Another inclusive education question

[Chris]

I was all gung ho about inclusive education but now that Sarah will be entering preschool in the fall, I am questioning if it is the right choice for her.

Yesterday I got the "IQ test" results and was extremely disappointed in the results. I know that Sarah isn't a genius but wasn't prepared to hear that she had moderate retardation. Of course, I question the validity of the test since she wouldn't perform due to being sooo dang stubborn!

I am reluctant to ask this question because I may be labeled as one of the lazy and ignorant parents but here goes........The assistant director of special ed told me that Sarah would not get OT or PT if I put her in our neighborhood school (which does have a preprimary impaired class). The school district is encouraging me to put her in a school that only has special ed classes. Because of her IQ score, she doesn't really qualify for the ppi class because her IQ needs to be above 55. They tell me that she would get OT, PT and ST if I put her in the special ed school.

I am kind of reeling with the news of her test score and have no idea what would be best for my child: a class for moderate cognitive impairment, a ppi class or an inclusive preschool.

If she qualifies for OT, PT and ST at a special ed school, shouldn't they provide those services at any school? Does it have to be a public school? Have any of you had your district pay the tuition for a private school? Is the school district required to pay for a private school if they don't have an inclusive preschool as an option?

Sarah is a very social little girl and I believe she will learn more from her peers than from the teacher. At least her peers will be her motivator. Her fine and gross motor skills are very delayed as well as her speech.

Please share your preschool experiences with me. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I do thank God daily for those of you who are blazing the trail for us. I have had to fight so much just to get basic services for Sarah. There is a lot happening in my life right now and I am paralyzed when it comes to knowing what to do right now for Sarah. I am whining.......

Anyway, thank you all for your help!

Chris

[Debi]

Let's get this off the table first Chris.. you are NOT lazy ignorant OR whining !!
You have so much to think about and I feel these early tests can be so devastating. We live with our kids and I think for the most part see them pretty clearly but when they go in for a 30 min. eval. of some sort it's often fairly harsh. The schools have to do these sorts of things but no score on ANY test (IQ, Vineland, whatever )should direct the ultimate IEP and program for your child.
Strictly speaking if she qualifies for the services you listed at a sp. ed. pre school, then yes indeed they should provide services at her neighborhood school. Would a private school provide? Probably not and if you wanted those therapies you might have to pay for them yourself, or get into quite a battle for her home SD to provide. The SD is not (in my state) required to pay for private preschool as an option if they do not have an inclusive pre school
The schools LIKE the types of programs that they are wanting to put Sarah in cause it's sorta like one stop shopping. All the therapists and teachers are in one place and it's easier for them to control costs. However.. is that the best option for Sarah? Only you can answer that one.
In Gabe's case I took the trade off as his pre school WAS very good (there are advantages to that one stop shopping )and he was in a pre school setting that addressed his needs and had a lot of typically developing peers. He ended up with a LOOOOONG bus ride at three, but frankly I am glad that he went to that particular school.. fighting the SD to get him into another setting would have met he 'd be out of preschool by the time they got it together.
It's quite a tug of war because you have to decide WHAT you think is best to start with, but one small part of the beauty of the system is that .. you can change it, if you feel that option isn't working. It doesn't have to be written in stone.
Let your long term vision for Sarah as well as her current needs be the touchstone for going into this process.. and GOOD LUCK!!

[Emilysmom]

