's post from Pearland Isd

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure it's realistic to say that any one school district is better

than another, only because what works for one might not work for another.

With that said I do believe that there are some districts that are worse

than others. Does that make sense? I've been happy SO FAR with Pearland

ISD, my son's original dx was PDD NOS but I suspect he would be considered

HFA or Aspergers if re dx. We did PPCD too, and for us, it was wonderful!

They expected a lot from him, taught him how to use the PECS which started

his speaking, taught him to read, and write, etc. His teacher at that

school was awesome (she retired this year!) Then another school he had

another teacher that was a strong advocate for him, recommended he be

mainstreamed with an aid and told me I might have to fight for it when the

time came. It turns out at that school I didn't have to fight for it at

all. We got everything he needed. But when we switched schools the

principal said they " couldn't afford " a PE aid. So I contacted the special

ed specialist she came to the next ARD and we got that aid too. So for some

reason it seems like it's the individual schools and not the district. I

know of a family that is currently filing a grievance with PISD because they

are not following the IEP and aren't meeting this child's needs.

Personally, I don't think any of the public schools can really meet the

needs of our kids. And I think they only scratch the surface of the

potential that our special kids have. I think that home schooling is an

excellent option, home schooling has come a long way and there are several

ways for them to get the socialization without them going to school with

kids that will eventually tease and aggravate them. What would be neat is

if we had a charter school just for our kids in this area. Why is that such

a bad thing, to have a place just for them? Everyone always talk about

educating them with " typical " kids and that it's good for them. But I

disagree, my son thrives on structure and likes to play with other kids but

he has his limits and NEEDS that down time, that quiet time so he can get

back to it. I don't think that would stigmatize them at all, and there

would be plenty of ways to acclimate them to typical situations. I guess

that's my uneducated opinion. Good luck to everyone searching for school

districts. By the way if you are in the Pearland area and are searching for

a church home New Hope church has a special needs program - they either have

a buddy and go to regular children's church or they go into the Hope Kids

class room.