School Spotlight: Osseo Early Childhood Special Education Program
Osseo Early Childhood Special Education teachers are taking their lesson plans into the homes some of the district’s youngest learners. The program helps babies and toddlers reach critical milestones.
Tessa DeMarais has a two-year-old son named Alex. A series of ear infections hindered his ability to hear and learn words.
“He wasn’t really hitting those milestones,” said DeMarais. “His pediatrician was concerned too.”
So DeMarais turned to the Early Childhood Special Education program (ECSE) offered by Osseo Area Schools. The Early Intervention Program is part of ECSE. It serves about 200 students from birth to age 3. In the program, the instructors go to the children.
“We get in the program and help the parent and help them,” said Maya Nishikawa, an early childhood special education teacher. “So [the child] can get into kindergarten.”
Osseo Early Childhood Special Education Program Helps Children, Helps Parents
Families will get a visit from a special education teacher or a therapist once a week. Then, the instructors will coach the parents on techniques to incorporate into their child’s daily routine.
“The program is really parent based too,” said DeMarais. “I’m involved in everything. He’s not pulled to the side and I’m sitting on the sidelines.”
DeMarais encourages the parents to seek out the program.
“It helps our relationships because there’s not frustration from lack of communication there,” said DeMarais.
DeMarais says she’s noticed some major changes in her son.
“He’s just so much happier now,” said DeMarais.
To learn more about Osseo Area Schools, click here.
