Preparing for School Services - YIKES! all advice welcome

[Guest guest]

Hi. I posted a few weeks ago about my 3 yr old son's 3-year check-up.

Verbal apraxia was confirmed along with sensory integration disorder

(both of which I already knew!). But the one thing that I wasn't

positive about, yet suspected here and there, was also diagnosed - mild

autism. I am still processing it, digesting it, even though I somehow

knew. I sort of feel sucker-punched, you know? His doctor was

supportive of the things I've been doing - fish oil, home activities,

etc., but said to contact our school (and not to expect too much -

yikes). She also suggested a facility for special needs kids that she

described as a daycare type place but only for special needs kids that

also provides therapy. She made it sound like a potentially great place

for to spend a bit of time, but then I learned that it's far too

expensive for us to handle and not covered by any insurance. To be

honest, I do not think I could turn over to anyone for a few

hours or whatever right now anyway, no matter how highly trained they

may be. So, next step... I called our nearby elementary school to

begin that process. I already know everyone there since my 11 yr old

son previously attended K-middle of 4th grade there (and then I started

homeschooling him). I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans

to homeschool are going to impact 's therapy. It

shouldn't, but ??? who knows? I do want to thank everyone for all the

information provided on this board. I also have the board addiction -

can't go without reading it daily - and have learned so much from all

the experiences posted. Some days are sooooo much harder than others

with . I appreciate the support here and knowing that I'm

definitely not alone in my fight for my children -- my 11 yr old has

Asperger's.

[Guest guest]

If this out of proce range place is indicated by the doc I'd have her

write up a detailed report as to why he needs this and start the

process of getting the school to pay for it.

As for the rest, you can do this. You really can. And everyone here

is here to help. Your child is still your child. The hoped you had

before the appt can be the hopes you have now. There is hope. So much

hope.

>

> Hi. I posted a few weeks ago about my 3 yr old son's 3-year check-

up.

> Verbal apraxia was confirmed along with sensory integration disorder

> (both of which I already knew!). But the one thing that I wasn't

> positive about, yet suspected here and there, was also diagnosed -

mild

> autism. I am still processing it, digesting it, even though I

somehow

> knew. I sort of feel sucker-punched, you know? His doctor was

> supportive of the things I've been doing - fish oil, home

activities,

> etc., but said to contact our school (and not to expect too much -

> yikes). She also suggested a facility for special needs kids that

she

> described as a daycare type place but only for special needs kids

that

> also provides therapy. She made it sound like a potentially great

place

> for to spend a bit of time, but then I learned that it's far

too

> expensive for us to handle and not covered by any insurance. To be

> honest, I do not think I could turn over to anyone for a few

> hours or whatever right now anyway, no matter how highly trained

they

> may be. So, next step... I called our nearby elementary school to

> begin that process. I already know everyone there since my 11 yr

old

> son previously attended K-middle of 4th grade there (and then I

started

> homeschooling him). I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my

plans

> to homeschool are going to impact 's therapy. It

> shouldn't, but ??? who knows? I do want to thank everyone for

all the

> information provided on this board. I also have the board

addiction -

> can't go without reading it daily - and have learned so much from

all

> the experiences posted. Some days are sooooo much harder than

others

> with . I appreciate the support here and knowing that I'm

> definitely not alone in my fight for my children -- my 11 yr old has

> Asperger's.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

If its a special needs preschool and not a day care- than the school

district can do their evaluations and hopefully come up with the same

recommendations. The fact that you have the recommendation from the

doctor should help a LOT with his placement! If he qualifies for full

day which would be regular preschool stuff like letters, numbers and

socialization- he'd also get all his therapies there. But you do not

pay a dime!! Its all covered by your school district. We did that

here- my daughter went full day at the age of 3- with busing and all.

Its hard to take that step and harder on us than it is on them to hand

them over to anyone else for a full day. But a full day is 9am-2pm

with naps in between. It goes fast and gives you some free time too!

The school that we used here is also a regular preschool where you can

pay to send your child. Thats where they have integrated classrooms of

typical and special needs kids.

[Guest guest]

>

" I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

who knows? "

In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school schedules,

etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

homeschooling.

This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

Sincerely,

Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

[Guest guest]

Do you use a particular curriculum?? Or different for each child?

Roxanne

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of debjward

Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:59 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Preparing for School Services - YIKES!

all advice welcome

>

" I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

who knows? "

In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school schedules,

etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

homeschooling.

This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

Sincerely,

Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

[Guest guest]

Thank you SO much for your reply. I am really kind of freaking out

about the idea of putting in a school setting -- actually, I've

pretty much decided it isn't going to happen. I am hoping that what you

described can take place - some one-on-one for with big brother

and me there. Today, I spoke with the school's speech therapist. She

isn't aware of ANY one-on-one options and said he might do well in their

" all day " preschool for special needs kids. HA! I know he won't do

well there - he's got so many sensory issues, isn't potty trained, isn't

completely weaned (I know, I know - I am trying, though). When my older

son was still going to public school at this school, just hated

going in. Even when he was little he'd just cry and scream the second

we went through the front door. And I got the impression this therapist

thinks I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about since I

haven't had " formal " testing for apraxia, whatever that means. I know

he has it, his pediatrician confirmed it, so what more do they want? I

don't want to make try to jump through a bunch of hoops he cannot

jump through (yet) to satisfy some blanket criteria they've set up.

