Yesterday I took the little ones to visit Angela's soon to be preschool. It was a huge step for me -- even bigger for little Angela. I'm not sure why I was so nervous, but I was literally shaking as I walked in the door. I guess in part it's because no matter how many times I say that I don't care what people think -- truth is I guess I kinda do.
By sending Angela to a typical preschool, I realize that we are stepping out of the norm. I know there are tons of people who could give me a thousand arguments why Angela would do better in a special classroom, but I could also give you a million why she wouldn't. I was thinking yesterday about how I wish we could all just get along. There in one thing missing from the special needs community at times -- the understanding that what works for your kid may not work for mine. What a therapist has done for years on other children and found success, just may not be successful with mine. Every child is so different, and every circumstance is so different as well. So before I even continue -- can we all just get along. No mean messages please -- thanks!
Anyway -- I think I was nervous simply because I was afraid of how the teachers and children would respond as we wheeled into the classroom. This is where I went wrong. I assumed we would be the big elephant in the room -- but we weren't. They welcomed us with dare I say excitement?! The kids all came running to Angela wanting to try out her iPad. I had her iPad set to the My First AAC app which we lock on social responses, so she was happy to say hello to all her new friends!
The teacher went on to tell me everything that the kids did today. As she was talking I first started thinking -- oh Gosh, Angela can't do any of that but then my mind started to expand -- maybe she can! The teacher made the statement to me that she felt that not only would Angela do well there but that the students and teachers would also benefit from having Angela as a classmate.
She totally won me over.
The class in small, maybe ten kids and the room is huge. This would allow Angela to use her KidWalk and other equipment more easily in the classroom. The class will meet two days a week from 9:00 to 11:30. This is totally perfect. I think anymore would be overwhelming and also allow the other days to continue doing her classes at the YMCA and other therapy we see fit. Angela will have full support. When we go to write her IEP I will make sure she has a full time aid or nurse. I'm so excited for Angela to move onto this next stage in life. Sure there are so many risks. Sure, she will get sick and she will probably get overwhelmed at first -- but it's all gonna work out. And if it doesn't we will re-evaluate and choose a different setting for her.
In the spirit of preschool we came home and did a little painting. I know I say this all the time -- but holy cow -- is this the same Angela we welcomed into our home over a year ago? So focused, so opinionated -- no stimming and most of all so very happy.
This girl rocks. Seriously rocks.
23 comments:
I look forward to seeing how this works out for everyone!! I am SUCH a big fan of inclusion because I think that if you introduce kids to their peers who have disabilities at a young age, you'll raise advocates and thoughtful people who look past disability! Kids are scared of what they don't know, so seeing Angela's smiley face and learning about all the cool things she can do, and the devices that help her, will be SUCH a great experience for all the little kids in her class!
Great job Angela :D She is awesome!!
So Proud of you for you doing what is best for YOUR child. Not sure why others don't get it! I have 3 boys and let me tell you what works for one surely don't work for the other two... I worked in pre-school for years and the only thing that was consistent to work with every kid was LOVE. No methods, no processes, nothing else! I learned then from an awesome teacher and director that trying anything new with love was always better than doing the same old thing!
All that to say you Rock Momma you Rock!!
I was in special needs pre school & then moved to regular kindergarten (& kept going). It worked great for me. You're right every special needs kid is different. I'm sure she'll do great.
I love that Angela is going to attend a regular preschool and I'm so excited to hear how well she does! Here's a little quote for your from Temple Grandin...
"A treatment method or an educational method that will work for one child may not work for another child. The one common denominator for all of the young children is that early intervention does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis."
You all have three amazing children and they have two amazing parents! Love the pictures of all three. You have such a loving heart for all of your children. Who could ever give you grief about that??? Gavin would be so proud of his mommy and daddy. I'm still praying for all of you. Can't wait to see how your kids grow and change through the years.
In His great and mighty love,
Carolyn O'Cain
You should be taking a lot of the credit here, Karen. Angela is the way she is now because of you. You truly make your children shine!
You must be so happy to get back into a schedule without all the traveling back and forth for Jayden.
Have fun with in the coming months with all of your children!! You are an inspiration.
My daughter loved going to preschool with all the little girls on our street. I have been really wanting to purchase "My first AAC app" since i found out about it a few weeks ago and your post just convinced me it's well worth the $24. I love how you said you could lock it on a page that is missing from P2G for my girl.
She looks so happy!!! :)
Good for her! You say Angela "stims". I work with children with autism, and many of them stim. There is even a little boy in my class that has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism.
What do you think about autism? What are your opinions?