Chris~ Before I get started on this topic, I must say that I've NEVER seen you as a lazy parent! Not by a long shot! One thing I love about this site is that we have one thing in common........we all have children with Down syndrome. And yet, I have come to realize that there really is no RIGHT way to parent our children with Ds. I tried, and still try to do what my heart tells me is best for Emily and I've spent a lot of time researching what "experts" think is best too. I can tell you what we did and the basic reasons we did it that way......but those things may or may not work for Sarah. I still have plenty of moments where I second guess my decisions on her behalf, but in a way it is easier now than it was when I was concerned about preschool choices! I think I felt a pressure at that time that is just not as hard right now.
~
PLEASE try not to be bummed by any "IQ" test results! I remember being so so devastated several times by the results of silly tests that I never really felt were an accurate reflection of what Emily knew....or how she truly "functioned". I have shed plenty of tears over test results and the fears for her future that those test results created!!! She still does not test all that well.....and I still feel her test results do not portray the real HER. I know this wasn't your question, but I can so relate to the sadness and fears related to test results.
~
One thing I would suggest is that you go to the class the sped director wants Sarah to attend. One thing we looked at was the class as a whole.......many of the kids in that classroom had significant medical/behavioral needs!!! I was so concerned after being in that classroom for only 15 minutes about how much instruction Emily could receive when her teachers were overwhelmed with disciplining/feeding/diapering many of the students. There was very little expectation in that classroom that the students were capable of being able to learn to read, and the assumption that they would destroy books if they were around. That really upset me because Emily was already very interested books and letters, etc. She was also a very social little girl (although initially a bit shy) and we felt that she would immediately begin to model her own behaviors by what she saw in her peers. I still firmly believe this to be true. To me, this was every bit as important as any therapy, and we opted for regular ed classes all the way. We were very blessed though....and really didn't have to choose one or the other. She received ST 3 times a week....but we had to drive her to another school for it. She received OT consultations, and the OT gave us written instructions on what to work on until the next visit. Same with PT......although our insurance paid for her PT on a monthly basis until she was about 7 years old. If I had it to do over again, I really believe we would do the very same thing. I've said it here before......I don't have a lot of regrets. If I had one big regret, it would be that I have continually NOT pushed her to do self help things that she didn't seem to WANT to do, and this has encouraged a learned helplessness in her and I blame myself for that completely! We'll be working on that for the next few years, I'm sure!!!
~
Remember...you're not lazy! And......weigh all the benefits of each program and then go with your heart!
Susan

[Chris]

Jackie, Debi and Susan,

Thank you for your replies. Jackie, according to Sarah's special ed teacher, Sarah will not qualify for the PPI room because her IQ needs to be above 55. Sarah's is the same as Justin's.

I have heard that the program in Livonia is excellent but it is too far. Someone told me to document everything so I wrote a letter to the assistant director of special ed and requested to see ALL the preschool options. I am scheduled to visit a PPI room and a room for moderate cognitive impairment at the special ed school.

I do know a lady who sent her daughter to a private Montessori preschool and the school district paid her tuition. The SD refused to allow this little girl with Ds to be placed in one of their typical preschool's and mom hired an attorney who specializes in special ed law. They had a court date but the district settled before they went to court.

I guess my biggest fear about sending Sarah to a special ed preschool is that she may choose to imitate some odd behaviors of other children. I have heard that almost half of the class in many PPI rooms are children with autism. I guess I should stop worrying until I have visited the classrooms.

Again, than you for your encouraging words. I appreciate all you have to offer.

Chris

[christie]

CHRIS, I just read this post for the first time and I was very HAPPY to hear you say you were gonna visit ALL the programs available. That is exactly what I was gonna reccomend The only real way to see what the program is like is to go in and see it

Here in New Jersey how it works is what ever is in the IEP our the services ones get no matter what school setting one is in. Chris was in our public school and we pulled him, at our request and put him in a private school just for kids with exceptional needs. Christopher's IEP states he gets 5 days a week speech, now the new school only provides 3 days a week BUT because Chris has it in his IEP my district HAS to provide and they send him to a private speech therapist after school for the 2 extra sessions so that the IEP is being followed Hope I made sense there girl

What ever services Sarah needs and is in her IEP have to be provided no matter what school she attends thats the LAW.

Best of Luck girl, I am sure you will know which program is right for Sarah after seeing your options

CC

[Claire]

I would say you more intelligent,someone wanting what is best for her child then lazy or ignorant. We did not have much of a choice on which school Adam would go to. We have 3 elementary schools in our communitty. 2 English schools and one French. My daughter goes to the French school and Adam goes to an English school. There is a special needs class in one of the 2 English schools but since Adam 6 is the only child with DS in our communitty the other children going to that class are between the ages of 13 and 18. It would not have been good for him. He is in a regular class in Sr. Kindergaten and has the help of an EA. I don't know if the laws or the same as here in Ontario, Canada, but here it didn't matter what school he went to, his therapis for OT and PT followed him into the school system and he is getting all therapies including speech therapy at the school. I think that if the child qualifies for those programs they should be allowed to get them no matter which school they attend. You make a good decision when you say you will look at all the programs available before making a decision. Follow your heart. We mothers always know what is best for our child. And every child is defferent.

[MB]

She must be given a shot at the least restrictive environment. A special ed preschool with peer models would be great. Check your state regs for your right to request a second IQ test from a psychologist of your choosing.

MB