Included In Regular Class
Dear Ruth,My 4 year old son has Down Syndrome. Last year he was included in a regular school program and made wonderful progress. He started imitating more sounds and saying more words. This year we moved and he will be in a preschool just for kids with disabilities. I am afraid that this kind of environment will hold him back. Should I be looking for a different or additional class for him?
J.K.
Dear J.K.,
It sounds as if the professionals and kids in the regular class did an admirable job last year. Your son should be proud of himself. I too would be reluctant to place him in a special class after he has demonstrated such a positive result from inclusion. I would ask the IEP team why his needs could not be met in the regular class.
Sometimes the professionals at school assume that a special class has more to offer than a regular one. But you know your child's history. And the law is on your side: your son is entitled to the 'least restrictive environment' in which his needs can be met. Assert his right to try an environment similar to the one in which he thrived last year.
Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist
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