School Placement for Emma

[caceresleah]

Hi, I'm Leah the mother of Emma who is five years old. Emma is also hard of hearing and has been attending the IN School for the Deaf since she was 18 mos. In my opinion Emma hears a lot but she is found to be mild to moderate hearing loss. My problem is that Emma's communication is severly delayed in sign language as well and talking. She is also presenting some behavior obstacles. She will start Kindergarden next year (we held her back one year) and I am debating on sending her to public school to work more on the developmental disabilities. They are wonderful at the deaf school and Emma has been fully included up till now. She is to far behind in my opinion and the schools to be included next year. I am hoping the public school has more expertise with ds on developmental disabilities. Have any of you had to change schools for your kids or found placement for your child a delema? I love her school now but I am not sure she is getting all she needs.

[logansmom]

I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm really much help. My son, Logan, attends private preschool in the morning and public preschool (headstart) in the afternoon through our school corporation in eastern Indiana. He's the only child with special needs in his morning class, and one of two children with special needs in his afternoon class. He gets ST, OT and PT through the school corporation. Our goal is full inclusion for as long as possible, and the school seems agreeable . . . at least they are right now. I don't know much about the IN School for the Deaf, but if they're a public school aren't they required to follow the same laws about least restrictive environment and inclusion? The public school where Logan will attend Kindergarten and elementary school has a great teacher who works specifically with inclusion and strategies to make it work.

One other thought . . . does Emma receive extra speech therapy outside of school? Perhaps someplace like Riley Hospital for Children could do an eval. and make some recommendations. If you prefer, St. Vincents also offers a Down syndrome clinic and could work on the same things. If she's not doing well with signing or talking, how about using the PECS system?

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Kim, Logan (Ds, 3 1/2) and Carson (1)

[ambersmom]

Hi Leah,
We live in Northern Indiana, my daughter is 8 and is hearing impaired. She received a Choclear Implant at Riley's 3 years ago. We have thought about moving so Amber could go to the Hearing Impaired school in Indy. If Emma is able to communicate with other children through sign that is great. If she does go to the public school will she have that? In our school system there is only 2 elementary kids that are hearing impaired. They can only communicate with each other. There are also issues with finding paras who sign. If you love the school dont change it. Amber has some behavior issues which has to do with communication. She will push other kids because she is unabale to tell them verbally what she wants so she pushes. The School for the Deaf should offer OT, PT and Speech.
Iam not sure if I helped but I know we would love to have Amber at that school. She could go but she would have to live there during the week and I couldnt do that.
Iam not sure if I helped but keep us posted on your decision.

[momofrussell]

We've had to change Russell's placement a few times. Ususally to a more restrictive environment to give him what he needs. I will say, first off, your IEP should already be written in a way that is helping your daughter in ALL areas. And if they can't provide services to the extent the IEP is written then yes, I'd say change placement. That's just me though. I am all for fighting to get what our children needs and the IEP needs to be written with your "whole" duaghter in mind, but like Russell too, the IEP is written well but he is better served in a more restrictive environment and the districts I've been in know this.

If I were you I'd go see some other placement options and see what is out there. And remember, if there is some support or certain teaching your daughter needs, write it into the IEP and make sure they provide it. EVEN if it's staff training or materials or therapies or whatever...that is all part of it.

Good luck!!!

A.

[Connie]

Hi Leah,

I'm Connie and live in Central Indiana. My son, Collin is 6 and will turn 7 in February. He is in Kindergarten now. We decided to hold him back a year to give him time to mature.

Collin is in regular Kindergarten in the Morning and in a Title 1 program in the afternoon. He gets 1 hour of pullout every morning for special ed (extra 1 on 1) and then pulled out for his ST, OT and PT.

Collin has some impulse and sensory issues. Which have shown themselves as behavior issues.

In October we started him on Ritalin which has made the world of difference. Not just in his behaviors but his speech. They went from getting ready to kick him out of full Inclusion and putting him in a behavior program to being "good" student in the sense of his behaviors.

I so wanted Collin's behaviors to be the teachers fault for not getting control of him but...it was not and now I regret not pushing for medical help sooner.

Connie