Today, the LACOE teacher Jennifer and HRC counselor Valerie came to our house to evaluate and do paperwork with Logan to enroll him in the First Steps & Beyond Early Start Program at Jefferson School. They read his Individual Service Plan carefully, set new goals for him, and welcomed him to the program. He will be going to school two days a week for 3 hours in the morning. There are 8 students in the class, 2 others with no mental delays. The teachers will concentrate on several of his developments: bilateral hand use, gross motor skills, eating with a fork, eye contacts, parallel play, and so on. After 6 months, he will go for 3 days a week.
I have visited the classroom before, and I like the teachers and the classroom setting. The teacher-to-student ratio is 1:2 that day, so the teachers can pay special attention to Logan's special needs. He will also learn social and communication skills. I am so excited for him.
My husband worries about Logan being in a class with some mentally regarded kids. He is not sure if Logan will imitate and learn bad behavior. I asked the teacher and the counselor. The counselor's daughter had been in the exact same program same location before, and she highly recommended it. They both think the program will be good for Logan, because it will develop apathy for him especially at this age, for he will learn to help those who have more disabilities. Also it will boost his self-esteem, because he will feel great if he can do something while others can't. I also feel it's a great opportunity for him. Finally he is not left behind.
There are a lot of paperwork to be filled. He also need to complete his immunization before starting school. In the meanwhile, Jennifer will come to our home one hour a week to give him special lessons, to get him used to her.
I will no longer need our current babysitter/housekeeper/cook, whom I don't particularly like. Maybe later I will use Amy's babysitter for occasional babysitting.
My baby is going to school!
