Kim

[Guest guest]

<<I told them I want her to go to our local elementary school so she can

have neighborhood

friends and go to a typical classroom with special ed help coming to her.

They are not happy about it and said we have to have a whole new meeting

and see what we can do. I just want to make sure I know what I am doing and

am making a good choice for her. I would LOVE to hear any ideas or stories of

what you have done with your child. I worry about her getting teased for

being different and I worry about her getting lost in class and the teacher

ignoring her because they have to help others and her going off and

stimming by herself which she does a lot.>>

Hi, Everyone....Kim....I would be more worried about the teacher not giving

a hoot as to the kids teasing and making fun of your daughter. Kids can

be so open minded at young ages. She may learn more from her peers helping

her than from the teacher. The object of inclusion is not to make your kid

as smart as the normal kids....that just isn't going to happen. The

object is to have your child benefit from peers and friends....socialization is

just as important. They sound like they are too lazy to put the * I * in

IEP and modify the program for your daughter. You won't know until you try.

Gareth did fine until they started changing classrooms, and then, he had

to go into the resource room setting....still focusing on academics, with

normal peers, but smaller classes. The idea of a fully contained

environment, out of your neighborhood, and her playing with normal peers at

recess

isn't going to do squat for socialization. Even if you took a normal kid and

did that, the kids would still be alienated because they aren't around

each other any other time. Does that make sense?

Take care, Everyone.

Margaret