Would it be unfair? wwyd

The basics: I have a 4 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. My daughter is in the process of being tested for high functioning autism (we're waiting on an appt). She goes to speech therapy twice a week right now. I go in with her, she doesn't do very well being without me yet. My son is on the waiting list for Head Start PreK. I guess they had a lot of kids this year, so he's just on the list. But he knows he's waiting for school. He likes to point out the school when we drive past. He loves other kids, etc etc. His birthday was past the cut off date, so he's not old enough for regular PreK (the one that isn't limited on space) til next year.

So...

Since my daughter just turned 3, she's eligible for special needs PreK in the school system. Her speech therapist asked if I was going to put her in. I said I'm not sure yet.

1) I feel like it'd be unfair for her to get to go to school and Aiden can't. Especially since he knows he's been waiting and he actually wants to go. And I can't afford a private/paid PreK program.

2) Like I mentioned before, she doesn't do well not being with me yet. The only people she's comfortable being alone with are her dad and her grandma. And I know that's something she'll have to work on/get over, but its still a factor, in my opinion.

I kinda would rather just wait. Let her do her private sessions and try PreK later. Maybe have both of them go next year.

But, just for a few other opinions, what would you do?

me personally I would want every service available that could help benifit my child regardless of disabilities.....so I would say yes put her in it

Quoting Christina/Chrissy:" me personally I would want every service available that could help benifit my child regardless of disabilities.....so I would say yes put her in it"

This!!! This is why I put Cylus into pre-k for his special needs. And his speech has made a complete 180.

Then what about her brother?

Quoting Christina/Chrissy:" me personally I would want every service available that could help benifit my child regardless of disabilities.....so I would say yes put her in it"

This!!!

as a parent of a developmentally delayed and speech impaired child, my advice is to put her in school. don't do her a disservice in the name of ”fairness”.

Quoting Rain (aka Mama):" Then what about her brother? "

maybe do some school type stuff at home until he can get into head start....he has to learn that his sister will do things different than him and vice versa....

I would put her in school. Its unfair not to give her the head start she needs in life.

I would try to get her to go to speech by herself before putting her in pre k. Or maybe send her for a week to see how it goes and do some homeschooling with your son and find a play group for when she is gone until he can get in.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:</b>" I would put her in school. Its unfair not to give her the head start she needs in life."</blockquote>




 

Her brother just has to wait. It's a good lesson in patience for him. Girlie was upset when her brother got to go to school and she didn't. But that's life, it's not always fair. Your DS will go next year when he's old enough

<blockquote><b>Quoting bazinga!:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:</b>" I would put her in school. Its ... [snip!] ... got to go to school and she didn't. But that's life, it's not always fair. Your DS will go next year when he's old enough"</blockquote>


Pretty much!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Captain Obvious:</b>" as a parent of a developmentally delayed and speech impaired child, my advice is to put her in school. don't do her a disservice in the name of ”fairness”."</blockquote>




I can't agree with this statement enough. OP fairness shouldn't factor in when its a developmental concern like this.

Quoting 3 little monsters:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Captain Obvious:</b>" as a parent of a developmentally delayed ... [snip!] ... I can't agree with this statement enough. OP fairness shouldn't factor in when its a developmental concern like this."

It's not just about fairness, but that I think they should each be treated equally. She already does a lot of stuff that he doesn't get to do. I don't want him to be left out even more. I need to give her what she needs (which she's already getting), but I need to cater to him too, if that makes sense.

Also, no one really commented the other concern, that she can't go through a speech session on her own yet (which is only 30-45 minutes).

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rain (aka Mama):</b>" It's not just about fairness, but that I think they should each be treated equally. She already does ... [snip!] ... really commented the other concern, that she can't go through a speech session on her own yet (which is only 30-45 minutes). "</blockquote>




She will get over the separation anxiety quickly once she starts school.

I've been there though and please listen to me. A school program designed for your child's needs will trump speech therapy 1000x.

Quoting Captain Obvious:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rain (aka Mama):</b>" It's not just about fairness, but that ... [snip!] ... been there though and please listen to me. A school program designed for your child's needs will trump speech therapy 1000x."

Is yours in prek? How was it?