Do you know how when you are thinking of buying a new car or just bought a new car how you start seeing that car everywhere? I'm wondering if this same phenomenon is happening to me with Deaf in the media or if it just really prevalent this year. So far this year I have seen the following:
1) Superbowl Commerical in ASL
2) Disney Commericial in ASL
3) Marlee Matlin Is On Dancing With The Stars
4) Medium on NBC portrays a Deaf child who is kidnapped & Alison looses her hearing
5) Extreme Home Makeover had a deaf-blind man in the Hughes Family episode.
6) Deaf Child's Invention in Dallas Morning News
7) The L Word
8) Nip/Tuck
I don't know if this is something new. I'm sure that there's more that I didn't see or hear about. It just seems like everytime I turn around lately, there's something in the news or on television. I think it is great as long as the character is portrayed acurately. I have noticed other Deaf people on television in the past, but now it just seems like there is more.
Friday, February 22
Wednesday, February 20
What A Day! Thank You For Your Prayers!
What A Day!!! What A Day!!! What A Day!!!
Rebecca's teacher is amazing! Her school has blown me away on more than one occassion, but I can not thank her enough for this one. Her teacher emailed me for some family photos and I sent her some. The class was going to talk about families (is that timing or what??). I sent photos of Jasmine and Rebecca and then a picture of all of us together. Her teacher emailed me to let me know about the day. One of the emails from her teacher said, "She smiled as she said "No more move". We talked to Rebecca tonight after church (the last amazing story) and she definately does not want to move and wants to stay here forever!! Can you see my smile from there? Thank you so much for your prayers! Now my girls will be together forever! Now can you see my tears of joy? Our next struggle is that Rebecca thinks this is going to happen tomorrow, but we will work through that one too.
Next amazing story!! We have been looking for a therapist for Rebecca since summer (since we knew that she would be coming to live here). Behaviorally Rebecca is awesome most of the time, I mean she is 10. Socially & emotionally she needs some assistance. She also will just need help with the family concepts and it is nice to have someone to talk to that is not in your family. Our struggle with the therapists have been distance, do not accept Medicaid or does not sign. Rebecca really needs a therapist that signs. Having an interpreter is great, but is very hard for her. Because she does not have perpherial vision it is hard for her to see the person talking and the interpreter - she moves her head between them but I have noticed that she does not get much of these conversations. So, the optimal thing would be to have a therapist that signs. We are not against driving Rebecca to therapy at all - we have driven many miles before to therapy with her sister but since Rebecca has to get up at 5am, there is only so far that we can go and it still be good for Rebecca. Today, I got a referral of a therapist (like the 100th time this has happened because we have everyone looking) and I left a message for him. He called me back - I ask, do you sign? YES....little fireworks inside me start to spark. I asked, "Where are you located" THE NEXT TOWN OVER FROM US & WORKS WITHIN SPITTIN' DISTANCE FROM REBECCA'S SCHOOL ALSO!! (The fireworks start to take over and are going off...this guy probably thinks I need therapy because I'm so excited) We talk about Rebecca a little bit and her needs. He has an opening and wants to evaluate her on Monday! (WIPEE!!) Just one more thing...payment..."What insurance do you have", he asks. I say since she is a foster child still, she is on Medicaid. "GREAT, he says - that is no problem". I can't control myself any longer. He is an answered prayer! Incredible - we have a therapist!! I start to dance a little bit and I find myself humming later in the afternoon! I can't believe it - a therapist that signs, is close & accepts Medicaid!!
Believe it or not there is still more to this unbelievable day!! Every since Christmas Rebecca has been asking a lot about Jesus. We get out the 5 Bibles in our house - all that say scripture differently. We have an old set of Children's Bibles that I grew up with, a childs Bible that would be for like a 4 or 5 year old, a picture Bible and then a 8-12 year old Bible and then we have another Bible that is not a complete Bible but breaks down the main stories in the Bible. I also get out her Word Book & the picture dictionary. When I start telling a Bible story, I review each one and find the story - if it doesn't have the story, good one less book. I try to find the stories that are in each one so that she will get different pictures and different views of the same story so that it will stick. I look over each one and decide which parts from which books do I think will be the best. I then learn all the signs and we start. This takes a bit of preperation, but is worth it. I tell the story and ask questions to make sure that she understands. Anyway, this has led to her asking even more questions about Baptism - we are Baptist in case you are wondering. Our church has a class that the kids can take to specifically make sure that they understand what it means to be a Christian & what Baptism is. My friend and one of Rebecca's interpreters offered to go to the class with her and interpret for her. I was worried that Rebecca did not fully understand, but my friend says that she definately understands and she was impressed by Rebecca's answers. I could not be a more proud mamma!! I will be calling to schedule Rebecca's Baptism soon.
