good social questions for children with special needs

“I think it goes back to, is this school willing to make some adjustments?” Roper says. Special-needs students could be allowed to leave class a few minutes early to avoid the crowd on the bus, or line up a few minutes earlier for lunch to give them more time to make the transition. But schools of all sizes can make accommodations to help students feel more comfortable. A smaller campus or a smaller school might be more appropriate for these types of students. Some students on the autism spectrum find large crowds intimidating. Some special-needs students have physical limitations that make it difficult to move around campus. Is the size of the campus and the student population a good fit?.One place to connect with fellow special-needs parents is at support groups run by the Los Angeles County Regional Center. To understand how successful a program is, it is important to talk to other parents. But scores and assessments only tell a part of the story. This might be easier in public schools, where special-needs programs have often been in place for quite a while and information is more readily available. Parents can ask to see a school’s test scores and alternative assessment records to evaluate the success rate of a teacher or a program.

How successful is the school at actually educating special-needs students?.Is there opportunity for my child to be mainstreamed for certain classes?” “It could be as simple as whether they eat lunch together. Parents need to decide what they consider best for their child, and how dedicated a school is to respecting their decisions. Some schools and teachers prefer to have special-needs students interact more with their peers, other students with special needs. Some schools and teachers expect special-needs students to socialize with typical students on campus. How much do special-needs students at the school interact with their typical peers?.“Teachers need emotional support and intellectual stimulation,” says Tom Komp, Admissions Director and Senior Vice President at The Help Group. It is also important to find out how well the school supports its teachers. Just keep in mind that these teachers have to focus on classroom management as well as the individual needs of each student. “What is the class working on most? Does the cognitive profile fit the needs of my child?” You also want to know that special-education teachers who will be working with your child love their job, says Sandra Belanger, a special day class teacher in the Saugus Union School District. Some put more emphasis on social needs and integration.“What you’re really asking is, will my child’s behavioral, academic and social needs be met?” Roper says. Some classes focus more on behaviors than academics. What are the priorities of teachers in special day classes?.“I think it’s a legitimate place to start, because the question you’re really asking is: Will my child get that level of support in this particular school?” says Brian Roper, Ph.D., Director of Autism Services at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. What is the class size, and what are the student-teacher and student-aide ratios?.Here are 10 questions to ask during your search for the right school or program: Parents will have to weigh teacher strategies and approaches, district priorities and policies regarding motivation and behaviors. Class sizes, student populations, therapy services and transportation are all factors. Brian Roper, Ph.D., Director of Autism Services, was interviewed for this informative article recently printed in LA Parent.Ĭhoosing a school or a class for a child with special needs can be an overwhelming task.

Good social questions for children with special needs