Free Childhood Screenings Coming Up
The Kaskaskia Special Education District (KSED) along with its 26 elementary school districts and Early Intervention providers are once again sponsoring free screening clinics for all children birth to five years of age who reside in Clinton, Marion, and Washington Counties. Checks of each child’s speech and general development will be done, along with vision and hearing screenings for older children.
Participation in these screenings is also useful to determine eligibility for Prekindergarten programs offered by school districts.
These classes are for 3 and 4-year-olds who may not be disabled, but who would benefit from a stimulating preschool learning environment in order to be successful in school later on.
Family and health factors are considered when determining eligibility for Prekindergarten classes. Applications for Head Start are also available at the screenings clinics. Appointments for the screenings should be made with the child’s resident school district.
The clinic includes checks of infant-toddler language development, motor coordination, and social skills. Preschool-ages children are also screened for pre-academic skills, vision, and hearing. The screenings take approximately 30 minutes, and parents are provided with immediate feedback about their children’s performance, as well as information about services for which their children may qualify.
Early intervention, speech/language therapy, Prekindergarten, Head Start, and Early Childhood special education programs are all available free of charge to eligible children.
Participation in the spring screening clinics is an excellent means to enroll children in school district preschool classes and Head Start for next fall when there may be waiting lists for these programs.
The screening clinics are a cooperative effort between local school districts, Ron Daniels, Regional Superintendent of Schools; Child and Family Connections #22, the Kaskaskia Workshop, CCRC Community Link, BCMW Head Start, Washington County Health Department, and the Kaskaskia Special Education District # 801.
In Washington County, dates include two at Nashville Elementary, March 31 from 12-7 p.m. And April 1 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Oakdale Elementary, April 4, 9-11 a.m.; Ashley Grade School, April 6, 1-4 p.m.; Irvington Grade School, April 12, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; and Okawville at the St. Barbara Parish Center from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