Our God is so good!! Thank you to everyone for your prayers! What A Day!
Rebecca's teacher is amazing! Her school has blown me away on more than one occassion, but I can not thank her enough for this one. Her teacher emailed me for some family photos and I sent her some. The class was going to talk about families (is that timing or what??). I sent photos of Jasmine and Rebecca and then a picture of all of us together. Her teacher emailed me to let me know about the day. One of the emails from her teacher said, "She smiled as she said "No more move". We talked to Rebecca tonight after church (the last amazing story) and she definately does not want to move and wants to stay here forever!! Can you see my smile from there? Thank you so much for your prayers! Now my girls will be together forever! Now can you see my tears of joy? Our next struggle is that Rebecca thinks this is going to happen tomorrow, but we will work through that one too.
Next amazing story!! We have been looking for a therapist for Rebecca since summer (since we knew that she would be coming to live here). Behaviorally Rebecca is awesome most of the time, I mean she is 10. Socially & emotionally she needs some assistance. She also will just need help with the family concepts and it is nice to have someone to talk to that is not in your family. Our struggle with the therapists have been distance, do not accept Medicaid or does not sign. Rebecca really needs a therapist that signs. Having an interpreter is great, but is very hard for her. Because she does not have perpherial vision it is hard for her to see the person talking and the interpreter - she moves her head between them but I have noticed that she does not get much of these conversations. So, the optimal thing would be to have a therapist that signs. We are not against driving Rebecca to therapy at all - we have driven many miles before to therapy with her sister but since Rebecca has to get up at 5am, there is only so far that we can go and it still be good for Rebecca. Today, I got a referral of a therapist (like the 100th time this has happened because we have everyone looking) and I left a message for him. He called me back - I ask, do you sign? YES....little fireworks inside me start to spark. I asked, "Where are you located" THE NEXT TOWN OVER FROM US & WORKS WITHIN SPITTIN' DISTANCE FROM REBECCA'S SCHOOL ALSO!! (The fireworks start to take over and are going off...this guy probably thinks I need therapy because I'm so excited) We talk about Rebecca a little bit and her needs. He has an opening and wants to evaluate her on Monday! (WIPEE!!) Just one more thing...payment..."What insurance do you have", he asks. I say since she is a foster child still, she is on Medicaid. "GREAT, he says - that is no problem". I can't control myself any longer. He is an answered prayer! Incredible - we have a therapist!! I start to dance a little bit and I find myself humming later in the afternoon! I can't believe it - a therapist that signs, is close & accepts Medicaid!!
Believe it or not there is still more to this unbelievable day!! Every since Christmas Rebecca has been asking a lot about Jesus. We get out the 5 Bibles in our house - all that say scripture differently. We have an old set of Children's Bibles that I grew up with, a childs Bible that would be for like a 4 or 5 year old, a picture Bible and then a 8-12 year old Bible and then we have another Bible that is not a complete Bible but breaks down the main stories in the Bible. I also get out her Word Book & the picture dictionary. When I start telling a Bible story, I review each one and find the story - if it doesn't have the story, good one less book. I try to find the stories that are in each one so that she will get different pictures and different views of the same story so that it will stick. I look over each one and decide which parts from which books do I think will be the best. I then learn all the signs and we start. This takes a bit of preperation, but is worth it. I tell the story and ask questions to make sure that she understands. Anyway, this has led to her asking even more questions about Baptism - we are Baptist in case you are wondering. Our church has a class that the kids can take to specifically make sure that they understand what it means to be a Christian & what Baptism is. My friend and one of Rebecca's interpreters offered to go to the class with her and interpret for her. I was worried that Rebecca did not fully understand, but my friend says that she definately understands and she was impressed by Rebecca's answers. I could not be a more proud mamma!! I will be calling to schedule Rebecca's Baptism soon.
