One of my frustrations, as my kids were coming up through school, was how few options there were if I became determined to ditch the public school system. Private schools that cater to special needs in our area work only with school districts, so even if we had the coin to make the tuition, they didn't want our money. Catholic schools, of which there are many in our area in need of parents' money, weren't a viable option for my kids' level of special-education need, and I'd heard bad stories from parents who'd tried it.
Maybe that's changing now, though, because according to an item in Disability News, Catholic schools seem poised to get into the special-education business in a big way. Parents willing to raise funds to create special-education programs in parish schools or pay higher tuition to take advantage of them are making it possible for special-needs students to have a faith-based inclusion experience. Many schools that don't have full-fledged special-ed have added resource teachers to their staffs.
I wonder if the new openness to special-ed is driven somewhat by the shrinking population of regular-education students choosing Catholic education. I know in my part of New Jersey, parish schools are shutting right and left as diocesan funding dries up and families who are struggling financially return to public school. Maybe students with disabilities, who for so long had no place in parochial schools, may be the savior of some of them.
Does your child with special needs go to parochial school? What has your experience been? Share in the comments.
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I was looking for a school and I found a family when I discovered Mcgann-Mercy HS in Riverehead ny They have noursihed and encouraged my ld child. They have a great program which includes a director, staff and also district staff. It’s the best of both worlds.
I work with students at a small Catholic School in Columbus, OH. We have a program here called SPICE,
Special People In Catholic Education. It includes gifted students as well as Special Needs. We have a handful of students from high functioning Autistic to mild MR and those with combination diagnosis. We do fun raising and apply for grants to help defray the cost. The parents are, for the most part, very happy with this option.
We are going through this problem right know our son attends a private Catholic School in AZ and we are on the fine line for getting expelled. Our son has ADHD-Impulstivity he is highly structured and tends to get upset when routine is deviated. The school’s tolerance waivers and with the last incident a parent complained and that has seemed to weigh heavily on the school’s thoughts on “not being able to accomadate his needs” with only 2.5 months left in school!!! The problem I have is at the beginning of the school year I wanted my son re-evaluated and he got through some issues and he was fine so the school said let’s “hold off”. Big mistake! Should have gone with my mom instinct and had him re-tested-since his test were from another school district. If anyone knows schools districts evals do not move quickly. My thoughts are is the school Catholic in name only??? We are possibly relocating and I want to continue our children in a Catholic School, but it scary that we may go down this path again. I went to Catholic Schools and I want that for my children. I want to push for awareness in the Catholic Schools and an increased tolerance. I don’t want to brag about my son, but people need to know that there are children with needs and they have a right to be educated in the school also along with anyone else-learn to respect others and love one another.
To the person whose child is going to McGann Mercy in Riverhead: So glad to hear that they have this becasue my son may be going there in the future. But do you happen to know if St. Isadore’s has any special education accomodations? Just curious, I am afraid to make the leap to Catholic school if they cannot accomodate him. Thanks for any insight you can provide me!!
We are at a Catholic school currently in St. Roberts Bellermine Catholic School in Flushing, Michigan. They were quite nice in the beginning, but when our son with autism and our daughter with mild cerebral palsy needed extra help behaviorally (grades are great), they are telling me they do not have the resources (which it is expensive for the school to provide extra help). They are too loosing students, and I’m sure that is NOT the reason for special needs help. They only oblige if parents are diligent and try and work with the school. You still do not feel as though your really can be reassured that every semester and year, they’re not going to ask you to leave. I believe and they cater mainly to the well educated families children and of course many with money to support the education. Let’s face it. It is much easier for the principal, the teachers and everyone involved to not deal with special needs children. Sad but very true. My children are hard work and we’re fortunate to get an opportunity to at least give it a try. The biggest confusing thing to me is the biblical sense “what would Jesus do”. Kick out the special needs children and educate the rich?
We all need to address this with the highest Catholic office. Special Education should not just be a public school issue. We are Catholic too. Write the Pope. It is necessary to make change, but we all have to do so. I already wrote him a letter just for that reason…
Tracy, can you please email me the address for the pope I would love to write him a letter. My son is 6 years old he is a typical child who attends St. Mary gate of heaven in richmond hill NY. I have a 10 month old baby born with down syndrome and i know its still early but I would love to have my DS baby go to the same school for the same catholic education. My older son does very well there it is an excellent school most of the teachers tutor after school and I know that there is even tutoring during class for children who are behind. My son is a high functioning DS child I am sure that when the time comes for school he will do great. But i really have my heart set on both my kids attending the same school for catholic education.
