Special Needs Education Concepts

MY Son is Autistic, he is not severe but does have some severe issues with attendance at a public school. HE RUns away and will not stop without a fence lol and sometimes he lashes out when he is cross,, he has focus issues and behavioural and communication and toileting. As i have been informed they cannot refuse education within a public school and atleast in Australia the department of education does allot funds for each child which as you say isn't nearly enough! As a student at this school he would only recieve 4 hours of allocated care with supplementry hours available but never garenteed. In the special school he Can attend 4 or 5 days a weeks usually a gradual process to help cope with the change. IT is the same cost as any public school, which surprised me. And there are 30 student support workers within the school. The classrooms are much small sizes with a couple of main teachers and support workers to help with toileting and keeping children on track however there services are needed. There is also all the sensory stimulation he could ever need and for the children who avoid it little hide outs and a relaxation room with a lava lamp and a couch instead of a detention room lol There is a gym and computer room, i think the standards in Australia are pretty good !! There was also other funding and grants available over the last 2 years in my state for children with Autism but the cost is the same from public to special school there is just so much more to offer these children for the same money, i dont think people realise that or want there kid to go to a special school, but after you have accepted your own personal issues its time to do what is best for your child regardless of what people think, i dont think mainstream school is out of the question for later years but early intervention they say is the key.