This is getting a bit off topic, so forgive me, but I think that this is important as well. In my son's school, there are 3 other children with various degrees of hearing loss - one of these children is implanted as well. My son was the first deaf child in the school district in many many years and the first one in his building. His self esteem about who he is and what he is is very intact and I couldn't be any more prouder of him. That being said, there is a student in his classroom who has a hearing loss. Like my child, this student is a multiple. I have had little interaction with the family, but what I do know is that hearing aids are not reinforced at all. From what I can assume and gather, their child's deafness (hearing loss) has never been addressed and this child has been a NIGHTMARE in the classrooms. This is the first year my child and this other child were paired up (not by classification, but by happenstance). Mom told the teacher if she did not want to wear the hearing aids, not a big deal-it wasn't reinforced at home- she'll get by. Mom has never advocated for TOD services nor made sure that the teacher was trained on how to work with her child. Now I come into the classroom like gang busters and make sure that EVERYTHING is in place for my child, right down to seaing assignments. I stuck my 2 cents in about the other child and demanded things that weren't even requested- but since I have a great relationship with the school district, they complied. This child was embarassed of who she was and probably feels as if she doesn't exactly fit in. (Hence, the nightmare child in the classroom). I know this because it has been commented to me that my child has helped this girl to accept who she is. Back to school night, I was told for the very first time, she actually drew a picture of herself wearing her hearing aids!! ( My son always has his CI's drawn in- it's who he is).. Tears actually came down my face because up until this moment, she never really saw herself for who she is and really has started embracing her identity. I know in my heart that this wouldn't have happened if she had never met my child. I hope one day she has to courage to ask Mom and Dad why??? but that whole scenario breaks my heart. Yes, there are some paretns who refuse to acknowledge their child's deafness and the end result is a child who acts out in sheer frustration. It's not her fault. It's these cases that make me angry and understand all the rage and bitterness. Thank goodness, I see far and few cases of this and the majority of children that I know that are implanted- this is not the case.
Just wanted to share.
