Two years ago, when Gavin was 3, our doctor suggested that he get evaluated for speech delay. At the time, we had been concerned about his speech for some time, but were trying really hard to parent him as his own person, and not compare him to his chatty older sister. When our doctor brought it up, we knew it was time to get things checked out. I called Early Intervention Services through our school district the next day. Within weeks he was evaluated (speech and hearing), signed up for an Individualized Education Plan and enrolled in therapy sessions.
Therapy sessions sound so serious - and they are in the way they really get down to business and start reworking a child's speech patterns. But to the kid, they're so fun! Gavin spent the first academic year in a half-hour class twice a week with two other friends. They played games, worked on projects and drilled phonics. And he got to ride a bus to and from school.
The next year, he joined a phonology class - preschool with eight kids twice a week for an hour and a half. They did typical preschool activities like circle time and art, but with individual pull-out sessions to practice speech. He loved it. Both years were with the same teacher, whom Gavin adored.
Finally, for this academic year, Gavin went back to the half-hour sessions with a new teacher. Gavin loved her too and made two friends.
As his IEP review date approached, his teacher called to let us know she would be testing Gavin again, but didn't anticipate him needing speech therapy any more. He had since learned all of the sounds typical for his age group. What great news! We knew he was speaking more clearly, but it felt so good to finally get word that his two years of hard work had paid off.
Gavin had such a rewarding and exciting last day. His teacher made him a fun crown to wear and took him around the school to say goodbye to other teachers and paras he'd met over the years. They even called his former teacher who now works at another school. I met him afterward to take a few pictures and cheer him on as well.
I'm so proud of him.
And I'm so thankful for our amazing EIS teachers. I'd met several many years ago when I worked with kids with disabilities. I was impressed then with their knowledge, compassion and dedication. Now that my own son has grown through their help, I only have even better things to say. They are so talented at working with young kids, determined to give them the best chance at life. Because of them, Gavin will start kindergarten being understood. He was able to fix his speech while so young, before habits were harder to break. Before it interfered with reading and writing. Before he had trouble making friends because he was hard to talk to. What a gift.
What a great day to celebrate.
1 comment:
Sniffle... <3
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