It’s been too long, so apologies since this might be an extra long post. Time passes quickly and before I know it I haven’t posted in weeks. I’m sorry…life is strange for me right now. I’m in limbo. We continue to wait. The insurance appeal for her genetic testing (SNP array) is still in process. We got a letter from her pediatrician that tells the insurance company that it is a medical necessity. I’m hopeful that will move things along.
On August 8, we meet with the developmental specialist again and I hope that we’ll get some more answers. It’s a follow up appointment and a second opinion combined in one. I was hoping we would have the SNP array test results to go off of but that’s looking VERY unlikely.
At Roo’s two year pediatrician’s appointment, her doctor told us point blank that she believes that Roo is on the autism spectrum. She also told us that the first neurodevelopmental specialist called her and told her that information (which isn’t in the medical record). I’m so confused and sad. It is something that we will look into further on Aug 8. Ugh.
The primary concerns for being on the spectrum include:
- Being very rigid
- Being non-verbal (though she communicates through sign and has some words)
- Obsessed with certain items and actions
It’s scary. At this point, I just want a diagnosis. I want to know what we are facing. Are we facing mosaic down syndrome? Are we facing autism? Are we facing some other diagnosis or a combination of things?
Time will tell and until then I have to practice patience.
In other news, I want to share a dream that I have that I think I will make come true.
When I was a child, I went to Montessori school until 1st grade. I even thought about becoming a Montessori teacher. I burned out of PR and quit my job. During an 18 month period, I took classes towards my Montessori teaching credential. I always knew that I wanted any of my future children to go to Montessori school. I love the philosophy. If you don’t know about Montessori, please check out this link to learn more.
Before we knew that Roo’s developmental delays were as significant and “lingering” as they are, I visited a couple of Montessori schools in the area that I heard were really good. I fell in love with one in particular and even have convinced a friend that she should send her son there too. But, I recently called the director of the school to talk to her about Roo’s delays and to see if they have experience in working with other little ones with these types of delays. Her response was not surprising but also disappointing. She encouraged me to enroll Roo but that she wasn’t confident that they would be able to work with us and so both parties would need to be open to knowing “it might not be a good fit.”
Maria Montessori’s first school at the turn of the 20th century was for children with special needs. Her philosophy was built on providing a solid education for children who had special needs. It worked and many, if not most, of those children she taught learned so much and thrived. So I felt like the response I got was unsatisfactory. If Maria Montessori built her philosophy on helping those with special needs, shouldn’t Montessori schools carry on that same mission?
I shared this information with a friend who is a Montessori teacher working on her certification in special education. She said that I must open a Montessori school dedicated specifically to kiddos with special needs. She said that I have the resources and the know-how to do it.
The school would function as a Montessori school with teachers hired who are Montessori trained and certified as well have experience with special needs kiddos. I would also make sure that all of the extra resources and therapists needed to support those special needs are also available, such as:
- Speech
- Motor
- Occupational
- Autism
- Whatever else is needed
I think the school would focus primarily on those with mild to moderate needs but could include anyone with delays like Roo’s, those with down syndrome and/or Autism.
I’m inspired and motivated. I am going to seriously consider doing it. I am doing research to confirm that there is a need and move forward. I’ve already connected with a woman who is a Montessori teacher and wrote a book about special needs inclusion. My therapist gave me the name of someone who just retired from owning her own Montessori school. I’m excited.
What do you think? If you are familiar with Montessori and/or have a child with special needs, would you send your child to a program like the one I’m envisioning?
To close out, here’s a recent picture of my sweet girl during the recent heat wave! xox
A Miracle In the Works 