“I remember wondering if she was hearing us,” mom Trudy Helmly said. The girls’ pediatrician could find nothing physically wrong with Erin and time after time, Helmly was told she was just a “late bloomer.”
Helmly, who is a business ed teacher in the ninth grade academy, mentioned her concerns to pre-school special ed coordinator Laura Standard, who encouraged her to bring Erin for a pre-school screening to check for developmental delays or problems.
“The screening process was awesome,” Helmly said. “It was very detailed, informative and very individually focused.” She was also impressed that the preschool special needs staff doesn’t just focus on the child, but involves everyone in the family.
Erin was subsequently diagnosed with “developmental apraxia of speech” or DAS, which is difficulty with carrying out purposeful, voluntary movements for speech.
Beth Andrews, lead speech pathologist for the special needs preschool program, says finding developmental problems such as Erin’s early is essential to helping them prepare for the classroom.
Once Erin’s problem was identified, an “individual education plan” or IEP was developed specifically for her.
Erin’s speech pathologist, Russ Tacket, works with her 30 minutes per day since Erin and her sister, Amber, began preschool classes at Head Start in August. In addition, special needs teacher Beth Anfinson works with Erin each day as part of her regular preschool classes.
Helmly said she can already see a big difference in her daughter.
She is learning to make “sounds on demand” and is also learning sign language, which Tacket says helps cut down on her frustrations by giving her an additional way to express herself when words are difficult. Eventually, Erin will not need to sign as she continues to progress in her language skills.
All of this effort gives Erin the extra support she needs so that she will not fall behind when she enters kindergarten, Andrews stressed.
Children are not only served at Head Start, but at a number of lottery-funded pre-k throughout the county, including now located in Ila, Danielsville and Hull-Sanford Elementary schools.
Children with IEPs receive most of their services in the classroom with their classmates.
“Research has shown that children with special needs gain knowledge more quickly when they are with their peers,” Standard said. “They learn social skills and their language develops by interactions with typically-developing peers.”
Standard said 65 students have been referred to the preschool program since August and 47 students are currently being served by the special needs preschool staff.
“Each of the preschoolers being served has an IEP that targets his/her area of need,” Standard said. “Children can receive speech/language services, educational services for developmental delays, or a combination of the two. If it is determined that a child needs an evaluation he/she is assessed in the following areas: motor, cognition, communication, social/emotional and adaptive development.”
If the child has significant scores, they meet eligibility criteria for the preschool special needs program, Standard said.
All parents of children ages six weeks to five years old are encouraged to bring their child(ren) in for the next countywide preschool screening, which is set for Tuesday, Oct. 20.
“The screening is free and children will be signed up for the Ferst Foundation’s Literacy Program,” Andrews said, which provides free books to pre-schoolers. Parents and siblings will also get a free pizza meal while children are screened, which usually takes 30–40 minutes.
“We’ve got a great team here,” Andrews said. “There is not this level of (special needs assistance) in any of our surrounding counties.”
Free screening set for Tuesday
A free developmental screening will be offered for Madison County children Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Danielsville Elementary School.
The screening is for children ages 6 months to 5 years and will test motor, speech and language, vision and hearing.
Those whose last names begin with A-I should come between 4 and 5 p.m. Those with last names beginning with J-R should come between 5 and 6 p.m. and those with last names beginning with S-Z should visit between 6 and 7 p.m. However, you may come at another time between 4–7 p.m. if your assigned time is not convenient.Refreshments will be provided. There will be activities for siblings.
For more information, contact Laura Standard, Preschool Special Needs Coordinator for Madison County schools, at 706-795-0120 ext. 1462
I would strongly encourage parents to avoid such early "testing" on children who are frankly to young to accurately test for anything. I am living proof, but I am far from the only one.