As angry and defensive as we felt two years ago when our son was “kicked out” of preschool, we now know the recommendation we got for his evaluation by the Illinois Early Intervention program was a huge blessing. Because of the work he has done within the program, in addition to private therapy, he has a shot at attending kindergarten outside of the special ed system as early as next year. He is in the “moderate group” with disabilities much more difficult to detect so early. Yet because of Early Intervention, he also has a better shot at successfully managing his challenges, avoiding otherwise likely drug abuse, emotional problems, anti-social and criminal behavior. There’s a good chance he’ll be able to use his many gifts to be a valuable citizen.
That means much greater savings to Illinois taxpayers than simply “future special education costs” (“Ounce of prevention for all kids,” Editorial, Jan. 30).
