Re: What happens after EIP?

September 6, 2004

I am in Canada, so I don't have a good handle on the way the system works in

the states. But up here the school may be responsible for therapies once

kids reach a certain age, but that's only for funding purposes. The

therapists would go into the homes but the money would come from the school

system instead of the social services system. Perhaps that is something you

could look into. Maybe speaking to the neighbourhood school board for

special services would be a start.

As far as your kids managing to work the school to their advantage. All kids

will try LOL! I think your child that is bigger than his age, will meet the

odd teacher when he is outside or in the halls that may mistake him for an

older child, but teachers/staff are good at figuring out where the kids

belong pretty fast and will expect what is age appropriate from him. He will

most likely play with his classmates so he doesn't have to worry much about

older kids assuming he's a play mate in error. Kids have a whole system in

the school yard for identification purposes and know who belongs where etc.

The problem outside is usually the older grade girls coming to pick up and

baby the smaller kindergarten kids (whether they have a growth disorder or

not). But as far as the school itself goes, the staff will expect exactly

what is normal for a child of that age (the downside of those rigid

expectations is for the child who is immature or delayed in development no

matter what size they are........the expectation is age appropriate and

often not much leeway is given for a child who is delayed).

Hope that helps.

Debby

What happens after EIP?

> Hi Guys,

>

> Several months ago, Jillie my 27 month old RSS daughter saw her

> neurologist for a routine check up. She told me that when EIP ends

> on Jillie's 3rd birthday, that the school system becomes responsible

> for continuing her therapies. She also said that I have to send her

> to pre school for the therapies. This possibility worries me a great

> deal. I don't think Jillie will be ready for school in 9 months time

> from a medical standpoint. She requires oxygen for at least 50% of

> any 24 hr period. She is predominantly GT fed and she is so

> hypotonic - not walking or talking yet etc.. If pre school is not

> mandated for a regular child, how can it be mandated for one with

> special needs? If I refuse to sign her up for pre school, will the

> school system refuse to provide therapy? Having been raised in

> England and doing all my basic schooling there, I am woefully

> ignorant of the school system here.

>

> Do any of you have a non RSS child who is much taller/bigger than

> his/her age? I am preparing to send my 5 yr old son to Kindergarten

> this Tuesday. He is at least 50 inches tall and 50+ pounds. He

> easily looks like an 8 or 9 yr old child. I am very worried that he

> will be expected to act older because of his appearance and will not

> be treated like a 5 yr old. I find this outside the school

> environment. Can anyone relate? Does anyone have words of wisdom.

>

> It's strange having 2 children who are as different as possible.

> Neither are on a growth chart. One social and eager to learn, the

> other timid and content to just hang out with Mama. I fear that

> Ethan will get away with nothing because of his size and Jillie will

> get away with murder because of her size.

>

> Any thoughts or info greatly appreciated.

>

September 6, 2004

Hi ,

So, sorry I haven't kept up on my email this month. I'm going

through the same thing with Braeden. IEP ends when the child turns

3. Then the school district takes over. Although, he does have in

home visits currenly from a special ed teacher that is paid for by

the district. The special ed teacher is really pushing for Braeden

to start pre-school this month which I'm extremely nervous about.

We had an appointment with Braeden's pulminoligist a few weeks ago

and he hesitantly agreed to the " special ed " pre-school but, no day

care, group play, airline travel etc... because of the risk of him

catching a respitory infection.

The positive point is that the IEP day care staff is familiar with

Braeden based on in-home visits and they have a public nurse on

staff. They are very aware of his special needs as well as other

kids that will be attending day care. So, we are going to let

Braeden go two days a week for an hour and a half each time. I still

feel a little uneasy about it but, Braeden and Delaney have been so

isolated this last year that I think the socialization will be good

for them.

Do you have a special ed teacher visitng Jillie? Braeden isn't

walking yet and not very verbal either and is 24 hour G-tube fed.

I think when they turn 3 the county will pay for special ed and

speech therapy but, OC will be handled by your insurance. When I

asked the special ed teacher why they mandated (They can't actually

force you to put your child in pre-school of course.) pre-school she

said it was to assess the needs of the child and develop a plan to

make it easier for the child to transition into the school system

with their peers.

Jodie Z seems to know allot about this so, hopefully she can offer

some wisdom.

Hang in there. I know it's tough. I don't know if I have helped any

because we are going throuhg the same thing at the same time I just

wanted you to know we are thinking of you.

Saundra

Mom to Braeden (RSS) and Delaney soon to be 2 years!

