Hi,
I'm totally new here. I have twins with sensory issues who are attending a premier pediatric rehab facility in Chicago through EI. The "preschool" meets 3 hours 3x/week with 1 hour of OT, an hour of ST, and an hour at the playgroup (PT). About 10 kids are in the class. The school started last week.
We arrived a few minutes late, with preparations for circle time beginning. One child was crying with her legs draped, perhaps inappropriately, over the side of her chair. A therapist went up to her, with no acknowledgment of the child's tears, let alone effort to comfort her, firmly told her that she needed to put her feet on the floor for circle time. The little girl ignored her. The therapist quickly counted, in a firm voice, "That is 1, 2, and 3" then whisked her away for a time out. She made no other effort to get the little girl to put her feet down.
I then saw this same therapist go up to a little girl who uses a walker. She brusquely told the little girl to sit in the circle. When the little girl didn't quickly do so, without making any other efforts to get the girl in teh circle, she said, "Okay, I'll carry you" and carried this child to the circle.
I WAS APPALLED!!!!! The head teacher was out that day. I pulled the co-teacher aside and told her that my children respond very well to being given choices, such as "would you like to put your feet down by yourself or would you like me to help you put your feet on the floor." I told her by daughter with emotional modulation issues becomes very disorganized and needs help organizing. I told her she relies on others at that point to organize her and that time outs leave her feeling very abandoned at a time she desperately needs someone to organize her.
I left, feeling very troubled and upset. This facility is considered the premier pediatric rehab facility in Chicago. They are supposed to be so great. Yet, I wondered if I was being neglectful to leave my children there. I immediately called the office manager and told her I was troubled by how I saw discipline handled and needed to observe the class. She put me through to the voicemail of the teacher who in charge, who won't be back until Monday. I repeated my concern and said I wanted to omit addressing their discipline of other children and focus on discipline of my children. Upon my return, I asked if my children had cooperated and received any timeouts. (No.) I also told the co-teacher that I had left a voicemail to speak with the head teacher about good ways to discipline my children, so they "dont' have to reinvent the wheel on effective discipline strategies for my children."
It seems the attitude and maltreatment was primarily this one speech therapist.
Any suggestions for how to diplomatically and effectively approach this?
Thank you!
Cindy
I'm totally new here. I have twins with sensory issues who are attending a premier pediatric rehab facility in Chicago through EI. The "preschool" meets 3 hours 3x/week with 1 hour of OT, an hour of ST, and an hour at the playgroup (PT). About 10 kids are in the class. The school started last week.
We arrived a few minutes late, with preparations for circle time beginning. One child was crying with her legs draped, perhaps inappropriately, over the side of her chair. A therapist went up to her, with no acknowledgment of the child's tears, let alone effort to comfort her, firmly told her that she needed to put her feet on the floor for circle time. The little girl ignored her. The therapist quickly counted, in a firm voice, "That is 1, 2, and 3" then whisked her away for a time out. She made no other effort to get the little girl to put her feet down.
I then saw this same therapist go up to a little girl who uses a walker. She brusquely told the little girl to sit in the circle. When the little girl didn't quickly do so, without making any other efforts to get the girl in teh circle, she said, "Okay, I'll carry you" and carried this child to the circle.
I WAS APPALLED!!!!! The head teacher was out that day. I pulled the co-teacher aside and told her that my children respond very well to being given choices, such as "would you like to put your feet down by yourself or would you like me to help you put your feet on the floor." I told her by daughter with emotional modulation issues becomes very disorganized and needs help organizing. I told her she relies on others at that point to organize her and that time outs leave her feeling very abandoned at a time she desperately needs someone to organize her.
I left, feeling very troubled and upset. This facility is considered the premier pediatric rehab facility in Chicago. They are supposed to be so great. Yet, I wondered if I was being neglectful to leave my children there. I immediately called the office manager and told her I was troubled by how I saw discipline handled and needed to observe the class. She put me through to the voicemail of the teacher who in charge, who won't be back until Monday. I repeated my concern and said I wanted to omit addressing their discipline of other children and focus on discipline of my children. Upon my return, I asked if my children had cooperated and received any timeouts. (No.) I also told the co-teacher that I had left a voicemail to speak with the head teacher about good ways to discipline my children, so they "dont' have to reinvent the wheel on effective discipline strategies for my children."
It seems the attitude and maltreatment was primarily this one speech therapist.
Any suggestions for how to diplomatically and effectively approach this?
Thank you!
Cindy