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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Oh, also, yes, my experience was getting accurate information from anyone about the process and the extended IFSP option/when the switchover occurs was sort of maddening.  They seemed to have no idea - but then it was effectively the first year they were dealing with it.  Sounds like they haven't quite cleared things up (that is, they're not prepared for a subset of families who are on the fence - they seem to deal fairly well with those who are certain one way or another, can carry out those processes, but less prepared for answering questions about final deadlines etc).  I generally had to demand info in writing, refuse to sign X or do Y, and request to speak to the head of whatever, in order to get to someone who seemed to know what they were talking about.

Also, you should figure out if Early Stages might place you elsewhere/recommend a level of services not available at the school you lotteried into - in which case you're deciding between the unknown Early Stages placement (they may be willing to give you some info on what they'd propose, but no guarantees on location) and IFSP services.  And Early Stages placements are essentially first come first serve - so the longer you wait the fewer options you may have.  But this only matters if wherever you lotteried into can't serve you (and matters even less, in theory, if you've lotteried into a charter).  Otherwise, if the level of services you have is minimal enough, relatively speaking, you'd just go wherever you lotteried.[/quote]

Thank you SO SO much. That is extremely helpful - both your information and your experience. It is a lottery seat that I'm talking about, so it sounds like we won't get bumped from the IFSP simply by accepting the seat. I'm leaning towards keeping the IFSP but wanted to wait a bit before making that decision. The school we got an offer at is fine, very close to our house and accessible (son has a physical disability which limits our school choices), but I'm not 100% sold it's the best environment for him. I think this will get harder as we move up and up on the waitlist for some schools that I think might be a good fit. But our IEP doesn't offer nearly the level of services we get through the IFSP, and I am thinking one more year might be good for him with the intense level of services. We also might have a major medical procedure in the next year, which would leave me feeling better at our current childcare center. I'm indecisive as a person anyway, this is a choice that is really tough for us. I really appreciate your insight.[/quote]

In case it helps, PT was the service we had the most issue with getting provided.  There was an OT and SLP "based" at our school at least a few day a week, so those services were provided semi-regularly, sort of, though not in the best fashion (they were fond of large groups of kids, who weren't really needing group services, and then they'd trade off - so while my kid was in the room for 30 minutes, she only got 30/4 minutes of attention because the SLP didn't work with the kids together, but rather switched who she was working with).  PT however ... it took at least a month to get up and running, and then they tried to do marathon sessions (HOURS in a row) to "make up" time, then wouldn't show up again.  The PT was assigned some insane number of schools 20+ - that I just didn't see how it was possible for them to serve.  Our experience at a charter has been much better across the board with related services, and the services for the most part actually occur and are appropriate (individual versus group, where individual is appropriate).  And the service providers don't seem to have insane caseloads (I imagine the only way the SLP/OT in DCPS could serve their caseload was to do the large groups).  Not sure if that's the same for all charters.  But I think, in DCPS, unless you're in one of the few DCPS schools with a program targeted towards kids with physical disabilities, the PT situation will be the same throughout the system, and if there's not a largish population of kids getting related services, it might be similar for speech and OT too, depending.  If the OT is only at the school Thursday mornings, and your kid is sick, or they have an IEP or conference or are sick themselves, or there's a class field trip, there's no make up opportunity, and things end up not happening.  So you could definitely ask for that sort of info from the school - is anyone based at the school, how often are those providers there, how many other kids - which would give you a good sense of whether services have the opportunity to happen consistently or not and some more information on which to base your decision.[/quote]

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