A cochlear implant story

I'm pretty sure it's a Nucleus of some sort - they have that sort of spoked appearance to the headpiece, while AB's headpieces are solid.
 
Tousi said:
Vallee, I see you are a TOD. Can you tell us where your school is and what their educational/philosophical approach is? What communicative tools are used, etc...??

P.S On second thought, I see that I was assuming that you are a TOD when, because of your CI's, I guess you could be a regular public school teacher, teaching normal hearing children.
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TOD????

My school is in Clarksville, Tennessee. I have my ba in Early Childhood, elementary education with certification in social studies as well and my master's in special education. I taught high school social studies and computers, regular education 2nd and 3rd grade inclusion and now I teach full inclusion 5th grade special education. In my school there are at least 4 four students that are either hoh/deaf. There are also two other teachers with hearing loss beside myself.

My principal as well as myself believe in providing the best environment for EACH AND EVERY CHILD. We don't just believe in all means all. We have students with learning disabilities, austim, nooman's, and a student without an eardrum. Our students have fm systems and half our classrooms have speaker systems and advance technology. My school is a low income school with the majority of students from military background. We have around 55% on free and reduce lunch program.

I had rheumatic fever at age 3. I lost the majority of my hearing by age 18. So for 35 years I have dealt with this hearing loss and deafness. I was mainstreamed in school and there was not a deaf student in my middle or high school in a tiny city in Georgia. I did not use my hearing loss. I became a teacher to provide the students with a better education then I had, being placed in the back of the room with no modifications. So for the past 14 years I have provided that. I did not hide my hearing aides or my cochlear implants. I made my personal choice to get implants. I am still deaf and I don't hide that.

Oh by the way I ask for a fm system for my own use and the system sent one to me the next day. I asked for a better phone, its on order. I also provide myself for a resource to other teachers in system with questions on CI, ha, and as advocate for deaf/hoh children. So as a way to improve the world around me, I volunteered my time to assist in developmental disabilities task force. It is revising Title 33 of Tennessee Code to help assist persons with developmental disabilities become independent. One of the ways is to provide education, home-base services, and of course equipment. As a footnote, I am choosing to become active in my community because of the way Let Them Hear assisted me with my appeals for insurance approval. They did this without asking for anything in return. So now it is my time to play it forward. So instead of placing a label on me as TOD or anything else, respect my choice in getting implants.
 
Very nice and commendable, Vallee. Kind of an abrupt ending there, though; TOD=Teacher of the Deaf. Sorry, I just thought everyone knew that abbreviation.
 
Now I am really sorry - I thought some I don't know ugly word. It seems so much on why I picked implants that I am getting used to defending myself. so again sorry. I choose regular and special education because it was challenge and I like challenges.
 
vallee said:
Now I am really sorry - I thought some I don't know ugly word. It seems so much on why I picked implants that I am getting used to defending myself. so again sorry. I choose regular and special education because it was challenge and I like challenges.
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Sure, man, no problem at all....
 
Tousi said:
Very nice and commendable, Vallee. Kind of an abrupt ending there, though; TOD=Teacher of the Deaf. Sorry, I just thought everyone knew that abbreviation.
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well, I didn't. You'd think I of all the people would know. :Oops:
 
BINGO! And if fuzzy thinks that the CI is going to improve the situations of discrimination, she is delusional.
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You don't have SLIGHTEST IDEA what I think, Jill.

WHERE did I said the CI is going to improve the situations of discrimination ???
prove it.
and IF YOU CAN'T prove it then don't say what I think. what I really think though, is - you are ..umm.. not smart.

Fuzzy
 
Okay I still feel bad. Sorry everyone.
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Valley you shouldn't feel bad- not everybody knows abbreviations, and people who use them should be aware of that as well.

Even if you expressed your displeasure in being labeled something you simply didn't know the meaning of, you did it in most polite way.
You both apologized nicely, and that's the end of story :)

Fuzzy
 
Tousi said:
Very nice and commendable, Vallee. Kind of an abrupt ending there, though; TOD=Teacher of the Deaf. Sorry, I just thought everyone knew that abbreviation.
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It would be a reasonable assumption for one that advocates for deaf/hoh in the mainstream.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
no I am suggesting that any person who is succesfully implanted, and that happens most often when implanted early, has easier life in the hearing world.
Don't forget about simply pleasure- of hearing music, nature etc.
You don't have to, but wouldn't you LIKE to hear music?



Don't you understand that CI is actually for YOU?

Fuzzy
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This woman was implanted at age 24. That hardly qualifies for early implantation.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
You don't have SLIGHTEST IDEA what I think, Jill.

WHERE did I said the CI is going to improve the situations of discrimination ???
prove it.
and IF YOU CAN'T prove it then don't say what I think. what I really think though, is - you are ..umm.. not smart.

Fuzzy
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Get a grip on yourself, fuzzy. You're about to go nuts again.
 
Cheri said:
That's what it sounds like, It's more like if you want to fit in, then get a cochlear implant. Why should I please the hearing people? I aren't no ass kisser.
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Right on, Cheri! I feel the same as you. I learned to speak but no one in my family/co-workers returned the favor by learning the sign language. I always feel that it should be two way street but in this case it is one way street so I don't want CI.
 
Buffalo said:
Right on, Cheri! I feel the same as you. I learned to speak but no one in my family/co-workers returned the favor by learning the sign language. I always feel that it should be two way street but in this case it is one way street so I don't want CI.
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Exactly!!
 
Audiofuzzy said:
You don't have SLIGHTEST IDEA what I think, Jill.

WHERE did I said the CI is going to improve the situations of discrimination ???
prove it.
and IF YOU CAN'T prove it then don't say what I think. what I really think though, is - you are ..umm.. not smart.

Fuzzy
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Cause you intend to keep ranting and pushing others about CI, and what it like to be implanted and how it would solve all of our problems ....
 
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