Lucas Camilo

Ever since Lucas got into Volume 13 of “Signing Times” – the videos for kids learning signing language – he’s been obsessed with the idea of school.  He can do the signs for “teacher” and “backpack” (among others) at the same time as he chants the words and grins.  So it was not surprising that he got excited this morning when we told him we were getting in the car to go visit an actual school.

The public school in question is Lowell on Capitol Hill.  Lots of people have mentioned it to us as the place best prepared to handle kids like Lucas with complex special needs.  With his 3rd birthday fast approaching and the process of preparing an IEP (Individualized Educational Program) underway, we called up the person in charge of Seattle special needs pre-school education a few weeks ago.  After hearing about Lucas she suggested we visit Lowell and we set up an appointment.

Not sure what to expect, we marched in at 9:15 this morning and were immediately blown away.  There was the usual hustle and bustle of preschool/elementary school (Lowell goes through 5th grade), with kids running around the halls and teachers trying to keep them under control.  But within two minutes we also saw something else: multiple kids in wheelchairs, or using walkers, also participating in the action.  And there were various special needs seats and mobility devices scattered about the halls as well.  Here was a rare place where Lucas – trach, vent and all – was not something to stare at but rather just another kid getting ready to learn.

And it got better.  All the people we talked to – teachers, aids, therapists and administrators – were welcoming and fun, excited to meet Lucas and aware that he would be a great addition to their classrooms.  There are two preschool classes for kids with special needs and we were able to visit the morning class where Lucas got to meet a number of the kids.  They crowded around to say hi, and Lucas waved and said hi back.  He seemed a little anxious but also enthralled by the attention, and repeatedly showed off his signs for “teacher” and “school”, while also guessing the first letter of everyone’s name that he met.

We spent 20 minutes in the classroom observing and chatting with the teachers.  Lucas got to roll up and join the class for a ABC song accompanied by Mr. Chris on the ukulele.   He even clapped along for a little while before deciding he was all done and then asking to check out books in the mini class library.  Later we visited a class for older kids with special needs and continued to walk the halls and peak in on the therapy room and cafeteria.  Lucas met a young girl named Maria who appeared to have cerebral palsy and was working on controlling her power chair with a teaching assistant.  He made the “M” for Maria and she smiled.

Lucas’s birthday isn’t until August and he won’t start preschool until sometime in September, so there’s plenty of time to keep checking out other possible places.  But as we walked out the door from Lowell we looked at each other and said “That’s where Lucas is going to school!”  It felt good all around.