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I know this doesn’t really affect anyone on my f-list, but it does affect me greatly. It appears that NYS is Lacking funding for preschool special ed programs, and the preschool that Sammy went to is on the verge of having to close. The teachers (including Miss Debbie) and staff there haven’t been paid in the month of November, they are essentially working for free.
If you don’t understand the importance of early education for special needs kids, a little bit of my story. Sammy is autistic. Sammy went in to early intervention, home based therapy at 2.5. He said no words, and made no eye contact with anyone. He had many self stimulating behaviors that included arm flapping and running in circles. This continued on until the following fall, when he became old enough (at 3) to move to a classroom setting. He started in Miss Debbie’s classroom that year. Two years later, he repeats almost every word you ask him to, and speaks some spontaneous words. He makes very good eye contact, and now engages people. He asks to play. He takes people’s hands and walks with them. He has come a long way, and I attribute a lot of it to the WONDERFUL care he received in his preschool program. Over Thanksgiving break, I took Sam to see Miss Debbie, and his other therapists at Pyramids, he was so happy to see them. He took his coat off and put it in his cubby, grabbed his favorite book, and sat with Miss Debbie on the couch in the classroom to read. I don’t even have to ask if sending him to school was the right decision.
Because of lack of funding, none of this might be possible for other kids like Sammy.
Does anyone want to help out, by sending an email to the powers-that-be in New York stressing the importance of early education for special needs children?
Does anyone want to help me write an email to the powers-that-be that doesn’t involve the f-word a lot?
The more people that chime in the better the chances are that they might listen.
If you want to help, leave me an email here, I can forward more details if you’d like, along with the email addresses that are needed.
Thanks.
