Finding the other end of our Red Thread: Audra...the Graduate

My "baby girl" is becoming such a BIG girl!

She has come so very far in the two year since she has been home.

She was timid and shy when she first started preschool in Sept. 2013 but she quickly grew into an independent, funny, lovable student and classmate.

The teachers, aides and therapists made the transition for her into the classroom setting as gentle as possible...which was so important for her, coming from an orphanage no formal education exposure.

Audra has worked hard for all that she has achieved during her two years of preshcool.

The short, sweet, informal graduation ceremony was just perfect!

Audra sat smiling in her front row seat throughout the ceremony. A few times she looked like she might cry (but still with a hint of a smile on her face). I am sure it was a bit overwhelming to have so many people and cameras right in front of their faces.

I love these pics of my smiling girl looking at her hearing therapist as she signed the song while the other kids sang.

During the slideshow each child was spotlighted with a collage of pictures from their preschool days.

My little graduate...

I really can't believe she's off to Kindergarten in just a few months!

This preschool has been so dear to family for many years.

Just before Riley's third birthday we were overwhelmed with the thought of having to send him to preschool. He had received his Autism diagnosis and had been getting in-home speech, physical, and occupational therapy since he was 15 months old. But after the age of three these therapies needed to be provided in school setting.

CDP was the one (and basically only) preschool that was recommended to us. It is an integrated preschool, so there are typically developing children in each class along with children who have special needs.

Children with physical, developmental, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities.

Children with Autism, Down Syndrome, tracheostomies, and G-tubes.

Children with walkers, wheelchairs and hearing aids.

Any and all children are welcome and fully included.

I first time I went to see the school I was disheartened by it's physical condition. It was located in the basement of an old town building with sparse windows. It definitely wasn't the shiny, new, colorful building I dreamed of (and saw advertised in commercials).

But almost immediately I was drawn to the heart of the school...

The interactions between the teachers and the students,

and even more so,

the interactions between the typical children and the special needs children.

Underneath all the diagnoses and medical equipment they were are all simply children...

eager to play and learn.

During Aidan's preschool years the school moved to a newer building,

with big open space and lots of windows with natural light,

bight, colorful classrooms and hallways,

and a beautiful playground.

Just what all the children and their amazing teachers deserved!

Now this preschool has it all and we are so glad that we didn't "judge the school by it's cover" all those years ago.

When we made the decision to send Riley to this preschool, as well as our two typically developing children, we couldn't have imagined the full circle feeling we would have when Audra came home. Despite her significant needs there was no doubt that CDP was the perfect place for her.

With the perfect teachers, aides and therapists to meet her where she was developmentally despite her chronological age, and perfectly accepting children as her preschool peers.

With all the changes and challenges that both Audra and our family experienced when we brought her home, it was such a blessing to have the comfort and familiarity of this amazing preschool that welcomed her with open arms.

Riley's preschool graduation 2006