With just one week left for Dubbers’ first year in preschool, I reflect on the questions and emotions we had nine months ago in his first days. Like any parent, I worried if he would “fit in”, make friends, and be accepted. More so, I wondered if we made the right decision. We had spent the previous nine months researching options, designing a program, and challenging the system. While we knew his therapy sessions were priority; socialization, exposure and role models were a close second. This came to be known as “mainstream preschool.”
We found a right mainstream preschool that was very open to Dubbers’ special needs. When applying, I was very upfront and honest about both his strengths and challenges. In order to successfully attend, he would be accompanied by a full-time therapist, known as a SEIT (Special Education Itinterant Teacher). We were fortunate in that his class size turned out to be only ten children. This was fairly small considering most private preschools can have 16 or more. There was also both a head and assistant teacher. So, since September, Dubbers has joined nine typically developing three year olds in their first year of preschool!
The other children know Dubbers has his special “companion” and that he uses a “talker” to be able to communicate, but each day he enters that classroom as one of them. He learns the same songs, plays the same games, and shares the same experiences. He is also expected to follow the same rules, routines and steps throughout each day. The SEIT is there to support Dubbers through it all without overstepping or taking the place of the teachers.
Exposing Dubbers to “typically developing” children and these children to Dubbers is enriching and rewarding for both. For three hours every morning Dubbers can be a child without a label, diagnosis, or disability. It has been amazing and beyond gratifying to see.
Simply wish to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post is just nice and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
I wish Long Island was as forward thinking as the city. My daughter could have benefited from inclusion years ago but is now just starting ICT as a 4th grader. I’m hoping she will catch up because as you said, special kids are resilient. Thanks for sharing your stories!