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| Home / For Your child / the parent-infant program / | ||
| Transition to Preschool | ||
| Under Washington State law your child is eligible
for school (special education services) at the time of his or her third
birthday. Most PIP graduates enroll in a preschool program for Deaf
and hard of hearing children offered in the Edmonds, Seattle, or Highline
school districts, which host the largest programs locally. Others enroll
in local communication classrooms, the Northwest School for Hearing-Impaired
Children (a private school in north Seattle), or smaller programs in
other school districts. Where your child attends school depends on a variety of factors, including your home school district’s practices, the degree and extent of your child’s hearing loss, the type of environment and communication you desire, and your family’s beliefs and preferences. Six months before your child’s third birthday we will begin to prepare for the transition to school. Together we will develop the transition plan which will include such activities as: contacting your home school district to make your child a “Focus of Concern”, covering information about your legal rights, learning about I.E.P.s (Individualized Educational Plans), and observing/evaluating one or more of the school programs mentioned above. Once your child has enrolled in a preschool program we would like to celebrate your child’s third birthday at PIP. You are welcome to bring a special birthday snack and we will conduct a graduation ceremony, including official diploma and graduation hat. We talk with the children about riding the bus and going to school. This is our way of providing some closure for the children and celebrating this big event. Putting your three year old on a school bus those first few days is always difficult, but remember that you have a lot of say in how this transition process works for your family. It may help to know that 99% of three year olds quickly adapt to preschool and beg to get on that school bus! Let us know how we can accommodate you during this time. You will not be “cut off” from PIP when your child turns three. You and your parent-infant specialist may arrange to continue periodic home visits as part of the transitional period. Individual counseling continues to be available, free of charge, for one month following graduation. And, you are welcome to participate in parent support groups whenever you like – many parents do return to check in and share their experiences with this next phase of life. |
