Auntie, Max and Ruby, or other school or CP experts

JoJoGee

So, we're in the process of getting Lily into preschool. We have two options provided by our district. We are leaning towards one, but I'm interested in what potential pitfalls I'm overlooking. So, I'm going to start by talking about Lily, and then describing the two schools. Any input you could give would be welcomed... 

 So, Lily is a former 26 week preemie. She has a host of medical problems (trach, g-tube, reactive airway disease, PVL). Her trach will be removed in 3 weeks. She also has CP. She can move independently in her wheelchair, but she cannot cruise, stand, or crawl. Her fine motor skills are at the level of a 9 month old. She can say about 20 words past her trach, and can sign about 10. Her expressive language is expected to improve drastically once the trach is out. Her receptive language is typical for her age. And, as far as we know, her cognitive and social/emotional skills are also typical for her age. She is always trying to imitate other children. Because of her trach, she has always had 1on1 care, even at therapy. She is currently attending an integrated therapy program with 5 other children. That program has a total of 5 adults in the classroom at all time. We plan to continue sending her to this program, even when she starts preschool. 

School one is 2 minutes from us. It is a very old school; all classrooms exit to the outside (instead of to a hallway). The building houses the three preschool classrooms, and all the Kindergarten classrooms. The three preschool classrooms are split by age. There is a 3's class, a 3/4 class, and a 4/5 class. The rooms are small, but the ratio of children is 8 typical children to 8 children who are on IEP. There is one teacher and one assistant in each class. The therapists would meet with Lily at a designated time, but they have also been known to stop in and help out if there is a special event happening. The playground is grass and loose mulch. There is one accessible swing. When Lily goes to physical therapy, she would have to go outside, and cross the campus to the motor room. The bathrooms aren't currently accessible. I have not been able to meet with the 3's teacher, so I don't know what a typical class session looks like. However, I was given the impression that children's center time may be disrupted by required table work. There is currently one child in a wheelchair in the 4/5s class. 

School two is 20 minutes from us. The building is newer and utilizes some modern day technology, such as smart boards. The ratio is 16 typical children to 8 children on IEPs. The children range in age from 3 to 5. There are 2 teachers and 2 assistants. In addition, Junior and Senior high school students from the career center assist within the classroom. The room is large and contains many centers. The playground is partially paved. The motor room is attached to the classroom and utilized by the entire class during center time. The routine for the day includes signing in, class motor time, circle time, centers and playground. There is a system in place to ensure each child visits each center at least once a day. No therapists are on site. Instead, therapists would come at designated time each week (no dropping in). However, the teacher assured me that whatever interventions Lily needed would be implemented throughout the week by the teachers and assistants. This school has not had a child in a wheelchair in 9 years. 

So, we're leaning towards school two. But, is there anything you think might be a potential issue. Any reason we should reconsider school one? Thanks so much!

ToastieSimons

are you anticipating her receiving a personal aide during the school day?

I know you said that she can move around in a wheelchair, but to what extent?  If there was a fire would she be able to assist herself out of the classroom?  

DS1 doesn't stand/walk/talk.  We had a great mentor who has a son with Down Syndrome and he wasn't walking or talking at 3.   These are some of the questions she helped us with.

Is potty training in her future while attending this school?  If not, where will diapers be changed?  It may be in the school nurse's office so accessible bathrooms may be a null point for now.  

I know Lily is scheduled for her airway reconstruction.  What happens if it doesn't go well and she still needs a trach (I'm praying this doesn't happen)?  Which school is better for alternative methods of communication?  

What about transportation?  Since school 2 is further would you plan on busing her?  What about an aide on the bus?

Is there anyway you could have Lily attend a class at either school prior to the IEP to see which school she fits in most comfortably?  We got to tour DS1's school and he got to sit in with the preschool for about 30 minutes.

JoJoGee

ToastieSimons said:

Are you anticipating her receiving a personal aide during the school day?

No.  I inquired about that, and in not so many words they said she would have to be more impaired.

I know you said that she can move around in a wheelchair, but to what extent?  If there was a fire would she be able to assist herself out of the classroom?  

She can maneuver around a room, but it takes time.  Her left side is much stronger than her right side.  So, when she pushes her wheels, she's not quite straight.  She does turn and straighten up on her own, but it takes time.  She would need an aid to push her out of the classroom if there was fire.  I will add that to the list of things to ask.

DS1 doesn't stand/walk/talk.  We had a great mentor who has a son with Down Syndrome and he wasn't walking or talking at 3.   These are some of the questions she helped us with.

Is potty training in her future while attending this school?  If not, where will diapers be changed?  It may be in the school nurse's office so accessible bathrooms may be a null point for now.  

Honestly, I don't know.  She's not interested in it now.  She seems to care less if her diaper is full.  Children with CP can have issues controlling their elimination, so I suppose we'll see when we get there.  As for the schools, Lily would be changed in the classroom in school one, and in the restroom, on a changing table in school two.

I know Lily is scheduled for her airway reconstruction.  What happens if it doesn't go well and she still needs a trach (I'm praying this doesn't happen)?  Which school is better for alternative methods of communication?  

