Preschool for my autistic kid near edison, new jersey (home, school district) - City-Data Forum

08817Mom · 09-19-2009, 05:08 PM

Hi,
I live in edison, New Jersey. My 4 1/2 years old kid has been diagnosed with ASD last week. Doctor adviced us to put him in a preschool immediately (either special needs/ a regular preschool with low staff/student ratio) as he his verbal and has a mild penetration of ASD. We have requested Edison public schools for special services and we have identification meeting in few days. I came to know that it will take 90 calendar days after the identification meeting to get him into the preschool.

We are new to this country, and my son knows only our native language.
He knows only few words in English. I am in search of a private preschool
with low student/staff ratio till he gets a place in the public preschool. But still I can't find any such private preschools near edison. Can anyone help me on this please?

With regard to the public preschool for disabled, Can I raise my son's situation in the identification meeting? Will they be able to admit him prior to the evaluation?

luckyshoes · 09-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Stay on course with what you are doing with the school district.

I would not recommend putting a child who has just been diagnosed with ASD and also does not know English into any private preschool here, regardless of staff ratios. The staff there will not be able to give him the proper services and it could even be damaging to him.

With regards to the second question, yes, of course, tell them everything in the identification meeting, including his language skills regarding English, so they can best help him. They will not be able to admit him prior to the evaluation.

I'm assuming he is in some sort of care now during the day (with you or your spouse) so just wait until you get him into the preschool with the town. The public preschool programs run through the towns here are very good for children with special needs.

SweepTheLeg · 09-19-2009, 09:48 PM

I would also recommend getting a second opinion for the diagnosis.

08817Mom · 09-19-2009, 10:20 PM

Thanks a lot for your advice. My kid was going to regular preschool for the past 1 1/2 years while he was in our country (with English as second language). He is a high functioning autistic kid whose problem is with the social skills (not able to mingle with the peers - is the main concern - Anyway he likes to watch his peers). He is very fluent in our native language and has limited gaze contact with the interest to speak to adults. He already learnt a lot of English rhymes and shows interest in learning English. I thought he can pick up English (atleast a bit) if he is put up in a preschool for few hours rather than being at home. I will consider your advice and also discuss with our Doctor to decide which is best for him.

luckyshoes · 09-20-2009, 09:21 AM

Honestly, the private preschools here are not that great for any child that isn't typical, no matter what the diagnosis.

He needs skilled teachers to teach him how to navigate the social world of children and build his English and private preschool teachers here have very variable levels of education and training. They do not even need college degrees in anything, including education.

As far as learning English, just speak to him in English for now, it seems like you are fluent. Read loads of books to him in English. If he watches a TV show, sit and watch with him and talk about the show and what you see on the screen in English.

Investigate what programs your library offers (storytime, arts and crafts, etc). You could also ask the childrens librarian if they have any DVDs you could play at home that would help with the English. I was just at our library yesterday and I saw a whole bunch of really neat ones, but I forget the names of them now.

hrjersey · 09-20-2009, 10:30 AM

Here are 3 websites related to autism. You may find some info there.

Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center

Autism New Jersey, Inc.

Autism Speaks, Home Page

noyha · 09-21-2009, 09:00 PM

Definetly, tell them anything that you feel that will benefit him. My son was on preschool disabled last year. He benefited a lot. The ratio from teacher to student is low. He will not be admited immediately. But you might have to fight to get all the neccessay services for him. Also get a second opinion.

08817Mom · 09-22-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noyha

Definetly, tell them anything that you feel that will benefit him. My son was on preschool disabled last year. He benefited a lot. The ratio from teacher to student is low. He will not be admited immediately. But you might have to fight to get all the neccessay services for him. Also get a second opinion.

Thanks for the information. Today I attended the Identification Meeting with the Child Study Team. The meeting was nice and I believe the Child Study Team considered issues concerned with my son's age (who is 4 1/2 now and the need of getting him into the preschool as early as possible) and his lack of English knowledge. They assured us that they will speed up the evaluation process and get him admitted as soon as possible.
So I have to wait and see.

08817Mom · 09-22-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyshoes

Honestly, the private preschools here are not that great for any child that isn't typical, no matter what the diagnosis.

He needs skilled teachers to teach him how to navigate the social world of children and build his English and private preschool teachers here have very variable levels of education and training. They do not even need college degrees in anything, including education.

As far as learning English, just speak to him in English for now, it seems like you are fluent. Read loads of books to him in English. If he watches a TV show, sit and watch with him and talk about the show and what you see on the screen in English.

Investigate what programs your library offers (storytime, arts and crafts, etc). You could also ask the childrens librarian if they have any DVDs you could play at home that would help with the English. I was just at our library yesterday and I saw a whole bunch of really neat ones, but I forget the names of them now.

Yesterday, I happened to meet one of my friend's friend, who previously worked in a preschool. Her view is same as the one you have mentioned above(in the first paragraph). Truely, your suggestion made me think about teaching him English - by talking, playing and enjoying the TV shows with him in English. As I am not fluent in spoken english and my accent and prounounication will be different to that of americans, I 'm afraid that may confuse him when he starts to school. But anyway, I started talking to him in English.