Atypical Familia

  • Home
  • About
  • Autism
    • Our Autism Journey
    • Autism Resources
    • Autism Parenting
    • Tips
    • Autism in NYC
  • Familia
    • Atypical Mami
    • Atypical Dad
    • Atypical Kid
  • Travel
    • Special Needs Travel
    • Philly
    • Road Trips
    • Sesame Place
    • Walt Disney World
  • Life
    • Culture
    • Marriage
    • The Personal
    • Working Mom Life
  • Food + Fun
    • Food
    • DIY
    • FREE Printables
    • Holidays
  • Contact
    • PR Friendly
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Autism / Turning 5: Finding The Appropriate School When Your Kid Has Autism

Turning 5: Finding The Appropriate School When Your Kid Has Autism

October 28, 2014 by Lisa 1 Comment

If you have  child with special needs who will enter kindergarten in the fall of 2017 – NOW is the time to start the process.

Do not wait until May or June of next year because you will be scrambling. The transition from CPSE to CSE is stressful. Turning 5 in New York City is a long, complicated process with a lot of red tape. So where do you start?

Start with searching for appropriate placement and touring schools.

Turning 5 Special Education NYC Autism Schools

What schools should I tour? ALL of them. Seriously. In New York City – there’s a lot of schools. Well, not a lot, but enough to keep you busy. Visit as many schools as you can. Public, private and even the ones you can’t afford. Do your research. Ask questions. Browse school websites. It is absolutely necessary to explore all options available.

Where do I find special needs schools? There are a few ways to find schools that provide special needs services.

Start with A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in New York City. This book will be your bible!

Attend a special needs school fair. The JCC of Manhattan has one every year. At the fair, you may be able to schedule an appointment to tour, speak to school representatives and get applications. And it was a good way to weed out the schools I knew wouldn’t work for my son.

But the best way to find out about schools is to talk to other parents who’ve been there, done that. If you’ve never been to a support group – now would be the time to go. For Bronx parents – check out the Bronx Parents Autism Network. Don’t be shy about asking parents where their children go to school. If you’re outside The Bronx and looking to connect with another special needs parent – visit parenttoparentnys.org.

What about the local public school?

Visit your zone school, even if you know it’s not appropriate for your child – just go to say that you did. Visit the DOE website. Make an appointment to tour local District 75 schools. And check out other special education programs like the ASD Nest Program or ASD Horizon program.

Visit our Autism Resources: Special Education Schools in NYC page for more information – HERE.

What paperwork do I need? What do I include in the application? 

Most school applications require a recent evaluation as well as past evaluations. Some applications will ask current teachers to fill out some sections. Applications can be 3 – 15 pages long. And most have a fee and a deadline of when to apply. Many schools will like the application before the Christmas break.

Not sure where to get your kid evaluated? Also read – Autism Resources: Evaluations and Support

Educate yourself! An informed parent is a powerful parent.

Related: How To Advocate For Your Child with Autism

NYC Special Education Consultant, Sarah Birnbaum, hosts free presentations throughout the year on:

  1. Educational options, public and private
  2. Obtaining the best evaluations and guidance
  3. Finding an appropriate kindergarten program
  4. Understanding your legal rights
  5. Getting through the Turning 5 process and creating an IEP

If you want to read more about what your child’s rights are, also read: Special Education Rights

The breakdown. Know your child’s legal rights. Tour schools. Gather paperwork. Apply. Wait. Cross your fingers, light a candle, say a prayer. And if your kid gets in, you’ll need to be prepared to prove to the Department of Education that it’s the most appropriate.

Also read: Our Turning 5 Experience in NYC

Related

Filed Under: Autism, Autism in NYC, Autism Parenting, Autism Resources, Special Education, Special Needs, Tips, Turning 5 Tagged With: Atypical Familia, Autism, Autism in NYC, Autism Parenting, Special Education, Turning 5

« How To Cheer On (& Feed) Your NYC Marathon Runner
Be Your Own Superhero! {Playing with Pic Monkey Comic Heroes} »

Comments

  1. BarnettDon says

    March 4, 2016 at 1:25 am

    Nice post. This is really a good effort by the Department Of Education which gives the liberty to teachers for sharing the best practices on problem solving in classrooms and integrating technology as a part of their curriculum. This should be encouraged in all schools.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Welcome!

LQ blog image

Hi, I'm Lisa aka @laliquin on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Snapchat. I'm a 40-something mom raising a son with autism in The Bronx, NYC.

Atypical Familia is a personal blog & resource site for Typical Parents raising Extraordinary Kids. We focus on autism parenting, special needs travel, work/life balance, family entertainment and more. This is parenting from a unique perspective.

Learn more about our Atypical Familia...
youtube-glitter
Autism Parenting Tips from an Autism Mom | Atypical Familia Lisa Quinones-Fontanez

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget
Hit a Grand Slam for Autism 300x300
download
wayfair-blogger-button StreamTeam_Red&Black_Transparent
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Let’s Connect!

