flowerylynsOct 18, 2006 @ 14:43
Mark, Oct 18, 2006 @ 15:32
flowerylyns, Oct 19, 2006 @ 11:30
Ellen, Oct 20, 2006 @ 17:42
Hi, I just went through hell to find a school for my daughter who has Down syndrome and is 9. Amanda has always attended mainstream school in Brazil and the US where we lived and I was appalled to find out the Geneva - human rights capital - of all places, has NO school inclusion at all! I tried 17 different international schools and all said no to her, except Ecolint that has a programme, but no places (herad the waiting list is around 3 years, when its time to move again). I also approached orivate montessori and other private school, with no luck either.
Finally we had to go through an intricated medical orientated public school system, where Amanda had to go through many evaluations - in French, not her languages. They have basically 3 different kinds of settings - intagration (its not even called inclusion yet) in the local school, with an aid once a week (only for blilliant handicapped children), Special class within a regular school (only for high functioning kids), and special schools (the rest). Amanda did an "internship'(stage) at a special class within a regular school, and was not "approved", so she ended up being sent to a special school at the other side of the city (45 min to 1:30 drive, depending on traffic). There are only 10 kids for 5 teachers and 2 directors there, one of them is a psychiatrist (!)
This whole process took a month and during that my child stayed at home! (except for the sports activities and private tutoring I managed to get her). The school is essentialy for recreation and daily activites. there is not even a proper library and my daughter is not really being encouraged to read and write 0- which she did prior to coming here. Also, she was denied French lessons, a right of kids who dont speak french when they come to geneva, according to their website.
I am an activist for inclusion but I had to give up or else would go crazy. The only inclusion she is having is part of a program Cap Loisirs has with the local maison the quartier, so on wednesdays she stays with non-disabled kids with a aide that assists her and another boy with disability, if needed.
Hi, I just went through hell to find a school for my daughter who has Down syndrome and is 9. Amanda has always attended mainstream school in Brazil and the US where we lived and I was appalled to find out the Geneva - human rights capital - of all places, has NO school inclusion at all! I tried 17 different international schools and all said no to her, except Ecolint that has a programme, but no places (herad the waiting list is around 3 years, when its time to move again). I also approached orivate montessori and other private school, with no luck either.
Finally we had to go through an intricated medical orientated public school system, where Amanda had to go through many evaluations - in French, not her languages. They have basically 3 different kinds of settings - intagration (its not even called inclusion yet) in the local school, with an aid once a week (only for blilliant handicapped children), Special class within a regular school (only for high functioning kids), and special schools (the rest). Amanda did an "internship'(stage) at a special class within a regular school, and was not "approved", so she ended up being sent to a special school at the other side of the city (45 min to 1:30 drive, depending on traffic). There are only 10 kids for 5 teachers and 2 directors there, one of them is a psychiatrist (!)
This whole process took a month and during that my child stayed at home! (except for the sports activities and private tutoring I managed to get her). The school is essentialy for recreation and daily activites. there is not even a proper library and my daughter is not really being encouraged to read and write 0- which she did prior to coming here. Also, she was denied French lessons, a right of kids who dont speak french when they come to geneva, according to their website.
I am an activist for inclusion but I had to give up or else would go crazy. The only inclusion she is having is part of a program Cap Loisirs has with the local maison the quartier, so on wednesdays she stays with non-disabled kids with a aide that assists her and another boy with disability, if needed.
Patricia Almeida, Aug 7, 2014 @ 11:21
Hi, I just went through hell to find a school for my daughter who has Down syndrome and is 9. Amanda has always attended mainstream school in Brazil and the US where we lived and I was appalled to find out the Geneva - human rights capital - of all places, has NO school inclusion at all! I tried 17 different international schools and all said no to her, except Ecolint that has a programme, but no places (herad the waiting list is around 3 years, when its time to move again). I also approached orivate montessori and other private school, with no luck either.
Finally we had to go through an intricated medical orientated public school system, where Amanda had to go through many evaluations - in French, not her languages. They have basically 3 different kinds of settings - intagration (its not even called inclusion yet) in the local school, with an aid once a week (only for blilliant handicapped children), Special class within a regular school (only for high functioning kids), and special schools (the rest). Amanda did an "internship'(stage) at a special class within a regular school, and was not "approved", so she ended up being sent to a special school at the other side of the city (45 min to 1:30 drive, depending on traffic). There are only 10 kids for 5 teachers and 2 directors there, one of them is a psychiatrist (!)
This whole process took a month and during that my child stayed at home! (except for the sports activities and private tutoring I managed to get her). The school is essentialy for recreation and daily activites. there is not even a proper library and my daughter is not really being encouraged to read and write 0- which she did prior to coming here. Also, she was denied French lessons, a right of kids who dont speak french when they come to geneva, according to their website.
I am an activist for inclusion but I had to give up or else would go crazy. The only inclusion she is having is part of a program Cap Loisirs has with the local maison the quartier, so on wednesdays she stays with non-disabled kids with a aide that assists her and another boy with disability, if needed.
Aug 7, 14 11:21
It's a very difficult situation for you and others. I am not clear if you are still looking for some solutions or not. My wife works part-time in a school and a part of what she does is to work with children with special needs. If you happen to be looking for some additional support then she might potentially be available to provide some, if she has the time availalble. Anyway, feel free to contact me if you want to.
Bon chance.
It's a very difficult situation for you and others. I am not clear if you are still looking for some solutions or not. My wife works part-time in a school and a part of what she does is to work with children with special needs. If you happen to be looking for some additional support then she might potentially be available to provide some, if she has the time availalble. Anyway, feel free to contact me if you want to.
Bon chance.
Frank P, Aug 7, 2014 @ 15:21
