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Public school teachers always know how to best manipulate the system, to get their kids to the best teachers, to get the best services, to get a good IEP, etc. This is not so easy for someone who is not a teacher like Z's mom. Its a sad but true fact of life. When I was a kid my mom regularly tried fighting for an IEP for me, and was regularly told not to worry, my education was fine, and an IEP would just label me for life... and my mom being the trusting lower class sort she was at the time, believed them to a fault. She knew that not everything was alright but didn't figure that would change so she just kept her mouth shut and stayed out of it, and she thought if she tried to complain they might stick me in an ED/BD room, like they had threatened to in the past (and which they probably could have done in a heartbeat knowing how I was back in elementary school).
To tell you the honest truth, I am not quite sure how much she is paying. It might not be the full 13,000, but then again in another post someone mentioned other parents at the same school that payed 20,000 a year... so I really don't know. All I know is that its clear that its creating a financial burden as she has said she probably won't be able to keep him in there all 5 years he has left. I don't want to do away with the public system, but I do think there should be choice involved with it, if thats what you mean. Sadly, I can say, for aspie kids, most public schools are this way. Occasionally you will find a supporting public school system or two... but for the most part nationwise and even worldwide they tend not to be that accepting (thing comes from 1000s (or more) of hours hanging out at wrongplanet and other groups for aspies and parents, and reading books, and reading studies, and every other thing you could imagine, I probably have spent 500 in the past few years on this study). There are sometimes schools like yours (though by the time your Zs age being partnered up can be a bit embarressing) but they are few and far between in my experience.
I get that society in general is not homogeneous... but in the real world when you are "bullied" its called assult, and nobody would be expected to stay at a job that allowed it... schools aren't quite the same and your not allowed to quit school. His mom is keeping him involved in other groups (anytime I get a chance to talk to her or one of the goofs its in and out) so he does frequently get to interact with "normal kids" but its his choice when he does. I remember when I went to school I would come directly home and stay at home all night, and even for the activities I was in I was so worn out that I never bothered to interact with anyone (youth ministry, football team, etc.). Beyond that I barely knew anyone worth interacting with as the football team was full of bullies (horrible idea for me to even join but I love football) and youth ministry was filled with other teens I didn't know and for a socially awqward aspie, saying hi can frequently be the hardest part (still is and I am 23 now). Something tells me that being in a homogenous environment where he wants to interact with others is a lot better then being in a nonhomogenous environment where he gets burned out during the day and can't interact with anyone at night, even if the homogenous environment doesn't reflect the real world.
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