Guest guest Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Dena - One bit of advice that someone passed on to us when we were contemplating a " regular " classroom versus the special ed room - go observe both programs. I was adamant that I wanted Josh to be included in the " regular " kindergarten classroom, that with a one-to- one aide he could do well in that type of setting, etc., etc. After observing both, though, we decided the special ed room was better. The ratio of teacher to student was much smaller, there was no one-to- one aide for Josh but there were four aides in the room in addition to the teacher with only 8 kids in the classroom. The teacher in special ed, fortunately, was much more energetic, organized, sympathetic to needs, and understanding and forgiving of some of the, shall we say, idiosyncracies of our little guy. Josh is really blossoming in the special ed setting, has learned to use the computer in only three months, is doing math work, is spending a lot of time looking at books, and is talking up a storm - something he might not have been able to do with encouragement in a " regular " classroom since the kids needed to " be quiet " and listen more to the teacher. The speech is encouraged in Josh's classroom while also expecting the kids to listen to the teacher/aides. We think that Josh will be able to be fully included in the " regular " classrooms within two years - his speech will be much better and more understandable, thus minimizing any peer problems, and he should be up to speed with the academics by then as well. There are a lot of considerations when making this decision and I'm sure others will write with more. I firmly believe that such a decision cannot be made without seeing, firsthand, what your schools have to offer and what can be expected of your child in either setting. Good luck - it's a tough decision! Sherry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Dena, be aware that private schools are not obligated to provide any sort of therapy for your daughter. And in some districts, public schools provide the private schoolers with nothing. Our district has gone off of a formula given by the govt. and it calculates out to one 30 minute session per week of ANY service. That is, if a private schooler needs just speech--they get 30 mins a week. If a private schooler needs OT and speech...well, they either have to choose just one or they can have one session of speech one week, one session of OT the next week. See what I mean? So yes, while private school may be " better " in that they usually (but not always) have lower class sizes than public school, be aware that the level of services that she will get in terms of therapy will be greatly reduced. In our district, a child with OT and speech but has normal IQ would NEVER be placed in a special classroom. They would be in a regular kdgn with pull out therapy services. If they needed any academic help, that too is done as a pull out and in-class service. The kids are NEVER placed into a special classroom unless they are in the mentally retarded IQ range (which to qualify as MR they also have to have very poor adaptive skills (everyday living skills)) You can't just go by IQ alone). HTH in making your decision! W --- In , " Dena " <warners3@h...> wrote: > Yes she will still need speech and ot > but I think she can go mainstream. Does anyone know how I should go > about making sure she is in the right classroom for her? I don't > want her just put in a special classroom just because the teacher > does not want to work with her. > > I am feeling so panicked since kindergarten is coming up so fast. Is > there a better place for her than public school. What type of > private school could I look for that might help her better. > > I really appreciate any help! > > Thanks, Dena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Dena-- First, I had to chuckle to myself when I first read your post. It reminded me so much of us just a few months ago when my son Drew (who's 31 months old) was diagnosed officially with apraxia and DSI. It was a total relief to know what the heck was going on with him! And recently, he just did some preliminary testing for his annual IFSP (EI's version of the IEP), and came out much like your daughter, doing really well in most everything except speech. I'm going through a similar thing as you are, except you are putting your daughter into Kindergarten, and I'm working on the transition from EI to preschool. I have to agree with Sherry's answer, as that's what I'm doing. Look at all you options-- private schools, public schools, special ed services, the works. A lot of NJ people here have been talking about the Summit School for hearing impaired children, but being a little further south, I've personally explored another deaf school, Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf for my son. I had a GREAT visit there, and only hear good thing about them, and they were more than happy to take Drew if that's what we decided, even though he is not deaf. While they aren't oral intensive like Summit, they promote total communication-- both oral and sign, and that's actually fine with me. (I know some will disagree, and that's okay.) I'd rather Drew be able to sign his feelings if he's frustrated or can't get the words out than grunt and whine (that makes me crazy!). That school's minimum requirement for all the kids-- hearing impaired or not, is speech therapy at least 3 times a week--sometimes 4 times-- for about 20 minutes. This school also had Montessori teaching too, so it seems like an incredible option. However, we also happen to have one of the best special ed districts in the state, and I know that Drew's EI teachers are part of that, so I know that's a great option too. I'm not familiar with the school district options yet, but I will be shortly. And just