Our God is so good!! Thank you to everyone for your prayers! What A Day!
Sunday, February 17
Adoption Struggles
One of the rules of the placement agency that Rebecca is with is that she understands what is happening to her & agrees to the adoption. I agree with this philosphy whole heartedly, adoption is a beautiful thing & I would want Rebecca or any child to be able to fully appreciate it. We have been working with Rebecca for four months trying to explain adoption. Concepts are difficult for her as they are for many other children. Imagine if you could only remember going from family to family, would you think that anything else was normal? She thinks that all children are moved that way and that families are just temporary & then you change. So, this has been a very hard thing to convince her otherwise.
ADOPTION had never been explained to her. This bothers me very much! Someone along the way should have taken the time to explain to her that she is waiting for a home where she can live forever. She knew all of those words except for forever when she came here & it could have been explained to her a different way - we used 100 years at first.
For the last 4 months we have taken every opportunity to try to explain this to her. In Texas, the child has to be in your home for 6 months before you can legally adopt & according to our agency she has to understand what is happening. So, that was our timeline - we need to have her understand adoption & have her adopted in 6 months. If it takes longer than 6 months, fine but we would like it done as quickly as possible. Her sister took 1 year to level out and get through the legalities of having her moved into the adoption unit. When Jasmine was moved to the adoption unit, each of her siblings were also moved - so Rebecca is ready to be adopted!
Rebecca wants to change her name & we have told her that is something that can be done when she is adopted. This has started up many of our adoption conversations with her and gives us a chance to talk to her more about adoption. Most of the time the conversations end in frustration because she just does not understand or because it gets derailed into another topic.
Well, she brought up the name change again & we started talking about adoption again. This time though, she said, "I do not want adopted - I like change families". Okay, so she understands that if she is adopted she will not change families - Success right???? She says that she likes our family and is happy that she is with her sister. She thinks that her sister is going to move with her in a year or 2 years. We have told her that her sister is not going to move with her because her sister is adopted, so she stays here. She said no & started naming the next family that she would like to go to.
I understand how this could happen looking back from her point of view, but URGGGG!!!! Why didn't someone explain to her that those families are temporary & that adoption is a good thing. That is our next step with her, we are going to point out all the adopted children we know and celebrate their adoption so that hopefully she will put together that adoption is a great thing & something to be happy about.
I have talked to our casemanager & perminent foster care is a solution if she really just does not want to be adopted. I just feel like she deserves more than that - she deserves to be adopted. I know it's just a piece of paper, but I have seen what that piece of paper can do to a childs security & to us as a family. We had one month that we did not have paperwork to do or caseworkers, CPS & therapist going through our home. It was really nice & I would really like to have that again. But if temporary foster care is really what Rebecca needs until she is ready to face adoption, I'm there. We are willing to do whatever we need to do to keep these girls together. She should be with her biological sibling-they will need each other in a few years.
I'm only writing about this because I feel like the people who read this really care about Rebecca. Please pray for her to understand what a gift adoption is & for her to accept it. Help her to understand that moving from home to home to home is no way to live. We are sending Rebecca this summer to a foster/adoptive camp for kids & I hope that will also help her see other kids who have been adopted and how proud they are. Her sister tells the cashier at the store that she is adopted - she is super proud that she is adopted. It just has not spilled over onto her sister yet.
We have tried several things with Rebecca to help her understand : Adoption Stories on TLC, books, workbook pages, her sisters story, websites, magazine pictures, etc. If you have suggestions, please share - I want to give Rebecca the forever adoptive home that she deserves.
ADOPTION had never been explained to her. This bothers me very much! Someone along the way should have taken the time to explain to her that she is waiting for a home where she can live forever. She knew all of those words except for forever when she came here & it could have been explained to her a different way - we used 100 years at first.
