Just hoping to get some feedback on what age you started your child in an "educational" type setting? What type of setting did you choose, school for children with disabilites or mainstreamed, and why you chose this setting? Since we live in a rural town, there are few choices of preschools period and none which specialize in students with disabilities. The closest school which specializes is 30 minutes one way. But, of course, when the time comes I will make the drive if that is what is best for Abby. She has a spot reserved at my son's private preschool when she turns 2, which we have been unbelievably happy with. The teacher/owner has operated the school for 28 years and has enrolled students with disabilities in the past. Our geneticist and pediatrician both recommend beginning some type of program for socialization between the ages of 18 months & 2 years. That's still over a year away but since our choices are so limited and waiting lists are long I feel I need to plan ahead. Any shared experiences would be greatly appreciated!

well were i live theres a 2 and 3 year old program for kids with disabilaties. and it's only a half a day thing but i'm not sure how long they stay in there before they go to kindergarten.

Noah started pre-K at age 3 in the regular elementary school. They have a special needs pre-K there. In the state of Maryland that's the way it works, the therapists come to your home until age 3 and then it's off to pre-K, and he still receives OT, PT and ST at school, going 5 days a week for half a day. Vonda

That's the way it is in California too...in home visits till the child is 3 and then pre-K through the public school system. In some cases, speech therepy would be substituted in lieu of pre-school if deemed neccesary.

It is like that in Ga also, until 3, therapists are in our home and then after that we are on our own with the school district. I am fortunate that Marty's OT has a 4 year old with DS and she has "investigated" all the preschools in the area (We live in the same area) to see which ones are accepting of children with disabilities. I want to put Marty with typical children if possible. She suggested checking out places first and then if you like them, only then mention the DS component,and see what they say.

During the first three years then in CA is there help available? Who provides it our insurance or the state?

Our schools are so bad around here, that my ECI people told me today to either move away to a district 45 minutes away or homeschool. they said he will learn so much more with someone willing ot teach him something instead of life skills. He will learn to read, write and do anything he wants.

Well Callum is currently in a regular day care that actually goes all the way up to preschool. From what we've been told we have a few options (southern california).

1) At 18 months (& walking) he could go start a special needs program that combines special needs and "regular" peers for half a day, 5 days a week. They would do all his therapy. Callum would probably be somewhere in the middle ability wise.
2) Leave him where he is until age 3 and continue to receieve services through our regional centre (currently 3 times a week but we're trying to get an OT evaluation so it may end up being more). Then at 3 go to a public school which takes over giving him services.
3) Continue to use private schooling, services will be provided up to age 3 but after that it becomes a bit sketchy and we'd probably have to also do therapy privatley.

John,
The state provides the services in CA. However we did use our insurance for PT for 2 months as the regional centre were taking forever to sort it out. All the therapy and evaluations should be coordinated by your local regional centre.

Will this care be like daycare where the parents can stay at work while the special needs help is there?

Callum has 3 hours of therapy a week, 1 hour is at his day care (it's a regular day care and he is the only special needs child) and the other 2 hours are done at home.

The hour (Infant Stimulation) that is at day care is done at lunchtime, the therapist come regardless of whether Mark or myself can make it to the session but we usually try and go at least every other week.

The other 2 hours (Physical therapy) at home are spread over 2 days and are done at 7am in the morning so we can get them in before work. This therapy could also be done at day care but as we could work out a good time that fitted with work we'd rather do it at home.

The special needs program that I mentioned in my last post is like a day care where the parent leave the kids there.

Contact your local regional centre and they'll be able to tell you want services are available in your area.