School, what should I do?

What school to send your child to is always a hard choice.  I'm not sure how other countries work but in Australia, especially Queensland, we have more than one option.  We have Public schools (even those outside of our district), Private schools (traditional and alternate) and Home Schooling.  Add Intellectual Impairment you also have the choice between Mainstream (ie your local) and Special School.

There is research into which is better (Mainstream or Special School)  in terms of both short term and long term outcomes. I'm not going to go into it but will say when reading research I take into consideration that every child with special needs is different from the other, so whilst the research can be helpful it might not be true for Owen. I would recommend you do the same.  You will also find some people are "pro mainstream" and some  are "pro special school".   I'm actually neither. I'm pro having school options available to choose from and I'm pro matching the child with the best education option and environment for them to grow and thrive (where ever that may be).  I've seen some go to Mainstream and some go to Special School. That path was the best choice for them as an individual.

So when considering a school, look at all your options and consider:

• Your child's learning needs (where are they developmentally and where they are heading)
• What curriculum the school offers, how much will they alter the program for your child, how will they include them in the learning.
• Your child's environment needs (quiet, busy, aircon/heating, access, sensory, equipment) 
• What support can they provide, how much one on one they will get
• Your child's emotional needs and how the school will meet it
• Any anxieties they might have and how they will play out in the school environment
• How you will get them there, will you be eligible for transport.
• Any nursing or therapist support they offer
• How does it fit in with your family.
• What extra curricular activities will they offer your child
• What extra's does the school have eg library, playground wise, vegie garden, pool, sensory room/wall, pool.
• If required, before and after school care

Then send them to whatever school that turns out to be.  If you try that and it doesn't work, advocate to fix it or find a different and better option (whichever is the most appropriate).

Here's the things that factored into our decision on Owen's school:

• Developmentally he is less than 1 year old, is in a wheelchair, non verbal, has vision impairment.  He needs activities appropriate to his development level, that encourage him to reach the next milestone.
• Bearing the above in mind, it was important for me that he be doing the same work as his classmates not separate work.  I felt that "included" him more than him being in a class with local children doing totally different work to him.  He is one of 5 students of similar abilities.
• Their communication techniques matched where he was heading.  They used PODD AAC in the classroom.
• He needed to be in a school environment that was social yet not terribly hectic (otherwise he would not concentrate on the task at hand), that was small in numbers.  He is one of 5 in his classroom and catches the bus with a similar number of children. 
• They offer hydrotherapy as part of their program.  Owen loves the water and such a  program benefits him with muscle strength and balance thus hopefully walking some day. 
• Owen needs a strong sensory focus as for both calming and learning.  They have a sensory room and offer sensory activities in the classroom.
• Owen needs air-conditioning to ensure he does not over heat in summer (risk of seizures and distress).  This school is fully air-conditioned and they remain indoors at lunchtime.
• He needs access to nursing staff.  Most days there is a nurse on site.
• He needed access with therapists to help with movement, transfers etc and to write programs for the teachers to use.  They have therapists on site.
• He needs teachers specialised in teaching children with his level of impairment and his vision impairment.  They have both.
• They have walkers, standing frames, swings etc.
• I felt confident they could protect him from germs as much as possible (I home schooled Owen for 20 months after his health deteriorated so much he could not cope with his previous school environment)

For us, that all led to a Special School.  We also went through a similar process when working out where our other (neuro typical) son goes.  Who knows where you will end up.