re-difference between autism and PDD

March 28, 2002

Hi Gail,

I talked to you on ADD board before. We also live in a rural area that

doesn't provide special classrooms for disabled children including

preschool. I think you have two choices. One would be to have him

remain in preschool another year (maybe even switch him to regular

preschool). My apraxic ds does very well in regular preschool-he gets

special services like speech, PT and indiviualized care there. The

other choice is to send him to K. More and more schools are encouraging

staying more than one year in K as a way to decrease LD in higher grades

and because it is harder for kids to be left back in higher grades. If

he needs more one on one care than teacher can give the school needs to

provide an aide to stay with him. Do you have an IEP meeting scheduled

yet? In my 4th graders class there is a mentally challenged boy who has

had an aide since pre-school. Also a friend in a different rural school

SI/apraxic pre-schooler qualifies for an aide as does another SI

Kindergartner in her school. I can assure you there is a wide age gap

in my 4th graders class. Your grandson will not be the oldest if you

delay him until he is ready for school. I personally am relieved that

ds has October birthday and needs to stay in preschool for another year.

Even though he is now talking in full sentences I do not feel he is

mature enough for K yet (ie he knows most of his letters but can not

sing ABC song, little things like that). One thing I have noticed with

age 10 ds is the older kids in his class are no big deal to him but how

well they do academically and athletically matters a great deal. By the

way Gail you have greatly inspired me. I figure if you can take on

three kids as a grandma then there is nothing my two special needs kids

can throw at me that I can't handle.Best of luck. Dawn

My biggest issue right now is what to do with him for school next year.

He is not ready for kindergarten. He has been in a special ed pre-school

for almost two years. There are no special ed kindergarten classes where

I live.

Has anyone had this problem?

I'm open to any ideas and suggestions.

Gail

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