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Top 5 Questions: Picking Daycare, Preschool, or Special Education Placements

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Finding the right fit when it comes to childcare, preschool, or therapy is so important, and can be difficult to navigate. Rachel Smith joins me today to cover the top 5 questions from our community about this topic.

How Do You Decide What Type of Program or Placement is Best for Your Child?

There are a variety of options for programs and placements such as daycares, preschools, special education centers, typical schools, homeschooling, nannies, etc. First and foremost it comes down to what’s best for your family. How old is your child? What is available to them regarding age and diagnosis? What kind of time and financial resources do you have available? Do you have the desire and willingness to provide an at-home program? Or do you work all day and need a consistent safe place for your child to go? These are a variety of questions to ask yourself, and then it comes down to researching and interviewing those programs to find the right fit.

What Should You Look for in a Great Program?

Positivity. That’s always the number one thing to look for. Are the students and teachers happy and positive? Because if they are not, it’s not the right fit no matter what kind of resources they have available. Additionally look for communication, collaboration, and willingness to create the right environment for your child. The goal is for your child to be happy, healthy, and safe.

What Skills and Prerequisites Should Your Child Master Before Starting a Placement?

We’ve talked about the skills needed for school a bit on the show before and the key thing to remember is a child who is not communicating, socializing, and following directions at home is not suddenly going to pick that up by throwing them into a school with a bunch of other kids. My recommendation is to take an assessment, my free online assessment is still available. And figure out what skills your child may have weaknesses with and work with the school to provide the right support. And take my courses, get to work when you’re at home, and build up those skills that can support them in a placement setting.

What Should You Do When School is Reporting Problem Behaviors You’re Not Seeing at Home?

If your child has an IEP and problem behaviors are emerging at school, don’t wait…call a meeting. Reach out to an advocate and get help making the necessary changes to provide support and eliminate those behaviors. Additionally, get it in writing. When there is a behavior report, a meeting, or a support change, get it in writing or in a digital email exchange so you have documentation to back it up when you’re looking for an FBA and a VB-MAPP from a BCBA.

How Do You Know If Your Placement or Program Isn’t Working? How Do You Make a Change?

This isn’t always easy because pulling your child out of school has two big problems. 1. You lose a lot of your rights when it comes to getting support and assessments. 2. There aren’t a ton of other options, especially for older children. Be really considerate of what isn’t working, and see if you can collaborate with the program to make a change: get more support, add a 1 to 1, get an FBA and VB-MAPP. Try to assess your options, and in the meantime… work at home, take it slow and try to address the problems with the school allowing them to fix them.

If you’re looking for a placement for your young child. Try searching my name – Mary Barbera, Turn Autism Around, VB-MAPP, or other keywords important to a program for your child, along with your city and state. If you find a program another way, ask them if they’re familiar with me and my approach. Help me push the envelope and change lives for autism families everywhere!

Top 5 Questions: Picking Daycare, Preschool, or Special Education Placements

You’ll Learn

  • Top 5 questions about seeking a program or placement for your child.
  • What type of placement is best for a child with autism?
  • What to do when your placement isn’t right.
  • What to look for in a great program.
  • Are there skills your child should learn before starting school?
  • How to collaborate with your school or program.
  • Finding the right placement.

Resources

Want to Learn how to Increase Talking & Decrease Tantrums in Children with Autism or Toddlers Showing Signs?

Want to start making a difference for your child or clients?

I’m Ready to Learn!
Ready to Start Turning Autism (or Signs of Autism) Around?
Ready to Start Turning Autism
(or Signs of Autism) Around?

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