Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/755919
Setting the Record Straight Anaheim educator proud to teach the youngest special ed students By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Photos by Scott Buschman " W H AT D O Y O U D O H E R E ? " is something Hope Bosheff is constantly asked, sometimes even by co-workers. ey don't understand why her classroom at Edison Elementary School in Anaheim has very young children. e youngest are 3; the oldest, 5. S h e d o e s n' t m i n d t h e q u e s t i o n s o n e b i t . S h e j u st sm i l e s a n d e xp l a i n s : Children with disabilities q u a li f y f o r s e r v i c e s f r o m th e publi c sch o o l sy st em on the day they turn 3, and s h e i s t h e i r c re d e n t i a l e d preschool special education day class teacher. " I enj oy rai sin g aware - ness about the important role that preschool teachers play in helping little ones with special needs get the services they are entitled to," Bosheff says. "at may include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy. e services they receive depend on their own unique needs." How do youngsters get referred to special ed preschool? Sometimes a baby sitter, day care provider or pediatri- cian suggests parents have their child screened for delays or disabilities, or parents may d e ci d e on th eir ow n it's a good idea . They can contact their school district to have their child screened by a t eam of exp er ts that may include a school psy- chologist, speech-language pathologist, physical thera- pist, occupational therapist or vision specialist. B o s h e f f i s s o m e t i m e s asked why public money is spent on children as young as 3, who are too young to attend state-funded preschool. "Study after study supports that early intervention helps these kids do much better," she says. Some do so well that they attend general education kindergarten after receiving a strong dose of early intervention. Others with more severe challenges 16 cta.org perspectives Hope Bosheff puts a puzzle together with Jasmin. "STUDY AFTER STUDY SUPPORTS THAT EARLY INTERVENTION HELPS THESE KIDS DO MUCH BET TER." — HOPE BOSHEFF, ANAHEIM ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION