my ds won't be 3 till next May, and we have a preschool program in our school district that i will be researching of course, but i just recently found out how much the private schools in New Jersey are and i was really shocked. I just don't understand how anyone can afford 72,000 a year, which is what one of them costs. I never want to put a pricetag on my childrens health, but that amount of money is headspinning. I will be ok if i know that the public school preschool is the best place for him, but what if his success will be greater if he goes to a private 1:1 school.
Danielle
GOOD LUCK MARY...yes I thought same thing regarding ARC here but someone told me to call them and I did.Shes a great help and her sons both are high func.AUTISTIC also..and had many issues w/our school district..thank god I have her so when the next IEP comes around in sept. hopin she can go in there and represent shes well known w/these people..Here at that age the plans they have are called ECFSE for Early Childhood Family Services Education plan. They don't start calling them an "IEP" until kindergarten or first grade". Pacer.org is also another option.
Tammy
Yes, anna has an IEP. We signed it at our final meeting. In our county we do have an ARC program but I thought they were just for less functioning ones I will look into it.
I was upset that I wasn't informed of options for Anna or informed about summer programs. Apparently there was a speech program but we didn't sign up in time (no one told me about it). Her speech therp. at the school told me about it when I asked about doing speech for summer. SHe looked at me as if I was suppose to know about this program and it was my fault for not signing her up! urg.
Sorry to ramble on. I just can't stand the lack of co operation. I think it may be the school she is in so I will look into changing her before the year starts.
I cannot recommend enough that everyone dealing with this get a book on IEPs, Special Ed and the law. I learned SO many of my rights from my "Nolo's Guide" book, like specifically, you can ask "what services do you offer" cuz I too learned that they sure don't offer that up (had no idea they even have ESY till last year) but they DO have to tell you if you ask, they DO have to tell you who their independent evaluators are, they DO have time limits from when you ask for something to the time they deliver, you DO have more rights than you could ever imagine. And yes, Mary, it is SO frustrating trying to wade through all this...I feel for you!
I just decided to play "lawyer" and for every question I had, I researched what the answers could be, therefore I could formulate my question AND a follow up question depending on what their answer might be. (I also printed lots of sections from the law to support me). Plus, like Cyndie...got an advocate that showed we meant business!
No guarantees, and I do understand things vary state-to-state, but this is at least a place to start. It's very time consuming I know to do this...but our kids are worth it! :)
Good luck Good luck Good luck!!!!
~Lesley
Dear Mary,
I too am from Virginia, near fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania Co. We are starting our son, Andrew in our local school's pre-school program in a couple of weeks. I am excited about the environment he will be in. From what you said in your post, it sounds like the policies are about the same as our school district. (no more than 5 kids in a room with one teacher and one aide, they do thier best to put kids with matching needs together, etc) BUT, It sounds like your daughters school was going through some problems with that classroom staffing in particular and no one lived up to the expectations. Unfortunately, I think a lot of what you described can be attributed to one or two people, (i.e. teacher and aide) not a breakdown in the system necessarily. I hope you do look into switching environments for her. Hopefully, you are not dealing with a whole school system run like the classroom Anna was in, and you can find another teacher to communicate and support you better. Good luck to you.
keep us all posted
Barbara
Thanks everyone. I was so discouraged yesterday that I wrote a letter to the schools super and complained. I am not one to complain but I did in my letter to him. I voiced all my conerns strongly and ended the letter;
"Mostly, why is it that I have to find myself writing this complaint? It really is a disservice to parents with children like mine, and worse, who struggle each day to just help their child and what energy you have left you feel you need to use to kick down a door for them. "
I ended it telling him if I didn't get a response to my complaint that I would continue to write as many school board officials until I did. (:
I am tired of being the 'nice' parent. Last year the teacher in Anna's class made me feel awkward. I am glad she quit. She was seriously 'done' and it was obvious to everyone. This year I am resolved to push back when I am pushed around by the system
Dear Mary,
I know it differs state to state so I am curious about other special preschool programs.
Since Anna was dx at 3 she didn't qualify for EI but did qualify for special preschool through the county. In order for that to happen she was tested by the preschool teacher, the physical therapist, the speech therp., the school psyciatrist, and the county social worker. (whooo) then all of us got together in one room and they 'crunched numbers' from all their testing and said "she can start their program'.
Here is my problem w/this: The school she goes to has one speech therapist for the whole school and for special needs kids. She would only meet w/Anna 2x a week and work on pronouncing words.
The preshool teacher was overworked (ended up quiting at the end of the year).
The class room had all types of kids w/all types of delays (Severe CP to mild, Severe behavior problems and Autism to mild autism and PDD)
THey had a student aide but she only lasted a couple of months. The full time aide (also directed busses) was very abrasive and acted like a prison guard.
I don't want Anna to go back to this environment. Last year I was so worried about her safety. Another girl had hit her and was suspended. No one told me until a week later. And one time she had fallen and hit her head, again no one told me and it was Anna who said "booboo day" which informed me something had happened.
I don't know what to do becasue I can't afford anything and the special preschool program is free.?
What really ticked me off was at the end of the year I asked "so what is there for the summer?" and they said "nothing". I couldn't believe I woudn't get any services during the summer time.
Is it this way all over the U.S.? I live in the mountains of va (not far from the borders of west va.), and not to ditch my kin, but give me a break?
Hi Mary, does Anna have an IEP? if so Im pretty sure you can switch schools and they school district have to pay for it..try local advocacy do you have a ARC in your city.They help out in these situations I just found my advocate in my county.Shes the director for arc they have them all over.Also try parent to parent network online ill get you the site later they will connect you to someone who has a child thats AUTISTIC AND THATS been around for awhile.As long as you have that IEP w/services they still have to pay for it,or call the district.feel free to PM me if you want..been through this.Cyndie