Answers for raising Deaf kids are anything but common

My wife and I recently attended a seminar for parents of D/HoH kids. Having been HoH my entire life and now late-Deaf, I found this seminar more like a rehash of all my worst experiences as a school-age kid. This is actually a compliment to the presenters, since they clearly understand the challenges present when D/HoH kids are mainstreamed.

One thing, though. I asked what I believe to be a very important question: "when classroom/curriculum modifications are made to accommodate a functionally deaf child who uses amplification, what happens when he loses the aids, they break, whatever, for one, two, three weeks???"

My question was met with very disconcerting answers. Basically, he's screwed for a few weeks and will learn nothing. This is anything but a comforting feeling. DBC, are you listening? This is what real parents are facing. Can anyone give me a better answer?

Comments

Shirley said…
DBC need to do more but people like Barry Sewell, Candy, White Ghost, Mike McConnell and their cronies are suppressing DBC's promotion for all Deaf babies to start bilingualism: ASL/English at the beginning and the results is that more parents are regretting of their informed decisions from biased groups for their Deaf babies.

It takes a Deaf/Hearing village to work together and stop these suppressors.
November 23, 2010 at 9:49 AM
(e said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
November 23, 2010 at 10:35 AM
(e said…
Oh, Shirley (rolling eyes). What does this have to do with his question?

To answer your question:

If one of my student's hearing aid, CI, or amplification device stopped working or breaks, we have many amplification devices they can choose from that we can loan to them until their device is working. Or if it is one of the school's devices that is not working, we quickly replace it with another working piece and send off the other for repairs. (On days like this I am literally running around rushing to get the devices to the child who needs one).

If the child has to take a test and we do not have the proper amplification device for him or her, sometimes I have to fight to make sure that they postpone the test until their device works.

Sometimes the student will be without their amplification device for a day or two, and we just do our best to accommodate the child even more diligently, especially those without interpreters (copies of notes, preferential seating, placing of teacher, rephrasing questions, all of which they are supposed to do when their devices are working).

Basically, the student is not screwed, we all just have to work harder than usual.

(e
November 23, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Anonymous said…
To (e,

Do you support bilingualism: ASL/English for Deaf babies and children in schools?

Bilingualism: ASL/English education assures that no deaf child will be left behind in any situation on any day in schools
November 23, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Aaron said…
Here's the thing I think about. I am trying my best to make sure my kid is bilingual, but in the case that his normal mode of operation at school is "oral with accommodations", it seems like an unbelievable amount of trouble to change those accommodations on a moment's notice if he loses his amplification. Example: one day he just needs to sit up front, notes, etc, and the next day he needs an ASL interpreter for 2 weeks.
November 23, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Shirley said…
See this blogger's post,

http://deafecho.com/2010/11/the-great-argument/
November 23, 2010 at 11:57 AM
(e said…
Of course I support Bilingualism-if it works for the child and his or her family, awesome! It depends on the family and how involved they are in continuing to use ASL with their child at home. I have liked what I have seen at some bi-bi programs.

But, I thought the first comment, about how Mike McConnell, White Ghost, Candy, Barry Sewell, and their "cronies" are out to destroy bilingualism and DBC's promotion for it, was way off topic and unnecessary. They are not the reason why DBC did not do a good job with providing certain information.

(e
November 23, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New hearing aids - Rexton Cobalt 16

I picked up my new hearing aids today and thought I would post my initial thoughts. First, let's take a little journey back in time to understand some of my history. I got my first set of ears 10 years ago. They were the Senso+ model in the CIC (completely-in-the-canal) size, made by Widex. They were almost invisible and functioned fairly well, but after four years they were no longer powerful enough to keep up with my progressive loss, so I got a new set. The new set were Phonak Claro ITE (in-the-ear) models, and were far more technologically advanced, and also far larger and more noticeable. I was able to control the volume and choose programs using my Phonak wristwatch. I have worn these for about five years now, but again my hearing loss has outgrown the volume possible with these models. Fast forward to present day. I recently bought a pair of Rexton Cobalt 16 (same as Siemens Pure 700) and a bluetooth remote control that Rexton calls an RCU (same as the Siemens Tek). The...
Read more

ASL class starts today - Level TWO!!

I am really excited about taking the level 2 class this year. We were all really worried that it wasn't going to happen since we needed a minimum number of people and a couple people from level 1 moved away over the summer. So it is very welcome news that the class is happening, and I am really looking forward to taking my ASL to the next level!!
Read more

New Marvel Processors by Advanced Bionics - Review

 It has been about 7 years since I received my first cochlear implant.  I chose Advanced Bionics in 2014 and received their Q70 processor at activation.  This was their first processor based on Phonak technology, since both companies are owned by Sonova. The Q70 was a very good processor, and coupled with their HiRes Fidelity 120 programming strategy, I enjoyed good appreciation of music.  I use the Optima-P strategy in particular.  The processor was much smaller than the previous Harmony processor, and featured a much smaller, if fragile, t-mic2.  The t-mic is arguably the best feature offered by AB.  It is a microphone that hangs by a wire, and is positioned near the ear canal, allowing me to use headphones and mobile phones normally, by positioning the speaker where everyone else would hold it, instead of having to hold the speakers up near the top of the ear, where traditional mics are placed. With the Q70, I was able to use Bluetooth devices, but ...
Read more