Re: Topic of the Week: Educational Settings

[Guest guest]

Mark (age 17) has been in a variety of settings, a special ed. classroom,

partial inclusion, and fully mainstreamed. Each has had it's benefits at the

time. I work in a private special ed. school which is considered most

restrictive because there is no normal peer population there. Anyhow, being

flexible to

all options has been the key to success for us! Sharon Kaye, parent and OT

[Guest guest]

In Connecticut, the early intervention plan is Called Birth to Three. They

are wonderful...they come to your house to do the lessons..or wherever you need

them to go ex. Day Care, parks library etc. My PT used to meet me at 's

Gym...It was great. My only complaints were that I was not getting enough

services especially Speech...and I was constantly fighting for more. This is of

course due to budget cuts the wonderful State has imposed and not enough

Federal Funding...BLA BLA BLA...same old story. After turns 3 he will be

part

of the Public School System here. The Early Childhood Center that will

go to seems great. I have heard nothing but great things about it...you get

what your child needs!!! That remains to be seen but I am hopeful!!! It is a

classroom setting...like regular preschool with reverse inclusion (kids without

special needs) in the classroom. Kids get their therapies throughout the day as

needed. Hopefully it will work out...Always scared of the unknown.!!!

will be 3 on July 30th. I'll keep you updated. LOL Ross,

[Guest guest]

Education is not a problem here, we start with the Infant toddler

program, where home workers come to the house and work with the

child, from there we go to a preschool program where for the first

year you attend school with your child, then they are put into a

regular preschool setting and attend .

From there we went to public school kindergarten, where we received

lots of in classroom help and aides.

first grade started out rough, because they simply didnt know where

Kaitee stood , and the first quarter was spent with no IEP in place

she winged it in a regular class room ... by christmas it was obvious

she wasnt able to keep up this way, and it was easier to see how far

behind she actually was compared to her peers . Now she spends part

of her day in the regular classroom, and part in special education

setting with two other kids her own age. Kaitee is below level in all

areas, reading being 2 years behind and math they just say is even

farther behind... they are learning right along with kaitee on this

one I can not say enough good things about the school or the staff

they are excellent with her, work hard with her, and it all shows .

They strive to keep her has independant as possible now, less aides

working with her so we can see where she is at all times in her

capabilities. She still visits the nurse daily, socialization is

extrememly difficult for her, and she often retreats to a adult

setting to regroup.

Debbi

[Guest guest]

When Ariel first started public school I felt very strongly about

inclusion....the least restrictive enviroment...keeping her with the general

education

students..etc. BLAH BLAH BLAH. As she got older and things became more

difficult for her...IE..you have to write a full page..longer reading

assignments....etc..Keeping her in the inclusion class just started to seem

ridiculous. By

the time she was taken out of the classroom for reading lab, math lab, speech,

OT, PT, and specials when the heck was she even in the classroom. It would of

been difficult enough for a general education student to keep up with it all

let alone a kid that has a disability. So last year we made the switch to a

" non-graded " classroom. Here she can move at her own pace...She is still doing

4th grade curriculam but it is modivide in a sense to help her be able to

complete the assignment. The teacher is better qualified and the classroom is

smaller so she gets more attention. Now I did have a hard time admitting to the

fact that she couldnt handle an inclusion placement any more true. But

overall that placement was just for me not for her anyway. She is really where

she

belongs. Now a year later I am not such a big fan of inclusion as I used to

be. No dont everyone jump to the conclusion that I dont like it for some

students. I do. I just feel that for some children, they could do a lot better

in

a different setting. Some parents just get so wrapped up in inclusion. I

know I was one of them. Wanted my child to be in a regular classroom so bad I

was denying her the proper education she deserved. She is doing so much better

now. You should see how much happier she is. Has made more friends. Does

her HW on the bus on the way home. No more fights and best no more

tears....This is the best placement for everyone all around.

Mom to Ariel 10