Angela is in no way on the autistic spectrum. She has self stimmlating behaviors due to several factors. The main one is because for the first two years of her life she didn't get proper normal stimulation -- so she learned ways to give herself that much needed stimulation. Also, Angela is cortically blind and while her vision has improved she still is severly impaired and the stimming she does is often to give her visual input she is lacking.
But as a friend said the other day so many diagnosis cross over in symptomology. We use things to help all our kids that could be used for a variety of disabilities!
I did not mean to offend in regards to my question pertaining to autism. The little boy I work with is also cortically blind and I was just wondering where the similarities ended. Thank you for your response!
No offense at all!! I think a lot of times with kids with multi disabilities it becomes a game of "what came first -- chicken or egg". Like what causes what behavior. Angela has so much going on. Her past social history, the 1P36 genetic deletion, the CP, blindness and don't forget personality!!! Yikes!
I "try" to just keep an open mind and try to not focus too much on diagnosis and just address the hurdles as she comes to them.
:)
That is my one regret with Nathan. We chickened out when we had the opportunity to put him in a typical preschool. I prayed about the decision and then went against where I felt God was leading us. Not so smart but I somehow we rationalized it. So congrats Adam and Karen for taking a big leap of faith!
I LOVE your approach to each child has their own way of what works. I completely agree. Kids aren't cookies...they aren't all cut the same.
My two older sons has a kindergarten teacher that each year requested the school district to allow her to teach kids with different needs in her class. It was a wonderful situation for all. The kids that needed the extra help got it....from other kids that had no preconceived ideas about the kids that needed the help.
One day my son came home jubilant that he was picked to help Danny with his walker for the WHOLE WEEK. He couldn't have been more thrilled with anything else. It was his first realization that helping others feels great. I got a daily report from my son about how "great" Danny was doing and what they did together that day. Danny missed a lot of school over the years due to his health issues but the boys ended up graduating together.
I truly believe that kindergarten teacher taught all the students something so much more important than reading and writing, and she did it all without saying a word.
My daughter is 17. There wear no options of regular preschool when she was little! She certainly could have handled it. She was in a "blended" kindergarten classroom where an ex. ed. teacher and aide assisted, which the main teacher didn't like it at all!! Oh well, we survived. It sounds like your daughter will flourish! She's so lucky to have you for a mom!!
i just love your blog! not sure if you have ever heard of Joni and Friends? It's a family camp for families with members that have special needs! It is amazing and the kids have buddies all week and the parents have respite! wonderful! we went last year and had a blast! you should look into it.... we ended up going to the one in NC :)
What is the name of the stander Angela is using? Which of her equipment do you take to preschool for her to use? My daughter who has CP turns 3 soon. I'm nervous about preschool, but excited to see how much she'll grow.
@ Jill -- that stander is the Toucan by R82. It's actually Jayden's and normally I'm not a big fan of it but it happened to be out so I put Angela in it. Angela uses a Leckey Squiggles which I love. The one in the photos you can't remove the tray -- don't like that. Also Angela is very tiny and her Arms don't reach very far onto the tray and there is a big gap between her and the tray. The Squiggles tray goes right up to her chest and is also not a prone stander.
At first I was totally freaked out by preschool -- but now I'm excited. I think the big thing is finding the right school and right environment (special needs or not) that will be the best match for YOUR child.
We plan on keeping her stander at school and bringing her KidWalk as well. She also uses a Childrite seat which is a MUST have!
@ Trish -- Yes we have heard of it. I think in a few years we might give it a try! I've heard amazing things!
I worked in a PreK classroom of a church that held upwards of 30-50 children each service hour. A child and his mother came in and the little sweets had a walker. He was fast and daring and when he sat with the other kids, some would steal his walker and run off. This panicked the mother, not for her son but for the safety of the other children. She immediately wanted to remove the walker. All I could say, and I am glad these ladies said something similar to you, it would be a great learning for all of us to have your son in our class. You have a right to be nervous. There are some meanies out there. I am so glad you didn't experience that. So excited to read more about this journey for her!
I'm so excited for Angela! I'm SO curious to know how you found the school. I haven't visited typical schools around here, but now you've sparked my interest! Our 2.5 y.o. daughter will start the transition process next month. Is Angela able to get any services at school? Is the school district involved are you going rogue?? Lol I know you mentioned setting up her IEP soon, so maybe you're handling everything on your own so far, and it sure sounds like you're doing an amazing job!!
@amanda -- we just went out and found the preschool on our own. It's close by and affordable. We really lucked out ! In the next month or so we will begin working with the IU to have her IEP written. Yes, she will get services within her typical preschool classroom as well as an one on one aid. Good luck with transition! It can be very difficult on us mommies!
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