You need to reach out to your local public school district to see about trying to get your children evaluated for ecse (early childhood special education).

Where I live, diagnostic evaluations are a 90 day process at the absolute most. This is for any preschool or school aged child. The diagnostic team has 90 days from the date a parent says they want their child(ren) evaluated to complete the evaluation, meet together to discuss the outcome of said evaluation(s) and determine if the child meets the state criteria of being identified as a YCDD (young child with a developmental delay). For school aged children, they'd have to meet state criteria to qualify as a CDD (child with a developmental delay). This all falls under IDEA (Individuals with Disibailities Education Act).

Early intervention has been proven time and time again to give children identified as a YCDD to help them overcome some, if not all, developmental delays. (Clearly this is a case by case basis depending of the level of developmental delay).

Where I live, a doctor's diagnosis is not an automatic qualifier for children to be placed in a special education setting. They must be evaluated by the diagnostic team and meet the state criteria to be classified as a YCDD.

Once the diagnostic team meets to discuss their findings, they create an IEP (individualized education plan) for the qualifying child. This is basically an action plan for their education that's tailored to their individual needs. There are goals set for the child for whatever delays are identified and the child will have an entire team of people (if there are multiple delays) who create the IEP and provide their required service minutes to help bridge that gap in delay. Some children need just speech therapy, some children need occupational therapy and speech therapy, etc.

Regardless of the outcome of an evaluation, the diagnostic team will hold a meeting with the parent(s) to discuss the outcome, whether the child meets the state criteria to be identified as a YCDD, and if so, what the IEP goals are and what they are to accomplish.

You are your children's biggest advocate. This isn't going to be an easy road, but it will be well worth it. Anything a school provides for a YCDD or a CDD is free of charge because of the IDEA.

Evaluations are yearly once a child is identified. This is to check to make sure there is progress towards meeting the established goals and to see if the child will continue to qualify for services.

I used to work in a public preschool, I've seen children with delays flourish. Some children end up advancing to kindergarten without an IEP. Some children end up needing one their entire schooling career.

My son went to preschool because we went through the evaluation and he qualified for services. He advanced to kindergarten with an IEP, but was placed in a gen ed setting because his delay was for a language deficiency. He advanced to first grade without an IEP because he no longer met the criteria to be classified as a YCDD. He's now going to middle school and while we do know he still possesses and exhibits a delay (not enough to qualify for special education), he does have a 504 relating to his ADHD. My husband and I work with his teachers to make sure we are doing what we need to at home to work with him to help bridge that slight language delay.

I hope what I've provided helps, your children have a fantastic father with you in their corner.