For the last 4 months we have taken every opportunity to try to explain this to her. In Texas, the child has to be in your home for 6 months before you can legally adopt & according to our agency she has to understand what is happening. So, that was our timeline - we need to have her understand adoption & have her adopted in 6 months. If it takes longer than 6 months, fine but we would like it done as quickly as possible. Her sister took 1 year to level out and get through the legalities of having her moved into the adoption unit. When Jasmine was moved to the adoption unit, each of her siblings were also moved - so Rebecca is ready to be adopted!
Rebecca wants to change her name & we have told her that is something that can be done when she is adopted. This has started up many of our adoption conversations with her and gives us a chance to talk to her more about adoption. Most of the time the conversations end in frustration because she just does not understand or because it gets derailed into another topic.
Well, she brought up the name change again & we started talking about adoption again. This time though, she said, "I do not want adopted - I like change families". Okay, so she understands that if she is adopted she will not change families - Success right???? She says that she likes our family and is happy that she is with her sister. She thinks that her sister is going to move with her in a year or 2 years. We have told her that her sister is not going to move with her because her sister is adopted, so she stays here. She said no & started naming the next family that she would like to go to.
I understand how this could happen looking back from her point of view, but URGGGG!!!! Why didn't someone explain to her that those families are temporary & that adoption is a good thing. That is our next step with her, we are going to point out all the adopted children we know and celebrate their adoption so that hopefully she will put together that adoption is a great thing & something to be happy about.
I have talked to our casemanager & perminent foster care is a solution if she really just does not want to be adopted. I just feel like she deserves more than that - she deserves to be adopted. I know it's just a piece of paper, but I have seen what that piece of paper can do to a childs security & to us as a family. We had one month that we did not have paperwork to do or caseworkers, CPS & therapist going through our home. It was really nice & I would really like to have that again. But if temporary foster care is really what Rebecca needs until she is ready to face adoption, I'm there. We are willing to do whatever we need to do to keep these girls together. She should be with her biological sibling-they will need each other in a few years.
I'm only writing about this because I feel like the people who read this really care about Rebecca. Please pray for her to understand what a gift adoption is & for her to accept it. Help her to understand that moving from home to home to home is no way to live. We are sending Rebecca this summer to a foster/adoptive camp for kids & I hope that will also help her see other kids who have been adopted and how proud they are. Her sister tells the cashier at the store that she is adopted - she is super proud that she is adopted. It just has not spilled over onto her sister yet.
We have tried several things with Rebecca to help her understand : Adoption Stories on TLC, books, workbook pages, her sisters story, websites, magazine pictures, etc. If you have suggestions, please share - I want to give Rebecca the forever adoptive home that she deserves.
Saturday, February 16
Proud Of Our Possibilities
This week I got a good dose of the deaf/blind world...let me explain...
Tuesday, we went to sign classes. Wednesday we went to the audiologist, got Rebecca fitted for molds, tested again with her implant and tried to get the FM system to work with her CI for school. Friday we got the FM system working at her school (woo-hoo!) and I had a meeting with DARS to discuss vision services for Rebecca.
I had no idea what was available for the blind in Texas! Wow! I'm impressed! I also learned the Rebecca is legally blind right now & what that means. I thought that blind meant that you couldn't see - it's not! Rebecca is going to be evaluated and then will start white cane training. For right now we are telling Rebecca this will help her in the dark. She does not understand blind and we are afraid if she did understand it would scare her. So, we all agreed that the best way to tell her was "this is going to help you in the dark". Her light times will eventually become dark times and she will know how to get around in the dark. That is the goal.
We had this conversation with her to make sure that she understands and she is excited about getting the cane. We used a little horse on a stick to give her a visual cue as to what it is going to be & she now wants to walk around with the horse. So, I think she will be fine and take to the cane very well.
They did not think that teaching her braille right now was a good idea because she does not need it right now & she may not need it for a very long time. They said that even if she learned it right now she probably would not retain it & would have to learn it all over again later. Rebecca is learning so much right now that we also agreed that it would just end up being something else on her plate (and it's not critical right now).
The school is trying different colored laminates with her to see if that makes a difference with her, but so far it hasn't changed anything.
