First Class

[Guest guest]

Hello Everybody,

I would like to share the good news that my daughter Eiddelyn started

preschool last Wednesday October 22. You may wonder why this was a

bit off than the usual first day of school. Infact I really waited

until she get started before telling you about this.

Actually in the institution where I work there is a childrens center

for employees' children. The waiting time is usually about 2 years.

So after waiting for 2 years Eiddelyn was finally accepted last May

in time for September school opening. However, the requirement is

potty training in her age group (4 yrs). Eiddelyn is potty trained

by about July and August but because of the cast it is impossible for

her clean herself. They gave me until September to train my daughter

regarding cleaning but by September 1 when the cast was readjusted

(tighten a bit) she can not even wipe herself after number 1. Thus

we were turned down. The two year wait came to naught. Their reason

is she should be potty trained at that age and beside there wont be

enough staff if one will go with her when she uses the bathroom ( the

bathroom is actually in the room too).

I wonder if you will laugh or be upset at my ignorance. The staff in

that day care center told me that I have no place to bring her unless

she knows how to clean herself up esp. in public school because in

public school the bathrooms are even far from the classroom. I have

told them again and again that she knows how to do it but bec. of the

cast she can not reach the right place.

First place I went to was the building which has a name CHILD SUPPORT

SERVICES I thought that huh, this must be able to help my problem

just by the name it self. I was wrong... it is the office for parent

that send / give child support. Next I called our city hall and told

them about my problem and asked them what office should I contact or

call. After calling about 3 " 800 " numbers finally I got the number

of child abuse hotline. I told them about my predicament but they

said they only deal with abused children. I told them " Okey, I know

that if I don't send her to school at a certain age that is abuse;

you will step in then, right? " yes " was the answer. I even told

them okay I will wait for that age then. (Of course I wont do that) I

was just too dissappointed. Finally, I found Kinder Care and they

did accept her and was considered as non-potty trained. I have no

choice but to agree with their classification.

However, before she was able to start her class in Kinder last

Sept. I got the chance to talk to the social worker of the

Neurofibromatosis clinic in CHLA and told her of my prblem regarding

my daughter's " schooling " . She advised me to go to the nearest

school in our place and have her assessed for any learning

disability. I did go to the nearest school but was referred to the

Unified school district office and that office referred me to the

office responsible for the program called First Class.

All these things happened last summer and I was not able to talk to

the people in that office before they had their summer vacation so I

waited again until the last week of August. Finally, Sept 2 the day

before she should have started her class in Kinder Care I got a call

from the First Class office; I learned that she can be in this group

because of an orthopaedic impairment. They were " horrified to know

that Kinder Care will categorize her as non-potty trained.

I am sharing this story so that whoever will have the same problem

with me is aware that their such a governemnt program called First

Class which our children can be accepted because of orthopaedic

impairment. About 3 people will assess the child. speech therapist;

Child Psychologist; Nurse and they will make report as to whether or

not child is qualified. I am in California so I am not really sure

whether this only in this state or is all over the nation. It is a

class of smart children (not mentally delayed) but somehow they have

other issues. For my daughter she falls in the orthopaedic

impairment classification.

On Monday it will be her 3rd day. There is also a bus that is

specifically for their age which means there is a car seat for every

child. If you see a school bus with the name First Student that's it.

The class is 3 hours a day Monday- Friday. I think there is another

program which is only 90 minutes a day but I am not familiar with

this.

Like I said I waited until Eiddelyn started the class before sharing

this because I have been through so many inquiries already which did

not work out. My daughter's excitement for school had been stalled

for how many times already because there are centers that will not

accept her.

Pardon for my long story but I hope this can be a source of help fo

our group.

Ethelyn