G'day, Nostromo.nostromo wrote:Hi EoinC, was hoping you'd pop along..theres a really good local school right near us with an excellent unit, but thats full, a few weeks ago our plan was to just get him in the school in a mainstream class and then hopefully when a place came up we might be able to get him in the unit, maybe in a years time, but they just moved the frikkin zone on us and our house is outside, so we're not even guaranteed a place in the school, we have to take our luck. But we've been and met the principle and my wife did cryingand we met the DP and so forth, and without making an actual promise he still thought we could get in there, so I'm hopeful. We're going to keep going and seeing them until they give in.
One of the areas that may help is if you talk with them about working together to get a teacher aid (ie someone who will work with your son in the mainstream class, which takes some of the pressure off the teacher). This may be a student teacher who is looking for work experience, or a dedicated Special Ed teacher aid. It may be worth talking to the Teacher Training College (used to be at K-Town?) about whether they can do anything to help, even if it's on a temporary trial basis.
Another thing is to talk with Autism New Zealand about what they can do in the way of assistance, advice, and advocacy (zoning, resources etc). Don't stop there, though, as other groups, such as New Zealand Downs Syndrome Association, deal with similar issues, and may be able to help, too.
When you are talking with schools about mainstreaming, don't forget to push how beneficial it is to the social skills of the other kids (and the future of society) to have integration in their midst - And the younger it happens, the better it is, before they start developing irreversable numbnutt attitudes. Many schools probably wish that their average punter parent cared half as much about their progeny as you do about yours, so showing them what a close-knit and involved family you are may win you support where it is most needed.
If zoning is an issue, go and wheedle the local Poli into action. Don't be shy about asking to be treated as a special case - You and your family have enough to deal with without worrying about one rule fits all. Check out some of those other parents of autistic kids - I think you'll find some people who are very good at the advocacy path, and can point you in the right direction to get the help and decisions that you require.
Where you get resistance from a school, it may be that they want to help, but they're just not sure of the risks and impacts. If you can give them reassurance (such as a trial period, with planned review at the end), you may just win them over. Don't rely on the logic of your argument - Understand the pressures and preconceptions they may be experiencing, and work at quelling them. It may mean doing things like meeting the Parents Association, or whatever they call it. Also get to know the teachers in the Special Ed Unit, as they may barrack for you in the background. If they get to meet your son, it may add the personal touch.
Another plus may be if you can show that you'll get involved in the school, doing whatever it is that adds value. Supportive parents are in short supply at many schools, and it may be a relief to them to have parents keen to help out.
Whatever it is, if what's in the box isn't working, think outside it, and remember that your kids rely on you to cut the path through the jungle, so don't be shy about swinging that machete.
Cheers...
awesome! 
