[blindkid] School Programs for 3 Year Old Student in Texas

Tue Apr 12 17:32:22 UTC 2011

I probably should have added our original reason for trying the Montessori school for Kendra. We were trying for the personal level of care and support that many of us have come to expect from a private school setting-in-general and we thought we had better than average reasons to expect it--

I have mentioned Kendra's little brother in a number of posts. Kendra is 8 and he is 5. She also has a big sister who is now 17 (typically sighted). When Kendra was starting at the Montessori School, her big sister had already been at the school for something like 6 years (since around Kindergarten age) and we were very pleased with the school. We knew the people well and were very involved with the school. I was frequently at activities and often a driver on field trips with the kids and had even sung for a while with the school director in our church choir by chance-- this at our personal church (unrelated to the school in any way).

The school prided itself (in Montessori tradition) with acceptance and tolerance. We had provided the school an abundance of information and support on matters of blindness through the several sources both local and through the NOPBC and NFB. I'm talking about extensive efforts on our part, starting a good year or more before we ever decided to move forward with Kendra actually going there. I would never have thought they would shift their behavior towards us or our child in a million years, but sure as the world something changed about a year into school there and we never learned what it was. We asked them point blank and never got an answer. It was a very strange business indeed.

By the approach of the third year's start, they basically indicated that they supposed they would be willing to try again-- this with great reluctance and hesitation. We, as Erin suggests, felt much more that they should feel privileged to have her there. It was clearly time to move elsewhere. I still reflect good thoughts on year one but much of year two was a complete waste.

Could a private setting work for others? Possibly. In fact, I suspect someone here has had a positive response with a longer term private setting, but I hear a lot of stories similar to ours with private attempts. I don't think these schools have any grasp of the amount of support and adaptation which will be required, and probably (at least in our case) having to call parents to the school with some frequency to put prosthetic eyes back in then they turn or fall out is a little off-putting as well.

As parents. we deal with all of these little issues more or less second nature. And public schools deal with this (some well and some not so well) because they also have no choice. Ultimately though, a great many of us are going to be forced into a public school model because we will have little if any support for TVI and O&M resources after age 5 from most school systems.

I should end this on a positive note-- that we remain very pleased overall with how things have gone in public school. After the two years in Montessori, Kendra has been in public school in the same county for what will be 4 years at the end of this school year and we plan to remain here for the foreseeable future. 

Richard

On Apr 12, 2011, at 12:38 PM, Erin Teply wrote:

