15 6 / 2012
Graduation
I just want to cry!!! Autumn has graduated from college. I am so proud of her. She has worked so hard in high school. She has made a lot of friends. I remember our little talk about how she needed to stay on task. She must have listened because she put forth a lot of effort and she made the grades. She played volleyball and was the team captain. She is a real inspiration. At one time, I thought, what is going to happen to her? How is she going to survive in this hearing world? Well, I don’t have to worry about that. Whatever obstacles she had, like English, she did what she needed to do to succeed. It still isn’t her best subject and she still struggles with it.
Today, my little girl walked across the stage. I couldn’t stop crying. I just kept thinking back to when she was born and the doctor’s telling me the devesting news. I wanted my child to be perfect. At first, I didn’t think she was perfect, but I was so wrong. It doesn’t matter if she is hearing or deaf. It doesn’t matter if she has hearing aids or not. She is perfect to me.
Now is the time for her to transition into that beautiful butterfly and make a difference in her life and others. She has become a teacher. She told me that’s what she wanted to do and she did it. I am so proud
15 6 / 2012
Rushing Deaf Ed: TIRED OF THE FIGHT, BUT IF I DON'T WHO WILL?
James is in school now. He is seven and in 1st grade, or at least that is what it says on paper. Our school has inclusion. I was so excited when that was explained to me. Inclusion is when all of the special needs kids are in the classroom with regular kids all the time. I thought to myself, “What…
I know that can be really frustrating. Maybe you, the principal, and the two teachers, HI and reg ed can have some kind of meeting to figure out the best options. Maybe you can suggest that the HI teacher or someone can come in and teach sign langauge classes to the other teachers and staff that work there. Maybe he is being disruptive because of communication issues.
The SLP did offer to teach some of the teachers a little sign language. I was excited to hear that she was doing it, but it was on a volunteer basis. Most of the teachers didn’t come to the class because they didn’t think it would affect them. What will happen when James is in one of their classes though. They have that “Out of sight, out of mind” mentality.
Maybe one thing the principal can do to help with that problem is to have a teacher in each grade level that deal with Sped kids or just deaf kids. That way the teachers know that eventually they will possibly have deaf kids in their room. They should be required to know some basic sign to be able to communicate with the deaf children. Especially since the school has deaf children, they should really enforce the teachers and staff to try and learn sign language. This way the deaf children will not be so isolated and communicate with others and not just one or two people. What would happen if the school had some kind of emergency and no one was around to explain what is happening? That’s not fair to your child or any child. If they are going to have children that are deaf at the school, they really need to enforce more people learning it.
I agree. The one person that I could count on at the school left for another job though. He is the only student who is deaf. He has a classmate with deaf parents so he relies on her a lot to translate. Many of the teachers though think that he should stay in the self-contained classroom with his special education teacher. I don’t think that is the right thing to do but I don’t run the school system. I did write that letter to the principal though, I am waiting for a response.
That is so not fair to keep James in the self-contained class room. He would be missing out on so much. He won’t be able to socialize with his classmates. He does not have full access in that school. See what the principal says and if she doesn’t do anything, I would definitely take it to the next level. Stay active for your son. Don’t let them tell you they can’t. No is not an option. Fight for his rights. Do what you have to do. He should have equal access. He should be able to function in the classroom just like the hearing students. Don’t let them push him to the side. It’s not fair. Fight, fight, fight!!!! They have people that advocate for the deaf and maybe they can give you some advice on what actions you need to do. Good luck.
15 6 / 2012
Rushing Deaf Ed: Today we are meeting for James' transition planning
James in now 14. At his re-eval in 4th grade he was accepted into the talented art program. Boy, was I excited to know that talented and gifted children also got special education services. I thought that it was just kids who suffer from some kind of disability, so they need special help in…
It’s great James found something that interests him. There are schools that focus on science and they have interpreters. I don’t really know much about them, but maybe you could go on the internet and check them out. I believe they are in Texas and Florida. I don’t know how far away those schools are from you, but it wouldn’t hurt just to check them out and see what services and classes they provide and you could compare them with the other schools.
15 6 / 2012
High School
I can’t believe Autumn is in high school. Just seems like she was born yesterday. Although middle school years were a little crazy. Her grades weren’t so good. She started getting involved in the social life with her friends and was not concentrating on her school work. She seems to be doing better so far. We had a discussion about how these next few years are important and she really needs to buckle down. She actually agreed with me. We talked about her future and she thinks she wants to become a teacher. I was so happy to hear that she has something in mind. Everyone here at the school for the deaf is very encouraging and she has good role models here. It’s about time for her ITP. We need to figure out what her goals will be to get her ready to transition into the real world. She also has expressed some interest in playing sports. She is tall so volleyball would be a good sport for her. That was my favorite sport when I was in high school. It would be nice to see her play and get more involved in the school activities.
