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Man, I feel for you.  I was identified early on, and got a lot of the support I needed.  But here's an interesting thought.  When you're Deaf and a kid in a regular mainstreamed program (usually this effect is very pronounced with hearing teachers, Deaf teachers know better), people give you all this attention because to them, you're a "special kid" -- it sets up expectations in the child.  We get away with things other students would or we get praised for little things, like tying our shoes right as middle school students.  Behavior patterns get established.


Then you grow up into an adult and run face-first into the brick wall known as the real world.  No transition period.


It's a variation of the classic case of the brilliant kid who gets A's easily because he's (or she's) naturally smart.  Everything comes easy, then he goes to college and something normal happens, like his girlfriend breaks up with him.  He doesn't have the coping skills to deal with these things because everything was so easy up to that point.  Next thing you know, he's pushing carts at the supermarket.


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