Sigh... I'll just take it one step at a time right now and see what

comes up. I won't allow anything that I feel will set back or

distress him. He and I are already frazzled enough by all of his

challenges.

Thanks again!

> >

> " I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

> are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

> who knows? "

>

> In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

> all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

> they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

> child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

> during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

> think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

> needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

>

> I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school

schedules,

> etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

> so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

> homeschooling.

>

> This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

> two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

> would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

> 1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

>

> Sincerely,

> Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

>

[Guest guest]

If he qualifies for ESE services and needs 1 to 1 he should get it.

From: <pyrgirl66@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Preparing for School Services - YIKES! all

advice welcome

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 2:53 PM

Thank you SO much for your reply. I am really kind of freaking out

about the idea of putting in a school setting -- actually, I've

pretty much decided it isn't going to happen. I am hoping that what you

described can take place - some one-on-one for with big brother

and me there. Today, I spoke with the school's speech therapist. She

isn't aware of ANY one-on-one options and said he might do well in their

" all day " preschool for special needs kids. HA! I know he won't

do

well there - he's got so many sensory issues, isn't potty trained,

isn't

completely weaned (I know, I know - I am trying, though). When my older

son was still going to public school at this school, just hated

going in. Even when he was little he'd just cry and scream the second

we went through the front door. And I got the impression this therapist

thinks I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about since I

haven't had " formal " testing for apraxia, whatever that means. I

know

he has it, his pediatrician confirmed it, so what more do they want? I

don't want to make try to jump through a bunch of hoops he cannot

jump through (yet) to satisfy some blanket criteria they've set up.

Sigh... I'll just take it one step at a time right now and see what

comes up. I won't allow anything that I feel will set back or

distress him. He and I are already frazzled enough by all of his

challenges.

Thanks again!

> >

> " I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

> are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

> who knows? "

>

> In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

> all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

> they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

> child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

> during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

> think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

> needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

>

> I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school

schedules,

> etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

> so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

> homeschooling.

>

> This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

> two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

> would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

> 1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

>

> Sincerely,

> Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

>

[Guest guest]

The only curriculum we use would be for math for algebra and above. Learning

addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division we do/did hand clapping,

beanbag tossing, jump roping, and hopscotch. It's neat how my 3 oldest can do

mental math involving several steps whereas I need pencil and paper!

We read a lot. I have always had to remind my children they need to get some

sleep and to stop reading. Today my copy of " The Tales of Beetle the Bard " by

JK Rowling is due! It's my Christmas present from my children and it will be

hard to wait until Christmas to read it.

> >

> " I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

> are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

> who knows? "

>

> In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

> all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

> they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

> child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

> during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

> think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

> needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

>

> I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school schedules,

> etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

> so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

> homeschooling.

>

> This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

> two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

> would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

> 1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

>

> Sincerely,

> Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Roxanne. I tried a few different approaches with Blake - my 11 yr

old. He is a very science-minded kid and loves history. He hates

written work, though, unless it is his own writing of a story. So,

right now, we unschool. That may sound strange - it did to me at first,

too. But it's been really great for Blake. It is basically doing what

you did with your kids before they went into school -- you know,

teaching them to walk and (hopefully) talk, about colors and numbers,

etc., just on a grow-with-them basis. Blake has more control over what

he is learning - we kind of go with the flow - and we can look anything

up online. And there is something to be learned in pretty much every

activity you can think of. He likes to do math stuff when we cook or

take care of his fish tank. We try to take a field trip nearly each

month, sometimes more than once, and he's in a weekly PE program at a

nearby church. He's made some friends there and has a great time.

Since leaving public school, Blake has become himself again - happy,

social, relaxed, curious. That was all sort of taken out of him when he

was in school. The school he went to, in my opinion, was rushing the

kids so much. They started algebra in 4th grade, changing classes, etc.

All of the " fun " stuff was getting squashed out or omitted completely.

Blake once said he felt like an apple on an orange tree there. I told

him it's because he thinks outside the box, and that is fine. He said

he just busted their box and got away. Funny for a 10 year old to say.

But as far as curriculums, there are a lot of good ones out there. I

think a lot of people in our co-op like Son Light the best. I can send

you some links to homeschooling stuff if you're interested.

> >

> " I am wondering if my homeschooling him and my plans to homeschool

> are going to impact 's therapy. It shouldn't, but ???

> who knows? "

>

> In my experience homeschooling and therapy go well together. I bring

> all my children to ST twice a week for an hour each time (sometimes

> they help in the front office or in the OT room if they need an older

> child helper and I've got several to choose from). My children help

> during the speech therapy sessions so they can help at home too! I

> think this direct exposure with a variety of children with special

> needs has made them tremendously empathetic at an early age.

>

> I don't have to schedule therapy so it coinsides with school

schedules,

> etc. I try to schedule it so there is less traffic on the road but not

> so early that anyone has to wake up early since we love that about

> homeschooling.

>

> This is the first year I am more of a facilitator than a teacher to my

> two oldest who are 12 and almost 11! (I always wondered if this time

> would come.) My 8yo requires more direct attention and of course my 5

> 1/2 yo requires active adult participation.

>

> Sincerely,

> Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 12, almost 11, almost 9, and 5 1/2

>

>

>

>

>

>