Son has evaluation at local school this week... need advice

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Sweetiepea77

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Hello... I've shared our story here before, but we adopted our son this year (home 2 months, but had to live in-country with him for 4 months... so we've had custody for 6 months) and he is 4 years old with no language. We have been encouraged by several people to enroll him in the deaf school that is 2.5 hrs away from where we live, for immersing him in ASL to learn it faster. We have his evaluation at the local school on Thursday to explore what we can do locally, and I'd love some advice on questions to ask and what demands we can make to best advocate for our son. I've heard it will be a fight to get him what he needs.

We used the Signing Time dvds the past 6 months with him and he is good at signing at meal time, but doesn't have the attention span to really watch the dvds and learn. We have learned several signs as a family, but are not fluent... but working towards it. His hearing loss is both sensorineural and conductive. He does not have any type of hearing aid. He was not born deaf, but was severely neglected and had a terrible disease that destroyed his inner ear. During his hearing test, the audiologist reached 90 decibels before he made any reaction. Not sure if any of this information is helpful in this topic, we just want what is best for our son, and would like to keep him at home for now if at all possible. Thank you for your help!
 
I don't even know where you live, but your area education agency should send someone to your home to work with your whole family on signing.
 
We live in North Alabama. We have not been offered that service, for sure. I have been in touch with the Regional office of the AIDB and they offered a class that starts in January, but kids are not allowed.
 
I don't know if you have already found resources in your area, but will take a chance and reply. First, yeah dvds are hard to learn language for any 4 year old, smiles. Sounds like you have made some good first contacts though.

AIDB is an excellent resource and they do have sign classes, as you've stated for not children. They do have an early intervention program that you should inquire about.

Children's Rehab Services also has a ton of services (associated with Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services). There are main offices in Huntsville and Decatur. I work with adults, but if you can't find a contact, let me know.

Another thing that you really should consider, if you haven't, is exposing your son to adult users of the language. Not only are deaf adults great language models, but can help your son with role models for life (as in, see what deaf people can do!). Both AIDB and Rehab can help you stay connected with activities such as ASL/signing dinners or lunches, movies that are accessible, get togethers, etc.

If you contact me at work and let me know what city you are in, I'll be glad to give you some names and contact information for people in that area.

charlene.crump@mh.alabama.gov
 
i not american or can i help you but with out sounding patronizing what wonderful parents and chance you given this little boy so what ever you do it it will be the best.
 
Thank you for those resources, dogmom!

Thank you Charlene. The regional AIDB said we do not qualify for early intervention because he is 4. I do have a contact with CRS and they are working with our ENT office. A friend of mine is an interpreter and has invited me to a signing dinner... so we will explore that in the future. She does not know of any signing children, however, which is disappointing. Thank you for your help!

Thank you for your kind words, caz!
 
Any chance of moving? It doesn't sound like there are a lot of good resources......and he's FAR too young for the dorms.
 
We have talked about it... but we have 6 kids (two of which are very established in school with good friends, etc.) and my husband has a really good job here that is very specialized, plus all of our friends that help us make everything work with a large family.

I am fortunate to have a few friends involved with the deaf community that are already inviting us to events... but they have said there are not ever any deaf kids there. We will go for the community and language models... but I do wish there were other kids. That is one positive of us having many kids and teaching everyone ASL... he will have friends/siblings that speak his language. Our community of friends are also signing up for the ASL classes and learning too.

We did have our evaluation and they said they did not have to provide an interpreter, so this will be fun. :-/ We are touring ASD next week, so I'm hopeful they will be of some help, even if we aren't going that route right now.

In good news, he is really starting to pick up some additional signs and I think its starting to click that this is language.
 
Sweetiepea77 said:
We have talked about it... but we have 6 kids (two of which are very established in school with good friends, etc.) and my husband has a really good job here that is very specialized, plus all of our friends that help us make everything work with a large family.

I am fortunate to have a few friends involved with the deaf community that are already inviting us to events... but they have said there are not ever any deaf kids there. We will go for the community and language models... but I do wish there were other kids. That is one positive of us having many kids and teaching everyone ASL... he will have friends/siblings that speak his language. Our community of friends are also signing up for the ASL classes and learning too.

We did have our evaluation and they said they did not have to provide an interpreter, so this will be fun. :-/ We are touring ASD next week, so I'm hopeful they will be of some help, even if we aren't going that route right now.

In good news, he is really starting to pick up some additional signs and I think its starting to click that this is language.
Click to expand...

Are there regional dhh programs in Alabama or is it an "either or?" state (either inclusion or deaf school and no other choices?) He DOES need exposure to like peers! You don't want him growing up thinking that he's the only deaf kid in the world...... Sucks that there are not other peers.....It's good you're hooked up with ASD....and it MIGHT be a good placement later on....I just heard from the mom of a 7 year old HOH boy who spent a year at Montana School for the Deaf and Blind in the dorms (for ASL immersian) He could also attend camp at ASD too........
 
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