Honestly, though, I don't think either one of them

had enough knowledge/experience using ABA to be effective in addressing my

son's behaviors. SBISD contracts with Bev Braman as its ABA consultant for

3 or 4 days per month. I think that's WAY below adequate. Last year my son

had some challenges that went unaddressed or ineffectively addressed.

Ultimately, we pulled him out of public school because of the lack of access

to quality ABA consulting. BTW, I'm pretty sure it's the same arrangement

in Katy, with the same consultant.

Hope that helps.

Geraldine

Re: HCS

> Hi, . We are in KatyISD too. We are having the same problems

> getting an appropriat setting for our eight year old son. I knew

> about the ECAP, but what is the YCAP? I have been told that there is

> no " program " for autistic school age kids. Is this correct? thanks,

> a

>

>

>>

>> > Hi a,

>> >

>> > We chose HCS because the annual spending

>> > caps are significantly

>> > higher than for CLASS (CLASS cap is about $68,000,

>> > while HCS cap is as high

>> > as $178,000, or so, depending on the individual's

>> > Level of Need as

>> > determined by an ICAP, or Inventory for Client and

>> > Agency Planning). My

>> > boys were assessed at about a mid-range level of

>> > need with about $20-30,000

>> > more per year available for each child than on the

>> > CLASS program (remember

>> > that the spending cap includes all the funds paid to

>> > intermediaries who are

>> > your case managers, etc. - something like

>> > $1,300-$1,800 a month, for

>> > starters). I may not be quoting these figures

>> > exactly right (can't lay my

>> > hands on them right now), but when we looked at the

>> > numbers someone in

>> > Austin gave me, it was not a difficult decision.

>> > HCS pays for residential

>> > care in a group home. CLASS does not. It's my

>> > understanding that CLASS

>> > assists with supporting an individual who lives

>> > independently in an

>> > apartment (e.g.-assistants to help with balancing a

>> > check book, etc.), but

>> > doesn't pay for a residential placement. That was

>> > significant for us, as I

>> > don't imagine my boys will be living alone (or would

>> > even want to live by

>> > themselves). Also, HCS pays up to $1,000 per year

>> > for dental care (not sure

>> > if CLASS does that).

>> >

>> > FYI, the CLASS or HCS provider develops a program to

>> > meet the individual's

>> > needs and different services are paid at different

>> > rates (I think attendant

>> > care pays at $7.83 per hour, so that gives you an

>> > idea of the quality of

>> > service you may be able to receive). In other

>> > words, you don't get a lump

>> > sum to spend - it's all paid out directly for

>> > services that may or may not

>> > serve your child well --- can't wait to begin this

>> > step of the journey!

>> >

>> > With all that said, not

>> > everyone who comes up on the

>> > CLASS list has a choice between the programs.

>> > Apparently my boys were due

>> > up on HCS within months of the CLASS notification

>> > letter, so MHMR was

>> > allowed to offer us a choice. I know other

>> > individuals who have been

>> > offered CLASS but are not near the top of the HCS

>> > list and haven't had the

>> > option of this choice.

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > LHS

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

>> > removed]

>> >

>> >

>>

>>

>> __________________________________________________

>>