Preschool - SpEd or no?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Preschool - SpEd or no?
14
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 12:38am

I'm hoping you ladies can help me. I have a 2 year old DD who was Dx with autism about 8 months ago, but I think she will be "upgraded" to PDD-NOS when she is re-evaluated at 3. I am currently looking for a pre-school for her (just 2x/week) to help her work on social skills. I found two great 2-year old classes - a "regular" school and another that is mostly kids with delays (all sorts - from language to down syndrome). The sp ed class can only take her until she turns 3, then she's off to the school district, but she could stay in the other until kindy if I wanted. I am completely torn about where is best, and am looking for suggestions from those who have BTDT. Did your kids go to "regular" preschools or sp ed ones? Did you try a typical class? was it a disaster? did you like your kid's sp ed preschool?

Her skills are all over the place. I'm afraid she's too advanced for a sp ed class, and too far behind for the typical class. She identifies shapes + colors, can count, and knows almost all her letters. Her language is almost age-appropriate, except she wont talk to people she doesnt know, and has a tough time answering questions (OK, not really age appropriate, but that's what her testing says since she talks to her speech therapist:) I dont want to put her somewhere that cant deal with her special needs, but she is obviously very bright and I dont want to hinder her in that way either. Advice? please?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 10:17am

You may be surprised how advnaced the other kids are.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 11:11am

Hi and welcome.

Would you be able to get an aide for her in the regular preschool? And so much depends on the teachers, the size of the class, the specifics of your chld.

We had our ds in a special needs preschool of mixed disabilities, but as in pp's post, I would say most of them were on high end of spectrum, a few were lower, all the kids were great! Many of ds' best friends (he's now 10, PDD-NOS) come from the preschool he was in. We didn't have the option of a regular class here, there was no room in those few programs that used support in NT classrooms. But our preschool was the most nurturing, loving place and our ds made such strides so fast. Little did we know that not all public schooling was to be so wonderful in our future!

I do know of some children on spectrum who had good experiences in NT preschools, but most needed extra help. I certainly, as was previously said, would go observe both classrooms to get a good feel for them, and look into whether or not more support can be provided for the NT classroom as well.

yours,

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 11:28am

I have two special needs kids. One did regular preschool, the other did Special Ed preschool. A lot depends on what your child can handle. My son needed a small classroom and all the extra help. He thrived in Special Ed. My DD could function (barely) in a large regular ed preschool, but because she was not behavioral, she got ignored a lot of the time.

My son learned a lot of great skills in preschool, like taking turns and taking other's feelings into account. My daughter learned all about the Jewish holidays. I don't have a problem with this, even though we are Catholic, but I would have liked her to learn how to take turns as well.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2008
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 1:06pm

Welcome to the board!

I've got my third child being evaluated for developmental preschool right now. With each of them what we did was place them in a regular classroom with aide support and took advantage of the special ed classroom as well. The inclusion coordinator said in her experience the dual tracked children did better in kindergarten. Having an aide in place at the regular classroom may not be an option for you, but it's worth talking to the school about it. The aide wasn't 1:1 with our child, just another set of hands and eyes to help if there was a need for it.

Some people object to the segregated nature of a special ed classroom, but we found that they learned valuable skills there and it was a place where their needs were understood and supported.

In anycase, I agree with the previous poster that you observe both classrooms before making a decision about your child. I think you'll know what the best path is for you once you do that. Trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone else does.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Drea

Andrea, mom to

Graham
Miles
Anson
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 3:45pm

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It's always good to have input from those that have gone before...

This is a hard decision to make. I always feel so much pressure, like if I pick the wrong thing I'm going to screw her up. I'm glad to hear that so many of you liked the special ed classes your kids went to. My gut feeling is that will be the best place for her, unfortunately there are some hurdles to go over with the regional center to get her in. My RC has this dumb rule that kids can only get services at one place, so since my DD gets home therapy services, she doesn't qualify for the preschool center. Stupidly enough, they will reimburse the cost of a regular preschool through their respite care program. Ridiculous, since it actually costs more for the reg school reimbursement than the SN one, which is run by a non-profit. (sorry - OT rant)

Thanks again!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 5:22pm

I'll add my 2 cents in here a bit late.

                                

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-11-2008 - 11:43pm

Regional Center, then you must be in California. And if they are covering preK then you are still through the early intervention and your dd is not yet 3.

when is her bday? Will she be 3 soon? If so preK will be covered through public school and she can likely continue to get homeprogram through RC. Can going to preK wait until she is 3?

Another idea is I know some regional centers are moving to a self determination type system where there is more flexibility in the funding.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Wed, 03-12-2008 - 1:03am
Yup, we're in So Cal. And you're right, she's only 2. Her home program has been great, but I feel like they are hitting a wall with some of the socialization issues. She has really done well with her therapy, and interacts well with her therapists, but she's having trouble translating things she knows how to do at home into situations outside of home. We've done a few playgroups/activities, but it doesnt seem to be helping. I am hoping that being somewhere without Mom around to hide behind might work a little better. I'm only planning on sending her 2 mornings/week. Of course, if it's a total disaster I'm prepared to wait until she's older, but I feel like preschool is a good next step from where she is.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-12-2008 - 1:10am

we are so cal too! I love rubbing it in about this time of year, lol.

That does sound like a good plan. If it is socialization you are looking for I would consider perhaps a typical one at this crossing and see if the home program can provide supports in that class.

Another idea is one of those mom and tots type programs most cities or Y programs have. There are music programs, tumbling programs, etc. You can perhaps find one where the home program can provide the support staff to go with her or they can help you design a program or ideas to implement while there. Something she enjoys doing and perhaps can gain some skills while there.

Renee

Disney08

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2006
Wed, 03-12-2008 - 3:42pm

Hi Kris!

Right now Rece is in the school district's preschool. It is an inclusion class with 8 special needs kids and 4 NT kids. I never could have put him in a regular class b/c he has behavioral issues and isn't pt'd. But even so, I love the program so far. He has only been in it a couple months but so far it has been great and of course he hasn't realy shown his behavioral problems in class.


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