Here's the thing, your son will be entering Kindergarten as a full time students. Which automatically ends his ABA treatment at home. But, it doesn't end his services. What they will do now is give him an evaluation for proper placements and they will still provide him services just not the exact hours of services depending on the school. If it's his 1st time in a school setting they will see through out the first year how he functions in a class setting, how he interacts with other's, his academic skills and more. How he progress and what he struggles in and more. So this year will be an important year for both you and your son. Cause by the time he goes to 1st grade he will be placed in the proper setting getting the proper services. However, if you find a school that has the service you can request the district to place him in the school. The District will give you school options depending on distant and bus service or whether you will be driving him to and from school.

Now if you choose to get services out of the school system you would have to call up your Insurance and have them refer you thou keep in mind they may or may not cover for ABA services.

However there are schools in your area that have ABA....

Here's a list of school that I am aware in your area that have the services your son will need and Vista has ABA... Not sure what would be close to you but I would give them each a call and check them out. Hope this helps and Good Luck.

Bucks County Schools
800 (770-4822) ext. 1813

The Vista School
1801 Oberlin Rd
Middletown, PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
Send email

The Comprehensive Learning Center
150 James Way
Southampton, PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
Send email

Devereux Childhood Autism Research and Education Services
CARES
620 Boot Rd
Downingtown, PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
(610) 873-4969:]]. (Fax)

Mary Beth Academy
1150 Wyoming Avenue
Wyoming PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)

NHS (Northwestern Human Services) Autism School
1012 8th Avenue
Altoona, PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
(814) 695-9831:]] (fax)
There are various NHS Autism Schools located in PA.

Pressley Ridge
530 Marshall Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)
(412) 321-5313:]] (Fax)

The "stay put" does not apply to this situation. "Stay Put" is a section in IDEA which happens when a school district or parent disagrees with CHANGES in the current IEP to a new IEP. So the child "stays" under the old IEP while the 2 parties battle it out. You however are getting a brand-new IEP... the services your son is receiving now are not under an IEP.... so there's no IEP to "stay put".

That being said, if you have compelling data to show that your son benefited greatly from the home ABA program then you have a good basis to fight for this at school. go to wrightslaw.com to learn how to build your case. The section on writing a letter to the stranger is excellent on how to document your interactions with the school district. You should also read the book "From Emotions to Advocacy" which is also on that site.

btw, you can choose to continue to do ABA at home whether your child is in school or not. My son is 17 and we never stopped it at home because it benefits him. I think the question you are asking is who will pay for that service at home? Well who pays for it now? Are you in a state that passed the pariety for Autism for health insurance and if so, is your insurance covered by that law? Do you have a Medicaid waiver? You need to continue to be creative to get your child the services.

Hello, If you want the school district to keep providing the services, I do believe you have to indeed try the 'due process' if they refuse to pay for any more ABA. Under IDEA, the school district has to provide a "free and appropriate public education,". You will need to be able to show that they cannot provide that at their school. I don't know if there are any ABA programs in your area or schools that are especially geared to teaching ASD kids. If so, you can contact them and ask if they can do an evaluation. This can be very helpfull when you meet for your next IEP. Can your Regional Center not help you. Your case manager should be able to go with you to the IEP meetings. With the new health reform, depending on which medical insurance you have , you can also get some treatment but I don't know how much. Good luck!

Thanks Jill for all the helpful information.