So both boys have had their EIPs and are heading into the special needs preschool thru the district, they will be together. After visiting the class and seeing some of the other kids that are a little bit more moderate, I am feeling uneasy that this is the right thing to do. They will only be around peer model 20min a day, 3 days a week. Right now we are already in a parent participation class, the only thing is that would put them in school 5days a week and that just seems like too much.

Just needing a little feedback from those who have BTDT. Thanks

BBG 6/21/06

Hi Mamakitten

I had been thru this dilema too. One of my boys has IEP for speech delay & was in a district preschool wth mild special need kids. He 's the one who usually imitates a lot so that worried me a bit what if he picks up some behaviors from others. But i guess that issue will always be there in a typical classroom settings too.

I do remember ur in south cal right?? why do'nt u apply for Head start there. They have excellent program wth classroom of both so that the delayed ones can have peer model. We got thru for all 3 kids since my son had IEP & its FREE. u have to ask the school district (they work wth head start too) to get if they feel ur sons can cope in such environment(clas has special needs teacher from district).Its 4 days a week for 3 hrs here though i donno how it works in south Cal.

u can email me if u need more info

HTH

I also have 2 with IEPs. One with PDD-NOS and the other with developmental and speech delays. I was concerned with the placement for my PDD-NOS dd that first year. She was going to have very little typical peer interaction and be in an autism only class. I decided to keep her out and did a full time ABA program with her at home. After that year she had improved so much she was able to be in the typical/special ed combo class the following year (age 4). She is now 5 and in her second year of that preschool class and doing great. My other daughter has been in the typical/sp ed combo preschool class since age 3 and has really done well. She may not need any supports by kindergarten.
Will they be going 5 days a week all day? Or just a few hours a day? I thought it seemed like a lot too, but they have done really well. They go 3 hours a day.
Hope that helps a little.

Katie

"

What type of special needs to they have?

I am assuming you meant an IEP?

Since your boys have an IEP in place and a need for special education was determined, I would not hesitate to enroll them. Yes, their classmates needs are going to be at different levels, but since an IEP is in place, your boys specific needs will be addressed.

Also, just having them in a classroom environment will give them a jump on so many other things.

My dd was in EI, EC and is now in special ed at the elementary level. She has had a continuity of education since she was an infant. She is thriving and spends a lot of time in the regular ed classroom.

Special needs vary from severe to very mild. Dd has had a wide spectrum of disabilities in her classroom experiences. These differences did not hinder her education at all. Quite opposite in fact, I believe it has enriched her life....and ours too!

Is the program 5 full days or 5 half days? I think 5 full days would be too much for a 3yo. My dd would have been a little bear without a nap at 3yo!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

Sorry meant IEP, the boys started school last week and so far so good. They are taking the school bus home and they love it. We dropped the PP class because I didnt want them to go to school 5 days a week, just seemed like too much and we need to have some spare time just to hang out.

BBG 6/21/06

I am so happy to hear that they are doing good so far! Mine loved riding the bus like the "big" kids!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

FWIW, we did special ed preschool for a while when the kids were little. Our EI specialist got Vivian in as a typical kid so she could be in with Levi. It wasn't for long, but it did help him/us/me, both in his abilities to handle being around other kids, and us/me in being given more ideas to help him at home...

Fast forward about 2 years later: Levi and Vivian started kindergarten last fall in the same class, mainstream typical. Levi continues therapy, but they're both doing great in school!

Erika

Mom to:
Matt (1991) Megan (1994) and ^Eric Jr^ Levi and Vivian (2003) at 26 weeks
http://survivingtripletsandteens.blogspot.com