I am so glad we decided to send her to the school for the deaf and learn sign language. She has a language and an identity. We have wonderful conversations together. Not only did I learn, but so did my husband and her brothers. Her whole family can communicate with her. Since we have made learning sign language a priority, she has never felt left out of anything in our family.
14 6 / 2012
Experiences of a Deaf child: The deaf school
We have been learning sign language for the past few years. We had a lady come to our house to help teach us sign language and help Autumn build her language skills. She would show us how to label things around the house and sign to Autumn what they were. We did that everyday and her vocabulary…
I can’t believe you sent your kid off like that. What, do you think she’s a refridgerator that has to get fixed?!? For shame!-Love your Mother in Law Jenn-
No, she is my daughter and I want the best for her. I know being there at the deaf school she will be getting the services and language that she needs. Do I like her being so far away from me? NO!!! I do not. You are not in my shoes and can’t judge me. When you get more knowledgeable on deaf kids and the different opportunities that are out there, then we can talk. Until then mind your business.
Love your Daughter in Law, Linda
14 6 / 2012
Apology
Please accept my (and my professor’s apologies) for my simulated blog. We are hearing people preparing to be teachers of Deaf/deaf/Hard of Hearing kids. It is an intensive 1-week class and we are learning so much about being a parent of a DHH child and the challenges & joys they face. Any help and advice from the real world of Deaf/deaf community and parents of DHH is HUGELY appreciated and will make us better teachers.
Sincerely,
Linda (student) & Kate Reynolds (UNO professor)
14 6 / 2012
Rushing Deaf Ed: TIRED OF THE FIGHT, BUT IF I DON'T WHO WILL?
James is in school now. He is seven and in 1st grade, or at least that is what it says on paper. Our school has inclusion. I was so excited when that was explained to me. Inclusion is when all of the special needs kids are in the classroom with regular kids all the time. I thought to myself, “What…
I know that can be really frustrating. Maybe you, the principal, and the two teachers, HI and reg ed can have some kind of meeting to figure out the best options. Maybe you can suggest that the HI teacher or someone can come in and teach sign langauge classes to the other teachers and staff that work there. Maybe he is being disruptive because of communication issues.
The SLP did offer to teach some of the teachers a little sign language. I was excited to hear that she was doing it, but it was on a volunteer basis. Most of the teachers didn’t come to the class because they didn’t think it would affect them. What will happen when James is in one of their classes though. They have that “Out of sight, out of mind” mentality.
Maybe one thing the principal can do to help with that problem is to have a teacher in each grade level that deal with Sped kids or just deaf kids. That way the teachers know that eventually they will possibly have deaf kids in their room. They should be required to know some basic sign to be able to communicate with the deaf children. Especially since the school has deaf children, they should really enforce the teachers and staff to try and learn sign language. This way the deaf children will not be so isolated and communicate with others and not just one or two people. What would happen if the school had some kind of emergency and no one was around to explain what is happening? That’s not fair to your child or any child. If they are going to have children that are deaf at the school, they really need to enforce more people learning it.
13 6 / 2012
Rushing Deaf Ed: TIRED OF THE FIGHT, BUT IF I DON'T WHO WILL?
James is in school now. He is seven and in 1st grade, or at least that is what it says on paper. Our school has inclusion. I was so excited when that was explained to me. Inclusion is when all of the special needs kids are in the classroom with regular kids all the time. I thought to myself, “What…
I know that can be really frustrating. Maybe you, the principal, and the two teachers, HI and reg ed can have some kind of meeting to figure out the best options. Maybe you can suggest that the HI teacher or someone can come in and teach sign langauge classes to the other teachers and staff that work there. Maybe he is being disruptive because of communication issues.
13 6 / 2012
Experiences of a Deaf child: Decisions, Decisions????
Wow, I have had a lot to consider these past couple of years. It can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what is best for my daughter. There are so many things to think about. I was told my daughter has binaural sloping profound sensorineural loss. I have been doing a lot of research and…
Wow. Do you have many options? Is her deafness correctable. What caused the loss, do you know? Good luck!
Autumn has BOR Syndrome. It stands for Branchio Oto Renal Syndrome. It is a rare disorder inherited as an autosomal domiant genetic trait. No it is not something that can be corrected.
13 6 / 2012
Experiences of a Deaf child: Decisions, Decisions????
Wow, I have had a lot to consider these past couple of years. It can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what is best for my daughter. There are so many things to think about. I was told my daughter has binaural sloping profound sensorineural loss. I have been doing a lot of research and…
Wow. Do you have many options? Is her deafness correctable. What caused the loss, do you know? Good luck!
