3 yo in PreK class

[Guest guest]

Hello Paige,

I am Lori Roth, a Speech Language Pathologist for the

CHERAB Foundation and an expert in Oral Motor and Verbal

Apraxia Therapy. I would like to help you get a handle

on what's happening when you approached your school

system. Firstly by law you are entitled to receive

school services for your preschooler if he/she is severe

enough to qualify for your district's program. Since

each district has some differences in their

requirements, they would need to evaluate your child to

determine his weaknesses. They then draw up an IEP

(Individual Educational Plan) and supposedly work to

give him/her the appropriate educational program. Number

of individual/group speech therapy sessions, OT

sessions, PT sessions etc. No the PreK programs are not

solely speech therapy for 3 hours..but the this is the

time for your child to practice using whatever

communication skill they have to converse with peers

(ALSO AN IMPORTANT SKILL IN LIFE!)

Now the hard part comes when they have evaluated your

child and feel an apraxic child can do fine with 2- 1/2

hr group speech therapy sessions while sitting within

the classroom. (GET THE PICTURE.) As you have probably

read over and over in postings on this list..Parents

need to fight for intensive one-to-one therapy for their

children. Pull on your gloves and stand your ground.

It's very hard to let your 3 year old go into a class

situation without communication and without you. Many

parents have eased their children into these settings

with their presence (excusing themselves to go to the

bathroom and staying away longer and longer each time to

foster a better comfort level). Many have also stayed

within the school building doing assisting jobs for

other teachers so that they are around for their child

if things fall apart.

First things first..IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILD TO BE

EVALUATED BY YOUR DISTRICT!. If he does need their

program write again and I will send you a compiled

booklet that other family's have used to present their

views and stand about therapy needs for their children.

If he doesn't qualify, take him for an independent

evaluation so that you can prove his needs- if it comes

to that.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays.

Lori Roth, MA, CCC-SLP

CHERAB Foundation

http://www.apraxia.cc

lorislp@...

<973-540-8884>

Northern NJ

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