Aide in classroom

[andrewsmom]

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing good.

I was wondering if any of your children are or were, in a preschool without an aide. I would like to know if this worked out or if you had to get an aide once your child was in the classroom. The reason for my asking??? Well....

We had a meeting with Andrew's school last week and they said Andrew would not have an aide. They defended themselves by saying that the law says he needs to be in the least restrictive enviornment, and the least restriction means no aide. They went on to say if the teacher felt he needed an aide they would then look into it, but typically didn't have aides until the child was into more academics.

Ummmm...this doesn't sit too well with me for several different reasons. I know this school had a little girl with DS last year, and she had a one on one with her, so I really don't understand their thinking on this. Is it me?? I mean, have any of your kids NOT had an aide with them in preschool? Have they done just as well?

I don't know, when I read the law I understand it to read more TOWARD having an aide in a typical classroom setting. Am I not understanding the law correctly?

I would really appreciate any responses you all have on this. Thanks.

-Trisha.....who has really had enough of school already

[kristin]

I haven't figured out how to quote the original post, so I am referencing the comment above which says, "Least restrictive environment means no aide". That is a bunch of crap. Least restrictive means something different for every child; it does not mean, "Sink or swim". My son, without an aide, would not do ANYTHING. He is very passive and would sit quietly in the classroom for possibly HOURS, putting things into a bucket, dumping the bucket and repeating the whole thing over and over again. (And coincidentally, causing not one problem for his teacher...) His least restrictive environment would mean he is not sitting in a self-contained room, but would have the influence of his typical peers, and someone coaxing and coaching him to do everything that he could try to do.

I agree with you. I think in this case, the aide would ALLOW your child to function in the least restrictive environment.

You keep fighting for this. Many special education teams are just in the habit of saying "no" to your requests the first time. Sometimes you have to ask many times to get what you know is appropriate for your child. Make sure you use that term, too, "appropriate", not "I want what is best." The law doesn't entitle you to "what is best", even though that's what we all want and know is right! Just use that term "appropriate", and you should have a lot more negotiating power! Good luck and keep on pushing.

[Valerie]

Before Nicholas started preschool, they asked ME if I wanted an aide for him. I really kind of didn't, because I want him to be as independent as he possibly can, but in the end I asked for one mostly because he is a bit of a flight risk, and this was another set of eyes to watch him. But I did ask that the aide not be "stuck" to his side all the time, to let him do what he can for himself and also help out other kids, because I don't want him becoming dependent on this one person. KWIM?

But anyway, the choice was mine. Not really sure why they would tell you he COULDN'T have one.

[momofrussell]

First things first.... I'd point blank ask them to SHOW YOU THE LAW that states... LRE equals NO AIDE...and then I'd be happy to fly there and really show them the IDEA law that states LRE means LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH SUPPORTS....... I agree.. it does NOT mean sink or swim.

The law reads you put a child in the LRE with typical peers (inclusion) and provide necessary adaptations and supports TO MAKE LRE work... THAT is how the law reads!!! Plain and simple.

Ok.. that said... I really don't think most preschoolers need aides.. I don't. BUT.. that is just me. Russell DID have one in preschool for health reasons but I requested we start without one and twice we realized he needed one. Other then that, he has NEVER had one. BUt.. again... that is just me.

IF.. you want an aide "to make LRE work for your child".. then you request in writing the need for an aide for JUST that reason.. and if they say NO.. they better put it in writing.. and you have EVERY right to ask them to PROVE to you where it states that in the law.. because believe you me.. it does not!!!! And they can't tell you to take their word for it....it would become a burden of proof thing.

Can I ask what kind of class he would be in? How many para's are in the class already with the teacher? Things like that you need to take into consideration. Russell did JUST fine in his self contained classes with the teacher and paras... and I always kept a close eye knowing we may need an aide.. but we didn't... we then had to change placement for him. What are your thinkings on him needing an aide? And don't forget he may surprise you and do just fine without one!

*oh.. and PS.. can you tell I get really puffy about this stuff? LMAO
;D

A.

[Emilysmom]

Sounds like to me they have been encouraged by the school district to try hard to "just say no" to aides, in an effort to save $$$. I think you'll have to push for it, and I'm guessing that they are hoping you won't want to put forth the effort.

When Em started public kindergarten, they did not want to give her an aide. They wanted to have her go to kindy for a few weeks and then we could re-evaluate whether or not she needed an aide. I said I was concerned that this would be "setting her up to fail". I suggested that we le her start the school year with an aide and the aide could be pulled OUT if the teacher/aide/ and I thought she was no longer needed! They agreed to that, and the aide stayed all year.

[ALLISA]

Hey Trisha....

My first thought when reading your post is that if they gave the 1st girl an aide & didn't give Andrew one....perhaps they really feel he DOESN'T need one.

All of our kids are sooooo different. we often joke that Erin needs TWO aides....but I have seen a couple of kids who have been with her in the past who did BEAUTIFULLY without an aide. I know of a little boy who is just a couple of years older than Erin who has no aide and is fully intergrated.....

I would say TRUST your gut....you know Andrew best.....does he need you one-on-one at home ? Or is he very independent ? I know I have talked to plenty of moms who want the aides to "back off" and not hover.....if that is the case with you, perhaps he doesn't have as strong a need for one.

It is all trial and error...isn't it ? Good luck !!

[trishasmom]

Ok we all understand that having or not having an aid has nothing to do with LRE, now the other question is does he need an aid? It's not just a matter of wanting one it's a matter of the needs of a child. You would have a better chance of getting an aide if you let him go without one first to see if he does need one. Wanting and needing an aid is different. I would sit down and write why I think he needs an aid (be objective if possible) and then write down why you think he could make it without an aid. Then have someone you have confidence in and who can be objective look it over and discuss the each thing you wrote and after that if you still feel he needs an aid then at least you have part of your paper work done to present to the IEP team.

