Early Intervention for Your Child
Chat Transcript... continued with Rita Taddonio, CSW Director of SPARK (Child Development program) at
Spence-Chapin Comment: I started it wrong in the first place simply asking his preschool teacher about adding speech. She acted like there was no way I could get more ST for him as they didn't have enough people now. So if the teacher is saying that, I think that the "higher ups" aren't going to be any easier. They said he'd get 30 minwk group therapy and didn't tell me any thing else.
Comment: The actual teacher doing the work is more apt to say there's no more stuff available. The person in charge who oversees things might be more inclined to help because 1) they aren't as overwhelmed with day to day stuff, and 2) they have an interest in making the program work.
Reply: I had no idea what I was doing when I signed the IEP in Sept. I thought I had to accept what they told me they provided.
Rita: Yeah, they always neglect to tell you that they are obligated by law to provide it if he needs it and that if they don't have the personnel they have to pay for private therapy. I would suggest you make an appointment with someone in the school district special education office to discuss this.
Reply: You are right, I never thought about the teacher being the one who might be the hard one. I'm glad I talked to you about it.
Comment: You should aim for speech therapy from someone who understands the problems that are unique to children adopted from foreign countries as toddlers, especially those over 2. We had our daughter in EI for one year (age 2-3). She started preK at age 2.5; at age 3 EI told us she didn't need services anymore. We got her some private speech therapy at age 3.5 (which she is still in) and the therapist discovered some published studies relating to problems faced by children in this situation. Our daughter is doing really well and is going to start Kindergarten in the fall.
Rita: Good point - I think parents always should make sure that the person evaluating their child understands the effects of institutionalization, or being in foster care, etc.
Comment: It also helps to go in with the attitude that you are the expert in this case. You are the person who sees your son 24/7. You know what he needs. Go in with your head held high and remember you know best.
Reply: I'm still going to write down all my concerns in letter form though. I'm one who forgets what they want to say if I don't write it down! That way it'll back up all the reasons why I want more ST.
Rita: And it's a good record - which will be important if you do have to go to fair hearing. See if you can get his speech therapist to write something too.
Reply: I just wish I had known all of this before the IEP, and believe me, I made lots of phone calls to find out how to get help for him. To start with over age 3 to begin getting services is a little harder, seems the EI team helps all the way from birth thru transition.
Rita: We all learn as we go along. Advocating for your child is a lifetime thing and the rules keep changing. EI is more family friendly, it was designed that way.
Comment: I think that many of the rules were not made with our children in mind.
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