Special Ed In Kindergarten For SPD?

by Roxy
(New York)

I believe that my son is very inteligent and because he has sensory and processing issues they placed him in special ed I just want to know if that is the right move for him?

The SPD Help Line Answers...

Hi Roxy,

There are many reasons they might have placed him in Special Ed. You need to ask why, or ask for the evaluation and paper work they submitted in order to place him in Special Ed.

Sometimes classes being loud can create a non-pleasant learning environment to the point of distraction for your son as well as other classmates? Is he hypo or hyper sensitive? This makes a difference as to his sensory needs and how he handles his sensory stressors. Does your son need social skills? (For example, it gets loud and he shuts down or strikes out) This is very common, but to be in a general ed class you must have social skills that are acceptable for the WHOLE classroom. Placing a child in a corner with ear muffs on to drown out loud noises will hinder not help. Or, if your son needs a sit & fidget seat (a sensory seat that your child sits on that moves when the child moves to create constant motion, fullfilling that sensory need). Or maybe he has oral issues and a chewy to bite on during class could be what he needs?

Sometimes parents don't see why the early intervention is so important; it's better to correct a problem when children are acceptable and compassionate than when they are in their teens and led by peer pressure, when teasing can become unbearable.

Maybe the teacher did not explain WHY your child is in Special Ed? (Personally, I would rather a child be in a Special Ed class at his age w/say 10 students vs. a General Ed class w/27 kids).
The path they will walk in the following years will be much easier when they learn the social skills necessary to interact w/ society, and SPD often interferes with this process.

Additionally, the parents can ask for a re-evaluation if they feel he was not assessed properly. It is your right to ask for a meeting with the Special Ed Teacher as well as the Kindergarten Teacher and have them explain EXACTLY why your son was placed in Special Ed. You need a copy of any evaluation, and meetings that have taken place about your child along with his IEP you have to CONSENT for an IEP or Special Ed.

Always Do It Due Process. For more on special education laws and advocacy, go to www.wrightslaw.com .

I hope this helps. If you have any comments or further questions, feel free to submit them below. Anyone else have any input?? Let Roxy know! The more opinions/information the better!

Heidi~
Washington State SPDParentshare Host