Early intervention pre-school | Autism PDD

My husband is in the Air Force and we just moved to Clovis, NM three months ago. Leo had his first day at the Early Intervention school out here and I wasnt impressed. I know it was only his first day, and I stayed the 2 1/2 hours and made sure he was okay. The teacher I feel doesnt believe in Autism, she was offish towards me, and they all seemed stressed and tired and it was only the first day!! They also told me there is no PT and they doent know when there getting one, I was told when we enrolled him they had everything to assist Leo with. They didnt try to engage Leo in any activities and left him sitting with me most of the time, I guess my question is how much should I expect from an early intervention school?

What does Leo's IEP say?  Does it say that he has autism or developmental delay?  Does it indicate that they have to make sure he is included in the classroom, learn social skills, etc?  It is very important for the IEP to be detailed.

Also, I'd give the teacher a week to get to know the students and adjust because the first week can be stressful when getting to know the routines of the kids.  It doesn't help that on the first day parents bombard the teachers w/ their kids special needs.  Not that is wrong, but it can be overwhelming.  See if you can plan a meeting with the teacher this week to discuss some issues about your child or write it in a memo or e-mail and give it to her.

Based on your description, it appears that the school may not be right for Leo.  So doing a new IEP and investigating the services offered by each school needs to be done so you can find the best place for him.  Good luck.  I am in that process now.

 

Candy, I am so sorry that you feel your childs needs are not being met. Perhaps it will get better. I agree with the previous post, what does his IEP outline for him? Has he had evaluations to determine the supports he will need? I too am very, very, very (go on and on with the very's) displeased with my childs IEP and the supports or lack thereof.

Below are some possible resources for you, you may already have them. P&A and advise you of your rights regarding the PT. You may be able to take him somewhere else if they are not able to meet his needs.

It may just be me, but I feel that the States are being allowed to have greater and greater discrepinces with the service they offer, under IDEA. I am right here with you, I pulled DS last year because I was so displeased and am looking at the EXACT same thing again this year.

 

I would also suggest checking out www.wrightslaw.com and seeing what legal right you have. If they cant provide your child with the therapies and treatments he needs then they will have to pay for you to take him to one privately.Thanks for the responses and info, I appreciate it. I looked over his IEP again and it says that he needs st,ot, and pt for him to benefit from the program. Also it says he needs to be in a small classroom with a lot of one on one time, he still has trouble following cues and classroom rules. High degree of consistency is needed and adult guidance is needed to provide social interactions with peers. When I observed the class yesterday, there were 6 kids all more advanced than Leo and they are expecting more kids, not sure how many more. From the way the teachers were talking there will be little one on one time and not much structure from what I can tell. He is also the only child not potty trained, and needs assistance washing hands and etc...The teacher said she read the IEP and asked questions but I felt like she wasnt listening. I know they have hard jobs but so do we as parents, it's tougher on us and I think some teachers forget that. His old school and teachers were awesome and really took time out to help Leo. I will read up on my rights and make sure they follow his IEP. Today I'm going to ask them what they will do for PT, he needs it. He hasnt been fully dx with anything yet but we know he has developmental delays and it was evident yesterday when he was around the other children. I'm just scared and have anger over the school systems out here, no funding and little help for the teachers is provided. At least my daughter has a great teacher so far Thanks for listening to me vent

Okay if he hasn't been fully diagnosed yet, why does your signature say he has autism?  Having developmentally delays and having autism is really a big leap.  A child can be developmentally delayed and even have pdd-nos but that doesn't mean he is truly autistic.

Tammy

tabitha,

When I first started using the board I was going off of what the school said and what me and dh had been researching online and off. Dh and I feel like he is on the spectrum and we are still in the process of getting him officially dx, also I didnt know at the time that the school cant make that dx, so I assumed at the time the school was able to dx. No one ever explained that to us. I just recently found that out using this board. I will change my signature today.

Hi

I would definitely get him tested.  Also, always, Always, ALWAYS go with your gut feeling.  YOU are the one who KNOWS your child best!  Good luck with your evaluation.  Keep smiling and know that you are never alone. 

CAndy,

My son was first labeled speech delayed, then global DD, then PDD, then autistic with cognitive delay. I was like you, I researched when he was just labeled spech delays and had concluded he had classic autism. The Ped Neuro calls it 'infantile' autism and since my son had words and lost them, he labeled that epileptic aphasia. Both of these new words sent me into another tailspin, until the Ped and resources on the internet, assured me that all they mean is he has autism and that he had words and lost them (which is not unusual in autisim) It about a year to move from speech delay to autism. All of this is just as I understand it, I am certainly no expert, but I just wanted you to know that I do understnd where you are. I am pleased that it seems your DH is pulling his share of the load, my DH refused to even accept the possiblility that anything was wrong with my chil, it is my opinion that the Ped enabled and encouraged this. I was the evil one who demanded DS be evaluated, more or less going against DH and Dr.

You are doing a great job and I wish you and your child the best!

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