We had a great weekend. Took the brats to a Family Fun Fair on Sunday. It was to raise funds for Phase 2 of an all abilities playground at a local park - a fantastic idea. The New DOrothy the Dinosaur show was there - we all had a ball (and I got a few trinkets for Christmas - have lots to do to get the house ready. I know that it will be a sad day for me without Mum but she loved this time of year - and so do I (thanks to her) so I am still looking forward to it all - seeing the kids celebrate - even though ti will be my saddest Christmas ever.
We had a meeting today re Han going to gov't preschool for 2 days a week next year. It had the AP, school counsellor, district officer (funding etc), preschool teacher, a rep from our EI provider (thank goodness!!) and us. Do I have to say I was a bit nervous??? Anyways the meeting was looking at how we might get a tiny bit of funding/support for little brat and as expected - no we can't. Even with Rees (NSW Premier) stealing the kiddies bus passes (no longer will schoolkids autommatically get free travel)to put more $ into special needs programs. I was a bit surprised that I got a bit teary - managed to keep it together though. I know the cake is small - but really?? I do wonder if we wouldn't be better off finding her a 'special needs school' and being done with it. Why put her through the mainstream mill - just waiting for her to fail - knowing that if she is to maximmise her potential she NEEDS additional support - yep - it seems that 'DS' can stop you getting a visa to stay yet doesn't count when the hat gets passed around in education. "It affects everyone differently" we are told ... mmm yup - so does autism yet it is a funding category on its own. It isn't as if there is a cure for the extra chromosomme!!!!!!!! so - how did it go - as well as can be expected - the system sucks. We have the mainstream idea shoved down our throats ad nauseum yet the reality is that we have to watch our kids 'cope' - the system does very little to modify for them - it is them that have to do the changing - who have to fit in. Rant rant rant...! The school and the preschool teacher seem great. Very welcoming of Han and ready to accomodate her as mmuch as they can - with no additional support. I am actually looking forward to it as I think she will benefit a lot from that environment.And away she goes ...