Thursday, April 16, 2009

ESY and ABA

JT qualified for ESY (extended school year). In my last post, I was not thrilled about this... I thought this meant 'summer school' - as in all summer. It's not.

ESY is 2 weeks in June and 2 weeks in July. So, not bad at all... The hours stay the same - 4 days a week, 3 hours per day.

In addition, they gave us ABA (behavioral therapy, which works incredibly well for JT) - 3 hours per week 1:1, starting next week and continuing through the summer. This is AWESOME NEWS.

Not only that, but usually kids qualify for ESY based on regression. JT did not. Apparently kids can also qualify based on 'rapid progress'. In the past 3.5 weeks, JT has exploded in skills, and they are astounded. As a mom of a special needs child, I cannot even begin to tell you how great it feels to hear them use the words 'not typical' in a POSITIVE light... As in 'JT's progress is not typical, not something we would have possibly have expected. He is blowing us away.'

Miss Maggie pulled out some charts, and explained that JT is retaining skills, mastering them at an amazing rate, and basically just proving to everyone that he CAN do it, he just has to WANT to (which is what mommy told them.. lol).

We are SO excited... Not only that he got ESY, but that he got it for such an awesome reason. Also, that he got ABA (and 1:1 with an aide, which he'll be getting 90 minutes Wednesday mornings alone with the therapist, then 90 minutes incorporated into the classroom).

I walked in there thinking it was going to be a slap in the face, and it ended up being awesome and a very, very good meeting.

So, yay for JTmy! He is the one making the progress and working hard!!! Good job, little man!

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