class question

that is what his therapist is working on, because hes not very receptive to anything right now..today, it was like none of us were even there.
but even so, we are still talking to him and showing him signs, because it cant hurt!
i am looking around to see what other resources there are..there HAS to be something for kids who are delayed and have hearing loss..surely hes not unique.
 
frankiesmom said:
that is what his therapist is working on, because hes not very receptive to anything right now..today, it was like none of us were even there.
but even so, we are still talking to him and showing him signs, because it cant hurt!
i am looking around to see what other resources there are..there HAS to be something for kids who are delayed and have hearing loss..surely hes not unique.
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Exactly. Just because he is not responding in a way that you think or expect would show that he is taking things in doesn't mean that it isn't getting in there peripherally.

There are programs throughout the country that focus on deafness combined with developmental delays, but most are specific to a certain diagnosis. Let me do some investigation and see if I can come up with anything.
 
KristinaB said:
I took a class through our local Deaf Service Center and personally it was a waste of time. The instructor was hearing, I was the only deaf person and there was 1 HOH person. All the rest were hearing and were teachers in the public school system. When I called our local State college campus about an ASL class they have, they mention that it is not for the deaf or HOH. None of the courses here locally are for the deaf/hoh.
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Wrongo! Your deafness should not keep you out of an ASL class at a state college. Have they not heard of the ADA there?
 
KristinaB said:
I will check into that. Also, I was hoping for some kind of help with the price, but there is nothing that can be done. Seems no financial aid package is permitted.
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What do you mean not permitted? What about VR help? Pell Grant?
 
Reba said:
What do you mean not permitted? What about VR help? Pell Grant?
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VR I don't want to check into since I do not want to find a job, and I thought that's what they did. Maybe I am wrong and don't know. Also, I don't know much about Pell Grants or things like that. I am clueless about any of it.
 
KristinaB said:
VR I don't want to check into since I do not want to find a job, and I thought that's what they did. Maybe I am wrong and don't know. Also, I don't know much about Pell Grants or things like that. I am clueless about any of it.
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Did you check in with the college disabilities office? They can usually guide you thru the process. The financial aid office should also be presenting you with options.
 
Reba said:
Did you check in with the college disabilities office? They can usually guide you thru the process. The financial aid office should also be presenting you with options.
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Was told by the college that since I was not going for a degree, that financial aid was not an option. Did not check with the disabilities office. Will try next week.
 
Frankiesmom- Is the feeding issue documented in his IFSP? If it isn't, it needs to be. There should be clear instructions from his doctor about his feeding needs. If they do not abide by that, they are out of compliance and you would need to file a compliance complaint. I think you need to set up a meeting with the teacher and let her know your concerns, be firm but not contemptuous. I know your feeling frustrated, but it's always good to approach things in a pragmatic way, rather than in a negative light. Not that you were going to, but just a reminder that we want to try and keep things cordial with the service providers/teachers etc..

Has he been assessed for Occupational therapy? If not, he probably should be. An OT can help with his feeding issues.
 
I would also encourage you to keep him in school (so long as it is a healthy environment) because the social aspect is important too. Keep signing with him- even though he may not be signing back yet he is getting the receptive end which is crucial for language development.

Don't expect him to do the exact sign, it will be more of an approximation of the sign and you'll begin to recognize them in context of the situation.
 
It is documented, and i have had him seen by various specialists. That is why this is so confusing. I discussed this with her before, and she blew me off then too..but i was hoping she was having an off day. He has a therapist for feeding and occupational, physical, and speech.
As for doing anything remotely like signing..he cant even wave at me, or point. he really doesnt use his hands at all. I have to feed him still. which is why we are going to this really awesome therapy center. I really like them, and they are definitely experts with kids like him..so thats one good thing!
I think that since he is still on the waiting list for the little lighthouse *its a school for children with delays*, we are probably going to keep on with the therapy center, and the home based therapy, and we are going to take the sign language classes but we are going to hold off on the deaf school until he can overcome at least the eating issues. I would rather be safe than sorry and i just dont feel good about this at all. I did look into the deaf mentor thing and should hear back from someone on monday, however..yay!
 
frankiesmom said:
It is documented, and i have had him seen by various specialists. That is why this is so confusing. I discussed this with her before, and she blew me off then too..but i was hoping she was having an off day. He has a therapist for feeding and occupational, physical, and speech.
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I mean, are you documenting everything that the school staff does wrong. Are you keeping a journal of your conversations with them, their actions, your son's reactions, dates and times included, and putting down the names of any witnesses present? If push comes to shove, you will need to be specific about their actions and statements.
 
