My son has a learning disability due to a genetic disorder.

I am looking to possibly take over a pre-school that has extra class rooms that we may be able to incorporate children- older- school agers for an after school care program that would give tutoring, etc for children with learning disabilities, including down syndrome, autism, and other birth or genetic defects.

Anyone finding a big need for this?

I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! I know you'll succeed at anything you do! My SIL worked with special needs children and says that it is SO difficult but is the MOST rewarding thing she has done.

Hey Lisa bo bisa!

My mom worked with children and adults with learning disabilities for the last 21 years, she suggested the idea.

Morgan's daycare is up for sale and needs a lot of work done.

I personally don't want to do the "teaching" but rather provide the tools, space, funding, etc for the need and of course be involved in some way.

While Ry doesn't have autism, Ry has learning disabilities and it was near impossible to find a place for him to go during the day when I was working. Places take "normal" children, but not those with special needs.

I would like to incorporate "normal" and special needs together to be able to have them mainstreamed into the public or in some cases private schools and also to help the parents find the "funding" needed to get the private schools that will help the child become self functioning adults to the best of their abilities.

Parents are overwhelmed with the responsibilities of children to begin with, when you add in a disability or a birth defect, you get extreme overwhelm.

I just want to help and I have the resources.

I want to know what the needs may be of those parents in particular.

I think there would be a huge need for this! I considered sending my children to Easter Seals preschool in town because I liked the idea of my typically developing children being around children who were not developing typically. The world isn't all "normal" and teaching kids young to be accepting and tolerate of difference is a great lesson at any age. I think your idea is wonderful but a LOT of work.
On the flip side when I worked in a daycare as an administrator we had a volunteer woman who was 22...she has Down Syndrome. She was loving and kind! She wanted to be with the babies. She was working with a program called SKILLS that was teaching her how to hold a job. Her job was to hold the babies and comfort them as the waited their turn to be changed, fed or rocked by the experienced teachers in the room. (1:4 ratio adult/baby means someone is waiting most of the time!) Anyway, I was called into a meeting with a family who was appauled that we would let "someone like that" hold their daughter. And that under NO circumstances should she be near their daughter. It made me sick! At that time my son was 9 month old and in that room and I LOVED that she was there to hold him. She was never alone and never did anything but hold and play with the babies.
I think I got off on a tangent but I think your idea is great and lots of families would need that kind of help!

Are you kidding me???? I would have asked "that" parent to take their "child" to some other daycare.

It's a great idea to have "mentally challenged" volunteer. This world needs more tolerance of the "special needs" children and the "special needs" adults. That 22 year old woman, was still a human being and to be talked about like that breaks my heart.

When I was 10 years old, a boy in my neighborhood, used to ride by my house in the alley way and called my cousin a "retard" my cousin had down syndrome. After the 3rd time I yanked him off his bike and beat the snot out of him- he was at least 14 or 15 years old. I said "NO one, and I mean no one, calls my cousin a retard"! He's got down syndrome and he is a human just like me, he has special ways about him.

The kid never came near my house again.

I think it's total ignorance for people to judge others based on disabilities in life.

I really like your idea and will present it to my mom.

Thank you!

I did speak with the current daycare owner and we are going to set up a meeting with her dad and her and my mom and me to discuss the transition/transaction.

I will keep you posted.

Paula i think if that it would be a great idea. There is alot you would need to put into it so maybe you can hold a meeting or soemthign to see how many poeple would be interested.


As for the ignorant person who didnt want their child near someone who DS they are crazy. Although i have never been close with someone with DS from what i have seen they have bigger hearts then me. I woudl totally trust my children around someone like that with someone else int he room