As the parent of an Autistic son, who is now 13, I have spent years wondering what schools are out there for children like my son. He had been mainstreamed for much of his grammar school career, but with inclusion.
It was only last year, when he was going to be in a Junior High School with a program that would not suit his needs, that I began to really question what was out there for him. He was placed in a Therapeutic Day School specifically designed around the needs of someone with his disability. There is no inclusion, just lots of one on one attention. For the most part it has worked. But, not every school will work for every child with a disability.
So for those parents desperately seeking answers in a state where it seems we have no alternatives, REJOICE! For here is a short list of schools I have found so far in Du Page, Cook and Kane Counties that cater to children with Special Needs, specifically Autism.
Summit School Inc.-Located at 333 West River Road, Elgin, IL 60123. There are two schools associated with this location. One is an Early Learning Center, and one is for older children. There are programs available for children who are “out of the range of regular education”, children with special preschool needs, learning disabilities and also, more specifically, children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information please their website: www.summitelgin.org
Bartlett Learning Center (AKA Clare Woods Academy)-Located at 801 West Bartlett Road, Bartlett, IL 60103. Clare Woods offers Primary, Intermediate, High School and Vocational levels of education, along with a group home. Services offered include Occupational Therapy, Art and Music, Physical Education and most importantly, Life Skills Training. They also have a nice Library on site, along with a Computer Lab. The Vocational programs are very unique in that they, unlike many of their sister programs elsewhere, actually offer young adults with special needs the opportunity to learn how to work in the real world. Hands-on experiences are provided at the school itself. For more information please visit their website: www.blcinc.org.
Elim Christian Services and School-Located at 13020 S. Central Avenue, Palos Heights, IL 60463. Elim offers a very diverse group of programs, along with key activity programs that ultimately will help children with special needs achieve more than they would being mainstreamed. What makes this school particularly unique is that they offer a program exclusively for children on the Autism Spectrum. It is called the Autism Comprehensive Education Program. The best part of this school is the fact that it offers several extra-curricular activities which include a Choir, Sports Teams, Clubs and an onsite Greenhouse. For more information please visit: www.elimcs.org.
I have listed only a few of the schools that I have found. I will continue to publish any that I find. I hope that this information is helpful for those who are struggling to find the best academic setting for their child.
