Introduction

[car...@about-down-syndrome.com]

Hi, my name is Carrie and my son, Sam, has Down Syndrome. He will be
three years old in August and he has been a great joy in our lives as
well as the lives of his siblings (7 of them). I started this group to
get parents in touch with other parents of children with Down Syndrome.
It helps to have someone to talk to who knows what you are going
through. It helps to have others to answer questions and give you
support. So. here's my first question: Sam is going to preschool in
August, which means he will no longer be receiving services from Early
Childhood Intervention. Will public lreschool be enough or should we
also look into getting private therapy for him? What have some of your
experiences been? Thanks.

[hay...@zianet.com]

HI CARRIE, JUST WANTED TO SAY HI AND HAPPY TO BE HERE IN THE GROUP.
DEBNM

[car...@about-down-syndrome.com]

Thanks, glad to have you. I'd love to "hear" some pointers from you
about the school system.

Carrie

[Robert Hayman]

HI CARRIE,

WE HAVE HAD TO ADVOCATE YEAR AFTER YEAR HERE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ALL
OUR KIDS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. THE DISTRICT IS SLOWLY MAKING CHANGES TO
HELP THE KIDS THROUGH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I
ENROLLED MY CHILDREN INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, AT THREE YRS. OLD, (THEY
QUALIFIED DUE TO THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS TO ATTEND PRESCHOOL HERE IN NM) WAS
HAVE THEM DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION. THIS WAS SO THAT WE HAD A BASELINE
SCORE IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. THESE TESTS ARE VERY USEFUL IN
MAKING UP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (WE CALL
THEM IEP'S HERE). THIS EVALUATION SHOWS THE CHILDS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS
IN ALL THE AREAS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST, OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPIST, SPEECH THERAPIST SHOULD ALSO DO SOME TESTING TO SEE WHERE THE
CHILD IS IN FINE MOTOR AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS. THE DIAGNOSTICIAN WILL DO
THE DEVELOPMENTAL TESTS FOR ACADEMICS AND IQ.

IF U HAVE HAD THE DEV. EVAL COMPLETED, THE DIAGNOSTICIAN SHOULD CALL AN IEP
MEETING AND GET THE PRESENT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE/MEASURABLE GOALS/OBJECTIVES
ALL IN AN IEP FOR SAM BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS. THE IEP MEMBERS ALL AS
A TEAM WILL MAKE THE DISCISIONS TOGETHER, THE MEMBERS WILL BE THE PARENTS,
ANYONE U WANT TO COME TO THIS MEETING IS INVITED, DIAGNOSTICIAN, THERAPISTS
THAT DID TESTS LIKE P.T., O.T., SLP THERAPIST, SPECIAL ED TEACHER, NURSE IF
SAM HAS MEDICAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED OR MEDICAL PLAN WRITTEN UP
IN THE IEP. THIS MEETING WILL HELP SAM TRANSITION INTO THE SCHOOL CLASSROOM
AND HELP ALL THE STAFF KNOW WHAT SAM IS ABLE TO DO AND WORK ON HIS STRENGTHS
TO OVERCOME HIS WEAKNESSES. BE SURE TO ASK IF THE TEACHER DOES NOT TELL U,
HOW MUCH TIME WILL SAM BE WITH REGULAR ED. STUDENTS OR INCLUSION WITH THEM.
IF SAM IS PLACED IN A LOW FUCTIONING CLASS OF STUDENTS, HE WILL NOT PROGRESS
AS FAST AS IF HE IS IN A CLASS WITH HIGH LEVEL FUNCTIONING STUDENTS.
ESPECIALLY WITH SPEECH. BECAUSE OUR KIDS NEED AGE APPROPRIATE PEER MODELING
IN ALL AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT. YOU WILL GET USE TO THE WORDS AND KNOW THE
IDEA LAWS AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW. I CAN SEND U SOME WONDERFUL SITES
TO HELP U THROUGH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION MAZE. DO U HAVE PARENT TRAINING
CENTERS IN YOUR AREA FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION? U SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ONE
NEAR UR CITY UNDER PARENT TRAINING CENTERS ON THE WEB.

HOPE THIS HELPS,
PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH,
DEBNM

[car...@about-down-syndrome.com]

Hi,

Thanks for all the info. We have had Sam's first IEP. Unfortunately
our care coordinator (through early intervention) did not inform his
ECI therapists of this meeting (she said she was going to let them all
know) so the only input was from me and the therapists at the school
(they did an eval prior to this mtg).
I would love to have the addresses to the sites you mentioned. I went
into this first meeting unprepared. That will not happen again, so any
info you have will be greatly appreciated. I will check into the
parent training centers as well.

Thanks so much,
Carrie