Transition Time

Well, the moment has finally arrived. It is time for Blake to transition from the early intervention (a.k.a. birth-three) happy place to the public school system. As a therapist I always referred to the early intervention time as a bubble - a nice, cozy, loving bubble. As a parent of a child with special needs I have enjoyed the bubble and DREADED the moment that the school district monsters take over. I want Blake to be in a place where he will be challenged, yet loved, and will receive all the therapies he DESERVES - not what the budget says he can have.

So, today was the big meeting. Big enough that Matt was allowed to leave the hospital. It was scary. The school was big, the kids were big....overwhelming. Well, for me. Blake was refusing to hold our hand and was proudly walking down the enormous corridors admiring the decorated bulletin boards. Then, we walked into the meeting room where it was 5 school employees against Matt and I. I was grateful he was in scrubs and a pager - maybe he looked important? intimidating?

To my surprise, the meeting went GREAT! It is recommended that Blake should be placed in a mild language delay preschool classroom with a few typical peers along with the children with special needs. He will be able to receive Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, and - is everyone sitting down - PHYSICAL THERAPY! A lot of children lose the opportunity to get PT once the early intervention bubble is popped. I still have to take a tour and meet the teacher. Our choice will be to either transition to the public school either immediately after he turns 3 or start in August when the new school year begins *OR* stay where he is at The Meyer Center, which is a charter school and all of the children who attend the center have special needs. As long as the tour goes well my answer is easy and exciting, yet still a bit scary. It is so hard to believe we have reached this moment with Blake. I am sure he will do much better than me.