I regret the delay in my response, but I have been out-of-town most of the week.
My son was fortunate to attend a non-profit organization's preschool program starting at the age of two. Parents could drop off their children as early as 7:30 AM and had to pick them up by 5:30 PM. It was was full-day program. The afternoon included a nap time from 12:30-3 PM. There were 12 kids and 3 teachers in the classroom. The classroom had special needs children as well as those with no special needs as well as a mix of other diversities! Volunteers also helped out in the classroom. The class was able to go on one to two field trips a year! Guests also came into the classroom such a doctor or Senator to read a book, Grover (from Seasame Street) or Clowns (from the Circus) to promote the event in town. The program was subsidized by donors of the non-profit organization. Kids who needed speech therapy, physical therapy or occupational therapy could get those services without having to be transported to another location. The preschool program was year-round and without breaks. I could go on about the benefits but will spare you the additional reading material.
As a parent you need to (1) assess your own situation and that of your child's, then (2) begin looking at programs within your community that will meet your needs. For example: We moved so that our child could get the best possible environment that we felt would meet our family's needs. The teacher-child ratio was one that was the best around, hands down. The preschool was accredited. Adaptions were made for each child within their daily routine. Accessibility to therapy services was a great plus for us as well.
The head start's decision as to whether or not to keep a place for child is a difficult one. Obviously if your child is participating in the program, your family made the decision that the head start program would be beneficial for your child. Don't you think the family whose child is on the waiting list could benefit when your child is unable attend too? Is it not possible to postpone the surgery until during the summer break? (Met as rhetorical questions.) In our son's preschool program, parents paid for the service when their kid was unable to attend due to being hospitalized, on vacation, or absent for other reasons. The head start program is a public service as opposed to a more private program; and thus, the situations can be different.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:30 PM
Subject: [cerebral_palsy_support] Re: Reading & Comprehension
Haven't been told that, but we have just started dealing with the
school system in the head start program. I was just telling another
special needs Mom that I will be lucky to keep my sanity by the time
my son reaches 2nd grade. It seems to me like there are so many
hoops and channels that we have to go through w/our special kids.
My son will be having surgery in a couple of weeks and could be out
for several months w/his recovery, therapy, and the school is trying
to tell me that they cannot hold his spot in head start, I don't
think this is right since this surgery is a medically beneficial to
his mobility. I had to ask 4 people at a meeting yesterday the same
question and each one of them told me to ask someone else, that they
didn't know the answer, UGH! One teacher says that they could count
him as not scheduled and then someone else says they can't, I don't
think anyone knows what is happening. All I know is, he will be in
recovery during the winter months and I'm not going to set him back
recovery wise because head start will give his spot away if he
doesn't come back.
Also, have any of you out there had any negativity from the "normal"
kids parents? At our local elementary school there are a group of
parents trying to get a petition for the "special needs kids" to be
taken from mainstream classroom and placed in their own class as
these kids are interfering w/their normal childs learning. There
are 5 autistic children in the kindergarten program at our school
and some must have some outburst, one child had a meltdown and
actually banged the head of a normal child into the water fountain
and chipped a tooth. Just a bad situation all the way around.
I can see both sides. But I get so defensive as a special needs
Mom, my passive child who is limited mobility wise could be the
target of the aggressive special needs as well as the aggressive
normal children.
Lord, help us all!
--- In cerebral_palsy_support@yahoogroups.com, "Doxie"
<doxianne@...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone been told Academics would be a waste of time for their
> special child. And all that was left was social training and
hygiene
> and to be satisfied with that?
> You might be a parent that still would like to see your child
reading.
> Maybe you're a parent that has a child that already can read but
has
> reading problems or short-term comprehension and memory problems.
Maybe
> you'd like him/her to do better in their classes.
> Please check this out. >
> http://groups.msn.com/JeremiahsCircles/program.msnw
> I have this program in my home if you live in Denver, I'd be happy
to
> show it to you. It might be something that could help your child.
> Doxie – in Denver (son age 24, with severe brain damage, spastic
> quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a seizures and etc.)
>
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