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
I am concerned this year as our daughter again is having a really difficult time. She stood up twice during music class. When asked to sit she refused and they have decided that a different environment would be best for our daughter (out of their school). I haven’t spoken to anyone more about this, but that is what her teacher said. Funny, but the day before, we had let the school be aware that she is going to an alternative medicine option for her concerns and that there would be a couple of days without medicine. It gave an opportunity to get rid of her with documentation of poor behavior (we also offered to keep her home from the second grade classroom). Its disappointing and I was just told that the Baptist school in our area welcomes children with special needs as god would want it. I’m very confused with not only the education issues, but my faith in the catholic religion as we know it. God was good not only toward some people. Not only toward the wealthy, the bright, the amazing achievers. God is loving kind and most of all true. We all need to not follow, but rethink our situations and realize what should be not what is.
Friends,
I have a 9 year old daughter with Down syndrome. I’ve been trying for 5 years to have a Catholic school accept her. My 2 boys (6th grade and 8th grade) are in their 4th years of Catholic school.
Some cities with separate Catholic Special Education schools: New Orleans (St. Michael 1965), Dallas (Notre Dame 1963)
Some areas with inclusion: St. Louis, MO (oldest and has Special Ed Department), Pittsburgh (St. Anthony School Programs), Kansas City MO (Foundation for Inclusion Religious Education-FIRE), Maryland/DC (Catholic Coalition for Special Education).
There are more. I live in an Archdiocese which does not have a separate or inclusive program. I keep praying & trying. The superintendent is listening and it will happen one day. I hope & pray it’s when my daughter can use it.
What better pro-life example is there than to include students who society say we should terminate before birth?
Does anyone knows of a catholic schoool in the Bronx, New York area that accepets children with special needs. My 4 year old will begin elementary school next year. He is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. If so please e-mail me the information. Thanks!
I live in Tulsa, OK and have a 9 year old daughter with Down syndrome. We approached our principal of Marquette School, the Parish School of Christ The King Catholic Church when she was only 4 years old. We had a daughter already in the second grade when she was born and were saddened to think she would not be accepted. However, our principal was thrilled at the opportunity to provide for her. Our pastor, Fr Tam was very willing to open the door for her as well. It has been up to us to fund raise, form a board, and gather continued support for our program to support paras in the classroom and a part time special education teacher to write curriculum. This inclusive program works well – we now have 4 students who otherwise would have never been accepted to a traditional Catholic school. And I agree – what better way to teach pro life than to accept fully those children who are different but who’s parents chose life.
I AM SO VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT KATHY WARD HAD TO SAY. I HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH DOWN SYNDROME, I NEED SOME HELP IN THE AREA OF GRANTS TO HIRE A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER. I REALLY WANT MY DAUGHTER TO ATTEND CATHOLIC SCHOOL WITH HER BROTHER. YUMA, AZ.
My 9 year old ADHD inattentive and impulsive has a wonderful Catholic school education? Our school works very closely and actively to help educate my son and he is doing very well. Or school receives state funding from our town which allow him an in class support teacher 5 days a week and has since first grade. The teachers and principle work closely with me along with the child study team from our school district which administers evaluations and his IEP.
I’m a little confused why others in Catholic Schools don’t get their share from the school district? You do pay school tax you don’t use and you private school should receive assistance.
I love my Catholic school. It’s small, loving with some high academic standards that challenge my son and is doing wonderfully! No bullying, loving, family, caring and spiritual.
I am registering my son for Kindergarten at the same Catholic school that his sister has attended for the last 2 years. I met with the principal, school psych., reading specialist, special needs intervention specialist, and kindergarten teacher prior to get the green light. My son is autistic with emerging speech. He needs to be around typical children to continue to develop socially. The principal is young and new and the rest of the staff are not as familiar as they could be with the autism spectrum. I went in knowing that I will be the support system and “educator to the educators”. I assured them this is a joint venture, I am easy to reach and happy to answer questions. I will put together a teacher inservice, set up an observation time at his current preschool for the teacher and psych., and hit up the school/parent organization to sponsor a Autism Awareness Campaign at the school.
