My first time mainstreamed was in HS. I learned sign language but the deaf kids shunned me at first because I didn't sign. back then.
Over the years, deaf friends and I talked about why the deaf schools wants more deaf students but the deaf students already there treated new students like shit.
Where did our OP go?
So I'm profoundly deaf. I have a CI in my left ear and a hearing aid in my right ear. I only use my CI for band and theater. I'm going into my sophomore year now and I'm starting to think about switching to KSSD (Kansas State School for the Deaf). I probably would've switched this year, but I was chosen to be 1 out of the 3 drum majors for marching band this season.
As much as I like my own school, I kind of want a change. All of my friends are hearing and only 3 bothered to learn ASL for me. I feel like it would be nice to go to a school where we have our own language. My interpreter shows up late half the the time so I have to strain my eyes to try to understand what is going on, and my note taker doesn't take very good notes. I almost failed ELA last year and I really don't want a repeat of that. I feel like none of this would happen at KSSD. Any thoughts? I'd be grateful to get some opinions from others in the d/Deaf community than those who are hearing.
I have a high frequency deafness. Fitting in is a horrible problem. Teachers had attitudes. I told them I could not hear high frequency sounds. I was considered dumb -- yet I scored way above average in math when I tested. I never had the chance to learn ASL or make friends in the deaf community, it was a constant struggle and I did a lot of acting to fit in when I could not hear. Go to the KSSD.
Well just to clarify, virtually ALL schools for the Deaf offer a very hefty dose of literacy and HOH style interventions. Besides, the OP seems to have a good handle on English already. She will continue to progress with her English.I would agree. Go to school for the deaf. Make sure that you can learn fluency in English in addition to ASL .
My whole family is hearing. I grew up oral until I was 12. Then I learned ASLWell just to clarify, virtually ALL schools for the Deaf offer a very hefty dose of literacy and HOH style interventions. Besides, the OP seems to have a good handle on English already. She will continue to progress with her English.
Oh that's awesome!! Too bad you didn't get to learn ASL earlier, but at least you got to learn it while still a kid! But yeah, you got to learn it, at around the time even kids who function as HOH start to struggle socially, emotionally and even a lot of times academicly! I know Scott told me that there are all kinds of kids at KSSD. (ie TC, Sign users, new to ASL, kids who only sign, HOH etc) You will have a blast!My whole family is hearing. I grew up oral until I was 12. Then I learned ASL
I took all mainstream classes from the very beginning. It was tough, I was ridiculed constantly, and had a hard time making friends. I was offered very little, and had to use the FM system, but it didn't work very well. So I just became an autodidact early on...
And the thing that is sad about that is that I'm about 20 years older than you, and that was sort of the norm back then, I cannot believe you still had to go through that in today's times.
I can't wait! The only other Deafie I know personally is my older sister. She was 7 when I was born, but we were separated when I was adopted. I get to see her tomorrowOh that's awesome!! Too bad you didn't get to learn ASL earlier, but at least you got to learn it while still a kid! But yeah, you got to learn it, at around the time even kids who function as HOH start to struggle socially, emotionally and even a lot of times academicly! I know Scott told me that there are all kinds of kids at KSSD. (ie TC, Sign users, new to ASL, kids who only sign, HOH etc) You will have a blast!
Wow that is good to hear..Thank you guys! I've decided to go to KSSD my junior and senior year.
It is. The problem is, is that our lawmakers when they talk about how to educate special ed kids, they picture kids in wheelchairs. They don't really picture kids who require specialized instruction. (ie dhh, blind/low vision, and ID) Also they want to save money. They like the money that the kids with disabilties bring, but they hate spending money (on terps, Braille instruction etc) Personally I think that they need to bring back the specialized programs/magnet schools for dhh and other low incidence kids. That way the kids will get the specialized supports they need, (even if they are very strongly academic) and can get the challenge of a mainstream classroom. It really is the fact that they've been pushing Inclusion as the Ultimate Answer on how to educate kids with disabilties. It's really sad. Although wheelchair and physically disabled kids aren't automaticly placed in a special classroom or school simply b/c they use a chair, a lot of dhh and blind low vision and many other kids are falling through the cracks in a one size fits all approach.And the thing that is sad about that is that I'm about 20 years older than you, and that was sort of the norm back then, I cannot believe you still had to go through that in today's times.
Well just to clarify, virtually ALL schools for the Deaf offer a very hefty dose of literacy and HOH style interventions. Besides, the OP seems to have a good handle on English already. She will continue to progress with her English.
Well just to clarify, virtually ALL schools for the Deaf offer a very hefty dose of literacy and HOH style interventions. Besides, the OP seems to have a good handle on English already. She will continue to progress with her English.
I know the Deaf school where I live does not focus on English. The main focus is ASL. Most need to take additional classes after high school in academic math and reading.