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Students with special needs deserve to have access to the same level of high quality education and attention that students without disabilities have. Special education schools allow children with special needs to grow, learn and play in an environment designed to accommodate them. This is especially beneficial for children with autism.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately two percent of school-aged children in the United States have some form of autism. While it seems like a low percentage, that is a significant number of children when you think about the millions of children across the country.

The brains of children with autism work differently — the way that their nerve cells and synapses organize and connect are impacted and result in problems with communication, social skills and behavioral issues. By being placed in an autism program, children can work with individuals who understand their disability and can work with them to help strengthen their skills in these areas and allow them the same social experiences as a child without autism. Read on to learn more about finding a private school with an autism program in your area!

Finding Beneficial Autism Programs for Your Child’s Education:

• Depending on where you live, you may not be able to find a public school with an autism program. If this is the case, you can try looking into an alternate private school. Try searching something like “special needs school” or a location specific one such as “schools for autism in NJ” online and see what comes up.
• When it comes to finding a school with a special needs program for your son or daughter, try to look at more than one school. You can compare public vs private, or if there are only private schools available, you can look at the different costs and services offered at the school. School websites are great places to gather information on the school.
• The best way to find the right school for your autistic child is to go look at it in person and take them with you. See if you can set up an appointment to first tour the school yourself and ask any questions. If you like what you see, see if you can schedule a shadow day for your son or daughter to see if they like it or not.
• If you’re worried about the cost of a private school, many special needs schools are quite understanding and will work with you to set up a payment plan that works with both parties.

Have you ever enrolled your child in a special needs school? Tell us about it in the comments below!