Oh! So this is school?

This was a first. No one ever requested to bring their stuffed toys, let alone a blanket to anywhere we have ever gone. But maybe there was something about hearing, "You're going to a school today." And then the look of bewilderment when the lady standing at the top of the stairs  greeted them with a nice big smile, saying, "Oh look at you three ... Aren't you just so cute, come with me." Susannah of course played dumb and pretended to not even notice her.

This week all three had evaluations for continued speech therapy through Chicago Publuc Schools (CPS). They were aging out of the Early Intervention program at age 3 (next Saturday they turn 3!).  Reagan had been in the program since age 3 months, and the girls started speech after the age of 2, when his therapist felt they too would benefit since language was slow in coming. 

Well they sure did. All three of them benefited from the extra help. At the end of the evaluations and prior testing they were determined to have sufficient language and continued services for speech delay was not needed. They were all caught up! Reagan, however,  did get an IEP (individual education plan) for "Intelligibility" or in other words "clarity"  so he is understood by his peers and adults. Being a cleft palate/ lip child it is common to need extra help with certain pronunciations. He will be given 45 minutes a week in a pre-school setting so he can communicate socially with others. 

 

How do I feel?

Pleased and grateful with the process and of course the extra help!!! 

The extra help had been Early Interventions who helped my children catch up developmentally. I am so grateful that I said yes when I received a phone call from the Service Coordinator (a referral from the NICU) in those early weeks.  Apparently, when your baby or babies are born prematurely Early Interventions a federal program is always a referral.   I was sleep deprived at the time and had no idea what Early Interventions was...let  alone why and if they even needed it.  Glad today that I said yes!