Help find Boarding School for a desperate NLD mom

[alexcortez]

Hi Everyone,

My friend's som has been diagnosed NLD (non verbal learning disability) and he is having increasingly problematic behavioral problems. I know he was bullied very much early on in school and is a total loner (pretty much zero social interaction with his classmates). He has received all kind of therapy over the years but no meds and his mom ended up staying at home to focus on him. Thanks to her he stayed an A/B student throughout but he is increasingly having behavioral problems and things are getting very crazy at home. His grade have dropped dramatically (and that is really the least of anyone's worry) and my friend is having a total nervous breakdown. I have heard of boarding schools that specialize in such cases. Has anyone had experience with one? Any recommendations? Advice?
God Bless.

[Mayleng]

How old is the boy?

[dwolen]

I know what being a desperate mom feels like.
My cousin's son and an acquaintance's son attended a boarding high school especially for students with non-verbal learning disability, called Franklin Academy, in Conneticutt. They found it helpful. The web site is fa-ct.org

[michellea]

My neighbor's son went to the Eagle Hill School in Ct. www.eaglehillschool.org/

There are a number of day schools in MA that might work - but I don't know of any boarding schools.

[hsmom]

Unlike dwolen, I don't have personal experience with a parent sending a NLD student to a boarding school, but I have done a search for a LD school for my own son.

I know a student with language-based learning disability who is at Brehms. I also know that they take students with NLD.

www.brehm.org/

I don't know where your friend lives, but I am reading a wonderful book on Nonverbal Learning Disorder and Asperger's Disorder by Kathryn Stewart. She founded and directs Orion Academy in Moraga, CA for HS students with NLD and AD.

I have also found this from the old Schwab sight that may be useful.

schwablearningforumarchive.greatschools.org/thread/19617.html

This list too is old and not all the schools listed are boarding schools, but they are all schools that admit students with NLD.

www.ldresources.org/page/3/?s=Schools+with+Services+for+Non-Verbal+Learning+Disabilities+%28NVLD%29&submit=Search

I hope I'm not overwhelming your friend with information.

[momfromma]

The book hsmom refers to list some schools for NLD Children, most in CA, a few in CT and MA. I am nt sure where you're from or if these schools are boarding schools, but it may be worth for your friend to read the book.

[jisp]

Franklin Academy in CT has a great reputation. It is a relatively young school though and they will not take children who have behavioral problems, even if those problems are the result of their NLD. The Learning Clinic in Brooklyn, CT is probably a better placement if the child also has anger management or behavioral problems.

There are also a lot of residential therapeutic schools (or RTCs) throughout the country. Some are good. Some are great and many are bad. There seem to be quite a lot in Utah. I personally would suggest that this family consider hiring an educational consultant who can help them navigate this complex world and pick a placement that is right for their child.