New Jersey

Re: New Jersey

• Mammina

  January 2013

  -auntie-:

  As states go, NJ is one of the better states for public education but Christie seems to be actively engaged in dismantling the one thing of which NJ can be proud.
  

  Yup. This is my biggest concern.  There have been significant changes in the last few years, and I am worried this will continue  ... making our move a big mistake.
  

  -auntie-:

  I'm curious about the "provisional ASD dx". Was you son given this because his clinician doesn't dx until a certain age or was it given because they didn't feel they have enough information given his young age to decide on a dx or did he not fully meet the current dx criteria?

  Why would you not share this information with your school district? Under what IEP classification is he being serviced? IMHO, the more the school knows about the antecendents to your child's behaviors and skills the more appropriately they can choose the sort of interventions that will effectively help him be his best self.

  The doctors who conducted the private evaluation felt like, although he has many qualities that can be attributed to an ASD dx, he didn't fully meet the current criteria. They were, however, comfortable documenting this provisional status because they knew it would help us get the services we wanted. It allowed us to get a dual service rec for additional OT, PT, and parent training outside of school hours. We would never have been handed that without the additional report. His school has him listed under mixed developmental disorder .... from what I understand, it's a catch-all dx when no other seems appropriate.
  

   

  -auntie-:

  What does the model of "integrated classroom" look like where you are now? Is it a public preschool with kids who have different issues blended with typical peer models?  Is it a self contained classroom exclusively for kids who have IEPs?

  At the preschool and kinder level, integrated classes consist of 16-24 students, half of whom have IEPs; there is a GenEd and a SE teacher, along with two assistants.   I'm not sure what happens after kinder. I believe the classes are still co-taught (ICT), minus the paras.

   

  -auntie-:

  
  

  If the school is unaware of his provisional dx, I doubt he will be offered a spot in an autism program. If you plan to stay in NY, you might want to share the dx you have and have him evaluated by this time next year when they start making up the classlists for his kindie year.

  As for the NEST, our plan was to document the ASD dx at his annual IEP meeting to prepare for the application process. It looks like there is nothing comparable in NJ, unfortunately.

   

  
  

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• CaptainSerious member

  January 2013

  I live in NJ, and from what I can tell, accessibility of services varies from schoool district to school district.  What I mean by that is that some schools are very good at getting a child the help he needs, while others (like mine, unfortunately) have a reputation of denying services or certain types of services and waiting to see if, and how strongly, the parent will fight their determination.

  With that in mind, you might find better information if you look into what the particular school district is like, rather than the State as a whole. 

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• Mammina

  January 2013

  Excellent points to consider, thank you!

  Captain Serious, we are looking in Northern NJ, specifically towns in Morris and Union counties (Westfield, Madison, and New Providence.)

  Any familiarity with these areas?

  Furthermore, we would absolutely consider a nearby town if it would be more likely to provide what DS needs. 
  

   

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• ToastieSimons member

  January 2013

  i grew up in montville township. they only provide minimal classroom support and choose to send out a child that can't be mainstreamed with an aide or some pull-outs.  in grade school the pulled my cousin out for speech therapy and in high school a few of my friends has certain classes in the resource room, or the resource teacher attended the mainstream class with them.  

  To my boys:  I will love you for you Not for what you have done or what you will become I will love you for you I will give you the love The love that you never knew
  

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• DixieNormous330 member

  January 2013

  I'm in Westchester County NY. EI is excellent here, and I'm working on researching the school district situation for when DD ages out. I'm happy to share any information I glean.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Mr&MrsMTA member

  January 2013

  It really depends on the district and the amount of special needs children they have. I know there are a lot of towns that refuse to have special needs children in the main stream schools and only offer parents the option for special needs schools only. My DH neice has DS and his nephew has classic autism they are both in the middle school now in the same class despite their different needs and there is only 3 other kids in that class my SIL has observed manytimes and it really just looks like a daycare she said she was so upset. After middle school they have to go to a special school because the high school has no classes/program for them at all. However my SIL said she is really just concerened at their age in teaching them life skills.

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