Inclusion

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am interested in how everyone feels regarding inclusion. That is,

how you feel about our kids being in an educational setting with

children who speak at an age appropriate level.

I was asked to find a Church Preschool Program (half-day) for my soon

to be three year old for this upcoming school year 02-03. The

thinking behind this is that he would attend the church program

during the morning and then a couple of times a week receive therapy

thru the public school special needs program.

If anyone has experience with inclusion could you let me know how it

worked out for you? Your expectations, disappointments, surprises and

so on... especially for a young child who will look just like his

peers but be so *obviously* different.

It's hard as it is now. People who have (ummm) some manners ask " how

old is he? " as if I don't get their meaning. I know what they are

implying, what they are thinking. They are wondering " What is wrong

with that kid? Shouldn't he be talking now? He's weird/bizzare " and

then fake a smile and they walk away. Of course, to add fuel to the

fire, my son will spin in a circle about a thousand times to REALLY

convince them how RIGHT they are. And so they think whatever they

think and walk away into land of the normal people about as fast they

can.

This I can handle. But I don't know if I can bear to have my son

realize that he is different. Just two months shy of his 3rd bday he

assumes every child is just like him. Will he realize at 3 1/2, when

he enters " school " , that HE is different? Will they too smile (or

scream in fear...it's happened) and run away? It breaks my heart to

think of this. But I am being encouraged to put him in this setting.

And I want him there. But I want it to work out for the good of

everyone. Okay, I'm getting down from my soapbox to look for the

kleenex.

Thanks in advance,

Amy

Okay, after re-reading this I see that inclusion might actually make

him feel more normal than different. Right? I don't know. Ack!