Discuss four important goals for preschool programs serving children with severe disabilities

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: McDonnell et al. (2003) suggested four goals for preschool programs serving children
with severe disabilities:
* Maximize the child's development in a variety of important developmental areas.
These include social communication, motor, cognitive, preacademic, self-care, play, and
personal management skills.
* Develop the child's social interaction and classroom participation skills. Focus on
developing peer relationships and teaching the child to follow adult directions, respond to
classroom routines, and become self-directed (complete classroom activities without
constant adult supervision).
* Increase community participation through support to family members and other care
givers. Work to identify alternative care givers so that the family has a broader base of
support and more flexibility to pursue other interests. Help the family to identify activities
within the neighborhood that their preschooler would enjoy and that would provide the
child with opportunities to interact with same-age peers. Activities may involve
swimming or dancing lessons, joining a soccer team, going to church, etc.
* Prepare the child for inclusive school placements and provide support for the transition
to elementary school. The transition out of preschool will be facilitated by the
participation of educators from the receiving elementary school working collaboratively
with family and preschool personnel.