State: TN
Country: USA
Member since: Mar 17, 2008
Last logged in: Dec 01, 2008
Hi my name is Sonya. I have a wonderful husband who works his butt off so I can stay home with the kids Bryan 15, nt and Seoc 4, special needs. Seoc (pronounced Shock, it is Gaelic for Jack, it means God is Gracious) has numerous diagnosis but Autism is the one we struggle with daily. He has the biggest smile and best laugh I have ever heard. He is high functioning and has hyperlexia. He keeps life very interesting to say the least.
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frogfoot1969's Compositions
by frogfoot1969 on 08.07.08 - public - 134 visits
This is going to be Seoc's 2nd year at preschool. Last year he was in an Autism class which was great with wonderful teachers and we love them. He has absolutely no social skills so I have requested he be able to attend the typical (title one) preschool part time. She said they don't do that, it is full time only. So I have to decide if I want him in the special needs class or the typical class but he can't have both, ugh. I don't understand that, why can't he go to the typical preshool like 1 hour a day or something? How is he suppose to learn social skills from other children who don't have any and how is he going to participate in a typical class when he has none? She suggested I go to the parent meeting tom. with the teacher of the typical preschool and give it a try for one day. I was suppose to get a newletter informing me of this meeting but didn't. I am Very frustrated. I know my child can't function in a typical class alone, he needs guidance to participate, initiate social interaction, self help tasks, feeding, and not running off. I told his teacher I don't think he is ready but she urged me to try it and at least get the other teacher's opinion and maybe we could work on reverse inclusion by bringing typical children into her class (which sounds like a better idea). She said they have worked with head start in the past with part time but she doesn't think it is a good fit for Seoc (and I do trust her opinion). She said at the meeting they want to take the children in a different room while the parents fill out paper work. I am already having an anxiety attack. They don't know him, what if he runs off? Pray for me!!! Suggestion please, what has worked for you, what are my rights? Is partial inclusion only in K-12 or is it a myth?
Comments(8)
frogfoot1969
Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008
We have decided to keep him in his current placement and work on ways for reverse inclusion. Plus the typical Pre-K teacher said we could do some classrooms visits. Well see how it goes.
carmel66
Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008
Ok - I thought I posted this a couple days ago but it's not here - probably had to go help someone go to the potty... My son is in an outplacement school that focuses on communication disorders. Once he progressed past preschool, there were no typical peers in the classroom. Needless to say, not much chance for social interaction. So we did two things and both are in the IEP. School districts must provide social and emotional programming for kids on the spectrum (I can find the reg if you need it) Most parents don't know this, so they don't push for it - once they push for it, schools can push the state and fed for funding to support it. Anyhoo - we have 10 hours of in home threapy. Focuses on reinforcing school lessons at home, behaviors and social emotional work. We use (this summer) this time to build a social emotional playgroup at our home. three typical peers about one year younger than him. During the school year last year, he went to our town's kindergarten for two hours on Fridays. The time was completely social - no academics (he was academically at a strong first grade level). Our home therapist was his one on one at the school to provide support socially, for safety and communication support. (The three typical peers in our home group this summer are from this typical kindergarten class last year). So we had to get very creative and get the buy in from the school. So get creative, slap the social emotional reg in front of them - but YOU have to most of the leg work for them. And you have to have a good one on one to help your child be successful in the typical classroom - b/c those teachers don't have the background to hlep him be successful. HTH, Cathy
frogfoot1969
Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008
I went to the meeting this morning, he didn't do well. Thankfully my neice went with me and she took him for a walk while I briefly spoke to this teacher. She recommended that he attend her class one day next week as a trail run. It is 19:2 student/teacher ratio. There is no way and I don't want to traumatize him. (he loves school and his current class) so I don't think I am going to do it. She is going to save his spot until his IEP the end of the month. I just need to know what to ask for, he needs to be in some kind of social skills group or something. I would love to get him an aide but I don't know the rules and how to get one. I am compilling a list of why he needs one. I almost feel like I shouldn't push for inclusion but his doctor said I should. Seoc is happy where he is. But I would really like him mainstreamed by kindergarden because I have heard bad things about the school the special needs class is located. When purchasing a home I investigated schools and we bought next to one of the best elementary schools and another Autism mom had told me it was the best. But I was unaware that he couldn't attend that school unless he was mainstreamed. (I thought all schools had special needs classes). So I figure the best way to get him ready for mainstream in kindergarden is to do partial inclusion this year(but that is looking doubtful). It is so overwhelming. Thanks for all your comments, it is nice to learn from you guys.
Motherof4
Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008
In many states, there's no such thing as an aide assigned to one child, at least in the lower grades. The aide is assigned to the classroom, and can help any of the children, with special emphasis on a special needs child. Go ahead and try the regular-ed classroom! Sounds like his special-ed teacher is rooting for him, and has his best interests at heart. Good luck!
shannonj
Posted on Fri, 8 Aug 2008
Listen to your gut. You know your son better than anyone else. What is your heart telling you? If you believe that your son needs a support staff, don't give up without getting one for him. Think about the issues that he has (noises, surroundings, spaces, smells, transitions etc) and advocate for him with those in mind. For example, if he has a difficult transitioning from one activity to another, he will need a support staff to be able to give him more time and freedom during the million transitions that happen each day. If he has a hard time with loud sounds, then you need to check out the spaces (especially gyms and cafes as noise can be louder there) and advocate for ways to reduce the noise or provide outlets for him during those times/activities. Don't fall for the "social stigma" of the aide/ed-tech argument. That is bunk and if you son needs that support, who cares what other children think. My son's aide in kindergarten made herself available to all the children and it wasn't obvious that she was there just for Wynn. Good luck!
4muskateers
Posted on Thu, 7 Aug 2008
When Julian was 4 yrs. old he was allowed to go to headstart for socializing...in CA. headstarts has to leave one open space for such cases...I also worked for headstart before I had Julian...Julian had a one on one aide in the SDC class, and she followed him over to headstart in the morning...he was there for breakfast, then cleaning up of breakfast, and then teeth brushing...all of this was followed by circle time and play...then he went out to recess...after recess he went back to finish the day at the SCD class...ask about the exceptions and if he could have an aide for the time he is at the regular class...maybe they could bring in a highschool student who would like extra credit...Madera uses the kids from the continuation schools...they learn, patients, respect, and how to love unconditionally...Julian had Mike when he was 4...now Mike is a full time aide for Madera's special ed. department...just ask, talk to the headstart director, they are the ones to make the decisions anyway.
striving
Posted on Thu, 7 Aug 2008
Can you get a one on one for him? Don't you have the right to make that request?
PeterPan
Posted on Thu, 7 Aug 2008
frogfoot, I can imagine how you feel. I am writing a composition regarding this about my son. They are planning on mainstreaming him into K-5 this coming school year. For the last 9 weeks of his second year in ECD (Early Childhood Development) class, his teacher would take him into K-5 for an hour (it was only their lunch/recess and math time). Just to get a feel for how he will adjust. There are still a few concerns, but they believe he can make it. They do not want a full time shadow to attend with him, because of the social stigma other children will perceive of him. Now his ECD classes did have a peer program where children without challenges would attend and participate with children with challenges. My son and one of the peers became good friends, but next year his peer is going to a different school. So I am right there with you. Keep us posted as to how it turns out.
