Update

I haven't posted in awhile because we were going through the process of taking DS to a private psychologist.

We met with him tonight just DH and I for his final recommendation.

He definitely noticed problems with attention/focusing and stated in his opinion we should absolutely pursue the eval through the school district as the next step.

He said he would be extremely surprised if when DS starts pre-school, if the teacher does not contact us with concern about these issues.

He also stated that he would encourage us to let the school know in advance so the teacher can channel these behaviors in other ways (i.e. giving him tasks to do outside of the circle of kids).

So this is where I'm at. I completed the form to request services awhile ago from the school but have been holding off on submitting.

He also raved about an agency called "Kidz Therapies" as one of the best on LI so I am going to request them.

Thanks for listening!

Re: Update

Did you contact EI or your district? My concern would be that a "regular" preschool will not be equipped to provide him with the attention or services that he needs.

We toured regular schools w/ DS (where they did not want any students straying from the circle, not participating, etc, and where the instructors had no training), but decided on a developmental preschool that is trained to handle such issues. His teachers all have a special ed background.

Message edited 8/8/2012 8:30:47 PM.

Re: Update

Not yet. I have most of the packet ready, I just need to call the girl to find out when she is there to drop it off.

We are sending him to St. Williams this fall. (Seaford)

I am paying month by month so I guess we can cross that bridge if needed.

This is all so new so I don't even know what resources are out there or what he is eligible for.

I know I sound horribly naive but in my professional life, I've only worked with adults. Where do I begin to look for a "developmental" preschool?

Is that something you pay for as well?

Update

Contact the school district for evaluations if he is older than 3 or approaching 3. If he qualifies for services, they may recommend that he go to a special needs preschool, or he may be able to get services at St. Williams, if that is where he ends up going. Start with the district and the evaluations and go from there.

Re: Update

Message edited 8/9/2012 2:12:49 PM.

Update

Thanks!

Re: Update

Well I dropped off the paperwork to start the eval today. I had to deal with the Red Hat Society (a.k.a. the school secretary). She told me to come at 7:30 and then I sat there till 8 waiting for her.

THEN, I had to wait for her to "get her coffee" then it took her another 20 minutes to go over just the forms with DH and my contact info.

Then she kept questioning why I was requesting an eval if I already saw a child psychologist.



I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Update

Ugh! So annoying!!! Hang in there!!! Just remember you are your childs advocate and dont let these so called experts intimidate you:) There are plenty of dev. pre schools on LI. You are in Watagh/Seaford Im assuming... there is one in Bellmore, Syosset, Lindenhurst, BayShore..so many more. Get the eval, see what the outcome is and then ake it from there... I know it is overwhelming..believe me. If you have ANY questions feel free to reach out to me:)

Re: Update

We are Seaford also. We didn't have any issues with any of the staff conducting the evals. Actually, one of the people evaluating him encouraged us to get an OT eval and a new psych eval (he had been evaluated a few months prior for EI but didn't qualify). Both of our IEP meetings went smoothly and we've been happy with the services the district has provided so far.

Good luck!

Re: Update

Actually we aren't in the Seaford district but he will be starting nursery school at SW's since that's where my ILs live and they will pick him up while I am at work.

I was surprised, the woman from Kidz Therapy called me yesterday already to start setting stuff up.