An inclusion story

[Guest guest]

My son is in Preschool since the beginning of the year when he turned three

years old, we wanted LRE from the beginning but we were told that since he did

not have any school experience that would be the more appropriate classroom for

him and since he was receiving additional services (OT and PT) he had to be

placed where he is at.

For next year and starting the summer, I want more inclusion and I have been

told that he needs to be 4 years old and completely potty trained to be

considered to a more inclusive classroom! I do not see those requirements

anywhere in the law.

The teacher does the best she can, but she has her hands full trying to work on

ten kids with the same diagnoses, how can she get all of them to socialize if

all of them are lack of social skills? I believe she even have some behavior

going on in the classroom.

During spring brake I had to placed him in a regular preschool since I had to

work, never mentioned the diagnoses, he did great and looked happier than ever,

talked more, he tends to copy behavior so I want him to copy the good behavior

and social skills from an inclusive classroom that already exist at my son's

school!

Bringing an advocate with me to the initial IEP created a harsh environment at

school, even parents think I should be thankful for free education, I am very

thankful, teacher is nice, yes she is and she is good but she may not have all

the tools. I just want to make sure my child gets the " Appropriate Education he

deserves and is entitled to "

Thank you for all the valuable information!!!

>

> Well said, and the EARLIER inclusion starts the BETTER. Preschoolers will not

notice anything wildly different about another preschooler with autism, except

for maybe he/she doesn't talk/talks less.

>

> I believe there is a movement for there being " disability education " in the

schools which is a great idea and would be a start for tearing down the

segregation wall.

>