Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

12 year old being reevaulted for Special Ed. Was turned down before, as they said she was too bright. Her problem is severe anxiety issues. No behavoiral issues.

What school choices are out there for kids who suffer from severe anxiety and not behavioral issues?

Anyone have imput into this?

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I would suggest a therapist.

I had severe testing anxiety as a kid, and other anxieties honestly. I was in the all of the honors classes but was always towards the bottom of the class. I didn't necessarily understand it when I was that young and began to towards 16. I mean I knew I was smart and capable but I couldn't understand why I was flunking my tests and especially the SATs... why were my scores so low? I had such anxiety that I couldn't even read the test, I was just sitting there frozen. My grades, essays and activities outshone my test scores so I still got admitted to all the schools I applied for but it ruined my options for any merit scholarships.

I ended up graduating college with a 4.0 and lots of honors.

I contribute that to therapy- learning to understand anxiety, come to terms with it, learning how to cope with it, etc.

ETA: if it is really bad what about home schooling/independent studies?

Message edited 10/7/2014 11:37:05 AM.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

She has a therapist, and is on medication. She just went out on a another medical leave from school for "anxiety disorder" and change of medication. (we did this once almost 2 years ago when she was non-functional).

Home schooling is not an option as we both work full time.

Message edited 10/7/2014 11:41:52 AM.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Do you guys have charter schools with lower class room numbers?
We have a few offered here that if your child qualifies due to high anxiety they have special classes with much less students so they are still offered public education and takes the burden of parents who may not be able to home school. Plus it offers counseling and evaluations. But you'd have to qualify first and remember this is Texas.. so it won't apply to you but maybe you have something similar?

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

There's a school called Fusion Academy in Woodbury that offers 1 on 1 classes. It's very expensive but it may be an option.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Can you maybe hire a teacher to homeschool for tou? There are a lot of teachers not working.

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Fight to get her classified. As long as the anxiety affects schoolwork she should qualify. Maybe look into an advocate. Then try to get them to recommend an out of district placement. This way, you can consider public school programs that have specialized programs for students with anxiety.

Shelter Rock Academy within the herricks school district had a really nice middle school program. For High school (if you're thinking of waiting a year or so), the village school in great neck is really nice.

There's also a bunch of private non-special-ed schools around, which I don't know much about. Someone mentioned fusion. There also Lawrence Woodmere Academy and the Waldorf school. There's quite a few in the city. Where do you live?

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I would try a new psychologist and I could also recommend a great psychiatrist (amazing with meds) but he is very expensive but its worth it if he can help her.

Dr george bush in garden city

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

BOCES. They have a school at each level (4 total for students with anxiety to other more serious psychiatric disabilities). They run along side Sagamore Children's Center and North Shore family guidance.

Excellent schools, IMO.

ETA: Just saw you said No behavioral issues. It might be a tough find to get a school that fits the criteria of severe anxiety only. There are supportive environments that would be good for anxiety but, would not likely be exclusive to anxiety.

Good luck with your search. But, like PP's said. Get her classified. Your district will be a huge help and you will have to find a psychiatrist. They will have resources as well.

Message edited 10/7/2014 7:55:53 PM.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Although you may not be able to fully homeschool, the beekman school in manhattan offers a homeschool program supported with certified tutors for each content area

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I would definitely look into getting a good therapist and psychiatrist who specializes in this.

I would also think it would be in her best interest to work at keeping her in a school environment so she could work on her socialization and everything related to that....whatever that school environment ends up being.

I know some people who suffer from severe anxiety and being at home only adds to the cycle of issues that stem from anxiety.



ETA: I also don't want to sound all hippy dippy either, but maybe something you can add into the mix as well, is yoga. Believe it or not, it really helps to calm you down, but is a long-term thing too. It helps with learning to breathe through stuff, stay present, not make issues into issues in your head, etc.

Message edited 10/8/2014 5:57:47 AM.

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

No, no charter schools on Long Island.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Thank you so much everyone.

She likes therapist very much. He has dogs in his therapy :). Tried another therapist before that, but she didn't like that person and became very leery. The dogs in the room sort of give her a calmness and willing to talk.

I live in Massapequa in Nassau County, but school district is Amityville in Suffolk County. I know that may limit what schools are available if she is classified as ED? Does the home district ever pay for a special school that is not on the list on state approved special education schools?

I don't think I can afford the higher end private schools. Hubby and I are just barely getting by financially. And I do agree, as she suffers from social anxiety as well as general anxiety, she really needs to be in a school. It is important for her to interact with people.