I hate that we can’t just register like everyone else. I never wanted to have to educate ANYONE. I hate that I have to “beg” to get him in there. The whole situation stinks, but by God if it makes the path a little smoother for my son and opens the door for others to have this option, then I will make it happen.
Check out http://adspecialed.com. They are developing special needs programs in Christian scohols.
I have an 8 year old with ADHD and high impulsivity. We have been in Catholic school for K-2 but I was told this was his last year there. The school is unwilling to implement consistent positive behaviorial modifications. I keep hearing “we’re doing the best we can”. I’ve met with the district who are in the process of evaluating his needs but are pretty sure it’s a classroom management issue. It’s very frustrating to not get the support from the church. What is this teaching our children?
I’m encourage with Dawn’s comment that she’s having success but our public district won’t pay for services in a private school. But they did tell me they would happily and very successfully serve my child. He just may end up there next year. I’m just hoping we make it to first communion.
Our prayer group formed a website to help move along establishing Special Education http://www.familiesprayingtogether.com . We have listings of some other Catholic Special Education programs and links to resources. Please add comments there, too!
The school identified that my son required special svcs and I did everything in my will power to ensure that he received it. My son was enrolled in Prek 2010 through 2011. Once I paid the tuition for May and June, my son was immediately released on May 12th without any option but to have a full time monitor with him. This plan was established and enforced within 24 hours. How ironic that once the full tuition was paid, he was dismissed like a piece of trash? I fought this issue, and he returned to complete graduation. I consider his catholic school a sadness to Catholics. For God’s sake, HE was ONLY 4 YEARS OLD!! The school isolated me and my son as news of his disability filtered through the school. Thank God I am out of there. My reaction to the school had nothing to do with the special svcs that my child req’d. My feedback is based on actions applied by the school. Once the child was identified as “special needs” the behaviors of all teachers changed, as well as the school. Despite the fact that St. Ray acknowledged & observed that the child req. special svcs, they maintaned his enrollment thru the middle of May when tuitiions for May & June were pd in full on 5/10. How ironic that the child is dismissed on May 12th! I acknowledged that my son required help & the help was initiated by me on January 11th. I was not in denial! The process was delayed from Bd. of Ed., & St. Ray was fully aware! THE SCHOOL MAINTAINED and SECURED THEIR MAIN INTEREST ($$) and THEN DISMISSED MY SON 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO GRADUATION!! Thankfully, thru help of the Bd. of Ed., my son was able to attend Prek graduation! The school actions were harrasing at times, especially at wk. Both of my children attended parochial school. Thankfully to the Bd. of Ed, my son was able to maintain private schooling and I immediately withdrew my other son from St. Ray’s. I thank the catholic school for all their help. Their bullying tactics almost gave me a nervous breakdown.
I am the director of a Catholic school in Louisville, Kentucky and our school not only has a great Classical curriculum but we were inspired to incorporate and welcome children with special needs, particularly Down Syndrome, into our regular classrooms. Our children thrive here and we are trying to create a model for other Catholic schools to replicate throughout the country. We need to take in all children *because* we are Catholic and we understand the dignity and value of each child.
I have a downs daughter who is going to be 22 this year. The Catholic Church did nothing to help her or my wife and I in the 22 years of her life. They have ministries for everything but none for children with disabilities. Even though our Katie is one of our greatest joys life could have been so much better for her if the chruch would have reached out and provided her a roll model. We have twin sons that will be 20 this year and they went to Catholic school until going to college so our family was always in the church or school with Katie. Just have a ministry to interact with children with disabilities where children can just spend a little time with disable children the rewards for both would be amazing. If our Katie had a visit from a girl her age for an hour a week I know she would have benfitted.
I am looking for a catholic school that can educate my 7th grade son who has ADD. Hhas no behavior problems, he’s just a normal child who has trouble concentrating. He wants to be among regular kids because the special Ed schools have many autistic children not able to socialize with my son. He needs friends and a special way to learn. I live in Suffolk county on long island
Dawn, I was encouraged by what you said. What school district and Catholic School are you in? My son is going into 6th grade and he was just diagnosed with ADHD and a reading and math disorder. We would love to find a Catholic School in our area to support his needs.
Ann, your positive comments about McGann Mercy in Riverhead made my heart sing tonight! Thank you! We are on Long Island in the Moriches area and had been worried about “what next” for our son, knowing that a public high school would not work for him. Thank you. Thank you . Thank you.
I second McGann-Mercy! They have a special program for kids with IEPs or 504s.