What type of preschool?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
What type of preschool?
7
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:24pm

So, we had a school district screening for my 3 year old daughter with suspected ASD. My DH wouldn't let me tell them anything about our concerns, our previous doctor visits, or her at home behaviors. He wanted an independent opinion. So, they did a 40 minute developmental screening where she answered questions and did little puzzles (a huge obsession of hers) in a totally controlled, quiet, non-stimulating enviroment. So, now we know she is (1) bright, (2) really good at labeling things, (3) Able to stay on task in a controlled enviroment, under strict supervision, for a minute or so at a time. We also know that without a medical diagnosis or a referral from a preschool teacher they won't do any more screenings, and besides their standardized tests wouldn't be able to pick up on my concerns anyway (concerns that I did insist on discussing at the end of the screening). Oh...and she had delays in the social/personal area, but they weren't of concern to the screener, because averaged in with her high expressive language score she looked very NT.

So, now we have decided that we will place Kivrin in preschool for about 10 hours a week and see how that goes while we wait for an autism screening through southwest autism network (waiting list is at least 6 months). However, we are having a difficult time figuring out what type or preschool would be best. We are primarily considering traditional and Montessori, and both have their strengths and weaknesses in our eyes. Waldorf would have been another consideration, but the closest is over an hour away. Of course, who knows if any of them will take her still in pullups. The girl will NOT potty train.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

Mary

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:31pm

well, my DD is only 2 - and has has been evaled a few times - coming up empty, but with a speech/language delay. She has her last eval this friday by a dev. ped.
She is currently in EI - birth to 3, and they have an amazing preschool about 5 min from my house that I hope she will attend next year. It is suppose to be the best EI school in the state. They have NT kids and dev delayed kids in the same class, which I htink is a great idea. They have 6 teachers for 12 kids, an awesome ratio I think, especially since 1/2 of the kids are NT.

Just a thought, do you have such a pre-school in your area? Kids here do not have to be potty-trained for the Birth To 3 nursery school either, but I amhoping my DD will be a year from now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:53pm

We actually have great preschools just like you described, but my daughter isn't eligible until we can get a medical diagnosis now. It's horrible, but I was almost hoping she would have a bad day at the screening so we could get her into a school I know would be great for her. I have a close friend who works in one and highly recommended it to me for her. Right now though (due a better job on the screening than I thought she could do) we have to find a private preschool and wait to see how it goes.

Thanks though. Mary

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 12:55pm

Mary,

We sent our son to a Montessori, but this was before we had any idea that he was autistic. We had sent our older son there, and he really loved it. What I liked about this school was that they were organized, clean, attentive, and there were not alot of kids in the class. I think teacher/student ratio is important, as well as having a good routine.

Alot of the preschool's in our area do require that your child be potty trained, so you might want to look into that ahead of time. The good preschool's tend to fill up fast, so keep that in mind too!!!

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 1:08pm

Oh, I see. Now here, where I live in CT, you don't need a dx , the teachers and the B to 3 system just have to feel your child 'eligble' which I am kind of hoping my DD is, I want her to have the extra help, I htink she is going to need it still.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 3:52pm

I think you have two options:

Put her into an environment in which she is almost guaranteed to fail (big classroom, loose structure, lots of kids, low teacher/child ratio). Then you can get that referral from a preschool teacher and another screening -this time with proper family history and concerns (bad mistake, DH!).

Try for a smaller softer option, and hope the alternate screening comes through in time.

Option #1 may be tough on your DD but will probably push the issue of special school in a more timely manner.

Option 2 may be les tough on your DD. The risk here being that she will scrape by in this environment and you won't get your preschool teacher referral.

GL and HTH

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for cathby
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 4:30pm

Hey,

Where in CT are you, neighbor? I'm in F'field County.

My 4-year old is in the school district's reverse mainstream pre-school. But he did have to be "B to 3 eligible".

Cathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Mon, 10-10-2005 - 7:16pm

HI,

I'm in New Haven county - Cheshire to be exact : )