Is Private School an Option for Children with Epilepsy?

I didn't mean that just because Alex has epilepsy, he'd inevitably have special needs. I think there are probably lots of kids who have epilepsy who do just fine in a mainstream setting.

I meant if he also ends up having a learning disability, which, as I understand it, frequently occurs in children with epi.

What I'm not clear about is whether learning disabilities are a reason for private schools to deny admission.

Nancy, I'm wondering the same thing...glad you brought this up. Here are my thoughts on this from a public school educator's POV. My guess is that since private school curriculum isn't state mandated (by that I mean, private schools aren't required to follow state standards) you would have to have a serious sit down discussion with the administration. Find out what their curriculum is, what their educational methods are, and whether those two combined will be a good learning environment for your child. IF your child winds up being classified as having a learning disability (my daughter has E and as a result has learning disabilities and speech issues) is there a private school willing to educate a child with LD? Private schools (as far as I know) aren't hidebound by state law to provide an education based around an IEP designed by a public school system. Same for speech services I would guess. I would imagine those would have to be privately served if private school education is chosen. Again, I have no proof of all this...it's just my POV. I know there aren't any private schools in my area that are willing to take on a child with special needs. I do wish there were private schools JUST FOR kids like my daughter and others of us who have special needs children.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a private school just for our kids who need a little (or a lot) something extra in school? It would probably be ridiculously expensive, but let me dream...

Last year, when I was thinking about Mich starting school, I did call the local parochial school. One of the first things they asked was if she had any special learning needs. I said I didn't know, but that she had epilepsy and mild CP. The school secretary told me that they didn't have the resources to provide for kids with special needs, and that was the end of the conversation.

I was miffed at the time, because it felt like discrimination, but I guess if you're private, you get to say who goes there and who doesn't.

I looked into private school for my son, not so much because of his epilepsy but because of his LD (dyslexia).

I went to two private schools -- one Catholic and one Christian -- that were a reasonable driving distance for us, and I ultimately decided not to send him there.

Even though the ratio of students to teachers was lower, it was clear to me that they weren't equipped to handle a child with an LD. They were ever so pleasant about it, but when I asked about an IEP, they told me that they paid attention to every child's needs and an IEP wasn't necessary.

I actually think it was kind of code for 'your child won't get the help he needs here.' Anyway, I got the message and enrolled him in public school, where he at least has some guaranteed rights. I work hard with the school and with his teacher--and I pay out of pocket for private tutoring--and I have the 'comfort' of knowing that I can always pursue legal action if his educational needs aren't met.

My two boys have developmental disabilities and I too have looked for private schools. For my son with autism, there is pretty much nothing; there is one school that, should he progress further, he might be able to attend. Honestly, at the rate he's learning,etc. I don't see him going there anytime soon. We're always working on it though.

For my son with Aspergers, I totally lucked out if you will.

Now in public school, mainstreamed, he struggles with work, organization, and most of all: socialization. Now in 7th grade he is picked-on and is having a really tough time this year. The luck I mentioned was, a few years ago, I visited our local Catholic School and was more then worried; first-of-all, we're not Catholic and I knew the work was more intense in this setting.

The village I live in is so tiny, the entire grade he would enter (4th at the time) had a total of 4 students! In the entire grade, not just the class. So, without applying an IEP for the most part, he got everything he needed just because of the make-up of the school and, more importantly, because of the teachers and staff there. They were beyond accepting and amazing.

However, as often happens it seems, things took a turn in NY, causing numerous (a large percentage) of Catholic Schools to close. Our little school was one of them and our only option was Public (other private schools too far or 3x the tuition we were paying). So he went back to public school last year.

If I could find another private school for my oldest, I would do so in a second. My son with autism isn't in a private school but in a specialized class now, which is wonderful and gives some of the same benefits of private placement.

 Unless you have $150K per year (Higashi School/Boston & Japan)... I'm not sure where else parents turn for private schools that also serve special needs! Thanks for bringing up the topic. Amber Kane