Post by kellyds on Jan 23, 2008 14:19:56 GMT -5
. . . and we never used their services. ;D
Early Intervention here is only through the school district, and we're die-hard homeschoolers.
Joshua will be 3 in February. He walks, rides ride-on toys, and is starting to run. He knows more signs than I care to count. He recognizes his name and the word "eat" in print. (We just started with flashcards.) He seems much like a typical 18-month-old developmentally, except he understands more words and speaks fewer words (relies on sign a lot). He eats anything I put in front of him. He's had one cold and one bout with the 'flu. Other than that, he's been healthy.
Although my common sense told me that you don't need an army of professionals to raise a kid with Down syndrome, I am somewhat relieved that he's doing so well. I had a niggling worry that I was using my kid as an experiment.
I'm posting this so people know that you don't have to clutter your family's life with endless professional appointments. I know a lot of people would like to forego much of the therapy, but they're afraid to . . . and there's not a whole lot of support out there for families who choose to go it alone.
I'm not intending to boast. I spend about fifteen minutes (or less), twice a day, "working" with Joshua. Other than that, we just play with him the way we've done with all our kids. So, I'm really not bragging on my parenting abilities. What I'm trying to do is show that a simple diagnosis of Down syndrome doesn't necessarily mean a child needs the whole package of services.
I read somewhere that he'd "walk funny" without professional assistance, so I was a little worried about that. He walks just fine.
So many people have asked, "Don't you HAVE to have them in special classes or something?" I'm officially ready to say, "No, you don't".
Of course, if you want to, that's okay, too. I just think it's important that parents know they have a choice.
We may hire a private speech therapist at some point. For right now, I have in mind sort of a picture-exchange communication method . . . only using printed words instead of pictures. I'll let you know how it works out.
I don't post a lot, but I've gotten so many great ideas from this board. I tend to trust experienced parents more than professionals.
Early Intervention here is only through the school district, and we're die-hard homeschoolers.
Joshua will be 3 in February. He walks, rides ride-on toys, and is starting to run. He knows more signs than I care to count. He recognizes his name and the word "eat" in print. (We just started with flashcards.) He seems much like a typical 18-month-old developmentally, except he understands more words and speaks fewer words (relies on sign a lot). He eats anything I put in front of him. He's had one cold and one bout with the 'flu. Other than that, he's been healthy.
Although my common sense told me that you don't need an army of professionals to raise a kid with Down syndrome, I am somewhat relieved that he's doing so well. I had a niggling worry that I was using my kid as an experiment.
I'm posting this so people know that you don't have to clutter your family's life with endless professional appointments. I know a lot of people would like to forego much of the therapy, but they're afraid to . . . and there's not a whole lot of support out there for families who choose to go it alone.
I'm not intending to boast. I spend about fifteen minutes (or less), twice a day, "working" with Joshua. Other than that, we just play with him the way we've done with all our kids. So, I'm really not bragging on my parenting abilities. What I'm trying to do is show that a simple diagnosis of Down syndrome doesn't necessarily mean a child needs the whole package of services.
I read somewhere that he'd "walk funny" without professional assistance, so I was a little worried about that. He walks just fine.
So many people have asked, "Don't you HAVE to have them in special classes or something?" I'm officially ready to say, "No, you don't".
Of course, if you want to, that's okay, too. I just think it's important that parents know they have a choice.
We may hire a private speech therapist at some point. For right now, I have in mind sort of a picture-exchange communication method . . . only using printed words instead of pictures. I'll let you know how it works out.
I don't post a lot, but I've gotten so many great ideas from this board. I tend to trust experienced parents more than professionals.
I've thought about not having Brooks girls come so much but they do give me "input" sometimes on stuff I did not know/understand. Yes it is a choice. You do not have to have them come over. In my case, they've been helpful. We have limited the time to twice a month for "check-up's" if you will. The've become friends 
