How did you make the decision to have your child participate in the program?

When I first moved to Lawrence, I looked up Montessori schools in the phone book. I believe in the Montessori philosophy and I was considering sending my son to a Montessori school. My hope was that there would be a school willing to accept my son into their program even though he has a disability. I fully expected to pay privately since I had to pay privately for any school outside of the "special needs only" school that was available in Washington. There weren't any funded inclusion programs for age three to five year olds. I sent away for an information packet on Raintree and it seemed like a wonderful school. My fear was that a private school should not be able to provide teachers with any kind of special education training. I did not yet realize that Raintree was part of a funded inclusive program through the school district.

We enrolled our son in a typical preschool before we moved to Lawrence. We saw the wonderful benefits of having our son in an inclusive setting. The only drawback was that I didn't feel like his needs were being met. He learned a lot from the other children, but the school was not equipped to address his special needs. I was thrilled to discover that Raintree is part of an inclusive program and that the staff has experience in special education. Raintree is the best of both worlds! My son benefits from an inclusive setting and also has his entire special needs met. Raintree should be a model for the world! I was excited to have Raintree as an option for my son. I couldn't be happier. Raintree works! I was completely sold when I visited the grounds and classrooms. Raintree is a beautiful environment and it fulfills the dream of a perfect school for my son.

How have you been able to give input into how your child's needs are met?

I meet monthly with my child's teacher and therapists. This is an excellent opportunity to touch base and give input. The communication at Raintree is excellent! I'm not used to having such a supportive team. I feel free to drop a note to the teachers or therapists' file anytime and I know that I will receive a response.

Who are the ongoing participants on your child's IEP team?

My sons teacher, two assistants, his occupational therapist, speech therapist, and a registered nurse!

How are you communicated with on a daily or weekly basis?

Many times a week, a "Raintree CommuniquÈ" is sent home. My child's teacher writes a note informing me of any important information that happened that day. This has been particularly helpful with following my son's potty training progress. I am so relieved to be informed about my son's day at school. I feel like I am valued as a parent and that the teacher really cares about my son! I feel good to learn about what word my child said on a particular day or what funny event happened. Weekly notes are a great idea and communication is so important to the parent, teacher, and child!

How has the program benefited your child?

My child has only attended Raintree for a few months and I already notice his progress! The first is that he is happy when I pick him up and drop him off at school. I notice that he feels secure, happy, and excited about going to class. His speech and confidence has improved too and he's on his way to being potty trained.

Does your child have a special friend?

The children in my son's class have been so respectful and accepting of him. A fear of every parent of a child with special needs is, "will the other kids like my child?" The children greet him in a friendly way and "show him the ropes." There is one boy who has really taken my son under his wing. Having a wide age range in the class has been wonderful. The older children really look out for my son.

What advice would you give to other parents in placing their children in inclusive programs?

I think that a balance is so important! Being around typically developing children is so important for kids with disabilities. The other crucial factor is that their needs are being met.

To what extent do you feel involved in the overall program?

I feel so involved in the Raintree program. We all need to be involved and communicate (parents, teachers, directors, therapists, and children) in order to provide the most nurturing and loving environment for our children. Raintree makes sense! I'm not used to being welcomed as an active participant in my son's school. Having him attend Raintree is so refreshing. I think that by involving parents, and by making them feel respected as a vital player in the child's life, cuts down on any friction that may develop between a parent and the school district. A parent pushes when she doesn't feel like the family's needs are being met. People end up getting resentful and upset and this only harms the child! Raintree is inclusive, inclusive of the whole family. Having mutual respect between the school personnel and families helps everything to run smoothly! Being involved means so much to me!