Gwen is getting ready to start kindergarten, which has brought a whole new set of decisions for our family. We wanted to share how her IEP has worked so far, why we chose a private school, and a couple of Ohio scholarships we found while trying to figure out what comes next.
How Gwen Got Her IEP
We first started thinking about school services when Gwen was around two. Help Me Grow and Easterseals helped connect us with our local school district before she turned three. The district evaluated her and created an IEP, which allowed her to move directly from early intervention into the district's preschool program.
Her preschool used a peer-model classroom, with children who had IEPs learning alongside children who did not. Gwen's IEP was focused on physical goals. She did not need academic, speech, or occupational therapy support, but she did receive physical therapy at school about once a week. These services did not cost us anything.
The physical therapy she received at school was a little different from the outpatient PT she receives through the hospital. At school, the focus was on helping her move safely through the building, use the playground, and take part in the school day. Her outpatient therapy can focus more broadly on things like strength, balance, gait, and endurance.
We talk more about Help Me Grow, Easterseals, and her transition into preschool on our First Steps page.
Planning for Kindergarten
As kindergarten got closer, we had to think about where Gwen would go to school and what support she might need there. If she stayed in the public school system, her IEP team would continue working with us to decide on physical therapy, accommodations, and any other school-related needs.
We ultimately chose a private school, which meant her IEP services would not simply follow her in the same way. The private school does not have a physical therapist on staff, so we knew we would need to think differently about how she would continue PT. The school was very open to meeting with us, learning about Gwen, and talking through what she might need. That made us feel much more comfortable with the decision.
Why We Chose a Private School
We considered a lot of the same things any family might consider when choosing a school. We looked at academics, religion, class sizes, the overall environment, and what felt right for our family. We wanted a place where Gwen would be challenged, where her teachers could really know her, and where she could feel like part of a close community. Our reasons are personal, and choosing a private school will not be the right answer for every family, but the whole environment felt like a good fit for Gwen.
The smaller size was especially appealing to us. Gwen has a very visible disability, and children naturally have questions about her legs and prosthetics. We do not think those questions are usually meant to be unkind, but answering them again and again can still be tiring. In a smaller school, with many of the same children staying together over the years, we hope everyone will get to know Gwen quickly and her prosthetics will simply become one part of who she is.
The school is also all on one level. Gwen uses stairs well and they are part of her normal life, so a one-story building was not a requirement. We still thought about emergencies, injuries, or a time when she might not be wearing her prosthetics. Knowing that her classroom and the rest of the school are on the same floor gives us some extra peace of mind.
Before our first meeting, we were a little nervous that the staff might see bilateral prosthetic legs and assume accommodating Gwen would be difficult. Our experience was the opposite. They were excited about her attending and asked thoughtful questions about what they could do to support her. The conversation was about understanding Gwen, not looking for reasons she could not attend.
Gwen has not started kindergarten yet, so we cannot say how everything will work in practice. Based on the application process, our meetings, and the communication we have had so far, we feel good about the decision.
Looking at the Jon Peterson Scholarship
While trying to figure out how PT might work outside the public school, we learned about Ohio's Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship. It is available to some Ohio students who have an evaluation and a current IEP, and it can help pay approved providers for services connected to that IEP.
For Gwen, we wondered if it could help pay for physical therapy since her private school does not provide it. We contacted Enriched Movement, which offers pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy, to learn more about whether outside PT could be an option. We are still looking into it and have not started services with them.
We are still learning how the scholarship works and what would be required in Gwen's situation. We think it is worth knowing that the program exists, especially for families whose child has services such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy included in an IEP.
Ohio has more information about how to apply and find a provider, along with a page of current Jon Peterson resources.
Looking at EdChoice Expansion
We also learned about the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship. Instead of paying for services such as physical therapy, EdChoice Expansion can help eligible families with tuition at a participating private school.
Because EdChoice Expansion is used toward tuition rather than services in an IEP, it is another option we are looking at as we prepare for private school. It could help make a private-school education more affordable for families who qualify. We are still working through the process and learning how it may apply to Gwen.
Families cannot use EdChoice and Jon Peterson for the same child during the same school year, so we have to look at both and decide which one makes the most sense for Gwen. The income rules and application details can change, so we plan to use Ohio's current EdChoice Expansion resources as we work through it.