Pre schools for special needs questions

iristony

So, I am trying to help a friend that lives in NYC. Her son is 2.5 and still not speaking,  He is in speech therapy and still getting tests.  They are not sure what is causing delay, but he definitely has a delay.  I remember hearing that sometimes there are preschools that kids with delays and disabilities can go to that are usually subsidized.  Does anyone have info on this.  She wants to start him in an exclusive NYC private school in the fall but is worried it will be bad for his self esteem if he is behind and would love to have him somewhere where he get can help.  Thoughts?

robynlesley

I'm not sure how NYC schools work (though I understand the competition for preschools from my cousin) with regards to a special needs program, but my DS is in EI in NJ now  and we have started the ball rolling with the public school system. 

Basically I'll have an initial meeting with my school district in the Spring when DS is 32/33 months old to go over the program and potential classes/schedules. The school will evaluate him a month or so before he turns 2 in August. If he qualifies (ie. if his delays are still enough to warrant this), he will likely go to their morning program and there will be extensive Speech Therapy.  I don't know what the criteria is yet (ie. 25% delay, 33% delay, etc.).  If DS does not qualify and his EI Team thinks he would benefit from further therapy, I'll look to private ones.

I would assume NYC has a similar system. Though she may prefer private with the city and all. I know a lot of parents go that route, even without special needs.