Help me not feel like the worst Mom: 3yo in Special Ed

[maidenfairy]

My oldest son was very hard to understand. Being my first kid I just thought boys talk later than girls it will be ok. Right after he was 3 I really picked up it wasn't just his gender. His name is Oliver and he couldn't say his name to other children on the play ground. I took him to the dr and he couldn't understand a word Oliver said. So we called the schools and got him evaluated. I was told it was a very severe speech articulation problem. I cried and cried, thinking if only I had got help for him earlier or taken away that darn Binkie. (We were in Maryland at the time and it qualified him for the special ed preschool.) But I came to realize it is just the way his brain works. He is going into first grade this fall and he still is in speech, but he has made great progress. Most ppl don't even know he has a problem. Just give it time. You are a strong person and can handle this. My only advise is do the homework they will send to you. Now when Ollie says something and a person doesn't understand him he says, "I'm in speech, Duh" It's pretty funny.

 

[Mellie0119]

Texas mommy with a son who is PDD-NOS chiming in- PPDC did WONDERS with my son!
We didn't get him in until he was 4.5 years old- he spent almost a full year there. When he went in, he wasn't potty trained (despite me trying from the time he turned 2), didn't do more than scribble on paper- couldn't copy simple shapes, had sensory issues regarding textures and clothing, he didn't say much- it wasn't that he couldn't say the words- he just didn't say them. We did PPCD, got OT and ST and he's now going into second grade- mainstreamed since kindergarten. He still gets OT and ST and has an aide in his classroom for 45 minutes a day to make sure he's staying on task and understands what he needs to do, but for the most part, that aide just watched him all last year. He's reading slightly above grade level- had all high marks on his report card, it amazes me to think how far we've come in just 3 years.

At least with our schools, I've never felt like him being in PPCD labeled him or held him back in anyway at all. In fact, because of Least Restrictive Environment rules- they constantly try to reduce the intervention and help he gets as not to stigmatize him.

 

[PaulaSue]

All 3 of my girls have been in speech (LIU and EI) and one was in for a few other things, even though I have done everything to try avoid it with my younger 2 DD. They were all born tongue-tied and had their surgery soon after birth. I was Trying to do everything I was told to do for my first DD I tried to do with my other 2 but it just wasn't enough.

Don't beat yourself up! It is Great help for them and so worth it especially when they enter K and up.

 

[bucket o' butter]

Please do not feel like a bad mom because your child is in special education. I am a pre-school teacher in the public school system and work with the special needs preschool teacher throughout the year. We share children as much as possible to help the special needs children transition into kindergarten. It is better to get your child help at a young age rather than wait until he is older. It does sound like your child has some autistic tendancies, but with the enrollment into the special needs pre-school, hopefully he can transition into a regular classroom by kindergarten age. Just work with him and get him all the therapies that he needs. Good luck and God Bless!