Post # 8 : Visiting a School from the Scholarship List

There were a few schools that Pat and Dan went to visit to get a feeling for, in order to see if the Ohio Autism Scholarship could provide a better fit for Eli than the public school preschool for children diagnosed with Autism in his district.  According to Pat, there is never enough information in pamphlets or websites to really let you know what the school is like.  The schools provided Pat with a list of parent contacts with children currently enrolled when she asked, but she knew that none of the parents would probably be sharing anything but positive experiences given that the school was supplying her with the parent list. 
St. W is one of the places Pat and Dan visited after reading an impressive article about the school in the Cincinnati Enquirer and seeing that it was on the list of approved schools for the scholarship.  Pat and Dan felt that the staff was very knowledgeable.  But the school didn’t have a place to play outside.  Eli needs to be outside.  All children benefit from being surrounded by nature.  At the public preschool Eli had a huge jungle gym and play ground.  He could play there for 30 minuets everyday.  Eli had been learning to play through going outside.  The only equipment outside to play on was meant for babies at St. W.  There was no green space there either, just an alley way.  Lots of the children at St. W had severe symptoms.  Pat and Dan felt like Eli needed to be around the kids who were more “normal”.  Being around a group of children, where the majority rock and tic would not be a great environment for Eli who they hope never has such symptoms.  Eli seemed to be on other side of the spectrum that most of the children at St W.  That fact, and the lack of outdoor play room which had been so good for Eli ruled out St. W.