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Ok I understand. Even though I find it strange that my son qualified for speech all year when he could talk (had a strong lisp) and no longer needed early intervention after 3. Yet my nephew who is so far behind he knows about 5 words. He isn't potty trained, just learned a little bit of eye contact (about 2 seconds), responds to his name sometimes, and often goes into tantrums where he covers his ears and screams. How does that not qualify for ESY? How will he be able to sit in a general education classroom? It just seems like the easy way out.
He's been in a school like setting since he was 1 with kids who didn't have specials needs. The therapist comes to her house after school.
Our goal is to get him to be a self sufficient adult. Its such a hard fight to get him the stuff he needs.
Unfortunately, ESY can be a mixed bag even when a child qualifies. In Lousiana our ESY for my grandson (he turned 3 in March, so was only in special ed school for 2 months and ESY was offered) was excellent. He had a teacher who really excelled and the class was a reverse inclusion class so the NT kids came into his class for circle time and crafts. It was his first school really and they were extremely sensitive and it was a great experience. In Texas, after we moved his first ESY was absolutely awful. It was essentially babysitting and the teachers did not work on his goals at all. We have not requested ESY since that time. Instead, he went to private autism camps (some were even free) where he had a teenage counselor who did one on one with him or and ABA camp (which was expensive) where the ABA therapists gave the kids a real camp experience plus individual attention.
Unfortunately, ESY can be a mixed bag even when a child qualifies. In Lousiana our ESY for my grandson (he turned 3 in March, so was only in special ed school for 2 months and ESY was offered) was excellent. He had a teacher who really excelled and the class was a reverse inclusion class so the NT kids came into his class for circle time and crafts. It was his first school really and they were extremely sensitive and it was a great experience. In Texas, after we moved his first ESY was absolutely awful. It was essentially babysitting and the teachers did not work on his goals at all. We have not requested ESY since that time. Instead, he went to private autism camps (some were even free) where he had a teenage counselor who did one on one with him or and ABA camp (which was expensive) where the ABA therapists gave the kids a real camp experience plus individual attention.
In my area ESY services are rarely classroom based, even at the early childhood level. Students with special educational needs can attend summer school with their peers, often with an aide hired by the school, but it is regular education summer school not a special educational program. But, not all school districts have summer school.
Of course, it depends on the individual needs of the child, but it is often one or two hours once or twice a week one to one in the child's home. It may be for six weeks or eight weeks or all summer, again, depending on the individual needs of that child. However, some times it is an hour a day, each week day for all summer, if that is what is needed for that child at that point in time. People may scoff at that, but it is amazing how much a qualified teacher or therapist can get done in one hour one to one focusing on specific IEP goals.
In my area, we have several all summer full and half day camps for students with special educational needs that are free. Many of them have a volunteer assigned to each child in addition to the paid staff members. That may be something to investigate in your area.
Last edited by germaine2626; 05-30-2015 at 01:34 PM..
Ok I understand. Even though I find it strange that my son qualified for speech all year when he could talk (had a strong lisp) and no longer needed early intervention after 3. Yet my nephew who is so far behind he knows about 5 words. He isn't potty trained, just learned a little bit of eye contact (about 2 seconds), responds to his name sometimes, and often goes into tantrums where he covers his ears and screams. How does that not qualify for ESY? How will he be able to sit in a general education classroom? It just seems like the easy way out.
He's been in a school like setting since he was 1 with kids who didn't have specials needs. The therapist comes to her house after school.
Our goal is to get him to be a self sufficient adult. Its such a hard fight to get him the stuff he needs.
If the school does not think the child will benefit or progress during ESY they won't offer it. From what you say regression will not be a qualifying issue for him because he doesn't have the skills to lose. I know that sounds harsh but ESY may not be what he needs. It is typically only a few hours a week. It sounds like he needs a special education summer school.
Someone mentioned a free summer camp. The cheapest one I found was 3500 and its only half a day. The cheapest full day 5500.
Where do you guys live?
I live in the Houston area and Easter Seals offers a week of camp free in various locations. You can sign up for more than one week, but they aren't all close to a particular area.
I have to agree with what spazkat and Germaine said in all of their posts-he doesnt sound like he would qualify since he does not have the skills, so he certainly didnt demonstrate that he would regress over the summer.
When i lived in WI there were special ed camps and some also offered tuition waivers.
but it honestly sounds like he would greatly benefit from private therapy and small-group social skills developmental therapy.
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