Wealthy parents have more opportunities to help these kids develop to their highest potential. Of course these special schools are only found in a few in certain states. Much like the MR population, the earlier and more intense programs yield the optimum results.
If I had an autistic child or severe LD kid and no money, I would move to Connecticut (Massachusetts-2nd choice) because they have incorporated the best special-ed learning programs within their public school system. Otherwise I’d be prepared to research a great deal and mimic their programs, as best possible with other home-schooled similar kids.
Private Schools Specializing in Autism: Pros and Cons
More and more private schools are opening which specializes in serving children on the autism spectrum. These schools are expensive since they build in full-day therapeutic interventions including speech, occupational and physical therapy as well as academics.
Tuitions can easily be as high as $75,000 per year. They may also be the ideal choice for your child with autism.
Autism-only schools serve both high and low-functioning children with autism, and can do a great job at both ends of the spectrum. Young people with Asperger syndrome may find themselves at home for the first time in their lives at an Asperger-only school.
There, they may find true friends, supportive and understanding teachers, and opportunities to thrive in new ways. Children who are more profoundly autistic will find highly trained specialists with the time, energy and commitment to providing intensive, caring 1:1 interventions.
Autism-only schools are often set up based on a specific therapeutic philosophy. For example, there are private schools which spend the majority of the day implementing the behavioral intervention. There are others dedicated to teaching through Floortime, and still others with the focus largely on Relationship Development Intervention. If you know what you want, you can find it locally and you can fund it, you’re in great shape. If not, you may have to go with the program that’s available and fundable.
The downside of a school for children with autism is the world unto itself. While at school, children experience ONLY people who understand and care for them. Their peers are all autistic. Even parents of their peers “get” their autism.
Even when the school deliberately creates opportunities for inclusion in the typical world, those opportunities are carefully contrived and controlled. That means that your child with autism will have relatively few opportunities to learn the coping skills they’re likely to need when they graduate.
I work in a general high school and all schools within the Wake County NC system offer special needs classes. Some schools serve different needs but classes are available to all special needs under the ADA. May not meet the offerings of those private schools but services are available.