School Placement Consultant for Child w/ High Functioning Autism
Hello!
I live in Oakland, and I am in search of a school consultant, who can help my family find a school for for our 8 year old son with high functioning Autism. Do you know of anyone who can help us find a school or recommend a school?
Our son gets sensory overload at his Oakland public school. He needs smaller classes with more 1:1 support but in an environment that is still academically challenging and enriching. We are open to charter and private school options.
Thank you,
Mary
Dec 11, 2024
Parent Replies
We were in your exact same position and had tremendous success with Sparkjoy Consulting! We have had even greater success with the private school we ended up at, Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley. We could not ask for a better experience for our child who has autism.
Leila Sinclaire of Sparkjoy Consulting was our school consultant. She’s great. She’ll do an informational session with you first to see if she can help you.
I don't know of a school consultant, but have you checked out Berkwood Hedge, The Berkeley School, and Aurora School? Our child went to one of these schools for elementary school. When Raskob closed, several kids from Raskob joined our school. In our child's class, more than half of the kids were 2E, ND, had some sort of LD. Our 2E child thrived at their elementary school. They were very warm, caring, inclusive, and supportive but also challenging. No school is perfect, but the school did well with our first priority (differentiation). They were able to differentiate instructions so that they could work ahead grade level for the areas where they excelled (or go much deeper into research when interested) and receive support for the area where they struggle. In my search for school for our child, we also came across Connecting Waters and Hickman (charter school that facilitates homeschooling). We ended up joining a small progressive private school instead. For middle school, Tilden Prep and Fusion Academy seem great for ND kids that need a lot of 1:1 instruction.
Ho not sure if you have looked at independant schools but our 9 yo has high functioning ASD and is doing very well at berkwood hedge. They are intellectually and academically challenging and extremely nurturing at the same time. Truly meet kids where they are at. We have been so grateful to find this gem of a school