All, my husband and I currently reside in Northern Virginia. My boys have always attended private school, first a small, non parochial school, now Catholic school. My eldest is in seventh grade and has ADHD (primarily inattentive), has organizational issues, testing concerns (needs quiet environment), auditory processing issues (better, but of course still concerns), dysgraphia, and expressive language issues. His accomodations currently are so-so…..half the time they don’t really follow up and haven’t help teach him any self advocacy skills or organization. We may be relocating soon to Westchester County, NY or Fairfield County, Ct. I have tried to get input on City-Data.com regarding schools and special ed in the area to no avail. Can anyone here give me any input as to the quality of these services in the public schools in these areas……we’re also considering The Gow School for this summer and any insight here would be great!!!!!!!! Thanks!!! (Oh, we have 3 boys, the other two are also ADHD, but not as many ld issues….my youngest does have visual motor integration issues, in 3rd grade, but so far so good)
I teach and live in eastern CT; I don’t know any specifics on Fairfield County, but I’ll tell you what I can about the state. CT as a whole is pushing inclusion; some schools it is all that is offered, other schools have more of a continuum; it depends on the individual person in charge of the special ed. program at the district/school. Schools in Fairfield and Litchfield have experienced problems with testing modifications in that many of the well-to-do down there want those modifications for their non-special ed. children for the SAT’s to give them an edge, so they are trying to get it written into plans in the schools so they can justify it when the SAT’s begin. I believe they are now watching who qualifies for modifications more closely. Sorry I’m not much help; Fairfield County is a whole different world and lifestyle than life in Eastern CT, and they cross very little. Your best bet is to start calling specific districts and asking questions, getting in touch with parent groups down there, visiting the towns you are considering and actually attending PTA meetings to meet people and talk with them, etc.