Texas has camps, sports leagues, career readiness type activities, ropes courses, family fun nights, mentoring, confidence building activities and O & M (obviously). They are also going to send someone to our home to evaluate how things could be arranged differently here to help Rebecca further. They will also work with my family on how to properly lead Rebecca when she does need it. They will help us with technology devices that we could have around also. I am so excited about all these opportunities for her!
We are still working on finding classes on tactile signing so that we can start using it some with Rebecca. So far, we've gotten nothing close to us for this but will keep looking & now I have DARS helping me look also.
They gave us this form that asks questions that were very telling of Rebecca's sight and really made me think about it.
Is she afraid of the dark or shadows? YES
Does she have difficulty seeing stars at night? NO
Do bright lights hurt her? YES
Does she have difficulty finding small objects that have been dropped? YES
Does she ignore/fail to see other standing/signing by her side? YES
Does she have a hard time seeing sign language in dim light? YES
Does she shuffle her feet? SOMETIMES
Does she bump into things? YES
Does she stumble on stairs or curbs or have problems on bumpy ground? YES
Does she walk with her feet wider apart than most children? YES, especially running
I had a bunch of other questions too, but I thought those were interesting and telling of where she is visually.
I went to the meeting on Friday very worried about the blindness part of Ushers and left feeling a lot better about it. There's a lot of services and ways to help Rebecca and I feel like we can tackle this as a team. I'm so glad that I went and I'm ready for the next step.
I am also proud of people within the deaf blind community that I have only seen through the internet. I'm proud of how they are working on getting things changed and the perceptions changed in the deaf community. I have seen peoples faces and them back off when I say that Rebecca has Ushers Syndrome. It's sad & it needs to change. Deafblind is not a death sentence & it can be worked with if you will just take the extra time. These people are extraordinary & I'm proud that Rebecca will be in this community. I'm hoping that by then Deaf and Deafblind will be considered one community and are not seperated and she will not be segragated by the Deaf community. Most deafblind people are Deaf first culturally & that is why it is not called blinddeaf, but deafblind! Please make small changes to accomodate so that you can get to know these beautiful people - they have a lot to say, please let them speak their minds and have the open mind to listen.
Tuesday, we went to sign classes. Wednesday we went to the audiologist, got Rebecca fitted for molds, tested again with her implant and tried to get the FM system to work with her CI for school. Friday we got the FM system working at her school (woo-hoo!) and I had a meeting with DARS to discuss vision services for Rebecca.
I had no idea what was available for the blind in Texas! Wow! I'm impressed! I also learned the Rebecca is legally blind right now & what that means. I thought that blind meant that you couldn't see - it's not! Rebecca is going to be evaluated and then will start white cane training. For right now we are telling Rebecca this will help her in the dark. She does not understand blind and we are afraid if she did understand it would scare her. So, we all agreed that the best way to tell her was "this is going to help you in the dark". Her light times will eventually become dark times and she will know how to get around in the dark. That is the goal.
We had this conversation with her to make sure that she understands and she is excited about getting the cane. We used a little horse on a stick to give her a visual cue as to what it is going to be & she now wants to walk around with the horse. So, I think she will be fine and take to the cane very well.
They did not think that teaching her braille right now was a good idea because she does not need it right now & she may not need it for a very long time. They said that even if she learned it right now she probably would not retain it & would have to learn it all over again later. Rebecca is learning so much right now that we also agreed that it would just end up being something else on her plate (and it's not critical right now).
The school is trying different colored laminates with her to see if that makes a difference with her, but so far it hasn't changed anything.
Texas has camps, sports leagues, career readiness type activities, ropes courses, family fun nights, mentoring, confidence building activities and O & M (obviously). They are also going to send someone to our home to evaluate how things could be arranged differently here to help Rebecca further. They will also work with my family on how to properly lead Rebecca when she does need it. They will help us with technology devices that we could have around also. I am so excited about all these opportunities for her!
We are still working on finding classes on tactile signing so that we can start using it some with Rebecca. So far, we've gotten nothing close to us for this but will keep looking & now I have DARS helping me look also.
They gave us this form that asks questions that were very telling of Rebecca's sight and really made me think about it.
