How to Choose a School for Special Needs Teens

You know how important it is to choose the right school for special needs children, especially teens. You plan to do plenty of research, visiting and interviewing. But the most expensive or most popular school may not be the one that's right for your child. Knowing where to look, what to look for and what to ask will help you make the right decision.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Find the Right Special Needs School for Your Child

1. Get the names of about five schools that cater to special needs teens. Consult teachers, doctors, other parents and even the yellow pages to find prospects from which to choose.
2. Research each school to find out what it looks like, how big it is, class size and curriculum. Compare your child's strengths and weaknesses to what the school offers to special needs teens. For instance, if your child has mobility or memory problems, a large campus with frequent class changes might not be appropriate.
3. Call the school to find out when they hold open house for prospective parents. At the open house ask about the credentials and experience of the teacher your child will have, what kind of adjustments they make for individual needs and learning styles and how involved they want parents to be.
4. Make an appointment to visit and tour the school while classes are going on. If you meet with resistance or limitations on what you can and can't see, this should raise red flags.
5. Look for well-disciplined classrooms, engaged students, teachers who use a variety of ways to communicate (speaking, writing, pictures and gestures) and an atmosphere that is calm and controlled, but not rigid.
6. Interview everyone who is involved with special needs teens includin the principal, teacher, therapist, and aides. Ask about how the day's activities are structured, how progress is monitored, what kind of grading system is used and how the teacher will deal with your child's specific problems.
7. Ask to see samples of class work in different subjects to find out whether your child's work is at about the same level as the class she will join.
8. Keep notes of the facts you learn about each school. Consider all facts (not just those that support your opinion) as you choose a school.

Tips & Warnings

• Start your school search early. Begin in January or February for fall enrollment.
• Don't automatically eliminate the public schools from your prospects. Most states have a prescribed student/teacher ratio for special education that may be as little as 8 to 1 and at least one trained aid in each class and individualized education programs (IEPs).