Talk to me about preschool for 3 yo w/DSI

I think this really depends on your school district. I'm in Cherry Creek School District in Colorado, and they are fabulous. But I am not impressed by what I hear from parents in neighboring Denver and Jefferson County school districts.

My oldest will be going to Kindergarden in the fall, and he just spent 2 years in a fabulous integrated Autism preschool program. My daughter is getting ready to start preschool this fall after receiving EI for a variety of special needs (including sensory issues). She will be going half-days, four times a week. She will be in an intergrated program with about 4 other special needs kids and about 10 regular kids. There will be 4 adults in the room for 16 kids -- a preschool teacher, a special ed teacher, an aide, and a rotating specialist (one day each of OT, Speech, Mental Health, and ?? I forget -- I'd check her IEP, but it's in my room where the toddler is asleep). Riding the bus is an option, but not one that I selected, and it is the parents' decision. She will be in preschool for 2 years, and the goals for her first year are to just help her be comfortable in that setting -- some academic goals, but mostly social goals. The second year will be more of a Kindergarden prep year, if that is appropriate.

As I said, it depends on where you are. Not only is our school district wonderful, and the individuals in the schools are wonderful. At the IEP, a member of the preschool team came and took notes about the specific accommodations that help my daughter. She took copies of everything I brought (my daughter's "resume" that I had written, the neurologist report, and the information I had highlighted about the ways in which dyspraxia affects her) and she really looked and made notes on the papers. These are people I feel I can trust.

Please feel free to ask more questions, here or via PM. I don't know how much I can help, but I do feel your anxiety. I spent a great deal of time short of breath and lightheaded until we got this all settled -- I actually worried more about her than about my autistic son.

All the best,

Tara

My son never had EI, but he did do the speciaed preschool program.
I can understand your concerns, I had some of the same concerns. You don't have to put your dd on the bus. Plenty of kids in these programs get driven by their parents. In general, the teachers are well trained to deal with the kinds of issues that your dd has. Most of the other students will have similar issues, and the classroom will be set up to deal with those types of problems. You may want to set up a visit to the classrooms they are considering for her, but it may be too late this school year. The benefits of a program likethis are the therapy, specialists, and the respite for you. I think you really need to be knowledgabel about your rites as a parent. Your daughter should not just be shoved into whatever slots they have available, an individualized education program needs to be developed- with your input as well as the schools. If you feel that this program is too much for her, she couldgo only part of the time- maybe just on the days the therapist she needs to see is there.

I have my ds in an ECP at his school. He will be getting the extended school year programming that they offer for the SN children with severe delays. I am totally with you about 3 being too young for bussing. I think 4 is too young, but Adam rides the bus to school and I pick him up. Our school district has two people on the bus at all times so there is someone other than the bus driver to keep tabs on them. They also have special car seats and seat belts to keep your child safe. That is the only reason I agreed to the busing {ok, that and taking dd out in the cold twice every day}.

I also believe that it all depends on the school district that you are in. Maybe asking them if you can bring your dd to one of their classes and see how she does. Sort of an evaluation of how she reacts to everything and then make your decision. With her only being 3 they can't MAKE you enroll her in their program. After all, contrary to popular opinion, YOU know what is best for her! Good luck with getting things all worked out for your dd.