Choosing the Right Pre-School for Your Special Needs Child

As a parent of a child with special needs, sending him or her to school might feel like the wrong thing to do. However, your child still deserves to learn, the way that he or she does best. For this reason, it is imperative to do your research before preschool.

Here are some places to start.

Start by asking organizations designed to help those with disabilities. They often have a lot of information about special education resources that are available to you and your child. He or she may even be eligible for a free preschool and these organizations should be able to help you a lot.

Don’t forget to ask your school district. Even though your child may not be able to go to elementary school for a few more years, they still have a special education department that might have a wealth of information. They may even do some testing, as well as look through your child’s medical records, to determine the level of his or her need.

Once you find a list of places to consider, visit each one. Spend time looking around. If possible, watch a class or two. Ask questions about the curriculum with the teachers and get a feel for how they handle the children.

If you feel like a program that your child gets recommended for is not right, don’t hesitate to stand up. Our children can’t stand up for themselves. That is our job. If you don’t feel comfortable with a school, find something better. You are the only one who can do that.

Here are some options that may be available to children with special needs.

Preschools specifically for children with special needs. These schools only allow children who have special needs, ensuring that your child will get the specific help needed. Teachers are well-trained to deal and teach children like yours.

The downside of a school like this is that your child won’t deal with children who are developing typically, which is often helpful so that they can learn how they should behave.

Special education programs that allow children without disabilities to attend. The classes are full of children with and without disabilities. Your child will have the individualized attention that he or she needs, as well as the chance to socialize with all types of children.

Some preschools offer support services. These are standard preschools that work with special-education teachers when needed. These specialists help the teachers modify their classes to help your child, and will continue to support prescribed changes as your child grows in his or her ability.

The downside of sending your child to a regular preschool is that the teachers are not trained to deal with children who have special needs.

Some parents use more than one option. They may send their child to one school for three days and another for the remaining two days. Some schools are half-day, so they find another program for the rest of the day.

So, how can you decide what is right for your child?

Look into class sizes. Ideally, you want a small class with at least one or two aides to help the teacher. If the classes are big, you should find out how many aides help routinely during the day.

Find out if your child can get individualized attention if needed. Many special needs children need extra help during the day. Make sure that the school offers your child this by having other aides around to help and work privately with your child.

Learn about the curriculum and how they plan on teaching it. What the children learn is important, although how the teachers teach is even more so. Most children, not just those with special needs, learn best in a play-based learning environment.

Find out how they follow individualized education plans (IEP). Every child should have a list of goals (both short and long) toward which they need to work. The preschool teachers need to be dedicated to teaching these to your child in the best way possible.

Visit a few schools. Hopefully, you will be able to observe some classes and meet some of the teachers. You need to be comfortable with where your child will be, as well as who will be taking care of them.

Thinking about schools can be hard. You are going to have to trust your child’s care in the hands of someone else. This decision shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially with a special needs child. Take your time, get him or her tested, and start looking as soon as possible.

Then, it is time to start visiting schools and talking to a few teachers. You are going to need to trust your gut. Pick a school that you feel will treat your child with respect and has something to offer to him or her. You have got to start somewhere. If you feel like it is not working, you can try another. However, you have to try a school and get him or her on the road to a good education.