All students with disabilities who require special education services have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The IEP contains information about your child's interests, strengths, needs, goals, and educational program. It is a legal document that describes how the DOE will provide your child: Show
The IEP in NYCSAIf your child attends a DOE school, you can view information about their IEP by visiting the IEP tab of your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA). Here you will find a summary of IEP recommendations, along with information about where and when your child is receiving recommended special education programs and related services. For more information about NYCSA, visit NYC Schools Account. For guidance on creating an account, visit the NYCSA Account Set Up Guide for Parents.
Your child is disabled and requires special education, which means (in most cases) that a typical classroom in a typical public school is unlikely to be an ideal setting. But what are the other options? Fortunately, depending on your child's particular strengths and needs, there are quite a few possibilities. Read about the pros and cons of each. Public SchoolsPublic schools may be a good match for your child if:
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Charter and Magnet SchoolsCharter and magnet schools are also publicly funded, which means they are also free and are also required by law to serve your child's needs. In some cases, they are smaller than typical public schools, and they may also be a better fit for your child. Some charter and magnet schools offer a more hands-on, service-learning educational model which can be supportive of neurodiversity. Pros
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Waldorf and MontessoriWaldorf and Montessori developed teaching techniques that are quite different from those used in typical public schools, but which work well for many students. Instead of using words as the primary teaching tool, they use specific types of experiences that allow students to learn visually and kinesthetically. For quite a few students with disabilities, these types of schools can be a godsend. There are, however, a few caveats. First, Waldorf and Montessori schools are intended for children who can be classified as average or gifted, and who are capable of managing in a small but socially intense setting. Second, such schools are not required to provide any kind of support or therapy for your child. Pros
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HomeschoolHomeschooling is increasingly popular, especially among families of kids with disabilities. Homeschool gives you ultimate control and flexibility, making it easier to create an ideal educational program and setting for your child. Sometimes, your district will help you out financially, provide computer-based learning tools, or send tutors. You may also be able to tap into public after school programs, homeschool community programs, and a slew of other local resources. Pros
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General Schools for Disabled ChildrenAs diagnostic criteria and disability acceptance have developed to support children who need them, so too have private schools that cater to disabled children. Often, these schools are very expensive, but if you can show that your public school district cannot provide a free and appropriate education (FAPE) the district may be obliged to pay the cost of a private setting. This is only the case, though, if the special needs school is accredited (which means tiny start-up schools will not be an option). General schools for children with disabilities often list diagnoses they are suited to accommodate on their websites (dyslexia, autism, and sensory challenges, for example). But because the schools are private, they have the option of selecting the students they feel they can serve. Thus, even if your child seems to fit the criteria, the school may turn you down because your child is different from or requires more care than their "ideal" student. Pros
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Disability-Specific SchoolsWhether your child has dysgraphia, ADHD, OCD, "language-based learning challenges," anxiety, cognitive disabilities, or mental health conditions, there is almost certainly a school out there that specializes in their diagnosis. That means that somewhere in the United States (and possibly in your metropolitan area) there is a "perfect" learning environment for your child. The word "perfect" is in quotations marks, though, because every child is unique and so is every school. If your child is autistic and verbal, for example, a school for nonverbal autistic children won't be a good fit. There is diversity in disability, even within the same diagnosis. You may need to look closely to be sure a school specific to your child's disability is equipped to support your child's specific needs. Pros
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Therapy-Specific SchoolsDigging even further into specialized schools, it is possible to find private schools that are built around individual therapeutic philosophies. In the world of autism, for example, you can find SCERTS schools, Floortime schools, RDI schools, and so forth. If you are an advocate of a particular therapeutic or philosophical approach to teaching disabled children, this kind of school may be a good fit for you and your child. Pros
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A Word From VerywellBefore deciding that your child needs a non-public school, be sure you've explored all the nooks and crannies of your local district. While you may not have been offered all the services you feel you need, there's a chance that those services are available. In general, public school officials will give you what you ask for, but will not go out of their way to mention other options. Here's why a public school should really be your first choice:
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By Lisa
Jo Rudy Thanks for your feedback! What school has the best special education program?Here are the Best Special Education Programs. Vanderbilt University (Peabody). University of Kansas.. University of Oregon.. University of Virginia.. University of Florida.. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign.. University of Washington.. University of Wisconsin--Madison.. How do I get my child into special needs school?If you think your child may have special educational needs, contact the SEN co-ordinator, or ' SENCO ' in your child's school or nursery. Contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery. Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND .
Are there special schools for ADHD?Unique Talents. Abingdon House School is an independent day school for pupils aged from 5 to 19 with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD/ADHD, autistic spectrum condition, social communication difficulties and other associated needs.
Does Florida have good special education programs?For the 2022-23 school year, there are 157 special education public schools serving 13,204 students in Florida. The top ranked special education public schools in Florida are Washington Academy Of Varying Exceptionalities (Wave), Blind High School (Fsdb) and Ucp East Charter.
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