EI moms - is this the norm?

jenn_darrin1515

Just wondering if this is the same for the program in your state?

we are having ava's 6 month eval (a shorter version of the original eval to see what kind of progress she's made and set new goals for the next 6 month) makes sense to me even tho I am not a fan of the eval process...

last week our coordinator told me that I need to either sign on to have ava attend the special pre-school that they "graduate" to at age 3 or sign a refusal form. Does this not make much sense to anyone else? She has made a ton of progress with her speech and after speaking with her pt lady she will probably no longer qualify to get pt services b/c of her improvement for that after this 6 months eval...her st thinks it could go either way and that she may benefit from continued st after age 3, but it is tough to say right now...(and obviously private ST through our ins. would be an option)

So am I crazy to not want to commit to sending her to a special preschool for st at 2.5 years? is this the policy of your EI program? if not, what's their procedure? feel free to share your thoughts/experience iwth the program...

I just want to add that while I would certainly enroll her if they find closer to her 3rd bday that she has made little to know progress over the upcoming 6 months...but based on her learning curve I don't think it will be necessary...and I am having a tough time understanding the need to commit to this kind of program 6+ months out...and I feel like EI is being really pushy about it...

 

robynlesley

Hey there!

I'm only a month into therapy through EI so I'm not sure about the transition process (though I do have a booklet about it). But my son will have a 6 month progress eval. in February and if he still qualifies for services around age 3, he'll transition to the public school system.

Personally, I'm of the mindset to sign up now and cancel later.  DS has DI (developmental intervention) 2x per week and ST 1x. I know I can change that at any time--and I like our coordinator.

So I'd sign up and cancel later, if your daughter doesn't need it.  At least that's how it works in NJ--you can cancel at any time.

Wally3

At 3 years they transition from IE to the public school system.  DS is in the process right now (he will be 3 in NOv).  The reason for such a lead time is that it takes that long to do paper work and evaluations. He is having his exit evauluation in 2 weeks and then he will have an entrance in to the CHild find (that is what it is called in florida a few weeks later.  Then the week before he turns 3 we will meet with all again to determine services.  

We did have a 6 month review and it was just a talk with our case manager because all the exit evals were coming up. 

MaxandRuby

I think it depends on if the special preschool is inclusive or not or just SN kiddos and how often you want your child to have ST. At 3, your child goes from the IFSP to an IEP (all goals must be educational related at this point). If it seems like your child will not really need to be in a SN type program, and may only need ST, then I'd probably refuse the special preschool and find a typical preschool. If your child still qualifies for an IEP, I would assume you would put ST into that IEP so they continue to get services that way OR just go through your private insurance.

DS2 gets PT, OT, and ST. We transition in a year from IFSP to IEP. I've already asked about the preschools here. For my son, I don't think he will need to be in a SN only type preschool...but I have a year to figure this out. They typically start the transition process about 6mos out so it sounds like you are right in the timeline to start the transition period. 

I'd speak to your EI service coordinator and explain your concerns and get any questions answered. I'm guessing the reason they need to know is for staffing/ratio issues and to get paperwork done but again, I'm not quite there yet and I'm in a different state.

lujain

DD is 25 months, so we haven't gone through the transition process yet.  I was told to call the school district and set up an evaluation at 2 years 9 months.  So we won't need to make any decisions 6 months before she turns 3.

LoveEeyore

Yes, it's normal.  No I wouldn't do it in a million years.  I do not allow EI to share any info about DS with the school system.  When DS turns 3, if I still think he needs services, I will call ChildFind and have him evaluated through them.  I am undecided whether I will share his EI history.

I am also a SN advocate and former sped teacher and unless my child had a severe physical disability or had self-injurious behaviors and required constant attention to be safe, not a chance in hades I'd hand my 3 yr old to the schools.  If there eval determined that he qualified for services, I would ask them to provide it in his general education preschool setting. If it didn't work, I'd go through private.  My insurance covers private but not EI.  Sucks.  And I'd switch but the therapist I have through EI clicked with DS, made him click.  So we suck it up.  But Absolutely NO WAY IN HELL would I put my kid in SPED preK with just a speech delay.

 

Southernfairyx

I just went through this a few months ago with DS.  Our states (AL) protocol sounds just like yours except I do not have to "commit" to putting DS in the special preschool if he qualifies.  It's our decision.  I'm waiting till his evaluation to decide.  I know he will qualify because he's over 2.5 and still talking very little....

j&jp

I would ask for more information.  I doubt you are "committing."  In my state, its only 3 months, not 6 months, but as pps have said they need that lead time to do paperwork, gather information, and prepare for the students.  If it came to that time and your LO didn't need services, I find it very unlikely they would make you stick with that decision.  Its expensive to have kids in special ed preschools so if your LO does not need it they will be very happy as well.  Coming from the school side and seeing how things work - I think its much better to go ahead with it and then decide later you don't need it, then to say no and then realize you do need it.  Re-referring, re-evaluating, and doing the paperwork later takes a lot of time and it could cause quite a gap in your child's services.