Private therapy ( Medical Therapy) Vs. School Therapy

The other day I was asked a great question: "Why would someone do both private therapy and school therapy?"

School therapy and Private therapy meet different needs. A school will only provide therapy if it is academically necessary. Meaning that the school will only provide therapy if the child's disability affects their academics. For example, a child will not receive PT if they struggle with motor skills unless the motor skills keep them from learning. Take my child for example who struggles with core strength and balance. These two things would not count as a qualifier in schools.

The Problem With Public School

Before I was a stay at home mom, I was a teacher. I was always surprised when a child would come into my class so far behind their peers. One year while teaching 5th grade, I had a student that was on a first grade reading level and struggled to write a paragraph. How could a child go through school six years and be this far behind? Recently, I learned the answer to that question.

This week, I wrote my child's teacher and therapist about my concerns. My child is really struggling with spelling. Since he doesn't say his words correctly, he can't sound them out to write them. For example, he wrote, " Ve pewn li to et fis" ( The penguin likes to eat fish). Even though he struggles with writing, he has no problem reading the sentence. I asked them for ideas on how I can help him at home. I asked how they were helping him at school. I also asked how we were going to continue helping his speech this summer.

Here are some highlights of different things I was told: spelling errors are common with children who have articulation difficulties; the best thing I can do is continue to expose my child to words through reading; his writing will get better with time the more he is exposed to words and the more his speech develops; he can not be tested for dyslexia for another three years; they will keep an eye on him; he will continue to work on his writing during centers; the older he gets, the more he will have technology to aid his writing; he doesn't qualify for any services this summer because he is too high functioning ( he must be at least two years behind to receive services).

It was after reading the responses that things clicked. I finally realized the problem with public school. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous for a child to have to fall two years behind before they can receive services. By then, how are they suppose to catch up? It just doesn't seem fair. It breaks my heart for all of these kids that fall between the cracks ( the kids that are functioning below their peers, but too high that they are monitoring for the two year gap). A parent can plead for help, but there is nothing the school will do. The only other answer is to find help for the child elsewhere which ends up costing a lot of money. Many families don't have that option. The most interesting thing about going elsewhere is that you will find out that a medical facility will script a child receiving services at school for more therapy than what the school is offering. My son is scripted four hours of individual therapy a week, but the school will only give him 30 minutes in a group setting.

It also fustrated me that my son's opportunities to better his writing will be done in centers. Centers are for independent activities. How can one develop a skill through a center? Centers are for practicing what you have already developed.

The system really needs to change so that it is helping all kids grow and be successful; so that, one day little Steven doesn't show up to fifth grade on a first grade reading level and struggling to write.  I don't know if things will ever change, but I hope one day it will.

The Day I Saw Fruit From Our Labor

This weekend our church held a Sunday School Program to showcase everything the children have learned throughout the year. Both of our kids had practice their roles many times at home and were so excited. They got dressed in their Sunday best and ran to the children's center that morning. I gave them a kiss and told them that they would do great. Then, I went to get a seat.

I was not prepared for what happened next.

My little girl's class was first. She stood up, smiled big, and with great confidence shouted her line. I was so proud. To see her stand up in front of a crowd next to other children and speak with emotion is huge! Two years ago she wouldn't tolerate even being around two other people and struggled with expression. It was a very exciting.

Then, my son's class lined up. I noticed all the other kids were  looking at my son as he STARTED THE PRAYER. Tears rolled down my face as I saw him do this with great eye contact and expression. It was at this moment that I fully realized that God answered my prayer from five years ago.

I remember that night so vividly. Crying ugly tears and asking God to please restore my child's health and his voice. I remember how hard it was sitting through evaluations and listening to the results. I remember everyday of therapy then and now.

Sometimes you get so caught up in routines that you do not realize the amount of progress since "that day". This weekend was a great reminder to me of how far we have come on this journey. It blows my mind how God can take a little boy who lost his speech to five years later standing in front of his program leading the prayer and a little girl who struggled to connect to two years later standing with her class to do a program in front of a crowd. God is amazing!

I am so thankful. Thankful to God and all of those he has used to do wonderful works in my children.  It is nice to see all the fruits from the labor.