Questions to ask prospective daycares for special needs son?

Question

My son whom has a diagnosed mood disorder is going to enter Kindergarten in the fall. His daycare is not in our town and in another school district so sadly we need to find him a new day care. He can have severe behavior problems at times, and at other times he is the sweetest kid anyone could ever know. Yes, he has been in therapy for about two and a half years...

I am wondering what to ask the daycares when I speak with them. What are some good questions to ask? I already sent letters to all the daycares in my town telling them about my son and am waiting to see if I hear back from anyone interested in taking him. If I do what should I ask?

Answer 1

One approach would be to briefly state your need, your expectations, and your son's disorder.  Then ask them if they can service your son.  Listen carefully to their response.

Answer 2

I would ask how they handle certain situations, what form of guidance or discipline do they use. If he requires a special diet I would be asking about meals, too.

Answer 3

Ask them what their policy is for special needs children and inclusion.

If he's got severe behaviour problems ask if he can get an aide or assistant who works with him specifically, this will basically be an additional assistant in the room. They will mainly be working with him but will also do the stuff that the other assistants do in regards to the other children.

Ask if they are willing to follow the procedures that have also been put in place for his behaviour problems by his therapist.

Answer 4

if your son is diagnosed with a mood disorder you can probably get an after school aid for free from a behavioral health service- I believe you would file through social security- but if you call one of the programs in your area they can tell you what you would need to do, or a school counselor. I would have a hard time putting my child in a standard day care if he has behavioral issues, most day cares are not trained how to work productively with mood disorders, and the bhavioral issues that come along with them- it seems to me like it would turn into an ongoing headache of complaints when his behaviors do begin to come out with them, and they try to figure out how to handle it. With an afterschool provider he can get a one on one staff that can pick him up from school, have fun with him, help him work on behavioral issues, and accept him.