[lespring]

First of all, DITTO to what everyone above said about LRE. LRE means the ENVIRONMENT, not the supports within the environment.

Angela did split preschool programs. She went 3 days a week to regular ed preschool without support, and 2 days a week to special ed preschool where she recieved ST/OT/PT/Special Ed. This worked out very well for her. She did fine in the regular ed preschool without an aid with her.

[CC]

our experience with Pre-school and one on one was many moons ago. BUT for us it pretty much was a simple as just saying "SAFETY" really for us was the key word.

I went in a few times to observe the preschool in our district before we decided that is where we would place Chris and I could tell the teach was not 100% sure bout all this and when i asked her she told that two years prior they had a little boy with DS that just took off all the time and it just wasn't working out. So I just asked her did the child have a one one and she said no. So I said for safety as Chris too was a runner and not necessarily needed someone on him all the time but someone had to be dedicated to have their eyes on him and ready to bolt after him at all times. So I just said it would be for his safety and BINGO we got the one on one

There was no question my guy back then needed one and he needed on for all the years he was in our public school. Now that he has moved to another school he no longer needs one ;D

Best of Luck with what ever you do.

CC ~

[andrewsmom]

Thanks guys for all your responses.

Andrew will have 12 kids in his class with one teacher and one para.

Since writing this earlier, I sat down and talked with my DH and we have decided to see how he does on his own first. The reason we felt he should have an aide is because of his attention span not being so great with all the med's he has been on. It is sometimes difficult to transition Andrew from one activity to another, and we felt an aide could gently guide him to a different activity easier. Does that make sense?

As for safety....we haven't had too much of a problem with Andrew taking off (knocking on wood as I write this) but we, ofcourse, keep an eye on him at all times. ** sigh** so much to think about....

Think they would mind if Mom came and stayed everyday?? I went to the meeting the other day and I could still fit in one of those little chairs....and snack time??? who wouldn't love that? ;D

-Trisha......growing more grey hair by the minute

[Connie]

Trisha,

I thought I wanted a one on one Para for Collin also but, I decided it was not a battle I was willing to fight at the moment. So, far it has worked out just fine.

Collin has always been in smaller classes which would have atleast 1 teacher and 1 aid so, when he needed the extra help and attention he was able to get it.

Hope everything works out for you,
Connie

[cindylou]

Trisha-
Kaylee did not have an aide in preschool. She did fine. She started having assistance in Kindergarten. Has since then-she's in 7th grade now. Her aids have always been part time-not all day.

I wish I had actually pushed for LESS assitance. I wish I had pushed for MORE classroom teacher responsibility. Natural assitance in the setting (when my typical kid doesn't know the assignment-they ask the kid sitting next to them..etc) should have been role modeled more. Kaylee is independent and social--so the assitant hasn't been something that has held kaylee back THAT much, but it definatley has interfered with normal social development. Peers are less likely to interact with Kaylee when there's an adult present. If we leave them to themselves, they naturally assist a child who has dropped their books or needs help up a ladder (at a younger age).

Obviously, assitance is needed at times--but I feel that I sold Kaylee short years ago by causing her to rely to much on an adult. Do I want someone by her side every minute of every day for the rest of her life? Or do I want to see what she can accomplish un-assisted, and then provide limited supports?

Maybe that is what the school is trying to say...
good luck-
cindy

[lespring]

Ok this is a little off topic, but thought I'd share anyway. LOL My friend's son has autims, and the district she was in didn't have special ed. preschool. They were SUPPOSED to hire an autism specialist, but that person basically stopped in the classroom one day to tell the teacher what kinds of stuff to watch for and that was it. It was a joke. So this little guy had ZERO communication and lots of issues. They were supposed to have all kinds of safety related features in place. Three days before he was supposed to start school mom went to see what all they'd done. HA!!! The teacher showed her a couple things then said, "And we put bells on the doors too!"

My friend was like, "Great, you'll know WHEN HE'S GONE out the door!"

They didn't understand that they needed to prevent him from being able to open the door in the first place. We had a similar problem with Angela for awhile in kindergarten. She was a runner. The only thing that stopped her was the doors were usually far too heavy for her to open. LOL

[cindylou]

I would say that bringing up the safety issue went a long ways for us when were debating with the school to give her an aid or not. Those of you wanting one - I do think that is a very valid concern. Kaylee was not a wanderer (she is more now) in elementary school and wasn't really a flight risk. Many of you have it otherwise though.

I cannot imagine why, if the behavior is proven to occur, a school would risk having your child gone...worrisome..
cindy

[meghans_mom]

I am answering this late - Meghan did not have an aide in preschool...her last 2 yrs of preschool she was in an integrated class - 18-20 kids, about half with special needs, half were typically developing children. There were 2 teachers (1 reg ed, 1 spec ed) in the class room, and 2 aides....there was a 3rd aide, who was a one on one for a child in a wheelchair. They also had a speech therapist in the classroom who was there about 1/2 the time.

This year in kindy Meghan has a one on one. At this point, her aide stays in the back of the class and doesnt go with Meghan to any of the specials (music, art, gym) except library because MM seems not to like it there, lol. The aide doesn't go with her to any of her therapies either. Only when she needs one on one help - when the class is working as a large group, does she intervene. Since our aide has backed off so much, I wonder if this is going to be a problem when requesting one next year...

See if your teachers will help with cueing Andrew in transitioning, etc....if it becomes a problem you can always request one - you dont want him missing out on things because it takes too long, etc. But remember the kids too will probably help prompt him..I know they do with meghan.

best of luck! laurie