Parent perspective - transition to inclusive care

Our journey started when I noticed that my son’s daycare worker at his home daycare was starting to show signs that she couldn’t figure out how to handle my son anymore. It was difficult for her having no training in special needs to help him with simple things that he needed. So I knew at that point that it was time to start looking. And we were at one of his appointments and we noticed that there was a daycare that was under construction. So I was very interested in finding out what this daycare was about. So I did my research and I found out about Robertson Early Enrichment, and I really loved their philosophy and what they stand for and their inclusion program. The first week was a little bit of a difficult transition because he was used to going to a home. And this was the first big daycare that he’s ever been in. So we were a little bit concerned at first because when we had our original intake meeting, we had asked, “Is it okay if my son brings some of his toys?” He really likes cause-and-effect toys that flash and play music. “We thought, “Can he bring a couple of those? Because this is what he does all day. He just likes the repetitive sound and the music and the lights and the actions and he’s used to TV.” So when they said no, it was against their policy. And what they believe in here is basically using natural learning toys and natural materials and that kind of thing. And so when they said no, I was a little concerned because I thought, “Well, what’s my son going to do here all day for eight hours when he doesn’t have these toys when that’s all he’s used to doing?” So for the first week or so, it was difficult for him and he did cry but of course, they reassured us that everybody cries at a new daycare. So we just trusted them. And after about a week, we noticed a big, big improvement. My son was playing with all kinds of different things that he had never played with before. He was exploring the rooms and feeling all the different textures of all the different things they have here. And his inclusion workers were warming up to him and we got to know them and we felt so comfortable with them and they were just so amazing. And I could tell that my son was so comfortable with them and happy. And when we started coming here after about a week, he was smiling and he was looking forward to daycare and I could tell he really was enjoying his time here.