Is she afraid of the dark or shadows? YES
Does she have difficulty seeing stars at night? NO
Do bright lights hurt her? YES
Does she have difficulty finding small objects that have been dropped? YES
Does she ignore/fail to see other standing/signing by her side? YES
Does she have a hard time seeing sign language in dim light? YES
Does she shuffle her feet? SOMETIMES
Does she bump into things? YES
Does she stumble on stairs or curbs or have problems on bumpy ground? YES
Does she walk with her feet wider apart than most children? YES, especially running
I had a bunch of other questions too, but I thought those were interesting and telling of where she is visually.
I went to the meeting on Friday very worried about the blindness part of Ushers and left feeling a lot better about it. There's a lot of services and ways to help Rebecca and I feel like we can tackle this as a team. I'm so glad that I went and I'm ready for the next step.
I am also proud of people within the deaf blind community that I have only seen through the internet. I'm proud of how they are working on getting things changed and the perceptions changed in the deaf community. I have seen peoples faces and them back off when I say that Rebecca has Ushers Syndrome. It's sad & it needs to change. Deafblind is not a death sentence & it can be worked with if you will just take the extra time. These people are extraordinary & I'm proud that Rebecca will be in this community. I'm hoping that by then Deaf and Deafblind will be considered one community and are not seperated and she will not be segragated by the Deaf community. Most deafblind people are Deaf first culturally & that is why it is not called blinddeaf, but deafblind! Please make small changes to accomodate so that you can get to know these beautiful people - they have a lot to say, please let them speak their minds and have the open mind to listen.
Thursday, February 14
My Love/Hate Relationship
As you have probably figured out, I have a love-hate relationship with the CI. I love that she can hear me when she is running out in front of something & I need her to stop. I love it that she can hear her cute little Valentine's teddy bear. I love that she can hear my voice when I say I love you. I can think of several occasions like those that I'm grateful for.
Then there's the other side where I feel like I'm taking away from her culture & that I'm deceiving her Deafness. We do sign and we are around Deaf people with and without CIs as much as possible. We have pens, shirts, posters & all sorts of Deaf pride items around our home. I feel like I am embracing the Deaf culture, but I still struggle with the CI. I know that Rebecca will lose her sight and I feel like being verbal and hearing would help her once she loses her sight. I know that there's tactile signing (which we will hopefully start learing soon : still looking for someone to teach us -hoping to have an update on this tomorrow) which we will definately teach Rebecca. I also don't particularly enjoy the audiologist visits and all the molds, batteries, dry packs, FM system, etc. that come along with the CI.
Part of me thinks of the CI as another tool like white cane training, braille or other tools that will will assist her with Ushers. I want to give her as many tools as I possibly can. I have a fear in the back of my head that Rebecca will grow up and say, "Why didn't you...". I guess that's a common fear of any parent, but I feel like it is amplified with her. I especially get this fear around other children with CIs that are further advanced than Rebecca. I think how much more can I be doing? Right now I do not have her in Audio Visual Therapy, but she has done this in the past. I know that this is something that we could add, but we are focusing more on giving her language than verbal skills.
I've heard people on the internet with CIs describing themselves as on the fence, not really in the Deaf world, but not in the hearing world either. I feel like that as a parent - Do I push for more verbal & hearing or more signs??? I don't like this feeling & I wish that it had been me who had chose or not chose for Rebecca to have a CI. I don't want to say that I've been forced on the CI, but I have chosen to accept a child with a CI. My plan is to let Rebecca find her own path, we are giving her tools to help her with whatever path she chooses. We are not going overally verbal, but do ask that she speaks as she signs. We do listening exercises periodically. We learn signs all the time and use total communication in our home. We will send her to an ASL camp this summer as well as a listening camp. She will also go to a camp for foster/adoptive children which will have in interpreter. There will also be VBS, Cheerleading camp, etc which will not have an interpreter for her.
I don't truly feel that either way is perfectly right & I don't know if I have that right to say what is right or what is wrong for her. She is going to have to make that decision for herself as she gets older. All that I am trying to do is give her as many opportunities as I can, so that whatever she decides she will feel comfortable with that decision.