> Hi Liz,
> 
> I have recently gone through what you are about to go through.  My son Max, now 5 with light perception only, is in Pre-K and at his second school.  He started preschool at the age of 2 1/2 at a 'private yet contracted with the school district' school that was supposed to be ideal for special needs kids, definitely has the best reputation in the area for such.  I gave it two years and wish I would have pulled him out earlier, for many reasons.  One, it was purely chaotic. 18-20 kids in one classroom (and three teachers).  The ratio was supposed to be 1/2 special needs and 1/2 role model kids.  I think they did stick close to that ratio, but what I didn't do was look at what the other issues were--lots of autistic, behavioral issues and speech delayed kids.  This resulted in two main issues - one, the teachers were really focused on 'calming down' the kids with behavioral issues and therefore did not spend enough time adapting things for Max, and two, putting blind children with autistic kids and speech delayed kids is not a great mix!  Max needs kids that are not sensitive if they get run into and most of all, he needs kids to talk!  Lots of our kids are probably ahead verbally and that is so important.  
> 
> For these reasons, I moved him to our home public school in an Early Education program.  It's not a normal Pre-K class but it has turned out well for us.  One, there are anywhere from 6-8 kids in the class to two teachers on most given days.  It is quiet and calm, which I think these kids need to not be overwhelmed.  The classroom is well organized and easy to get around.  The daily routine is very routine and rarely gets off course.  The teacher is acceptable (I'm just being honest).  Her heart is in the right place and she does try to do what is best for Max, but he has his TVI and O&M instructor there almost every day for a while to help her with things.  He has OT also twice a week with a fabulous person who really 'gets it' with Max.  She goes out of her way to help Max experience things he wouldn't normally be offered at school.  And, what I like also is that he is getting set for next year (he'll be mainstreamed kindergarten).  He is the first and only blind student the school has ever had, so I like that the other kids are getting to know him and the other teachers.  My Max is a pretty social guy and has made many friends at school...students and teachers alike.  I will say that the mix of other kids is not ideal, but at least there are a few that he likes to play with and that are really good for him.  He's getting to know his way around the school and that makes me a bit more comfortable for next year.  And, most of all, the school year is coming to an end and he still tells me he 'likes school' :)  So trust the feelings you get from your child as the days go on!  Max did not seem as happy at the earlier school.
> 
> I will also add that I have been down the private school path and still do wish that I could get our school to accept Max, but as Richard said, they cannot act as if they are doing you a favor.  They should be privileged to have your child and if they don't see that, it's probably not a good fit!  I have a 2nd grader at a private school and have kept him there as I feel it is right for him.  I also have a 2 year old at a Montessori school and am not sure what direction I will go with her, but at least I have some time.  So, while I drive a lot of hours each day to/from schools, I know they are all in the right places and I think that is important.  I just thought I'd add this in case you have other children.  It's not easy to accept they are at different schools, but again, they are at the right places.
> 
> I am getting ready to now write my letter to the school for my requests for Max's placement next year.  I'm not sure this is necessary, but I feel better if I know my opinions have been stated. And what I get from this list, is make sure our opinions are heard!
> 
> Please feel free to call or email me with any questions!
> 
> Best of luck!!  Go with your gut and everything will be ok!
> 
> -Erin
> 
> 
> On Apr 11, 2011, at 11:27 PM, Richard Holloway wrote:
> 
>> And Carol, if I might add-- with our daughter, at one point we were advised that the best choice would be a particular school in our county where they preferred to send all of the blind students her age, mainly because of the "resource room" available there.
>> 
>> I could share many details, but save to say we went and saw two blind students our daughter's age in their classroom (her would-be classroom) and we didn't like what we saw. Things were really poorly adapted and managed and the short version of the story is there was no way our child was going to that school. (Long version on request-- just email me off list.)
>> 
>> If there is any opportunity not only to learn how they think they would adapt and work with you, but also to see their plan for a similar child "in action", by all means, have a look. Ask questions-- take a list of them, and ask how they have dealt with this in the past or how they would adapt things now.
>> 
>> We actually went and had tours of a number of schools in our area and asked them all a LOT of questions. After that, for our pre-first grade IEP, we had representatives from three or four different schools at the IEP, trying to persuade the committee why their school was most appropriate. It was a rather bizarre 4-hour-plus meeting, but the results were just what we wanted.
>> 
>> Liz, I'm sure many here could direct you to (or help you freshly prepare) a list of things which you may want to explore in some detail when exploring your options if that might be helpful.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Apr 11, 2011, at 10:43 PM, Carol Castellano wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Liz,
>>> 
>>> Welcome to the list!
>>> 
>>> One thing I would do is this--as you visit the various classrooms, see if you can picture your son in that room joining in activities and taking part in the school day.  I found that helpful when we were looking at preschools for our daughter.
>>> 
>>> Another factor to look at is what is emphasized in the classroom.  For example, we saw rooms where the children were being taught to be be quiet and sit still.  This would not have been right for our child who needed encouragement to move around and be curious and active.
>>> 
>>> Expectations are important, as others have said.  You--and the teachers--should expect your son to participate in all classroom activities.  Teachers may need to learn how to adapt lessons and materials so that your son can be included in all activities throughout the school day.  If he cannot do this independently yes, the team needs to think in terms of facilitating the development of age-appropriate independence.  If he has serious delays or multiple disabilities, you can think of this as "stage-appropriate" independence.
>>> 
>>> Hope this helps.
>>> 
>>> Carol
>>> 
>>> Carol Castellano
>>> Director of Programs
>>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>>> 973-377-0976
>>> carol_castellano at verizon.net
>>> www.nopbc.org
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> At 02:15 PM 4/11/2011, you wrote:
>>>> Hi there,
>>>> 
>>>> I just found this list and have already found so much helpful information!
>>>> 
>>>> I wanted to see if anyone had feedback regarding school programs for a 3
>>>> year old student either specifically in the Houston, Texas area, or just in
>>>> general.
>>>> 
>>>> We are looking at the options being offered by each school district in the
>>>> area, as well as private school options with an Itinerant teacher.  Just
>>>> trying to figure out where to start!  Our son is not quite 2, so we have
>>>> some time, but wanted any suggestions you all had in terms of what is
>>>> important to look for, as well as any specifics you might have in our area.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks so much!
>>>> Liz
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>>> 
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>> 
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