參觀特殊教育的學前班，希望陽陽能夠資格入學

This is terrible. I lost everything I just entered. :(

Today I went to Jefferson school to look into getting Yangyang some more physical/occupational therapy, as well as a center-based program. Our HRC (regional center) therapist Sally suggested these programs to me. Normally our HRC counselor would take care it, but our counselor Lucy was extremely unresponsive and irresponsible. It usually takes her two weeks to return a phone call. When I told her about YY's need of more PT/OT, she assured me that it would only take a week to get things arranged, but now it had been over a month, and nothing had been done. Even Sally sympathizes with me and supports my decision to get a new counselor. Sally gave me the Jefferson leads so I can get more help on my own.

There are two programs appropriate to YY on Jefferson campus. One is CCS/MTU, California Children Services, Medical Treatment Unit. They can provide additional PT/OT. I submitted my form along with doctor's report and prescription, and someone from the main office would contact me shortly, they said.

The other program is Early Start Service of Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). I asked for the coordinator Jennifer. She was in a classroom with three other teachers and seven children. They were doing art work in two groups. Jennifer was very pleasant to talk to, and she explained to me about their program clearly. This program is for children between 1.5 and 3 with motor delays, and possibly other developmental delays. One starts with two days a week, 9:30-12:30 including lunch, and after 6 months will increase to three days a week. The activities include free play, circle time, music, art, and so on, and the class structure looks a lot like a preschool. Jennifer says that they prepare the children for regular preschools. The other three teachers are equally nice and patient. I was very impressed with them. And the teacher-to-student ratio is lower than 1:2! Think of all the attention YY can get! I feel eager to get YY into such a program. It looks a lot better than all the preschools I have visited before, and I have visited quite a lot.

However, I was concerned with the other students in the classroom. Several of the students were quite delayed in other areas. One girl was tied to a chair because she could not hold up her head, and a crayon had to be tied to her hand so she could "draw". Another boy looked like a Down syndrome kid. One girl had to use a walker to walk because she looked too weak. A black girl looked quite social, and an older boy had a prothetic leg. Jennifer told me that these two kids were not delayed and they could do age-appropriate things. This program has other children who were not delayed, so Jennifer told me not to worry. I guess YY is still too young to be affected by other students.

The next step is to find Diana from our school district, and request an interdistrict referral. When I called her up, she was no longer working there, and the psychologist who answered the call had no idea what I needed. She said she would look into it. Another step was to have Jennifer come to our home to assess YY and see if he qualifies the program. I hope YY gets in, because he would benefit from the professional care and learn appropriate social skills. Maybe I will tell YY to act delayed so he can get in... Also we might need Sally to write up a report.

COPY. SAVE.