Yoga might be a good thing for her. (heck, me as well).

Oh, and I will definitely ask for an advocate. (wait, is that just another parent who has been through the special ed testing CSE thingy themselves)?

Message edited 10/8/2014 9:00:55 AM.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I'm an alternative ed. teacher as well as a HS teacher who goes to the homes of students who, like your DD suffer from anxiety. First, I want to offer you a because i know firsthand it's difficult. I want you to get the best care for your daughter without the stigma attached to an ED diagnosis.
Alternative schools in districts who have them are wonderful, but you do need to live in district for them. She also wouldn't qualify for this type of instruction until 10th grade for the most part. The therapist and the school psychologist as well as the guidance counselor should really team up outside of a scheduled CSE to determine a good placement for her.
Please make sure you tour the facility before placing her, and see if you are able to speak to students or parents there before making a decision. Some of the programs are great, and the transition back into a regimented school setting becomes easier.
I would recommend home instruction in the transition, but I know how difficult it can be to coordinate with the home instructors, the school and the agency. Please see if any of them have a virtual academy type of instruction where she can do her work online with assistance. I can tell you that the students who have the most difficulty transitioning are the ones who are allowed to sleep all day and play video games/go on the internet all night. I often advise parents to keep their children on a school schedule even though they're home.
I think she is going to be fine. I have seen success stories of children with anxieties transition to day school for HS with a good support team. An advocate may be a parent or a retired teacher who ensures that all of the requirements are met and that there are no shortcuts being taken. Sometimes, because of schools that are full or age restrictions, districts are forced to pay for a special school. However, it's rare and it's like jumping through hoops.

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Hi there again,

To answer your questions:

Yes, the district will only pay for a state-approved school as that is all they can recommend. If you place your daughter in a non-approved school, you will have to pay and you will have to try to sue your district for partial or full tuition. There's tons of caveats that a lawyer would have to guide you through, You may or may not win.

A pp said that you just reside in a district in order to attend its alternate programs. This is absolutely NOT true. Many (most) public schools tuition in students from other districts to fill their alternative programs.

If you google nys approved day schools, you can get the list there as a starting point.

Some schools can only accept $$ from Albany if the students are classified under a certain category. For instance, a school may only have kids with OHI and LD. If your child is classified ED, you may have to convince the committee to change it to OHI in order for her to be accepted into that specific school. I hope this makes sense.

An advocate is someone who is well-versed in special ed rules and regulations who can guide you through this process and advocate for specific services. You would have to secure this person privately. You may be confusing this with a parent member, who is a parent of another classified child, whom your district provides upon request.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Just to clarify, you can definitely cross district your child. You do not have to live in the district where the best program for your child will be. Your district will pay the other district a tuition for the child to attend.

You should definitely look for a school on the state approved list. If you use a school that is not, you will pay out of pocket. You can sue the district to ask them to pay but that takes years and a ton of money in lawyer fees and honestly should only be used as a last resort.

As the pp said, you want an advocate versed in special ed laws. There are quite a few of them out there and some better than others. You will have to pay for the service but if needed, they are an invaluable resource. A parent advocate is not what you want or need. That is just a parent that has a child in the CSE system.

I would also suggest you contact your district's SEPTA (Special Education PTA). They could have alot of valuable information about programs in the area and resources that could be available to you. I would ask them also about teen social groups that may help her as well.

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I am so sorry guys, you're right... I really didn't specify. I meant a district's district-run alternative program when I said you have to live in-district. I'm specifically talking about places like Castleton Academy in Oceanside, the Nike School in LB, the 2 pm virtual academies in Amityville, and the one in South Huntington (can't remember the name sorry). You guys are right... Other placements don't require you to be in-district, but these specific districts have their own alternative schools so they don't have to send people out of district.
I'm so sorry if I wasn't clear

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I am getting nervous now. I wish I had a crystal ball to see where she would end up. I wouldn't want her with behavioral issue children.

Hear from one tutor so far, English, starts next week.

Oh, any know anything of Sappo School? Used to be in Medford, but is moving to Commack I think.

Re: Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

Alternative school for DD with anxiety?

I joined the Long Island Special Education Parent Network on FB. While they really helped with questions, I just feel even more scared for her.

Why can't she just write down assignments, and do the stupid homework? I don't get it. I live with anxiety myself, but the UNKNOWN where I could end up is worse than the KNOWN of where I would be. I would have done homework.

Message edited 10/14/2014 7:53:23 AM.