Just wanted to clarify -
Any child age 3 or over is covered by IDEA special ed law. If a 3 year old meets the qualifications for special ed, their local school district must provide them with the needed services. Most often, kids with Autism qualify for speech and language services, Ot, PT and social skills. These services are often delivered at the local elementary school in a one on one or small group basis. Some schools might have integrated preschools ( preschools comprised of neuro-typical students and students with disabilities). If the child's IEP calls for it, they may be placed in such a preschool setting with tuition funded by the district.

I am not familiar with San Diego and which schools are best at providing special ed services. But, once you decide where to live/enroll your child, be sure to write to the school district to request a special ed referral. Under "Child Find" provisions of IDEA (special ed law) they must evaluate your child in all area of suspected disability and determine whether or not he is eligible for an IEP (individualized education program) and special ed services.

While I realize your son is a toddler, so there will not be call for an IEP just yet, my recommendation is to stay away from SDUSD. If you go public schools, look toward Point Loma district, Poway District and evidently there are a few schools in the Sweetwater district that are making the grade. (Chula Vista) However, if your son shows proclivity toward technology - move into a low income zip code FAST and get him on the waiting list for High Tech High as quick as you can. It is in point loma, but if you live in point loma, you'll never get in. It's an SDUSD charter school, but supported, in part, by the Gates Foundation. It's AMAZING for our Aspie kids that are techies/media tech oriented. I'm dying to get my son in there. I even wrote a letter to the chairman of the board.

I did not have a good experience with SDUSD at all. My son's high school failed to implement his IEP, and then when I made a stink about it, they kicked him out of school, then called the police on us for truancy in the middle of my trying to make arrangements for home schooling and he ended up in Juvie after an aspie meltdown - and is now in a group home, serving a year long sentence. They convinced him to take a plea agreement of guilty under the auspices that he'd return home in a couple of weeks if he did - whilst I was not present. It was a nightmare, and continues to be. Needless to say, my son has had an IEP in place since 2nd grade, but all of the above transpired nonetheless. SDUSD is understaffed, undertrained, and apathetic at best. Stay away from them if you can. That said, there are a couple of good charter/magnet schools if you're lucky enough to win the 'lottery' and get in them.

I've included a link to noted schools at the Autism Society website. There are also other resources there, including youth exercise classes, preschools, nutritional consultants and autism specialists in the area. I don't maintain the list, obviously, so I can't attest to it's accuracy, but here you go.

sd-autism.org/communityResources.html#privateSchools


Not on that list however, is a new program - East Hills Academy - located on the campus of Olymian High School in the Sweetwater District in Chula Vista. It's for kids all over the spectrum and it's a later consideration, but - it's nestled on an "integrated" campus - meaning - it creates a safety zone for aspie kids to go be aspie if/when they need to - but also a place where they can go be AP where they can be (science, computers, arts, etc) with other students in an integrated setting. My son goes there, and I absolutely love the idea of him being able to integrate, but also have the safety net. It's the first program of it's kind, at least in CA I think.

Eva Jaroz, the principal, is a psychologist, specializing in Autism.

Also, there are two more resources that I have had good experiences with, not concerning preschools, obviously, but with individuals highly knowledgeable in the field, and that may be able to direct you:

1) Dr. Alan Lincoln, a nationally known expert on autism (though notably for lower functioning) is based here in San Diego - ish. You might want to consider giving his office a call and seeing if they can suggest anything. His assistant is named Cindy, if I remember correctly. 858-444-8823

2) The University of San Diego has an Autism Institute. www.sandiego.edu/soles/centers/autism_institute/ The head of the institute is Dr. Anne Donnellan, and she actually knows Dr. Lincoln as well. I've spoken to her before and she's very nice. If nothing else, she should be able to give you some pointers. 619-260-7705

Finally, The Autism Center of Excellence is also here in LaJolla, CA. They have alot of research studies going on dealing primarily with toddler aged children. They are a wealth of medical info - and if nothing else a good place to connect with other parents of toddlers? Perhaps they can arrange something. Plus they have some cutting edge stuff going on if you're interested.

Okay, so that was long-winded, and perhaps a bit off track, but you never know which of this information could be paydirt for you.

Good luck!

Unfortunately, I'm not really familiar with San Diego County (other than Sea World, the Wild Animal Park and Legoland!).

I do hope that other parents in the San Diego area will see this post and chime in. A good start would be to hear about good schools in general, and go from there. However, what works for some, doesn't always work for others.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks for the info. We don't have any specific area in mind, I don't actually know much about the area. Have you heard of any districts that have good programs? I read on another board that Vista had a good preschool program

No problem. Thanks for providing additional information.

Here in California, we have an organization called the "Regional Center." There's usually one in every county, at least. Here is a link to the one for San Diego: www.sdrc.org.

Regional Centers work with kids and adults who have disabilities, and those with Autism and High Functioning Autism. My 12 year-old son has Asperger's, and has been with our local Regional Center since he was three.

I would suggest that your give them a call. Not to be too nosy, but do you already have an idea of what specific are of San Diego you will be moving to? When you do call the Regional Center, they will probably be able to give you a better idea of what schools in the area have preschool programs that would fit your son. In addition, Regional Centers can provide a lot of information about local support groups, social skills groups, and summer activities for your son.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. We are moving to the San Diego area in August-we currently live in Seattle. We are looking for a developmental preschool and I was hoping some parents on here had some experience with those. My son is 3 and high functioning autistic. I've been looking at different school district webpages but they have little information and so far no one has returned my phone calls. I'm hoping someone here will have some first hand experiences to share.

Hi UWgal1982:

While I'm not familiar with San Diego (but I do live in So. Cal), have you contacted the SDUSD to see what programs are available? Here is a link to the special education department for the SDUSD: www.sandi.net/depts/specialed

Does your child currently have an IEP in place? Have you contacted the elementary school in your area to see if they have a preschool?

Please provide a bit more information so members can possibly provide assistance.