as a backup, because this is my husband's true desire, we have registered Drew for a regular preschool locally, who are fully aware of his situation and willing to work with us (even if it means we pull out before the school year starts to send him somewhere more appropriate). So, to say the least, I still have some homework ahead of me too, and the whole process is going to be starting shortly with me. Because my husband and I are at odds with each other about the best solution for Drew for preschool and when he's out of EI in a few months, that's why I'm insisting that both of us go to visit the schools and various options. As I'm sure you feel the same about your daughter, our son is too precious to make too many mistakes, and we are fortunate to have a lot of options in front of us, even if they are ones that the school district hasn't thought of (like the hearing impaired school). Just make sure you really check out all your options, and do be sure, just like Sherry said, to visit the ones that you narrow your choices down to. That way, you know exactly what you are walking into. I'm sure with all that knowledge, especially seeing the classrooms first hand, you'll make a great decision. Good luck! le (SAHM to Drew, 2.7 apraxia and DSI) --- In , " Dena " <warners3@h...> wrote: > We have been told that my 5yr old daughter has verbal apraxia! We > have been through so much! All kinds of worries and testing and what > ifs and more testing... She test very high on non verbal test and is > so smart, but just can't tell us everything she knows. > > Now my worries are that her school is not going to evaluate her right > and will want her in a ese classroom for kindergarten next year. I > don't think she needs that. Yes she will still need speech and ot > but I think she can go mainstream. Does anyone know how I should go > about making sure she is in the right classroom for her? I don't > want her just put in a special classroom just because the teacher > does not want to work with her. > > I am feeling so panicked since kindergarten is coming up so fast. Is > there a better place for her than public school. What type of > private school could I look for that might help her better. > > I really appreciate any help! > > Thanks, Dena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Hi !... then I have a question for you (so put on your professional hat for a sec) ....if a child that moves to your district is hearing or visually impaired (or deaf or blind) and your school could not provide the appropriate therapies and placement for such child, and the parents and professionals working with this child strongly requested in writing out of district placement for this child -and the only appropriate one in the area was a private school -would your school say " fine...but since this is a private school then this child is only be entitled by law to one 30 minute session of ____ therapy a week? " And they put this in writing? (what I ask for when a statement like this is made to me) I found that sometimes if you want to know the right answer, change the disability. Verbal disabled children are entitled to the same rights as those with other disabilities -and that's why some of us have to pay attorneys the big bucks -as reminders of our children's rights. If a district can not provide appropriate placement for our children -that doesn't mean that they don't get appropriate placement -it just means it has to be provided another way. A private SLP's costs can be covered (I even know parents who had summer camp covered!) an expert can be brought in to oversee the child and program, and/or a child can be placed in out of district placement which could all be written into the IEP. Since IEPs are legal contracts -it all depends on what is written into the child's IEP...and never say never. All the children including my own son Tanner that were sent for out of district placement at Summit Speech School in NJ for example received whatever amount of ST, OT and/or PT that was needed. Also the Summit Speech School followed the IEP from the public school even though they were a private school. Then again -perhaps you were talking about a parent who just places a child in private school without it being agreed to by the school? Is this what you meant? ===== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Hi -- yes, there is a clarification between " parentally enrolled private school students " and " district enrolled private school students " . If the parent makes the choice to enroll the child into private school, despite the " team " recommendations for a public school special ed program, then the parent is forgoing their rights to an IEP. SO what they get instead is an ISP (Individual Service Plan), which is what our district calculates out to be 30 mins of any service per week max. And yes, they do put this in writing and they do show the parent the information from the govt guidelines. The ISP has a statement about how they (the parent) is choosing to enroll their child in a private school and that they understand they are giving up an IEP, etc. But, if the team (school personnel and parent) determine that a school district does not have an appropriate placement for a child and that they should go to a private school, then the private school tuition is paid for by the district, as well as transportation costs, AND the child gets whatever services they need in any area, and it is on an IEP. In our district, the scenario's you mentioned are pretty much the only times that the public school pays for private school-- deaf and blind students whose parents prefer that they go to the school for the deaf or blind and not be in public school with an interpreter. W > Hi !... then I have a question for you (so put on your > professional hat for a sec) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.