My ds1 is 5. He has a severe right sided Hemiplegia and cannot talk. Cognatively he is just below his age group. He uses Makaton and an electronic communication aid called a Future Pad. He manages some Makaton, but with only the use of one hand, it is hard for him. He is in a split placement at the moment with 2 days at a mainstream and 3 at his special needs school. He has 1 to 1 all day at mainstream and the "helper" has had makaton training. At the last "placement meeting" at his sn school, we took the advice of the Educational Psychologist who thought he was at a key age to start mixing with his "able boddied" piers. I had so many reservations, you know the ones about bullying, feeling isolated etc.. I still cannot be sure we are doing the right thing for him. The more stories and experiences I read from adults with sn who had experiences in mainstream school, the more I think I am kidding myself that this is a good and positive experience for him. How can not having hardly any friends and never being picked for games teams and being bullied be the right thing for him. I realise I have to give him the chance to discover what he can achieve (or so I keep telling myself!). but lets be honest, the social acceptance issue is the one we remember when we are adults. I feel like just putting him in his sn school full time (which is excellent). Why should I keep him in a situation which only reminds him on a daily basis how different he is. Sorry, bit of a rant, but its just difficult sometimes to believe you are doing the right thing for them
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Its hard to know we are choosing the right path ...
47 replies
magsi · 16/02/2007 22:08
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