Then there's the other side where I feel like I'm taking away from her culture & that I'm deceiving her Deafness. We do sign and we are around Deaf people with and without CIs as much as possible. We have pens, shirts, posters & all sorts of Deaf pride items around our home. I feel like I am embracing the Deaf culture, but I still struggle with the CI. I know that Rebecca will lose her sight and I feel like being verbal and hearing would help her once she loses her sight. I know that there's tactile signing (which we will hopefully start learing soon : still looking for someone to teach us -hoping to have an update on this tomorrow) which we will definately teach Rebecca. I also don't particularly enjoy the audiologist visits and all the molds, batteries, dry packs, FM system, etc. that come along with the CI.
Part of me thinks of the CI as another tool like white cane training, braille or other tools that will will assist her with Ushers. I want to give her as many tools as I possibly can. I have a fear in the back of my head that Rebecca will grow up and say, "Why didn't you...". I guess that's a common fear of any parent, but I feel like it is amplified with her. I especially get this fear around other children with CIs that are further advanced than Rebecca. I think how much more can I be doing? Right now I do not have her in Audio Visual Therapy, but she has done this in the past. I know that this is something that we could add, but we are focusing more on giving her language than verbal skills.
I've heard people on the internet with CIs describing themselves as on the fence, not really in the Deaf world, but not in the hearing world either. I feel like that as a parent - Do I push for more verbal & hearing or more signs??? I don't like this feeling & I wish that it had been me who had chose or not chose for Rebecca to have a CI. I don't want to say that I've been forced on the CI, but I have chosen to accept a child with a CI. My plan is to let Rebecca find her own path, we are giving her tools to help her with whatever path she chooses. We are not going overally verbal, but do ask that she speaks as she signs. We do listening exercises periodically. We learn signs all the time and use total communication in our home. We will send her to an ASL camp this summer as well as a listening camp. She will also go to a camp for foster/adoptive children which will have in interpreter. There will also be VBS, Cheerleading camp, etc which will not have an interpreter for her.
I don't truly feel that either way is perfectly right & I don't know if I have that right to say what is right or what is wrong for her. She is going to have to make that decision for herself as she gets older. All that I am trying to do is give her as many opportunities as I can, so that whatever she decides she will feel comfortable with that decision.
Saturday, February 9
Make Some Noise!
The kids at Rebecca's school preformed this song & I think it is what all parents try to instill in their kids. Enjoy!
Wouldn't it be great if we all just make some noise and know that there is nothing wrong with just being ourselves, that is more than enough! Don''t ever let anyone tell you that you're not strong enough!
Wouldn't it be great if we all just make some noise and know that there is nothing wrong with just being ourselves, that is more than enough! Don''t ever let anyone tell you that you're not strong enough!
Wednesday, February 6
Moving Onto The Vision Stage...
The scaryiest part of Ushers for me is the blindness. I have never been around blind people, so maybe that is part of why it is scary. - it is an unknown world I have a meeting with the state to discuss what services they could offer Rebecca. I'm hoping it will make me feel more comfortable as well.
Her VI and the state are talking about getting her white cane training. I'm excited that she will be able to receive these services early in her life. I think it will really help her. We will also talk about when to introduce braille. I'm not sure if she is ready for braille right now, but I'll listen to what they have to say. They are also trying to find a place for my family to take tactile signing training. I have not been able to find anywhere close for us to learn tactile and I'm really looking forward to them helping us with this.
We have started our second semester of sign language classes and yesterday I increased my vocabulary another 36 words!! WOO HOO!!
The state also said that they could have someone come out to our house to see if there are other ways that we can arrange our home for it to be easier for Rebecca.
We took down our Christmas lights a couple of weeks ago and Rebecca was really worried about us taking them down because it really lit the path for her to see the bus in the morning. So right after my husband took them down he put out the rope lights along the winding pathway and put up a flood light that we will also turn on to help Rebecca see down the driveway. When we say our prayers at night, we always say thanks to God for something that day. My husband said that he was thankful for the lights. That perked Rebecca's interest and then she had to know all about it. My husband said at first, teasing her, that he was grateful that the Christmas lights were down. She started saying, "how am I going to see now?", and my husband said that he had a way. Well, then she had to know and insisted that we show her now. We turned on the lights and both of the girls found their way out independently and were dancing in the driveway!! It was beautiful!
