S/O Occupational therapy automatic disqualification from mainstream PreK?

[Anonymous]

Just finished reading the other post about preschools and teacher recs.

I am in the same bucket. Applying to private preschools in NYC

My 2.5 year old is doing OT.

She was diagnosed with sensory processing issues particularly around movement and touch.

Will she automatically get disqualified if I disclose because they will be afraid she’s autistic?

I already wrote in one school application but will at least not spotlight in others if I know for sure she will not get in.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know, but wouldn’t you want a school willing and able to support her with these issues? Seems like a very dumb thing to try to hide.

[Anonymous]

You should be more concerned about getting your child the supports she needs.

[Anonymous]

I’m the mom on that post who spoke with admissions about a rec and found them to be very…normal about it. I think it really depends on how well your daughter is doing.

If the issues are resolved or close to resolvable without requiring a lot of extra one on one time with her at school, then I would think they’d be fine with it.

To be honest, they seemed over accommodating to me, FWIW. I didn’t take the spot because I was concerned that they would actually try to meet significant SNs at the expense of more NT developing kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the mom on that post who spoke with admissions about a rec and found them to be very…normal about it. I think it really depends on how well your daughter is doing.

If the issues are resolved or close to resolvable without requiring a lot of extra one on one time with her at school, then I would think they’d be fine with it.

To be honest, they seemed over accommodating to me, FWIW. I didn’t take the spot because I was concerned that they would actually try to meet significant SNs at the expense of more NT developing kids.

OP here. Thanks for sharing. So your daughter also had special needs or did you ask for the rec letter to be waived?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be more concerned about getting your child the supports she needs.

OP Yes I am. She is doing OT and it’s working well. She is ok in her current daycare. She’s not doing the “best” in the class but not the “worst”.

So at least based on what I know now she can handle school without much extra support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but wouldn’t you
want a school willing and able to support her with these issues? Seems like a very dumb thing to try to hide.

OP she is doing OT on the weekend. It’s not interfering with her school.

Now if she does turn out autistic, I imagine they will counsel her out eventually but even then, she seems to be fine overall, she plays with other kids, she does pretend play, she’s ok about listening to instructions overall, she’s very verbal. So I don’t think she has autism but even if she does, I think it will be level 1. She’s on a waitlist for testing to be extra safe but the appointment is this late spring so we will not know before applying to schools anyway. So far all we know is about her processing issues for which she started getting treatment about 2 months ago and it’s already yielding results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the mom on that post who spoke with admissions about a rec and found them to be very…normal about it. I think it really depends on how well your daughter is doing.

If the issues are resolved or close to resolvable without requiring a lot of extra one on one time with her at school, then I would think they’d be fine with it.

To be honest, they seemed over accommodating to me, FWIW. I didn’t take the spot because I was concerned that they would actually try to meet significant SNs at the expense of more NT developing kids.

OP here. Thanks for sharing. So your daughter also had special needs or did you ask for the rec letter to be waived?

I asked for the rec letter to be waived - wrt to the SNs, I had some insider insight through an alum who had kids there recently as well and my kid while NT just needs structure and rule following generally which isn’t easy for a teacher to accomplish with a more individualized approach to PK3 kids, which I think is the correct one. I wish my kid flourished in the independent play classes, she just doesn’t as we’ve found from personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but wouldn’t you
want a school willing and able to support her with these issues? Seems like a very dumb thing to try to hide.

OP she is doing OT on the weekend. It’s not interfering with her school.

Now if she does turn out autistic, I imagine they will counsel her out eventually but even then, she seems to be fine overall, she plays with other kids, she does pretend play, she’s ok about listening to instructions overall, she’s very verbal. So I don’t think she has autism but even if she does, I think it will be level 1. She’s on a waitlist for testing to be extra safe but the appointment is this late spring so we will not know before applying to schools anyway. So far all we know is about her processing issues for which she started getting treatment about 2 months ago and it’s already yielding results.

PP from above here. I think it sounds like she might really benefit from one of these privates even if she eventually receives a diagnosis. The willingness to meet her where she is might be super beneficial.

[Anonymous]

Close to 70% of UMC NYC kids have had OT. It’s super common

[Anonymous]

IME Montessori schools were pretty nervous about my child's special needs (not autism)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the mom on that post who spoke with admissions about a rec and found them to be very…normal about it. I think it really depends on how well your daughter is doing.

If the issues are resolved or close to resolvable without requiring a lot of extra one on one time with her at school, then I would think they’d be fine with it.

To be honest, they seemed over accommodating to me, FWIW. I didn’t take the spot because I was concerned that they would actually try to meet significant SNs at the expense of more NT developing kids.

OP here. Thanks for sharing. So your daughter also had special needs or did you ask for the rec letter to be waived?

I asked for the rec letter to be waived - wrt to the SNs, I had some insider insight through an alum who had kids there recently as well and my kid while NT just needs structure and rule following generally which isn’t easy for a teacher to accomplish with a more individualized approach to PK3 kids, which I think is the correct one. I wish my kid flourished in the independent play classes, she just doesn’t as we’ve found from personal experience.

OP so you chose a school with good structure in the end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but wouldn’t you
want a school willing and able to support her with these issues? Seems like a very dumb thing to try to hide.

OP she is doing OT on the weekend. It’s not interfering with her school.

Now if she does turn out autistic, I imagine they will counsel her out eventually but even then, she seems to be fine overall, she plays with other kids, she does pretend play, she’s ok about listening to instructions overall, she’s very verbal. So I don’t think she has autism but even if she does, I think it will be level 1. She’s on a waitlist for testing to be extra safe but the appointment is this late spring so we will not know before applying to schools anyway. So far all we know is about her processing issues for which she started getting treatment about 2 months ago and it’s already yielding results.

PP from above here. I think it sounds like she might really benefit from one of these privates even if she eventually receives a diagnosis. The willingness to meet her where she is might be super beneficial.

OP Yes, I think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IME Montessori schools were pretty nervous about my child's special needs (not autism)

OP agree we are not applying to montesorri. I love the philosophy but not the right fit for her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Close to 70% of UMC NYC kids have had OT. It’s super common

OP really? we are the only ones in my friends' group who does it.