Seeking Advice on Which Army Posts Have Good Programs for 4 Yr. Old with Autism

Hi=) I don't have any experience with autism and the schools personally, but I do have a friend who was stationed in Wiesbaden with us before we got moved to Baumholder, and she sang the praises of the school on Hainerberg in Wiesbaden. Her son was your son's age when she was there. Before he started going he couldn't communicate at all, and he came so far in the program there. It's worth checking into. They are currently stationed at Ft. Lewis and I know that she is homeschooling him there. I hope I helped a little.

-C. Gray

From what I have seen here in Stuttgart, if you have children with physical or learning disabilities the schools are not equiped, the laws are not being upheld, teachers are indifferent and children are not being taught. What I have witnessed here is wrong and illegal. Bad teachers cannot be fired and are just moved from school to school. The incompetent teachers are protected from and hide behind the teachers union.

If you can go to Fairfax County Virginia, the schools are some of the best for dealing with special education and autism. There are wonderful autism classrooms. There are also children with autism who are integrated into the regular classrooms and are assisted by an IA (instructional assistant). Parents in Virginia sued the pants off the Commonwealth to demand changes and to demand education programs for children with learning disabilities. Avoid Texas. Good luck.

B.,
I do not know of a good one, but I would like to warn you to stay away from Fort Lewis, Washington. This is where we just came from, and they are beyond awful!! We are in the process of our daughter being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome-Evergreen Elementary gave our daughter incorrect information and sent her walking home by herself after school one day. When my best friend arrived to pick her up, my daughter was no where to be found and the school could not recall what they had told her. My best friend had to call the MP’s before the school would even begin looking for her.

Another friend of mine has placed 3 complaints on the same school-concerning her severely Autistic son. He wondered out of class and showed up in there back yard all 3 times without the school ever noticing he was missing.

Good Luck and if you find a good one please let us all know. Thanks so much, L.

Hi I am the mother of a beautiful boy here in Miami, Fl who lives with autism. Some of your best resources are mothers in the areas you may be sent to live at. Contact the command and ask to speak to a mother whose child has the same disorder. She will know much more than anyone else. Another suggestion is to contact CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) in those areas. CARD is a wealth of information. A final suggestion is a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Doctor that services children in that area. These doctors specialize in children living with disabilities and not only are they well versed on their communities but they have many contacts (mothers) for you to speak with. Hope this helps. Blessings.

Hi B.,
You are dealing with a lot right now, with husband deployed and finding the right type of program for your child. My heart goes out to you. There are tons of resources out there for you. Join the Council for Exceptional Children for great info. Get involved with the EFMP program on your base for possible play groups and parent support. They should have someone on staff who is in charge of meeting those needs.
Here are a few thoughts: Will your child be in the same program next year or moving on to elementary school sped program? Have they discussed the option of hiring a 1:1 aide to assist? With only 9 weeks of school, you might not see any real changes for this year, but perhaps you could get something set up for the following year.
I know that AFNORTH had a great program when we were there.
Most of the larger bases will have a higher population of special needs students. Of course, the States will always have more $$ and more options.
Good luck!

B.,
If you'd like I could put you in touch with a friend of mine who's son is autistic and we are in Baumholder and she sends him to school in Kaiserslatern somewhere. He is around 10 I think.
Let me know,
J.