LQ blog image

I'm Lisa aka @laliquin on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Snapchat. Get to know more about me and my familia!

Atypical Familia focuses on autism parenting, special needs travel, work/life balance, family entertainment and more. If you'd like to work with us, send us an email: autismwonderland(@)gmail.com. 

lqf-babble_contributor_badge_white_2x
TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

laliquin

No caption needed… my face says it all. 💙 No caption needed… my face says it all. 💙
I’ve had these skates for 5 years and I finally I’ve had these skates for 5 years and I finally got to skate in them for real. “Why do my skates feel funny?” I wondered. I assumed it was because I’m not used to roller skates. So I spent the first 15 minutes skating with my skates on the wrong feet 🙄😐🤦🏻‍♀️ but once I fixed them - skating was a little bit easier. 🤣🤣
When the student becomes the teacher… I got to w When the student becomes the teacher… I got to workout with one of my (favorite) former students this morning! From the moment I met her 2 years ago, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. In the classroom, she is enthusiastic, bright, confident and strong. But at the gym she’s next level! Mel really pushed me today and I know I’ll feel it tomorrow. It wasn’t easy keeping up with this 19 year old. I held my own up until she said 20 minutes on the stair master after our work out. I lasted 5 minutes and then did 15 on the elliptical. 🫠🫠 And obviously we needed a quick locker room photo shoot. 🤣 Also…I don’t know if it’s the angle or the lighting but I can’t believe my arms/back look like that! 😳🥹
Solid women don’t crumble. Period. Solid women don’t crumble. Period.
I’m so grateful to be his mom. 💙 I’m so grateful to be his mom. 💙
When I think about where I was and where I am now, When I think about where I was and where I am now, I am so damn grateful. I used to believe that I “wasted” the best years of my life. I was so wrong. I am living my best years and fully present in my life. 🤍 5/6/18 🤍 5 years one day at a time (sometimes one hour, one minute, one second).
She’s a mood. She’s a mood.
In case anyone’s wondering how my life is going… 😬😐🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Started reading Carmen and Grace by @melissacossaq Started reading Carmen and Grace by @melissacossaquino on the 6 train. By page 5, I had to close the book and take a minute to absorb the words on the page. Ok ok ok, I also may have begun tearing up a bit. I love when a book makes me feel. There are times when I come across a book, and the words are exactly what I need at that precise moment. This is that book, this is the time. “The only way out for you is through.” 🤍 

#latinaliterature #latinawriters #latinawriter #latinasinacademia #latinassupportinglatinas #bronxwriters
Last week he was so excited about his first game a Last week he was so excited about his first game and today baseball is cancelled because of the rain. He sent me a video at 7am - fully dressed in his uniform for his 1pm game - and a text saying he was disappointed. 😕  It’s after 12 and he’s still in his uniform.
I didn’t think I’d be able to make his first g I didn’t think I’d be able to make his first game but I surprised him. When he saw me he said, “Mama! What the hell are you doing here?” But he was totally happy to see me. Grateful @d3sportsandrec exists! 💙
After class flex. This month I hit my “goal” w After class flex. This month I hit my “goal” weight and for the first time since before Norrin was born, I’m wearing a size 6 jean. Does it feel good? Yes. It does. But what feels even better is that I feel strong. Stronger than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. Thanks for an amazing class @freelikeoj_allday & @tiabrooks_0106 for always offering to take a picture.
Here’s another dirty mirror bathroom selfie beca Here’s another dirty mirror bathroom selfie because I feel cuter than usual today. 🥰
Rompers seem like such a cute easy outfit until yo Rompers seem like such a cute easy outfit until you have to pee. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I almost dislocated a shoulder trying to get in and out of this.
Earlier this week, I was unpacking my spring/summe Earlier this week, I was unpacking my spring/summer clothes. I found 3 dresses that I’ve had forever - probably 15 years. They were probably only worn once. I held on to them, even though I couldn’t fit into them. Because I knew one day, I would fit into them again. Over the last 2 years, I’ve lost some weight but they still didn’t fit last summer. When I tried them on this week, they fit! I haven’t been able to fit into these dresses in more than a decade. And so yesterday I put on the blue dress. I didn’t go anywhere spectacular. I wasn’t on a date. I visited a friend in the neighborhood, went to a meeting and then White Castle (don’t judge me). When I first bought this dress and when it fit, I held on to it - waiting for an occasion. I refuse to do that. I’m not waiting for a man to take me out, or a party or an event. If I want to wear something, I will wear it. I am the special occasion. I am the event. I am worth getting dressed up for. 

Also - I realize that holding on to clothing for 15 years hoping it will fit again is probably not normal. But oh well. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣
As Featured In 2017 - bottom footer

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

 

Loading Comments...