What exactly happens at a special ed preschool?

Are kids there getting ABA all day long? Or is it more like a typical preschool day with some extra help?

My son is 2 and was recently diagnosed with autism. He is getting tons of ABA therapy plus speech and OT through EI. I was looking on some special ed preschool websites and I can't tell what kind of therapies he would be getting there, other than some possible pull-outs for OT and speech. Do they do pull-outs for ABA as well? If so, what is the point of sending him to a preschool if he would be getting so many pull-outs? Some of these schools have "autism programs" but from what I can tell, those are for kids who are older than preschool.

So what is the point of the preschool if they are not doing ABA with the kids? From everything I have read (and granted I am still new to all of this), ABA is effective but works best with young kids. So if kids are getting ABA through EI until age 3, and then not in preschool... I guess I don't see that as too beneficial.

Like I said, I am still new to all of this and still learning, so please bear with me. Sites like this one are great places to get the "inside scoop" from BTDT parents, and I really appreciate it!

Re: What exactly happens at a special ed preschool?

That would depend on your child's individual plan set forth with your district when DC ages out of EI.

My son is in a pre-school program at DDI (Developmental Disabilities Institute) where he receives ABA training in a class with 6 kids, one teacher, and three teacher assistants. He spends 6-hours a day there all year round because that's what we felt was best for him. They also have integrated rooms where half of the kids are typical and the ohter half have IEP's for various reasons. He has been pushing into that room for up to four hours per day. He's been progressing nicely.

So there are definitely schools that do ABA training or a mix of it. Your son is young so who knows how he will progress. You may be surpirsed how well he does and maybe he won't need strict ABA all day like mine did in the beginning of preschool. And if he does, then there will be a school for him for that. You will be given a list by your district to look into, but you are not bound by them. I live in Port Jeff and my son gets bused to Huntington. It was the best program for his needs and they agreed.

Good luck. This board will help you a lot.

Re: What exactly happens at a special ed preschool?

There are many different programs even within schools. I can speak to the school my 3 y/o son is going to now. He gets 1 hour of one on one ABA a day in class. He is also pulled out 3x30 for speech 3x30 for OT and 2x30 for PT. I specifically chose a self contained full day class (9-2:30) because I did not think he was ready to lose the ABA completely and because I felt with all the pull outs how much would he really get out of it. It is important to note that while he only gets one hour of individual ABA, ABA is done group wise throughout the day in the natural environment. Another school we looked at had fulltime autism program. Half the day was in an integrated environment and the other half was in a self contained more ABA focused environment.