To Mainstream or Not -- Pre-K

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I am so confused by the school search so I'm turning to you for advice. My daughter attends a traditional preschool right now, but has to move on next year. She has no formal diagnosis but has some OT issues -- fine and gross motor, and social delays -- she doesn't often initiate play with other children -- she may also have some auditory processing. That being said she does really well in the classroom. She is reading at age 4, she participates in class -- she's verbal but does some parroting. They've suggested I look at small private schools where she will get the attention she needs, but I'm wonder whether I should include schools like Maddux in my search. Are there children at Maddux who have autism or is it more mild delays? And which traditional independent schools do well with special needs?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Maddux seeks kids who sound just like your daughter--In need of social encouragement, OT/speech support. Definitely NOT for kids with moderate or profound learning needs or true autism. It strives to be, as I understand from the director, a regular program with strong academics that assist kids in a small setting to be eventually mainstreamed. Some area independent schools will work with kids with milder needs, but look at Maddux as well. Also, I would strongly encourage you to get a more in depth evaluation of your daughter before proceeding. Love the 'county', but they do not have the staffing, resources, time to really analyze each child. Try to get her into Children's or Kennedy Krieger for them to look more closely at her speech/language/pragmatic development. Good luck.