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Post by momofrussell on Apr 7, 2006 10:27:12 GMT -5
WONDERFUL ALICE! I am glad the MRDD helped you. I was trying to find maybe a Children's Home Society link or phone number for you for that same reason.. they can refer you to places.. I used them in CA and they help... so I am glad you got somewhere!!!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!
A.
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Post by Annie S on Apr 7, 2006 10:29:22 GMT -5
Alice Iam so glad you found a new daycare Iam always concerned with people who don't want to watch our kids and if we make them by law is that going to be a good place for them to be..take it out on the wee kids..good luck maybe some day this will not be an issue for any one with a disability... Annie S
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Post by Claire on Apr 8, 2006 0:06:27 GMT -5
I am happy you found a day care. But we all know that it should not be that way. Why do our kids have to do without. Hopefully it will someday be different. Good Luck. Let us know how it goes at the day care.
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Post by Emilysmom on Apr 8, 2006 13:32:13 GMT -5
Alice, I am SO glad you found a good place for Luke. Even if you (or all of us!) had called everyone possible to MAKE that other day care accept him, I think it's better that he is going to a school where he was WANTED from day one! The other day care center is MISSING out! Luke is one adorable little guy and this school is going to totally enjoy him!!!
Susan
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Post by Jessie on Apr 8, 2006 16:58:27 GMT -5
Glad to hear things are working out for you Alice. It's stressful enough starting a new job, let alone having to worry about your child while you work!!!
Keep us posted on how he does there.
Jessie
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Post by Ericsmomma on Apr 9, 2006 5:10:24 GMT -5
Alice, So glad it worked out for you and Luke..
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Post by laurasnowbird on Apr 9, 2006 8:43:48 GMT -5
Gosh, Alice, I'm so sorry that you had to deal with this. Some days it all seems so unfair, doesn't it? I agree with the others who said it is a little scary to think about putting your child in a daycare that doesn't truly want him, BUT I would pick the daycare that you most like, and try to educate them! I'm sure Luke would win them over and take care of all of their prejudices. I would keep a sharp eye on them in the meantime.
The reason I say that is because I am ever mindful of a story that the former compliance officer at my district told me. She was a teacher early in her career (this was about 20 years ago), and there was a family in my county who wanted their son with DS fully included. It created a real firestorm at her school - none of the teachers wanted him in their class, but the parents refused to budge. One teacher actually retired rather than take him. Parents were up in arms because they didn't want a "retarded" child in the classroom with their children. They felt the teacher's time would be consumed by this child with DS, and that their children would get a substandard education. I know all this sounds extreme, but while we struggle day to day with placement, its good to remember that it was sometimes MUCH harder for families years ago! This lady, whose name is Casey (not gonna share a last name, LOL!) offered to take this young man into her classroom. She had a very difficult time in her job as a result of that decision. The other teachers snubbed her, left the teacher's lounge when she walked in, wouldn't eat lunch with her, etc. etc. They made it very difficult for her both personally and professionally. The parents of the children in her class were not at all supportive, and some wanted her to be fired. She concentrated on teaching her class, which included this young boy with DS named Andrew. Andrew did very well in class, his classmates loved him, and before long she was being approached by parents who apologized for their initial reaction, and shared with her how much Andrew brought to their child's classroom experience.
The teachers started to come around, because it was obvious that Andrew wasn't ruining the classroom for his peers, and instead seemed to bring something special to that room! After that first year, there was ALWAYS a teacher who volunteered to take Andrew into her class!
Now, of course, I have GREAT admiration for Casey, for doing the right thing at great personal cost. And I have great respect for those parents for insisting that their child be included. Here's the part that I think is really important though. We have every right to be upset when our children are denied opportunities, but I think when we dwell on it, and hold grudges, we lose an opportunity to educate people. I think our children are their own best advocates, and sometimes we have to push for an opportunity to let people see what they are capable of. People fear the unknown, and quite frankly, it was what I feared most when Ethan was born, and he was MY son! It might not be realistic for me to expect that other people (who aren't related to him and love him like I do) might fear his disability. Just because it has become commonplace and everyday for us, it hasn't for the rest of the world, and I think sometimes we forget that.
Obviously, if we push for and gain the right to have our child included in a place that initially denied them, we are going to need to be very vigilant. Everybody isn't "teachable", and some people may never give up their prejudices. I just choose to believe that those people are in the minority, and that given the chance to interact with my son, the rest will realize he's just a kid. Who happens to have Down Syndrome.
Alice, it sounds like you have done a great job of investigating your options. And how wonderful that the other day care sounds like something you like even better!!! You'll have to keep us posted on how it all works out for Luke.
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Post by Mary_L. on Apr 9, 2006 8:45:21 GMT -5
Alice~I'm so glad you found a place that you like for Luke. I think he'll be much happy there since they will be comfortable with him~let us know how he likes it.
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Post by Many on Apr 9, 2006 22:21:05 GMT -5
Alice...I'm glad that things turn out to be better in the end. I really hope that Luke will like his day care. It sounds like a really nice one and the staff sounds friendly too. Please keep us updated and good luck with going back to work full time.
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Post by ALLISA on Apr 10, 2006 10:32:44 GMT -5
I'm glad it seems to have worked for the best Alice.... And I am afraid your caseworker is correct...private daycares and private schools CAN deny care to a student with a disabiltiy that they don't feel they can handle. But the bottom line to me is....why would you want Luke somewhere that he is less than welcome at ? Snub your nose at them ! I am sure he will LOVE the kindercare ! Great job researching and calling around rather than just sitting saddened on the couch...like I probably would have done ! Let us know how he likes it !! Allisa
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Post by Alice on Apr 10, 2006 16:52:06 GMT -5
Hi all! A little update on Luke's first day at the day care. The teacher said that it was hard for him, but they will do their best to meet his needs. I thanked her for that... It is been long day for me too - today is my first day at new full time job... I am very tiered... but happy... So, talk to you later and thank you all for being such a great support people when it is mostly needed.
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Post by updowns on Apr 10, 2006 17:10:08 GMT -5
Alice I am so glad it worked out for you and Luke. Sounds like you found a wonderful place for him and sorry to hear it was so difficult.
Stella
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