> Hi Guys,

>

> Several months ago, Jillie my 27 month old RSS daughter saw her

> neurologist for a routine check up. She told me that when EIP ends

> on Jillie's 3rd birthday, that the school system becomes

responsible

> for continuing her therapies. She also said that I have to send

her

> to pre school for the therapies. This possibility worries me a

great

> deal. I don't think Jillie will be ready for school in 9 months

time

> from a medical standpoint. She requires oxygen for at least 50% of

> any 24 hr period. She is predominantly GT fed and she is so

> hypotonic - not walking or talking yet etc.. If pre school is not

> mandated for a regular child, how can it be mandated for one with

> special needs? If I refuse to sign her up for pre school, will the

> school system refuse to provide therapy? Having been raised in

> England and doing all my basic schooling there, I am woefully

> ignorant of the school system here.

>

> Do any of you have a non RSS child who is much taller/bigger than

> his/her age? I am preparing to send my 5 yr old son to

Kindergarten

> this Tuesday. He is at least 50 inches tall and 50+ pounds. He

> easily looks like an 8 or 9 yr old child. I am very worried that

he

> will be expected to act older because of his appearance and will

not

> be treated like a 5 yr old. I find this outside the school

> environment. Can anyone relate? Does anyone have words of wisdom.

>

> It's strange having 2 children who are as different as possible.

> Neither are on a growth chart. One social and eager to learn, the

> other timid and content to just hang out with Mama. I fear that

> Ethan will get away with nothing because of his size and Jillie

will

> get away with murder because of her size.

>

> Any thoughts or info greatly appreciated.

>

September 6, 2004

hi victoria!!

christopher started preschool last jan. at the elementry school. he

is in the preschool disabled class there and receives ot and pt

services through this. his class only has 4 other kids in it, there

is a teacher, an asst. teacher, and 2 aides. plus the speech

teacher works with them every day as well. their is a child in the

regular preschool in the morning that is tube fed and has a trache

(sp) stoma for breathing.

as far as ethan, i know where you are coming from nicholas is tall

for his age too!! he is 53lbs and 48 " (at last dr appt in march

probably a little bigger now) he is in 1st grade this year but was

one of the biggest in his kindergarten class last year. he seemed

to do pretty well. his teachers luckly reliazed that he was only 5

even though he looked older and treated him like they would any

other 5 yr old.

good luck!!!

jodie c.

In RSS-Support , " nightnuse4babies "

<nightnuse4babies@y...> wrote:

> Hi Guys,

>

> Several months ago, Jillie my 27 month old RSS daughter saw her

> neurologist for a routine check up. She told me that when EIP ends

> on Jillie's 3rd birthday, that the school system becomes

responsible

> for continuing her therapies. She also said that I have to send

her

> to pre school for the therapies. This possibility worries me a

great

> deal. I don't think Jillie will be ready for school in 9 months

time

> from a medical standpoint. She requires oxygen for at least 50% of

> any 24 hr period. She is predominantly GT fed and she is so

> hypotonic - not walking or talking yet etc.. If pre school is not

> mandated for a regular child, how can it be mandated for one with

> special needs? If I refuse to sign her up for pre school, will the

> school system refuse to provide therapy? Having been raised in

> England and doing all my basic schooling there, I am woefully

> ignorant of the school system here.

>

> Do any of you have a non RSS child who is much taller/bigger than

> his/her age? I am preparing to send my 5 yr old son to

Kindergarten

> this Tuesday. He is at least 50 inches tall and 50+ pounds. He

> easily looks like an 8 or 9 yr old child. I am very worried that

he

> will be expected to act older because of his appearance and will

not

> be treated like a 5 yr old. I find this outside the school

> environment. Can anyone relate? Does anyone have words of wisdom.

>

> It's strange having 2 children who are as different as possible.

> Neither are on a growth chart. One social and eager to learn, the

> other timid and content to just hang out with Mama. I fear that

> Ethan will get away with nothing because of his size and Jillie

will

> get away with murder because of her size.

>

> Any thoughts or info greatly appreciated.

>

September 6, 2004

,

My son Jake is 4 1/2 years old and will begin his third year of

special ed preschool this week. Previous to this, he was receiving

E.I. services since he was six months old. The school is responsible

for taking care of medical needs. They will have to be trained in the

best way to care for Jillie (probably by you....because Mom's know

best). At the beginning of Jake's first year, we trained the nurse,

clinic aide, teacher and class aides in how to do a g-tube feed.

Everyone was so eager an interested to learn. We were lucky.

In our county (not sure if this is the case everywhere) your child

either qualifies for classroom based preschool or home based

preschool. We really wanted classroom based for Jake because of the

social aspect of school. So you might want to inquire about this.

I do have to say it is an adjustment since E.I. is one on one and you

get written reports at every visit. We were nervous at first to

switch. But, Jake has done so well. In the beginning he received

speech and pt. This year he is the language model in his class

because he has done so well that he no longer needs speech therapy!!!

He also receives pt and ot. We also get pt privately, since the

school's only concern is that he can access things in school, which

limits his " need " for pt in the school. So, in private sessions we

work with him more intensely (our insurance covers this in full).

My advice would be to call the school where Jillie would go and ask if

you can watch a class in action, I think you will be pleasantly

suprised. It really eased our concerns.

Best of luck,

Alison