Posted: November 13 2009 at 4:15pm | IP Logged

So, we're starting to look ahead to next September and weigh our options. Right now, Justin has an IEP and is in an integrated  pre-school in the 4-year old program. As much as he's progressed, there's still no way he'd be ready for a mainstream Kindy in September (he still is about a year and a half behind across the board). I'm sure at his next IEP in April, they will make the recommendation for him to enter into the "Special Ed" Kindy which is in a school on the other side of town.

While I'm not opposed to this option, the other option we've been considering is to take him out of school altogether for a year and have him start kindy when he's 6 (his birthday's in July). Our thinking is that we'd basically homeschool him for a year and hope (fingers crossed) that he'd be more prepared for mainstream kindy when he's 6.

This, of course, requires a leap of faith that he will progress as much working with us at home as he has in school. My question is, if we discover that at age 6 he's still not appropriat for a mainstream kindy, does anyone know how difficult it would be to get "back into the system".

I really don't know if this would be an issue or not. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Posted: November 13 2009 at 5:19pm | IP Logged

I would talk to someone at the district about this. Some districts allow you to start your kids in kindy at 5 or 6 and some will not and would just have him start first grade. I am not sure what your son's areas of strength or weakness are but I'd say most of our kids profit from appropriate special ed intervention like OT, speech, socialization , helping them structure themselves. I am not saying that this can not be doe in a good home program. The other thing to consider is that school have to provide services for grade level and not age level. So keeping your son back a year will lower academic expedtations by a year and level of services accordingly -again based on the needs of your son that could be a bad or good thing. The third thing to consider is that your child qualifies for services until he is 21. Any time you hold him back will be services he misses out on at the other end -like help transition into college or independent  living skills..

I would not hold my asd son back because I consider his needs mostly needing special intervention not being behind. He'd stick out whether he was a year back or not. But I know some people who did and again some felt they did the right thing, some not. I did hold my typical girls (who have August birthdays) back and did not regret it.

Posted: November 13 2009 at 9:58pm | IP Logged

Have you considered special ed kindy, then if your feel he is ready, he could go to mainstream 1^st grade. You would also be able to consider mainstream kindy, or special ed 1^st grade depending on how he progresses. Our ds had to start kindy young (long story, no time for it now) and ended up repeating 2^nd grade, which worked out fine for him.

Posted: November 14 2009 at 12:48pm | IP Logged

If you chose to home school will you be able to do any private speech or ot services?  Also, do you have access to any social skills groups?  Does your child get ABA at school?  if so how would you access it out of school- pay out of pocket, do it yourself or have insurance cover it? 

I would also consider the impact on your family if you homeschool- would you have to stop working?  do you have other children and how would their care fit into this?

There is alot to consider, but I believe that delaying K or doing 2 yrs of K can be beneficial, I also think that some people are able to do a great job homeschooling, but it is a huge undertaking. 

Some of this depends on the level of your child too.

Good luck and trust yourself to make the best decision for your child- you know whats best for your own family better than anyone else.

Posted: November 14 2009 at 1:45pm | IP Logged

Thanks for all of your input. It's so hard to know what the right choice is. In a perfect world, I'd keep him in his current placement for an extra year. Unfortunately, that's not an option.

I'm not necessarily opposed to the special ed kindy, but I can't help but wonder if we gave him an extra year and, like Snoopywoman said, work with him on the issues are the most debilitating for him, we might not even need an IEP.  Most of his problems at this point are a matter of immaturity (ie-immature language skills, immature social skills, etc.). He's a 4 year old who presents more like a 2 1/2 year old.

Like I said earlier, my concern is if we're wrong and he doesn't "catch up" and we realize he's not going to make it without an IEP, would it be a problem with hime getting services again.

So many questions, so few answers. Luckily, we don't have to decide anything for now. Just want to start thinking about our options well in advance. Thanks again.