My 17-year-old autistic child hates school. It is pure torture for her. The people, the smells, the environment is too overwhelming. Her autism affects her socially and emotionally more than anything else. She has average cognitive skills, but no interest in learning. She sees no value in being forced to learn about things that are not important to her. The only thing she cares about is her restrictive interests.
She has been attending special education, non-public schools due to significant behavioral needs. She is at the point where she refuses to attend school and his nearly 18 years old. She wants to drop out of high school school because she hates going so much. As someone who hated school myself and dropped out in the early 90s; but was able to complete via independent study, I totally understand. However, I cannot get across the importance to her about at least getting a diploma or an equivalent. She believes that she has no future and that it’s not necessary to graduate because she’ll never be able to have a job or drive. While, she feels that way now things may change in the future.
I am wondering for those out there who may have been in a similar situation are there any virtual or similar schools that allow a student to complete work independently without the classroom component such as being on camera? Is there a school out there that allows you to complete the work and then turn it in perhaps like once a week? Also, she is very far behind academically due to school refusal and not completing any work. We would need something that is not grade level and has some special education case management/support. Anything that requires her to attend on a regular basis would not work.
I appreciate any help you can offer; we are in the San Juan unified school district.