Preschool for Special Needs on Seattle's Eastside

Dear M. K --- you do know, don't you- that public school provides excellent programs for children 3 to Kindergarden?????? You would call your local elementary school- tell them of your concerns and your suspicioun that there may be ''more to it'' - and they will tell you how to start the process. These programs are excellent- free, totally individualized and most people DON'T know they exist. There will likely be transportation provided - it will likely be a 4-=== half days a week program - with each classroom consisting of a small group of children ( 8---11) with an accredited teacher, a full time assistant for her- plus speech therapist and physical therapist staff who come into the room ( or have their own 'space' that the children go to-. DO MAKE TRACKS as the school year has only one month left - and you need to get the process under-way - but please do --- ( do I sound like a retired special-ed preschool teacher ???? That's me)

Blessings,
J.
aka- Old Mom

I cannot echo what Judy has said loudly enough. I have a degree in Early Childhood Special Education, and I must stress the importance of early intervention. In other words, the sooner your daughter gets services, the better the outcome in the long run.

You do not want a drop off preschool for a child for sensory issues. She really needs more structure than that type of setting can provide. She would be much better off in a special education preschool. I see you live in Kirkland, which puts you in the Lake Washington School District. They have an excellent special education program. Give them a call, and they can help you get the ball rolling.

As a parent of a special needs child, you must be going through a range of emotions. That's ok, and to be expected. Be sure to take time for yourself, and to process all the emotions that come with being a parent of a child with special needs. It's not easy to be a parent of such a child, and as I am sure you will come to discover, the road will have lots of bumps along the way. I would strongly suggest you contact Kindering Center in Bellevue. They provide services for infants and toddlers with special needs, but I do know they have some support groups for parents and whatnot, so please think about contacting them if you feel in need of some support. Their website is: http://www.kindering.org/ and their phone number is Phone ###-###-####. At the very least they can point you in the direction of some other sources of support.

I wish you the best of luck, brave M.!

Child Find..... public schools have pre-school from children 3 and up who are identified with special needs. Contact your school district and find out when and where it is located and the intake process. As kids are identified they are accepted. You still have time for next fall. This is a free pre-school, usually 5 days a week for 3-4 hours a day. They get services (OT, PT, speech, etc.) as well as basic PK skills, like colors, alphabet and number recognition, coloring, cutting, etc. Entry into your school system at this early age will begin her IEP (individual education plan) process that will follow her as long as she is in need of services. Needing services does not mean your child isn't a brilliant, talented individual capable of discovering a cure for cancer or being president of a Fortune 500 company or of the United States. Don't let anyone limit her possibilities. Be her advocate, her cheerleader, her Mom. My child who is dyspraxic (had small and large motor skill delays, including speech delay) is a jr. at WWU majoring in photo journalism, speaks French and Arabic, plays the alto sax... the sky's the limit for our kids. It's great that you're getting early intervention to help her and you!!! You go girls!!!!!

Hi, I'm L. Talley. I'm opening a preschool in Queen Anne, Seattle this September. I understand that it can be really hard to put a child in a preschool for a special needs child. Our school is new and still enrolling. The preschool that I am opening is not specific to special needs kid. However, we are welcoming kids with special needs. I have a masters degree in education specializing in autistic education. The only thing that I ask of parents who are thinking of enrolling their child with special needs at our school is to have an initial meeting with us. We can then discuss the child's special needs and see if we can accomodate them. We can then decide if we have the ability and skills to help that child. Feel free to contact me if you think that we can be a good fit for your child. Our email is ____@____.com our website is www.seattlelearningcenter.com Best wishes to you.

L. Talley

I have a son with special needs. He is delayed in his motor skills and social/emotional development. He was identified in his coop preschool. After a comprehensive evaluation by the Seattle Public Schools he has qualified for a special ed pre-K program with the district. Have you had your daughter comprehensively evaluated by the district? If not, you should go to the child-find program (you can search online) to find out how to refer your child for an evaluation. If she qualifies she can receive many types of therapy as well as free special ed pre-K.

I know how difficult it is to be facing this since I am going through it with my son. So far the people I have encountered in this process have been wonderful and he is making good progress.

Have you had her tested through the school district that you are in. If she tests that she need extra help then they will have her go to school through the district usually at the elementary school's preschool M,T,TH,F You can contact your local elementary school and they will know what to do.

I realize that this question is a little old but for anyone in a similar situation there is a home based preschool in Sammamish called "Little Gems" that is run by a family therapist. There are two locations (one home-based and one in Pine Lake.) I know for a fact that they have had kids that had mild autism/sensory disorders/and behavior issues. The woman who runs it is a certified family therapist. It's worth looking up!

I have two year old twins and one of my twins is fine and progressing as a normal two year old but his brother would not say a word and he would scream and cry because he couldn't express his self. So per advice from thier
doctor i had kaden evaluated by a program call early intervention. I did this in november 09 and my son has been going to school with kids with special needs for a little over 4 months and he is communcating with his brother and my husband and myself alot better and for thr first time he actually said mommy after 2 and half years. Most people said that i was late in getting him some help but i say it's never to late. My advice to you is look into an early intervention program and it's free until your child turns 5 years old .

I hope this would be helpful to you.
Pinky

I haved recieved information about the Issaquah school district trying to set up a preschool with kids with special needs and kids without. The idea being that the kids with special needs would benefit from being exposed to kids without. I believe that if you call Challenger Elementary School in Klahanie they have the information. Good luck.

http://www.nsd.org/education/school/school.php?sectionid=31

This is most likely the school for you.It deals with all kinds of special needs. I know several parents that have children going there and they have nothing but good things to say.

good luck.

D.