How did you make the decision to have your child participate in the program?
I took Brianna to the doctor when she was 21/2 years old and discussed with her my concerns for Brianna, because she just didn't seem to be progressing according to her age group. She then suggested that I take her to a speech pathologist to have her looked at. I did this, and the speech pathologist told me that I should have further testing done. I could have went with her and had more testing done, but the cost was outrageous and I was not about to pay that kind of money when I was a single parent on a $200.00 a week income. I talked with her day care provider at the time and she suggested that I take Brianna to Heart Spring and have more testing done and the best way to get some answers to my questions. Heart Spring ran tests; hearing, vision, and other various tests to see if her health was the answer. And it wasn't. They suggested that I could put her in classes but the cost of them was $60.00 for a half hour a week. Cheaper, but that was not what I wanted to do. Plus I didn't feel she needed "special classes", she needed individual help. Heart Spring suggested that there was a school in our area that targeted this problem and she would get the help that was needed for her free of charge. Then Brianna was tested and accepted. I felt relief because she didn't have to be labeled and she could be with children her age and get the help she needed.

How have you been able to give input into how your child's needs are met?
I have been to every meeting that has been scheduled and talked with every person that is involved in her IEP. All the personnel have valuable input and they ask for my input as well. I also receive a copy of all the testing/evaluation that is done with Brianna. They also ask me what I would like/dislike, goals, hopes, fears, and dreams that I would like to see Brianna achieve. I am included as much as possible in her IEP.

How are you communicated with on a daily or weekly basis?
I send a notebook to school with Brianna so the teacher can write to me and let me know what she has worked on and what I can do to work with her. It gives me an idea of what they are doing in school. There are times when Brianna comes home and tells me what she has done, but it doesn't make sense. With the notebook, it explains more in detail what she did that day.

How has the program benefited your child?
I feel that first of all it has boosted her self esteem. When she first started she would just sit and cry. That would make me sad. I felt like taking her out so many times and the teachers just told me to hold on it would get better and she would adapt. And she did. The first year was very hard. I think the next benefit would be that she got to be with other children her age and she could learn by watching them. She learns a lot from seeing rather then being spoke to. Another benefit would be that now I am seeing that she likes to play with other children as when she first started she did not. Maybe because she couldn't communicate with them and the children didn't understand her. So, I believe that the program benefited my child to the fullest.

Does your child have a special friend?
I think that everyone is her friend. She doesn't know a stranger and she doesn't dislike anyone.

What advice would you give to other parents in placing their children in inclusive programs?
For one thing, check out all the resources possible in getting your child the help that she/he needs. And get the help. Don't say "well it will get better as time passes" because I did at first until someone told me that if I would have waited then who knows maybe she would have outgrown it and then again maybe not and it would have been more to work with. You can't guess the future.

To what extent do you feel involved in the overall program?
I feel that I am involved to the fullest extent. If there is a question, or problem, I am a phone call away or a note will be sent home. I am asked to attend, and I do attend, all the meetings. conferences that are scheduled for my child. I ask questions and I get them answered. Even if they relate to her IEP or just about my child herself.

How do you feel your child is benefiting from the inclusive aspect of the program?
She is learning something. She is accomplishing goals, dreams, hopes, and fears that the IEP staff and myself have placed upon her. She is achieving success with this program. Brianna loves school and she can attend a regular class and still receive the special education/speech curriculum the she needs to achieve higher goals. And the teacher knows my child. I know there are new teachers coming into her classes, but so far I can see that she has at least one familiar face (teacher) that she knows and can relate to because she has worked with her. That right there makes my feel comfortable to know that not everyone is a stranger to her. This makes her feel comfortable as well.

Have you had any concerns? If so, how have these concerns been addressed?
I have been concerned with the fact that after Brianna completes first grade, then what happens from there? Does she still need IEP classes? And if so, where can she receive them? I have written to the Senators asking that they keep the funds for these programs going because it is a blessing to have them. Children are benefiting from these programs. I have received one letter from a Senator saying that she has a child herself that has a development/comprehensive delay and she is fighting to keep the funds. This is important because it effects the children that need help. The parents can teach children with disabilities to a certain extent, but then the teaching needs to come from an outside source so they get more meaning and understanding from it. I hope that in the future more inclusive programs are implemented into other schools, because the population is growing everyday and lifestyles are changing and unfortunately, out children will be the ones to suffer if they don't get all the resources that are available to them.