Autism-Finding A School Program

This blog is the third in a series about a Lake Elsinore mom's personal challenges and triumphs  ...

Once my son was entered into the system, we were told that, since he was not yet 3 years old,  he could not go to preschool. The Regional Center offered a program for developmentally delayed toddlers a few hours a week that Brandon attended with me (kind of like a "mommy and  me"). At that time, there were no 40-hour-a-week home behavioral programs, like they offered in later years. 

Brandon did not engage with any of the other children in the program and most of the time he sat alone. He was the only autistic child in the program and the staff didn't seem to know quite what to do with him.

When Brandon turned 3 years old, I was thinking his preschool would be a little better equipped and knowledgeable on how to deal with him. I was also looking forward to him being in our community and making friends. Little did I know that he wouldn't be going to any preschool here.  

Brandon had just turned 3 years old when I had to put him on the "little yellow bus" and send him off to Riverside!! It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. There were no preschool programs that could accommodate him in our area. I didn't like the fact that he was so far away from me, but I wanted him to get an early start on things.

I met a lot of wonderful people at his preschool. I made friends with a few parents whose children were also autistic. I felt more confident that this was the right place for Brandon, even if it was so far from home.     

Stay tuned for the next installment in the series ...