If the reconstructive surgery is unsuccessful, she will have a nurse with her at school.  As for her communication needs, that's a good question.

What about transportation?  Since school 2 is further would you plan on busing her?  What about an aide on the bus?

Bussing is available to and from both locations.  There is one aide per bus.  We need to ask how long the bus ride will take to and from both schools.  Though, it my not be an option of us (see below).

Is there anyway you could have Lily attend a class at either school prior to the IEP to see which school she fits in most comfortably?  We got to tour DS1's school and he got to sit in with the preschool for about 30 minutes.

That's a good idea!  I will ask at our eligibility meeting on Tuesday.

I forgot to mention that the times at each school are different.  School one would give us 1 to 1.5 hours between school and therapy (Wednesday has a different schedule due to teacher meetings).  School two gives us 45 minutes between school and therapy.  Each school is about 1/2 hour away from therapy.  And, she would need to be fed between therapy and school.  Of course, therapy is only 2 days a week.  So, I guess there is that.

Toastie, thank you so much for your reply and questions.  I really appreciate it!

annibes

Both sound like decent programs. I wouldn't let having therapists on site necessarily make the decision for you. As a therapist in a county school for children with special needs, I assure you that while I have the intent to see my kids extra, and on occasion can drop in to do some extra therapy, it's seldom that I have the chance to go in for extra therapy minutes with my kids. When I do, I try to spread it out so it is fair. I do get paged to the cafeteria for swallowing questions with kids (I'm
Speech)- so it's nice to be on site so I can observe a problem feed at the moment the problem occurs.

Ask each school if Lily can visit for a day or portion of the day. See how she reacts to each place and how the classrooms respond to her.

ToastieSimons

JoJoGee said:

ToastieSimons said:

Are you anticipating her receiving a personal aide during the school day?

No.  I inquired about that, and in not so many words they said she would have to be more impaired.

I know you said that she can move around in a wheelchair, but to what extent?  If there was a fire would she be able to assist herself out of the classroom?  

She can maneuver around a room, but it takes time.  Her left side is much stronger than her right side.  So, when she pushes her wheels, she's not quite straight.  She does turn and straighten up on her own, but it takes time.  She would need an aid to push her out of the classroom if there was fire.  I will add that to the list of things to ask.

DS1 doesn't stand/walk/talk.  We had a great mentor who has a son with Down Syndrome and he wasn't walking or talking at 3.   These are some of the questions she helped us with.

Is potty training in her future while attending this school?  If not, where will diapers be changed?  It may be in the school nurse's office so accessible bathrooms may be a null point for now.  

Honestly, I don't know.  She's not interested in it now.  She seems to care less if her diaper is full.  Children with CP can have issues controlling their elimination, so I suppose we'll see when we get there.  As for the schools, Lily would be changed in the classroom in school one, and in the restroom, on a changing table in school two.

I know Lily is scheduled for her airway reconstruction.  What happens if it doesn't go well and she still needs a trach (I'm praying this doesn't happen)?  Which school is better for alternative methods of communication?  

If the reconstructive surgery is unsuccessful, she will have a nurse with her at school.  As for her communication needs, that's a good question.

What about transportation?  Since school 2 is further would you plan on busing her?  What about an aide on the bus?

Bussing is available to and from both locations.  There is one aide per bus.  We need to ask how long the bus ride will take to and from both schools.  Though, it my not be an option of us (see below).

Is there anyway you could have Lily attend a class at either school prior to the IEP to see which school she fits in most comfortably?  We got to tour DS1's school and he got to sit in with the preschool for about 30 minutes.

That's a good idea!  I will ask at our eligibility meeting on Tuesday.

I forgot to mention that the times at each school are different.  School one would give us 1 to 1.5 hours between school and therapy (Wednesday has a different schedule due to teacher meetings).  School two gives us 45 minutes between school and therapy.  Each school is about 1/2 hour away from therapy.  And, she would need to be fed between therapy and school.  Of course, therapy is only 2 days a week.  So, I guess there is that.

Toastie, thank you so much for your reply and questions.  I really appreciate it!

Diaper changes in the classroom wouldn't fly with me.  Typical children go to the bathroom for a reason.  I would ask diapers to be changed in the nurses office then.  I would think watching a child get their diaper changed in the classroom would be more stigmatizing for Lily.  It would instantly set her apart from her peers when the intent is to include her.

MaxandRuby

I would go with school 2 just from reading the descriptions.

So I don't write a novel, I need your email address again and I can tell you what experiences I have had with DS2's classrooms and also send you a question list of things I asked prior to his transition to the developmental preschool.

JoJoGee

YGPM

JoJoGee

Thanks everyone for your insight!

MaxandRuby

I am in the process of writing you an email.  Crazy day today so I am hoping to get it to you tomorrow.  :-)

JoJoGee

Max and Ruby,

Did you send it today?  If so, I am afraid I may have blindly deleted it.  If you did send it, could you send it again?  Sorry about that!  Thanks!

MaxandRuby

Actually I sent it about 2min ago.  Let me know if you don't have it and sorry it is so long!