Reba is reiterating a very good point. Problems like this with the County Office (LEA serving your son) need to be clearly documented. Ideally via email to the teacher and the SpEd director, so that you give them an opportunity to correct the problem and respond. Once you have it documented through email you have more proof, if push comes to shove and you have to file a compliance complaint or Due Process.

Reba's idea about a journal or log with the date, and conversations or problems that took place is exactly what you need. That will be another source of proof or documentation if you need it.

Things need to be in writing, and if they aren't they don't exist. That's an important thing to keep in mind while you're navigating the SpEd system.
 
CSign said:
Reba is reiterating a very good point. Problems like this with the County Office (LEA serving your son) need to be clearly documented. Ideally via email to the teacher and the SpEd director, so that you give them an opportunity to correct the problem and respond. Once you have it documented through email you have more proof, if push comes to shove and you have to file a compliance complaint or Due Process.

Reba's idea about a journal or log with the date, and conversations or problems that took place is exactly what you need. That will be another source of proof or documentation if you need it.

Things need to be in writing, and if they aren't they don't exist. That's an important thing to keep in mind while you're navigating the SpEd system.
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This is a young child just beginning early intervention services. The processes are different for a child in that age range than for a child in K-12.

While all interactions need to be documented and copies of any and all meetings with the home school district need to be documented, the road to mediation is different.
 
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Is there a children's genetic clinic in your city? A genetic specialist will review all of the medical records and look at the whole picture. I've found that it is impossible to get a specialist to look at the whole picture. A specialist recommended that I take my kid to a genetic specialist at a children's hospital. A diagnosis would would help you get appropriate services.
 
sallylou said:
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Is there a children's genetic clinic in your city? A genetic specialist will review all of the medical records and look at the whole picture. I've found that it is impossible to get a specialist to look at the whole picture. A specialist recommended that I take my kid to a genetic specialist at a children's hospital. A diagnosis would would help you get appropriate services.
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This is so true. A good diagnosis is mandatory for getting appropriate services. And a specialist has, by nature of the specialty, a narrowed focus.
 
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Tell me about it! The neurologist narrowed his focus down to one cranial nerve. He wouldn't even consider caniofacial issues. Not his department. So frustrating!
 
sallylou said:
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Tell me about it! The neurologist narrowed his focus down to one cranial nerve. He wouldn't even consider caniofacial issues. Not his department. So frustrating!
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Right. Probably wanted to refer you to an oral maxilofacial surgeon for anything to do with craniofacial.:roll:
 
sallylou said:
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Is there a children's genetic clinic in your city? A genetic specialist will review all of the medical records and look at the whole picture. I've found that it is impossible to get a specialist to look at the whole picture. A specialist recommended that I take my kid to a genetic specialist at a children's hospital. A diagnosis would would help you get appropriate services.
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that is what we are doing in a few weeks..as for early intervention, i am finding them to be really not much use at all. i am starting to think that they are for parents who arent able to find resources on their own, or who might have trouble understanding different medical terminology, perhaps. and that is great! i really really like the ladies coming out, but for the most part its them telling me how im the exception, and that our house is "so nice", even though its horribly average, and how they were "surprised". which was nice, but kind of odd. i am guessing that they equate lower income people with being completely inept or stupid.
i think we are going to go ahead and hold out for the mentally delayed children school, and in the meantime, we will still take sign language lessons, and still expose him to them and try to get the whole deaf mentor thing going.
 
frankiesmom said:
that is what we are doing in a few weeks..as for early intervention, i am finding them to be really not much use at all. i am starting to think that they are for parents who arent able to find resources on their own, or who might have trouble understanding different medical terminology, perhaps. and that is great! i really really like the ladies coming out, but for the most part its them telling me how im the exception, and that our house is "so nice", even though its horribly average, and how they were "surprised". which was nice, but kind of odd. i am guessing that they equate lower income people with being completely inept or stupid.
i think we are going to go ahead and hold out for the mentally delayed children school, and in the meantime, we will still take sign language lessons, and still expose him to them and try to get the whole deaf mentor thing going.
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That sounds like an excellent plan to me. I do hope that the Deaf mentor works out. I think a mentor would be so much more useful and valuable to you than this EI worker. And you always have the Deaf to rely on here. Anything you don't want to post in a public forum can be sent via PM. There are many of us here that are very much dedicated to improving the future of deaf children.
 
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