education for special needs kids?

I was afraid that was the case. I'll email you Vivian's email address in a private IM.

Hi again,
Karen, I would be very grateful if you could share vivian's contact info (let me know if you'd prefer to do offline). I would think that a consultant might be exactly what I would need to assess the options and cut through the "blah blah," as you say.

By the way, I checked out Marymount, per your suggestion, and it seems to be about the only place I can find that actually refers to kids with these needs on their website. I then emailed a bunch of the others I found in the areas where I may be living and already got an email back from the principal of an american school in Grenoble. For the benefit of those others who might read this, suffice it to say that she reinforced what you have said here. I would love to believe that all developed and advanced countries offer similar levels of educational support for children with learning disabilities but alas . . . they do not. This woman said that they don't offer a thing and all she knows of are a few places with support only for dyslexic children, nothing else.

So, thanks for the information and let me know about your friend Vivian.

Fondly,
Laura

Chuck:

How I wish you were correct. The French public school system is very much more rigid that that in the US. In France, there are special schools that cater to emotionally disturbed children but they tend to be residential. The "state" covers the costs.

When it comes to dyslexia and ADS, the French are only now becoming educated about the problems and have a long way to go.

Laura, My wife had her degree and used to br a teacher for handycaped children in the Detroit area, the school had two classes for all grades, physically handicaped and mentally handycaped. I just want to mention this, as it was part of the Detrot public School system (at the time when it was a good system), and consequently it was free. Besides they used to have a significant number of grants and aides, sot they could continue beyond the minimum grades. I am shure that in Paris, and France in general must have schooles like this being in a socially more advanced country.

BP Chuck

Laura: I do know an excellent therapist/cpuncellor who works with children who have learning disabilities. Vivian works closely with the schools -- I believe all of which are private.

It might be with speaking with her. She could cut through a lot of blah blah and red tape.

Thanks, Karen. I will check with them and, hopefully, they might have ideas for schools in the area. I presumed I wouldn't find a public answer to this issue since (I hear) the public school system treats learning issues as a medical challenge and refers to the doctor community . . . I will let you know if I find anything extraordinary.

Thanks - I am sure I will have more questions as I finalize this move!
laura

Laura: I don't know how severe your child's learning disabilities are but the first school in Paris which recognized dyslexia was Marymount in Neuilly. I would certainly check with them. If it's not the school for your child, they'll know of one.

I wouldn't count on it being public. Please let us know how you do.

PS = Welcome!

Hi all -

I am desperately hoping for help, references, referrals. I have two children, one of whom is 9 years old and is enrolled in a school for children with special needs in chicago (learning disability). I am relocating to france (depending on job offer, to paris, lyon, grenoble or bordeaux) and need to find a school for my daughter. It is not an easy process . . . Help!?

Thank you all kindly -
Laura