Falling through the cracks

December 2, 2008

I have came in contact with many families that argue that their

children are falling through the cracks due to being High

Functioning. Let me share my story and please know that my story is

MOST common with others that have children.

My son is 4 years old and did not qualify for Pre-school

intervention. I did manage to get him into Head Start and thought we

were on the right path. Every day that I dropped my son off I got a

phone call to come and get him that the teachers do not know how to

deal with him. I made suggestions such as move him to another room,

no space for that.....give him one on one time during his time he can

not focus, not enough staff for that. I took my son out of that

program thanking I can find another program to serve him. When I was

in the office of a local day care/pre-school, I had my son with me

and he was trying to see every part of the room at one time. He did

not have a tantrum but he was busy due to the fact it was a new

area. I was informed at that time that they can not serve him and

give him the one to one he needs.

He is now home with me (yes, I had to quit my job) and not receiving

services. I have a saying----a child only educated at school is an

uneducated child-----I also know that he needs to learn from others

as well.

When he starts kindergarten, he will have to wait about a month or so

to be referred to special programs, than he will have to go through

the TEAR steps which can take half the school year. So this is every

day that my child will be behind.

Services are needed and they are needed now. I am a mom and an

advocate and I am concern about not only my child's education but the

education of my community and the future of our children.

We really need a program that can serve High Functioning children.

*FYI-my son has the diagnoses of PDD,

Thanks for your time and I hope I have your support,

Hall

Tifton GA.

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