School age kids with DS
Neither of my girls are school age yet ... as in, kindergarten or above. While they do both attend preschools that are in elementary schools, the preschool programs are kept separate and they basically have no interaction with the rest of the school.
Since Mason started kindergarten, I have really begun to wonder how things will go for my girls once they start school. I know things are specific to the child, but my wish is to have my girls mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten classroom with an aide. You might think I'm ignorant to have that wish, but whatever -- it is my wish. However, the more I visit Mason's school ... the more discouraged I get that this will actually happen.
Not sure why, but that is just a general feeling that I get.
If I may, I would like to ask questions of those of you who already have kids with DS in school ... or if not, what your plan is for your child.
1) Will they be mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten classroom?
2) Will it be possible for them to have an aide in said kindergarten classroom?
3) No matter their placement ... and as long as they have an IEP, I assume they will be considered part of the special ed program?
4) Being part of the special ed program, does that mean they will always have to ride a special ed bus? What if they have an older sibling or buddy that will take care of them on the regular bus -- then can they ride it?
5) Where do they sit in the lunchroom? With a kindergarten class or with the self-contained class?
I know some of these things seem silly, but they all matter to me. The #1 thing I struggle with is having them stand out as being different than their peers. So yeah, my #1 goal is to have their peers understand how much they are alike, rather than different.
I think I have a really big battle to fight. Sigh.
Since Mason started kindergarten, I have really begun to wonder how things will go for my girls once they start school. I know things are specific to the child, but my wish is to have my girls mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten classroom with an aide. You might think I'm ignorant to have that wish, but whatever -- it is my wish. However, the more I visit Mason's school ... the more discouraged I get that this will actually happen.
Not sure why, but that is just a general feeling that I get.
If I may, I would like to ask questions of those of you who already have kids with DS in school ... or if not, what your plan is for your child.
1) Will they be mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten classroom?
2) Will it be possible for them to have an aide in said kindergarten classroom?
3) No matter their placement ... and as long as they have an IEP, I assume they will be considered part of the special ed program?
4) Being part of the special ed program, does that mean they will always have to ride a special ed bus? What if they have an older sibling or buddy that will take care of them on the regular bus -- then can they ride it?
5) Where do they sit in the lunchroom? With a kindergarten class or with the self-contained class?
I know some of these things seem silly, but they all matter to me. The #1 thing I struggle with is having them stand out as being different than their peers. So yeah, my #1 goal is to have their peers understand how much they are alike, rather than different.
I think I have a really big battle to fight. Sigh.