Hi Jim!
Wow, you posed some good questions and give some very educated
advice on issues! Impressed.
Our situation with head start is that it is a federal "free"
program. Our son qualified due to several issues: adopted,
developmentally and physically delayed. Actually, I had told the
head start people that our son would not start this school year due
to his upcoming surgery, but they pretty much insisted on going
ahead and getting him established in the program. One of the
deciding factors for his surgery being scheduled in Nov is due to
the fact that my husband is a self employed Landscaper and he would
be available to help out and be there for the surgery as it is going
to be several hundred miles away. So for our family we have to
schedule things when the grass isn't in need of mowing, hee hee!
Have to laugh or I'd cry all the time.
Also, to be honest I've been thinking of the needs of my child and
the question posed as to if I didn't think another child could
benefit from his spot never crossed my mind, but yes another child
could benefit from my childs spot. And if that is the case and they
cannot hold our son's spot then yes, by all means let another child
have it. If and when our son is able to return to head start if he
is "supposed" to be there then a spot or his spot will be
available. Just gonna leave it in God's hands and see what he
decides. His plans are so much greater than mine!
Thanks for posting!


--- In cerebral_palsy_support@yahoogroups.com, "Jim" <jmac45@...>
wrote:
>
> 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 -----
> From: Sharon
> To: cerebral_palsy_support@yahoogroups.com
> 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.)
> >
>