Where is everybody?

[Guest guest]

Hi, all.

Either the list is down, or everyone is VERY busy ... I haven't had a

digest sent to me in nearly a week. I miss my friends!

Since it's so quiet, I'll give an update on Teddy. Teddy is 2.7 years

old. He has bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (BPP), according to

Dr. Dobyns who reviewed his MRI. Teddy receives all of his

feedings through a g-tube, with just tastes of food for oral

stimulation. Teddy is standing with support, using a walker, and know

more than 50 signs to communicate. He is just starting to put two

signs together -- last night he signed " I want drink " ! Teddy's new

favorite activity is stacking large cardboard blocks and then knocking

the towers down. He has also learned to stack smaller blocks. We are

so proud of everything he has accomplished.

In February when Teddy turns three, he will stop receiving home-based

therapies, and will go to a preschool setting. Next month we are

going to see three or four classrooms to determine which will be best

for Teddy. Teddy's therapists think he will be hard to place because

his physical abilities lag behind his cognitive abilities. We will be

looking at:

1. a self-contained special needs preschool. They would be able to

handle all of Teddy's tube feedings, equipment needs, etc., and they

have a fairly long school day (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). On the down

side, I think most of the kids there are more involved than Teddy.

2. a special needs preschool classroom in the local public elementary

school where our daughter attends 2nd grade. Most of the kids here

have a diagnosis of autism, PDD, or Downs Syndrome. I've seen the

kids out on the playground and I'm afraid Teddy would get trampled; in

fact, I don't think he could use his walker outside at all. The good

thing would be that Teddy would follow a pretty typical preschool

curriculum with circle time, songs, stories, etc. The school day is

shorter (9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.).

3. a hearing impaired preschool classroom. Teddy's hearing is fine,

but we're checking this out since it may help Teddy learn more sign

language. My concern is whether there will be enough auditory

stimulation for Teddy; his receptive language skills are getting

better, and he loves music!

4. a special needs preschool classroom which is semi-integrated with

a typical Head Start preschool. I'm interested in learning more about

this program; I know little about it, don't know anyone who goes

there, but I like the integrated philosophy. I'll have to see it in

action.

5. a fifth option would be to send Teddy to a private typical

pre-school/daycare of our choosing, with whatever accommodations would

be necessary for him. This would require a lot of research to find a

program that is appropriate and flexible to meet Teddy's needs.

I would welcome hearing from any parents who have already been down

this road, about things you do and do not like about your kids'

schools, about integrated programs versus self-contained, etc. I'm

excited about Teddy going to school because I think he is ready to be

around other kids and he aspires to imitate them. But I want to make

the very best, informed choice.

Best wishes to you all.

Meg and Teddy