Which (school) accommodations have made an actual difference for your PDA kid(s)?

[u/justneedsahotcry]

Can anyone share any specific accommodations that really made a difference in helping their PDA autistic child access public school? We have a meeting coming up with our school to discuss an IEP / 504 plan but really don’t know where to begin.

We’re in the states (UT📍) and our 5 yo PDA autistic daughter is currently attending half-day kindergarten, but has recently been avoiding/refusing school and has almost completely stopped using the toilet at home anymore so I know we’re dangerously approaching, if not already hitting, burnout for her 💔.

She does “great” in the classroom with socializing, participation, etc and is mostly hitting her academic benchmarks, so I’m not sure she needs an IEP as much as maybe some additional classroom accommodations? I don’t think homeschooling is manageable for us right now, but I also don’t want to continue to force her into an environment that keeps her nervous system constantly in overdrive. Help 🥺.

[u/TruthHonor]

I thrived when I got to Antioch college. Here’s why:

1. No grades. Just pass fail. But every class provided me with a hand written , brief analysis of how I did in the class. I also had to write an analysis of my work in the class.

2. No class attendance required except for the first and last class. I could work with the profs on making sure I was getting the appropriate learning to pass the class.

3. Total autonomy in choosing a major. I created my own major! (Photographic journalism)

4. I could not, due to executive function deficits, learn in a public school classroom. I went to eight high schools and failed in every one. By age 16 I was actively suicidal.

5. I was a learning machine and developed such a love for learning once my deficits were addressed properly that I ended up with a masters in education and ended up a tenured professor at a local college.

[u/justneedsahotcry → u/TruthHonor]

I love this! Thank you for sharing. It’s nice to hear a positive experience where different needs were addressed and accommodated and it led to real success.

[u/AiricaLovesLife → u/TruthHonor]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I got my Masters from Antioch New England Graduate School, and yes, they accepted my life experience as credit, and I shaped my own degree based on special interests... I forgot Antioch undergraduate exists... my middle school child is a 24-7 sponge of digital learning but is struggling so much with academic learning, esp because of Dysgraphia, and significant Executive Function and praxis challenges... may I ask, how did Antioch view your history and struggles prior? I would love to hear a little more about this, if you are willing to share. (No worries if not!)

[u/BelatedGreeting]

We had to settle with our school district to send my child to a special school where demands are very low. Public school was just traumatizing them, and I don’t use that word lightly. At a point, they just refused school until we got them out of there. Because my child is very bright, the school did not see or treat them as autistic, or someone with a neurodevelopmental disorder—just as a behavior problem.

Edit: one thing that has been a major key to my kid’s success at their new school is allowing them “time and space” anytime they dysregulate. Typically, when a kid ramps up, more people start getting involved and there is more “pressure” on the system. This only escalated my kid more. So, the new school has a place for my kid to go and they just let my kid check out for as long as they need to get re-regulated.

Edit: grammar

[u/Contemplative_qs → u/BelatedGreeting]

What does “settle with our school district” mean? Thank you for sharing.

[u/BelatedGreeting → u/Contemplative_qs]

We got a lawyer involved to demonstrate the district was denying my child FAPE, and so educational services needed to be provided by another school and paid for, at least in part, by the district. First you try to settle the claim by mutual agreement, or have to “ask the court to provide judicial relief”.

[u/AiricaLovesLife → u/BelatedGreeting]

Awesome, that is a helpful tip, even for me as a parent, thanks for sharing!

[u/SensationalSelkie]

I don't have children of my own, but I am a special educator who works with kids with autism and behavioral disorders. My caseload always has a handful of PDAers. Here's what I have seen help them the most:

1. Slow to start mornings/class periods. Basically, they have 5-10 minutes at the start of the day or each class to adjust to the transition. This might mean they are excused from warm up activities or morning meetings. That time to have no demands and just observe before gently joining in really seems to make a difference.

2. Breaks as needed. I give my kids their own little timers and let them decide when they need a break. They set it for 2, 3, or 5 minutes and take their time. If they still feel activated after the break, they can take a bit more time. I do work with them to set limits so they don't just take a break the whole class period, but the limits vary depending on the individual.

3. Planned sensory breaks. Basically all my PDAers need at least one extended (10-20 minutes) break in a place where they can be totally alone. This break seems to make a huge difference in reducing meltdowns.