SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

I need to hear some positive transition stories because I am an absolute wreck thinking about DS going from all home services to a full day program of school.

Our school district has an ABA based program in the elementary school where kids who have a diagnosis of AUtism can do half a day of therapy and then go into an integrated preschool classroom with typical and atypical peers. Sounds great. Looks cool. Nice teachers. But I'm a mess. We have our IEP meeting coming this friday and I still have a billion questions that may seem silly to the team at the school. I asked if they send home daily communication on how the day goes - the preschool teacher sends home a "form" with the the circled activies on it. I want more. I can't ask DS to tell me how his day was. I can't ask him what he did today. He dosn't have the language to tell me if something bad happened at school or if someone bit/hit/hurt him.

Did anyone have communication between parents/teachers written into their IEP? Was it met with some resistance by the teachers?

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

I know you are in another state but do your research. If you want your DS to get home services vs. a school setting, you can ask for that. The have to do what's best for your child. The least "restrictive" environment is different for every child.

I just had my CPSE meeting and so many people including my daughter's EI team told me that my district would never grant her home services. However, we are pretty much getting everything we had for the majority of EI plus more ! I went in to the meeting knowing what was best for my dd. I had an answer for everything, although, I have to say they were a pleasure to deal with and didn't argue with me.

If you show the district, you know your son, you know his needs, and you know what 'works' for him, they will have a hard time denying you. Remember just because they fund a "program' for children with special needs, doesn't mean it's a perfect fit for son.

Please FM me anytime. If it wasn't for the support of the other moms/professionals on this board, I wouldn't have been as prepared.

ETA, if you feel that the integrated program may be a bit 'too much' for your son at first, ask if they can just grant him the morning therapy. Tell them you would rethink the full day program when his communication skills increase.

Message edited 4/3/2011 2:47:53 PM.

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

I know exactly how you feel. I was a wreck at the thought of my DD going from at home therapy to full day preschool. I cried at every step from getting her supply list to a week or two after she started. I would cry all the way to work. I never thought she would have adjusted.....but ya know what she did. She's in a great routine. She is so used to being there all day and I truly think it was the best thing for her. I'm sending you lots of hugs cause I know hie you feel. You wi ll be fine and so will your child. FM me if you want to talk!

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

I'm a special Ed teacher, but you can definitely have a communication notebook written into the iep. If you want it daily, ask that it be written that way. Good luck!

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

For over 1.5 years we had EI at home. I was so worried DS would have a hard time taking the bus and have separation anxiety while going to FT preschool. Afterall I was a SAHM, DS was home with me all day long, set in his own way, his stuff.

But you know what, he was fine and so was I. I was a bit teary and thought I would not be ready.

Maybe we both needed the break from our EI routine.

DS loves the bus, loves school. This is the best thing that happened to him.

ETA: We have a notebook that comes home every night in DS' bagback and the teacher writes about his day, etc...

Message edited 4/3/2011 8:25:19 PM.

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

I am the teacher! This sounds like a really wonderful program and chances are the teachers are great. That being said let the teachers know that you want the daily communication form stapled into a notebook that you can both write back in forth in. I am HOPE the teacher won't just circle what activities your DS did in school!

I can't share from my own experience since I do not have any kids but from being on the other end your DS will learn to function in other settings and generalize the skills that he has learned in his home program. He will also become much more independent! Best of luck!

Re: SICK over the thought of losing EI and starting school.

we were preparing for the worst when AJ went from EI to CPSE....

we got much more than we expected and at our 3 months review we got even more

EI - he went from 10 ABA, 3 speech, 3 OT, 1 PT, 1 family trainiing, 3 half days of school each week to

CPSE - 5 full days, 3 hours of family training and 3 speech per week

CPSE after 3 months - 5 full days, 3 hours of SEIT, 2 hours of family training and 3 speech per week, and AJ talks