Choosing a Special Needs School (Part 1)

Finding the right school for your special needs child can be a daunting task.

Parents whose children have been diagnosed with Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders including asperger syndrome, language-based learning disorders, or other disabilities often find that a general-education classroom is unable to meet their child’s developmental, behavioral, or cognitive needs. These children may need a setting other than a traditional public school to facilitate successful learning.

Parents who have recently learned that their child has a learning disability often find themselves asking the same questions: should I move my child to a specialized school? What are the best educational options for my special needs child? How can I ensure my child receives the best education possible?

Public school’s special education programs may not be able to provide differentiated instruction for the full school day, and students may be forced to switch back and forth between receiving specialized instruction in certain subjects and joining mainstream classes for other subjects. This isn’t always the best solution for students, who often need individual, specialized instruction in all of their classes.

For children who have been unsuccessful in public school classrooms, special education private schools may be the answer. Many private schools in Massachusetts cater specifically to children with special needs, including physical and learning-based disabilities. These schools’ curriculums are specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of children with learning disabilities. Specialized schools often also have supplemental programs in place to facilitate students’ social and emotional development and foster independence and self sufficiency.

Once you’ve decided to enroll your child in a specialized Special Education school, the task becomes more complicated. How do you select the right school for your child’s unique needs?

A good place to start is to determine your goals for your child’s education. What types of modifications does your child need? Make sure you’re getting the full story through quality diagnostic testing. Once you understand your child’s specific needs and challenges, you can begin matching those up to an appropriate program. Determine your initial list of school options, narrowed down based on factors such as accessibility, cost, and location. Search for specialized schools--for example, some schools focus on language-based learning disabilities while others focus on non-verbal learning disabilities.  A great place to get started is PSI’s school search database, a great way to search and compare private schools in Massachusetts and the Northeast.