Schools - Riverside,CA

Updated on February 11, 2008
G.M. asks from Ontario, CA
4 answers

Hello, I have a son and he has been diangose with autism. He is 9 now and soon will be done with the second grade. He has already repeated 1st grade. We have been making meetings (IEP) with his school but have not gotten the proper response for my son. I live in CA and I wanted to know from any other moms, if there is an website that we can look into to find schools that can help children with autism or special needs. We did have the school district in one of our IEP meetings and nothing has been happing from their side. I feel that he just got filed in the system. My other stupit question is, if we talk to the district special ed and they give us a school that might help, it there any other way to see if there is any other schools that can help so we are not limiting ourselves to one? I do hope to recieve any kind of response. Lately when I ask any question dealing with autism, I don't recieve any responses at all. Thank you ahead for any future response.

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K.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am a special education teacher in California. I've worked with many, many autistic children from severe to mild. I've worked in special ed. classrooms and regular ed. rooms. I've been a teacher, a mentor and worked at the district office. So . . . my advice to you is to very carefully scrutinize your parent procedural safeguards (your rights) which are handed out at every IEP meeting. You have the right to call an IEP meeting to discuss your concerns. You have the right to refuse to sign an IEP which you feels does not provide your child with FAPE (a free appropriate public education) and you have the right to bring a complaint against your district. Districts hate that! They almost always cave in to parents at that level because it's more expensive to fight than to settle. The first step however, is to be very clear about what it is that your child needs and what it is that you want for him. Not every autistic child needs a special class or a 1:1 aide. I've worked with many autistic children who function very well in the regular classroom as long as their teachers are trained and the child receives the necessary support from the resource specialist and classroom teacher. Others need special classes for mild-moderate handicaps or special autism classes. You need to figure out what your child needs. There are lots of parent support groups for parents with autistic children. Google "autism parent support" and you'll find lots of information. Good luck! Be firm about what you want and need and don't let the district blow you off. They prefer to hope you'll just quietly go away.

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M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi, Well firts of all what county do you live in? When was your child diagnosed? How old was he. It would be easier to guide you with resources, if I had more info. You can email me ____@____.com name is M. and would love to help you.

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L.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi G.,

My name is Luana Garrison. I am mother of a 14yr old son with epilepsy. There is a wonderful attorney in Los Angeles that has a son with autism she advoctes for mothers like you. She is so passionate about what she does she started a non profit call "Special Needs Network."
Here is her contact information.
Areva Martin ###-###-####
3530 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 1650
Los Angeles CA 90010

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi G.,

I too have children (2) with autism, what I can recommend is for you to get in contact with the Regional Center in your area. They will assign a case worker for your child whom will give you lots of info. regarding classes, conferences and support groups in your area. This person also is an advocate for you whom should go with you to your child's IEP's and support you with your requests for services for your son. Also, just so you know, you can request an "emergency IEP" at anytime for your child and even request who you want there from the school district in the event you feel you are not getting adequate help for your son.

There is so many resources as well like the autism society, CAN (cure autism now), just go online and type in autism, the lists are endless.

I hope this helps, any other questions I'd be happy to help you if I can. I've found that the best help I've received has been from other mom's who've been through the hoops already.

This is fairly new to me as well, my son is 6 yrs old and my daughter 3. He was diagnosed at 2 and she at 3. Just hang in there.

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