How can i find a good public school system for autism in north carolina?

Question

How can i find a good public school system for autism in north carolina?

Answer 1

The Mariposa School for Children with Autism : Cary, NC  Intensive and individualized instruction to children with Autism; targeting the broad range of educational, behavioral, speech, social, ...

www.mariposaschool.org/ - 9k

Answer 2

Contact The Eden Institute.....  www.edenservices.org

They are based in Princeton, NJ but will be able to help you find a good school system in your area or at least give you a criteria of what you need to be looking for.

Answer 3

There are two commonly used approaches regarding the teaching of autistic children.  One is Applied Behavior Analysis.  The other is TEACCH.  The Mariposa School in Cary uses ABA.  If that school is not an option for you, try to find one in which the teacher is TEACCH-trained.  I taught in NC for years.  TEACCH is used a lot in N.C.

http://www.teacch.com/

Answer 4

I am a huge proponent of ABA.  However, there are several methodologies, or "types" of ABA.  For a child younger than five, the Lovaas method, or Discrete Trials, is usually best.  Ovr the age of five, you should look at B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior, incidental teaching, Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and Theory of Mind.  Ideally, an autism school should use all these methods plus TEACCH and also PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and develop a program to suit the individual child.  You should also look at the functioning of your child.  Is your child verbal?  Non-verbal?  Somewhere in between?  Since autism is such a wide spectrum, it is important to look at your own child and then go and observe some schools to get a feel of what might fit.  I have found there really is no substitute for going and observing a proposed placement.

You can allso try www.yellowpagesforkids.com .  They have a lot of info on what schools, support groups, etc that might help.  For relocating parents, I always recommend they contact several support groups in the area they are looking at.  Try to contact a mix of grass-roots organizations and larger organizations such as Autism Society of America at www.autism-society.org and Autism Speaks.