IEP in Gen Ed Preschool

[Anonymous]

Dear Moms and Dads,
We are moving to the area from out of state and having trouble finding an inclusive gen ed preschool for our daughter. Currently, she (and her typically developing twin) is enrolled in a Gen Ed preschool. She has mild cerebral palsy (and apraxia) and has been thriving her current Gen Ed classroom, as she has above average cognitive ability and no behavioral issues. We have been very aggressive with early intervention/therapy and got our school district to provide 3 hours of speech, 90 min of PT, 45 min of OT and one hour of music therapy per week. All her therapy is "pushed into" the Gen Ed classroom, meaning that the therapists go to her and implement the therapy in her natural, least restrictive environment. In addition, we take her to gym once a week at our Children's Hospital where she gets additional PT and OT and a private SLP comes to our home for another speech session. It has all been worth it as she is much much more understandable, walks better (on her own with just some inserts in her shoes), etc. In other words, the therapy is working.

We are now faced with possibly moving and disrupting this program. As we have called and now visited preschools in the Maryland area, we are having trouble finding one that will accept this type of program. Most of the schools have never had therapists go into their classrooms (which is the best way to implement therapy). It is important to us that she stays in the least restrictive/Gen Ed environment, as she is doing well and every therapist and teacher who has worked with her has told us that she belongs in a Gen Ed classroom. Does anyone have any suggestions on a progressive preschool we could take a look at? Also, I have read through the blog and seen that MCPS often buses children to your home elementary school. This seems crazy to us. Has any one had success with receiving services in the child's preschool? Every therapist I have ever known has said this is what is in the best interest of children. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

OP, welcome to the area. For preschool, I would start with St. Columba's:
http://www.columba.org/index.php/2011/nurseryschool

It's an inclusive program so may not be obstructing to therapists coming into the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Also, I have read through the blog and seen that MCPS often buses children to your home elementary school. This seems crazy to us. Has any one had success with receiving services in the child's preschool?

I have never seen a program as you describe for a child in preschool. I had similar services for my son before he turned three, but once he turned three, the option was to have him bused to the ES closest to the preschool, which was not our home ES. When he hit kindergarten, services transitioned to the school he attended. As close as I've come to getting services at my son's preschool was when we have make up sessions that had to be done in order to comply with the IEP. Only then would the therapists travel to the preschool, but the preschool had to provide a private space for the services.

One program you might want to look at is Karasik in Silver Spring. My son went there years ago and I seem to remember that it was more inclusive and progressive in terms of providing services to kids with special needs. I don't have enough recollection to give you more information and likely, even if I did, it would be dated.

[Anonymous]

Kids with SN in Mo Co attend a pre-K program called PEP. In general, it is highly reputed. The number of hours depends on the program and your kid's needs. For a child who is likely to attend gen ed for K it's a great experience. You can decline bus transportation if you want but I regard it as a perk. Depending on your assigned program and child's age it's still also possible to enroll your kid in a typical preschool. Three year olds usually attend PEP in the am, four year olds in the pm. You can request to have itinerant services at the private preschool instead of PEP (I actually think this is what the county is moving toward) but this is a waste of your money and typical peer exposure time if your child is only in school half-days.

[Anonymous]

PEP Pilot is for kids without cognitive issues who have physical needs like it sounds like your daughter has. It is only offered to you for 2 days a week, 2.5 hrs a day. IT's not enough. We were told that kids without cognitive delays were not appropriate for the other PEP programs. The problem is you need to supplement with a 3 day a week program.

[Anonymous]

PEP Pilot is for kids without cognitive issues who have physical needs like it sounds like your daughter has. It is only offered to you for 2 days a week, 2.5 hrs a day. IT's not enough. We were told that kids without cognitive delays were not appropriate for the other PEP programs. The problem is you need to supplement with a 3 day a week program.

[Anonymous]

PEP PILOT may be a good option. Ours has NT kids mixed in with the SN kids.

Also, this is Prince George's County, but for may be an option for the speech issues:
http://hesp.umd.edu/content/about-leap

I'm curious as to where you're moving from. (I doubt very much if you'll receive as many therapeutic hours from the county, so brace yourselves.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Moms and Dads,
We are moving to the area from out of state and having trouble finding an inclusive gen ed preschool for our daughter. Currently, she (and her typically developing twin) is enrolled in a Gen Ed preschool. She has mild cerebral palsy (and apraxia) and has been thriving her current Gen Ed classroom, as she has above average cognitive ability and no behavioral issues. We have been very aggressive with early intervention/therapy and got our school district to provide 3 hours of speech, 90 min of PT, 45 min of OT and one hour of music therapy per week. All her therapy is "pushed into" the Gen Ed classroom, meaning that the therapists go to her and implement the therapy in her natural, least restrictive environment. In addition, we take her to gym once a week at our Children's Hospital where she gets additional PT and OT and a private SLP comes to our home for another speech session. It has all been worth it as she is much much more understandable, walks better (on her own with just some inserts in her shoes), etc. In other words, the therapy is working.

We are now faced with possibly moving and disrupting this program. As we have called and now visited preschools in the Maryland area, we are having trouble finding one that will accept this type of program. Most of the schools have never had therapists go into their classrooms (which is the best way to implement therapy). It is important to us that she stays in the least restrictive/Gen Ed environment, as she is doing well and every therapist and teacher who has worked with her has told us that she belongs in a Gen Ed classroom. Does anyone have any suggestions on a progressive preschool we could take a look at? Also, I have read through the blog and seen that MCPS often buses children to your home elementary school. This seems crazy to us. Has any one had success with receiving services in the child's preschool? Every therapist I have ever known has said this is what is in the best interest of children. Thoughts?

Try Saint Columba's, on Albermarle in DC = they deliberately admit non NT children and although you won't get the same amount of therapy you will get good quality and a nonjudgemental environment from the kids and the parents. It is our church, and our kids had a lot of fun going there. It is expensive but financial aid is available. Good luck and welcome

[Anonymous]

NCRC is also an inclusive preschool that is open to having therapists come to the school and work with the children. Our son sounds very similar; mild cp (hemi) and mild speech delay.

http://ncrcpreschool.org/page.php?pid=133

Good luck! We live in the District, but I have heard really great things about the programs both in MCPS and Arlington County as well.

[Anonymous]

we applied to NCRC for pre-k and we didn't get in. The special needs spots are filled for 2 year olds and those kids get the same spots each year unless they move or go public, etc. We loved NCRC and wish they had a spot for our little girl. It's extremely competitive. St. Columba's had spots for the afternoon class.

[Anonymous]

PEP also has Itinerant teachers, OTs and Speech Paths who work with area preschools and come in to provide services based on the IEP.

[Anonymous]

Where are you moving from? We are in Virginia and I"ve never heard of such generous public services (the therapists coming into your private preschool, the sessions at a hospital gym, etc).

[Anonymous]

Resurrection Children's Center, a private preschool in Alexandria, VA is very inclusive. They have a private ST and OT that push into the classrooms and also welcome staff from the ACPS special Ed program. They are probably full, but might be worth a call if you are anywhere nearby.

[mabodie]

Are you looking for private pre-school or for programs provided in the local public schools? If you are looking for private pre-schools that will welcome child find therapists into your school then there are a number of those but I think the school would need to be located in the county where you live. I think your greater challenge would be getting the child find therapists to go to what ever school you choose. We had child find therapists come to our house, meet us at the local park etc when DD was a toddler but I think the policies are different at the pre-school age.