Education is crucial for those with special needs. People with learning disabilities, for example, are at risk of forgetting essential course content over long breaks. Extended school year (ESY) services help kids on summer break and older children aging out of the educational system retain what they’ve learned. Along with adult day care, ESY services provide options to families for fostering ongoing development in people with special needs. 

Who Is Eligible for ESY?

Every state has laws for determining ESY eligibility. In Wisconsin, kids are eligible for ESY services if it’s shown they’ll experience “severe or substantial regression during the summer months in the absence of summer programming.” 

The severity of regression is usually determined by looking at several factors. For example, the impact an impairment has on a child’s life will be considered as well as the recovery time for a child to pick up on coursework the following year. Other resources available to a child when school is out of session are also weighed. Because resources are limited, school districts try to give children with the greatest need the highest priority. 

What Other Options Do Parents Have?

Based on the lack of resources and the rigorous process for determining which children have the greatest need, many families are turned down when applying for ESY services. Some parents choose to homeschool kids over the summer, regardless of their level of impairment. 

Parents of older children have concerns for the future. Finding a suitable adult day care facility can be highly beneficial for parents of teenagers approaching 18 years of age. These facilities ensure a child’s socialization, which has a significant impact on development. Day care workers also help with skill-building and new learning to preserve the strides a child has made once the school year has ended. 

Children with special needs deserve quality care for life. In Onalaska, WI, Coulee Region Adult Day Center provides essential services to adults with learning disabilities. Educational activities are overseen by kind and caring counselors. In their safe, capable hands, your child will continue to thrive. Learn more about their schedule of events online. You can also call (740) 345-1278 for more information about enrollment.