Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

I've been doing ALOT of research and have found that the Boces ECC in Levittown has a GREAT colalborative program for kids with language delays. The district keeps telling me DS belongs in a typical preschool like he is in now but I can't help but wondering if he would have progressed even more if I fought for a school program for him for this year. I am finding now as he and his friends are progressing from 3-4 yrs. old I see the differences in the speech/language even more. To top is off he is at risk for ADD and/or Auditory Processing Disorder. He is keeping up academically with his peers in his nursery school which is why the district feels he should stay there.

He currently gets speech 4x's a week and they may want to add an additional day. The speech sessions are only 25 min. really after all is said and done. I feel a languaged based program would really be great for him and get him ready for Kindergarten. His SEIT and his nursery school believe the same.

I just feel like I let the district bully me this year. Maybe part of it was hoping his language would progress much more quickly than it has been. I just feel I have done a disservice to him. I am just having a tough day. I feel like I lost a whole year of prepping him for kindergarten this year.

Does anyone have any input on the Boces ECC in Levittown? I have heard they are geared towards kids with language delays and attention issues.

Message edited 2/15/2011 12:37:13 PM.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

You totally described my son. You have to remember that you are your child's advocate. Technically the SD only has to provide the least restrictive environment - that doesn't mean the top of the line KWIM?

After we had our CPSE, we had new "evidence" from daycare and I immediately called to reinstate the CPSE. We met a month later and we got more services for him. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

I am struggling also with his lack of language and wondering if I should have pushed for him to go to a special school, but the speech therapist I work with at my job told me that it's not always better. Sometimes children learn atypical behavior from the other children. You have to make sure it's a truly integrated classroom.

Don't worry about "wasting' this year. You said that he is progressing.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Message edited 2/15/2011 1:03:05 PM.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

My son is/was a language delayed child with attention/behavior issues.

I can only speak from my experiences... Lance does well in a typical school setting. He did have a difficult time with behavior because he was frustrated and he had limited language. But he had good role models and he learned a lot from them, even if sometimes he seemed so far behind.

Because of his attention issues he is/was distracted easily. So if one child acted up or got out of the circle, Lance followed. I can't imagine having him in a class where 1/2 of the kids had the same issues... For him it would be chaos. Lance does best when he is in a generally well behaved group, it motivates him to do the same.

I had to switch schools and programs until I found the right fit for him, but once I did he amazed us with his progress.

I looked at ED schools as well. I thought the same thing, he would be getting more services, but that was not the case. It was the same exact thing, except it was inclusion. He would have still been pulled out for speech, and he would not have gotten individual ED. (SEIT services)

Only you know what's best for your child. Look around at different programs, ED and typical.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Posted by Mommy2Boys

Posted by KerriSteve

Some schools told me that as well. However, that's not really what a SEIT does, they push-in at times of need (like structured times) but they are not there the whole program, nor are they "hands-on" with your child the whole time they are there. That's the function of an AIDE not a SEIT, KWIM? The director is not being reasonable. (I'm sorry, JMHO)

The teacher has told me the class is filled with "spirited" boys who all act up, etc. My son has a more difficult time then calming down and refocusing. Some days he does great at school, other times he may have an off day which I think is par for the course with a 3 yr. old.

I do think the director may be a little unreasonable. I called today to ask if I could sit in on the class for a half hour or so, meet with the SEIT and see what kind of behavior modifications she has implemented and the director told me no, that I would be a distraction Maybe I should start looking around for other schools in my area.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

The director of our old school also said that they wanted a SEIT for DS FT. To us, this was code for: they don't want to deal with this.


We found a small school that has a 3:1 ratio and is run by the former SEPTA President of my district. The behaviors that the old school called disruptive, turned to teaching moments at the new school.

We stayed at the old place for an extra 3-4 months out of loyalty, but I do wish that we hadn't. I do see the changes now, so I'm happy.


btw - my DS doesn't really like SEIT time either...at least that's what I get from her notes in his book. I think she pushes him...he may not like it, but it sometimes needs to be done.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

I agree that maybe the school is the problem. If the director really thinks he needs a SEIT everyday, would she be willing to call into your IEP meeting to share that? I know the director of our daycare has participated in at least one IEP meeting when the mom was asking for a SEIT.

If you don't think he needs the SEIT as much as the director does, I would look for another school. I also wouldn't just listen to the district's recommendation. Talk to his therapists and pull out his test scores and when you go back to the district use the information on his progress reports to fight for what he needs.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Message edited 2/16/2011 4:07:36 PM.

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

Re: Wondering if I made the right decison for DS

I am a product of Catholic school and I taught in Catholic schools and loved them. However, I think there is a wide range of what private schools can and are willing to do for kids with special needs.

I also wanted to add that my DS is in daycare after school and the differences between him and they other kids at daycare are much more noticeable at 3 than they were at 2. They may not have noticed his struggles so much at 2 y.o. because they might not have appeared so much different than those of the other kids, but the teachers and director may notice more now and may not feel equipped to handle it. In any event, if they aren't willing to work with you, I think you are wise to look into other places.