When to consider an alternative school setting for kids with autism.

Education When Should You Consider an Alternative School Setting for Your Child with Autism?

Nobody knows your child better than you, so it’s best to trust your instincts in this situation. There are, however, a number of common indicators that can help guide your decision about exploring alternative schools.

An alternative school setting may be best for your child when:

• They need to receive more individualized instruction

In a traditional school setting, your child’s classroom likely has a high student-to-staff ratio, meaning a classroom with 20 or more students may have only one or two teachers or other staff members providing instruction. For a child with autism, this may leave them without the individualized instruction that they may need, and without a customized curriculum that takes into account their behavioral or therapeutic needs, as well.

Alternative school programs look and feel like a traditional school. The difference, however, is in the therapy, philosophy and level of personalization that steer educational instruction. Alternative school programs feature much lower staffto-student ratios, providing individualized instruction in an environment that feels much more comfortable and adaptive.

• Their learning environment is affecting their education experience

For many children with developmental disorders, an overstimulating environment can trigger adverse reactions when feelings of sensory overload arise. This is particularly common in traditional school settings, where large classrooms with many students can quickly become busy, noisy and overwhelming.

Conversely, many alternative schools have dedicated sensory spaces for students to use for emotional regulation. When they find themselves feeling overstimulated, these sensory rooms provide an area to regain a sense of calm using visual, auditory and tactile aids to process emotions.

• Your child does not feel welcomed or accepted in their current school environment

Parents of children with autism understand that in public schools, certain behaviors or reactions may be uncomfortable for other parents and students when they don’t understand. Some public or private school systems may even categorize these behaviors as “red flags” or be ill-equipped to help with things like emotional regulation.

Alternative schooling programs, however, are designed specifically with these situations in mind and are able to help parents and students alike with openness and acceptance. Many alternative schools integrate unconditional positive regard into their teaching, with an emphasis on positive approaches that are affirming, rather than punishment-based.

With a 1:6 staff to student ratio, each Education Alternatives classroom encourages individualized instruction based on each child’s specific needs and education plan. Visit easchools.org.