Update on Teen/ASD Program
This is the original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/parentingteenagers/s/ru9o2HPUzD
This weekend, we asked him to write out a pros and cons list with all of his concerns. I had to ask his dad not to get emotional about the conversation, because that would just make our son emotional and defensive. It turns out he was worried about some items in the contract they have to sign. He misunderstood what those meant. It also gave him a chance to reread the contract and find bits of it that were reassuring. The building where the program meets is nondescript and no one will know he's in it. Also, parents are banned from entering and we are not allowed to contact his mentor in the program. We talked through all of our concerns on all sides, and in the end he agreed to do this.
I hope this helps someone else out there. You can't win a debate with your kids if you're in an emotional state.