Inclusion in elementary school

[Anonymous]

I am moving to the area with my 3 DC, the oldest being 3 1/2 and with special needs (requires PT, OT, aug comm SLP) but cognitively age appropriate. We are looking for inclusion in elementary school and are trying to figure out which elementary schools in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area have done this successfully recently. I have heard that Bethesda ES is one of those schools, but wanted to hear anyone's recent experiences. I know we will be in the PEP program until kindergarten, but we have to buy a house in the next several months, so I am trying to look in areas that will likely land us in that elementary school and to go see those school beforehand. Thanks in advance for your input!

[Anonymous]

My son faces the same challenges that you describe. We opted to go private for kindergarten, due to the large class sizes in just about ALL of the county schools. (Our son does best in classes under 20-something)

But we have friends who have kids with 'challenges' in Bradley Hills. The principal sounds very on task, offering quite a bit of support to kids like your son. But again, as long as he does well in large classes (23-25)

Whichever PEP program you attend might be able to offer more suggestions. My advice though, hire a reputable educational consultant to 'represent' you the IEP year before kindergarten. No matter how kind/helpful the county staff, teachers might seem, our experience has been that they are there for the county, not for the families.

Feel free to email me offlist if you need further guidance: [e-mail]

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Hi OP

We moved to the Bethesda Elem neighborhood a few years ago for the very same reasons as you. Our SN child just finished his second year of PEP at Ashburton and we were very happy with the program. He is eligible to attend K at BE this fall (turns 5 soon), however, we have decided to hold him back for one year and do private pre K and then go the K at BE the following year. I have been very pleased with all of the interactions we have had thus far with the staff at BE and we look forward to attending the school. Sorry, I can't give you any real info about how good/bad their inclusion program is......but, everything I have heard has been very positive.

[Anonymous]

Suzie Blattner would be a great resouce for you - she is an education consultant. I'd give her a call and see if it would be a good fit. Best of luck!
http://www.its-palss.com/ourstaff.html

[Anonymous]

Suzie Blattner is THE person to speak with. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suzie Blattner is THE person to speak with. Good luck.

Though Suzie isn't the 'best' for every situation. There are other consultants out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suzie Blattner is THE person to speak with. Good luck.

I disagree.

Also, that's a strangely blanket recommendation from a parent who (one would think, especially if Suzie is doing her job well) should be particularly attuned to the idea that there is no single best solution for everyone. You understand the inconsistency here, don't you?

[Anonymous]

np here -- suzie knows A LOT about montgomery county public schools, so she may be the best person to speak with for this situation. she is, however, very difficult to get in touch with.

[Anonymous]

16:17 again -- Ok, you're all being literal so I will be as well. Suzie helped us a lot, pointed us toward DS' school and got us in to see some clinicians who are in demand. I agree that she is very difficult to get in to see, and I probably should have said that. We were very persistent. We found that once we were clients she was very responsive. Of course there's no best for everyone and no one is perfect. I don't think my post was "strangely blanket" so much as quick and rough. This is what I meant: Suzie Blattner did remarkable things for our DS and I strongly recommend her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suzie Blattner is THE person to speak with. Good luck.

I disagree.

Also, that's a strangely blanket recommendation from a parent who (one would think, especially if Suzie is doing her job well) should be particularly attuned to the idea that there is no single best solution for everyone. You understand the inconsistency here, don't you?

I agree with this. From personal experience, Suzie in the end was not the best consultant for our child's particular situation (situation very similar to OP's, actually) She is spread thin, sometimes unresponsive. I think that she needs to sometimes refer out, when she recognizes that she is not the appropriate proessional for a particular situation.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the comments so far. I appreciate the suggestion about the consultant and the comment on BH and BE so far. Anyone else have thoughts? I'd love to hear more. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the comments so far. I appreciate the suggestion about the consultant and the comment on BH and BE so far. Anyone else have thoughts? I'd love to hear more. Thanks!

Send me an email directly and I can try to answer any questions you have [e-mail]