We initially inquired about this daycare because of its strong reviews and because they participate…read morein TEFA, which gave us the impression that they support inclusivity for children with disabilities and different learning needs. During our first tour, I shared with the owner how excited I was about the possibility of enrolling my son because the facility appeared clean, organized, and well-run. She proudly showed us their awards, but the conversation later shifted to discussing another parent's issues with their child biting staff members. Personally, I felt uncomfortable hearing details about another family's situation, especially without hearing both sides.
Later, I explained that my son has a disability and that we were approved for TEFA funding. I shared that he is speech delayed and somewhat behind academically. I also explained that he previously attended a private Catholic school that requested a one-on-one aide, although his IEP team did not recommend one. We are transferring him because we cannot afford the cost of a one-on-one aide on top of tuition. I also clarified that while he has a medical condition, he has not been diagnosed with autism or ADHD, and evaluations from neurology, ABA, and neuropsychology specialists did not indicate autism.
I explained that the academic expectations at his previous school were simply not the right fit for him, and that we believed a more play-based environment would better support his development and learning style. However, during this discussion, the owner repeatedly emphasized how advanced their standards were and mentioned that many of their 4-year-olds already know how to read. Unfortunately, the tone of the conversation made me feel less reassured about how welcoming or supportive the environment would be for children with developmental differences or disabilities.
What stood out even more to me was the reaction when I mentioned that we had received TEFA funding that would cover the full school year. The owner immediately asked how much funding we received. After I told her the amount, her eyes widened, and she became noticeably quiet while pulling out a calculator and computing the yearly total. That interaction made me uncomfortable and gave the impression that the financial aspect became more important than understanding my child's actual needs.
Because of these concerns, I began having second thoughts about enrolling my son and asked for the payment to be placed on hold while my husband scheduled a second tour. Within two days, we were informed that the slot for the next school year had already been filled. What was frustrating was that instead of directly informing us that no spots were available, we were still asked to work around their schedule for another tour. I was also told that I had "cancelled," when I had clearly requested that enrollment simply be put on hold while we made a final decision as a family.
Afterward, I also came across other reviews from parents who felt their children with disabilities were treated differently. Reading those experiences made our interaction feel even more concerning. It also made me question how genuine some of the positive reviews are, because our experience was very different from what was portrayed online. I cannot say whether reviews are incentivized, but it did leave me wondering if discounts, perks, or other incentives may influence some of the overwhelmingly positive feedback.
I truly hope this daycare reflects on what inclusivity really means. Participating in programs like TEFA should involve genuinely welcoming and supporting children with different needs, not just meeting requirements on paper.
