Raising a child with special needs, regardless of their limitations, is challenging. Trying to find a program or school that meets all of your educational needs can be even more difficult. The public school system has specialized programs, but for some, exploring alternatives outside of the public school system may be the answer.
Does your child’s physical disability prevent him from excelling in daily school activities? Does your child have difficulty with daily writing activities or make excuses to avoid handwriting assignments? Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Does your child’s confidence seem to be waning? Is your child constantly bullied by other students because of her disability?
Here’s how several local families solved those problems:
In general, the number 1 goal of a private school that specializes in special needs is to offer a comprehensive education program designed to develop the academic, social, and emotional competence of its students. These programs hope to allow your child to experience success without fear of failure or ridicule.
Private schools aim to provide a focused education for children with special needs that prepares them for all the benefits and responsibilities of adulthood. They hope to provide your child with the academic, career, and social skills needed to be independent, assertive, and contributing citizens of their communities.
Private schools offer the individualized attention that exceptional students require to achieve their educational goals. Schools like The Fletcher School and Dore Academy have been serving families with children with special needs in the Charlotte area for many years. Their programs are designed to fit the needs of each child as they develop. Philips Academy is a more recent addition to the educational offerings.
Margaret Sigmon, Head of The Fletcher School, says: “Our teachers are diagnostic teachers. Every day they re-diagnose where a child is and what that child needs. We call it ‘diagnostic prescriptive teaching’, which means that the Lesson plans are ‘It’s not done a week in advance. If a student doesn’t ‘get’ one day, the teacher covers the material again the next day.”
At Fletcher, students are often encouraged to return to a regular classroom setting as soon as they are ready to be successful independent learners. Given proper remediation in areas of academic difficulty and proper practice using compensatory strategies, this school feels that a child can make remarkable gains in academic achievement and develop the self-esteem and self-advocacy skills that allow many to experience success in regular classrooms.
Barbara Parrish, a founding member of Philips Academy, first asked the question, “Wouldn’t it be great if Charlotte had a small school with a population of students with learning disabilities who don’t go to college?” She helped make the dream come true by establishing Philips Academy, a small school that currently serves eight students who can stay in school until they earn their high school diplomas. Here, the goal is for students to learn to live independently and enter the workforce or a technology program at a community college upon graduation.
distance education
Sara Montgomery is an 11th grade student from Davidson, NC, living with Asperger’s Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Her disability makes writing by hand a challenge, so she used an AlphaSmart (computer) in her neighborhood school classroom to write assignments. This made her feel uncomfortable and out of place in the classroom. Most of the students didn’t engage with Sara, teasing her and making it hard for her to concentrate.
“Sara’s self-esteem was in rock-bottom. She was bullied so much at school that she pulled her hair, pulled out her eyebrows, and bit her nails to the bottom of her teeth. She wasn’t doing her homework or participating in any activities.” discussion in the classroom,” said Shirley Montgomery, Sara’s mother.
After being threatened by another student, Sara’s family sought an alternative to public schools. They found the solution to her problem at Laurel Springs School, an accredited distance learning school. Now Sara can attend a private school and excel in the field that works best with her cerebral palsy. . . “Everyone told me that if Sara stayed home all the time she wouldn’t thrive. But it’s been the opposite. Sara is thriving. She loves to work at her own pace,” says Shirley.
Distance learning is not your typical home school. It is a type of education in which students work alone at home or in an office and communicate with faculty and other students through email, electronic forums, video conferencing, chat rooms, bulletin boards, instant messaging, and other forms of computer communication. communication. One of the benefits of distance learning is the flexibility and delivery of student materials: he or she can read it whenever they want. Students, regardless of their academic level, can study, learn, and complete assignments at their own pace.
According to Laurel Springs, another benefit of distance learning is the close communication between teacher and student.
Most distance learning students go on to college. Laurel Springs has a full staff of college counselors to help and encourage their students to reach higher goals.
Sara was able to learn at her own pace, without the distraction of being picked on by other kids at school. Today, she is confident in preparing her for a college education.
Another online alternative is Garden Schools, a K-12 distance learning school that incorporates a private Christian school environment into a virtual education. Students interact with teachers and socialize with other students from around the world.
An online quiz from Garden Schools, titled “Is Distance Learning Right for Our Family?” at http://www.gardenschools.com can help you decide if distance learning is a viable option for your family.
A spiritual alternative
If you prefer your child to receive a solid education at a private school that derives its teachings from a religious position, then you should consider placing your child in a religious school.
Several local religious schools offer special needs help within their traditional school setting: a self-contained classroom with individualized education plans.
Mariashi Groner, director of the Charlotte Jewish Day School, says, “The wonderful thing about this concept is that because this class is included in our day school, the opportunities to integrate are many; any time a child demonstrates that they are ready to join a class for a specific topic or area of activity is available. Also, the “typical” kids in our regular classes have welcomed these kids as one of us, a part of our family. What better lesson in love and unity can we teach?, if not this?”
The Directed Studies Program at Charlotte Christian School offers educational therapy to students who have average or above average intelligence but have specific deficits in perception and/or cognition. This intervention program uses techniques developed or adapted by the National Institute for Learning Disabilities (NILD). Students are seen twice a week. Tasks are assigned that stimulate visual, visuomotor, and auditory processing, as well as oral and written language development. The specialist collaborates with the teacher and family to guide the student in becoming an independent learner.
Many factors will influence your child’s educational choices, including the severity of your child’s mental/physical disability, your child’s age, the location of the program, and your family’s financial resources. But don’t let any of these factors discourage you from making the best decision. Most private schools offer financial assistance, and in some cases, special transportation may be available. As you research educational alternatives in the area, be sure to ask questions about all the resources available to your child.