It reminded me of a mastercard commerical, rope lights : $30, floodlight, $40...giving your child independence....priceless!
Her VI and the state are talking about getting her white cane training. I'm excited that she will be able to receive these services early in her life. I think it will really help her. We will also talk about when to introduce braille. I'm not sure if she is ready for braille right now, but I'll listen to what they have to say. They are also trying to find a place for my family to take tactile signing training. I have not been able to find anywhere close for us to learn tactile and I'm really looking forward to them helping us with this.
We have started our second semester of sign language classes and yesterday I increased my vocabulary another 36 words!! WOO HOO!!
The state also said that they could have someone come out to our house to see if there are other ways that we can arrange our home for it to be easier for Rebecca.
We took down our Christmas lights a couple of weeks ago and Rebecca was really worried about us taking them down because it really lit the path for her to see the bus in the morning. So right after my husband took them down he put out the rope lights along the winding pathway and put up a flood light that we will also turn on to help Rebecca see down the driveway. When we say our prayers at night, we always say thanks to God for something that day. My husband said that he was thankful for the lights. That perked Rebecca's interest and then she had to know all about it. My husband said at first, teasing her, that he was grateful that the Christmas lights were down. She started saying, "how am I going to see now?", and my husband said that he had a way. Well, then she had to know and insisted that we show her now. We turned on the lights and both of the girls found their way out independently and were dancing in the driveway!! It was beautiful!
It reminded me of a mastercard commerical, rope lights : $30, floodlight, $40...giving your child independence....priceless!
Sunday, February 3
Cute Times In Recent Days
I got 3 stories to tell that has happened in the last 3 days. The first one was yesterday. We went to a lunch at restaurant (just Rebecca and me - one of our moments), this is a place that we go to often and apparantly whoever was doing dishes was being really loud. We moved farther from the kitchen, but it was still really loud. Rebecca put her finger in her ears to stop the sound. I asked her if that helped and she said not really. I couldn't get that picture out of my head all day.
Today in church, the kids all learned a song in sign language and preformed it in church. Rebecca's eyes got so big & she just couldn't stop saying, "Oh my Gosh". It was wonderful!! I am so greatful for my church and all that they have done to welcome Rebecca and anyone in the deaf community. Rebecca is the only child in our church that is deaf right now. I hope that others will start to join and we will be there to help welcome them.
The other night Rebecca came home saying that she needed money for Monkey Plano. I had her sign again thinking I must have misunderstood her "Monkey Plano??" Plano is a nearby city and she even fingerspelled it for me the second time. I just still did not understand. I asked her how much money and she said $50 for Monkey Plano. Ok, now I must know more - I'm not giving my 10 year old $50 for a monkey plano (whatever that is). Anyway, I emailed her teacher who was very responsive and said that there was a monkey who needed help and the kids were asked to bring in money to help transport the money to Florida. .50 would be great! So, the Monkey Plano mystery was solved. Rebecca got $1.00 out of the money that she has saved and gave it towards Monkey Plano - whose name is Pat, but in our house will always be known as Monkey Plano.
Anyway, these are just a few chuckles that we get around our house. God Bless Monkey Plano!!
Today in church, the kids all learned a song in sign language and preformed it in church. Rebecca's eyes got so big & she just couldn't stop saying, "Oh my Gosh". It was wonderful!! I am so greatful for my church and all that they have done to welcome Rebecca and anyone in the deaf community. Rebecca is the only child in our church that is deaf right now. I hope that others will start to join and we will be there to help welcome them.
The other night Rebecca came home saying that she needed money for Monkey Plano. I had her sign again thinking I must have misunderstood her "Monkey Plano??" Plano is a nearby city and she even fingerspelled it for me the second time. I just still did not understand. I asked her how much money and she said $50 for Monkey Plano. Ok, now I must know more - I'm not giving my 10 year old $50 for a monkey plano (whatever that is). Anyway, I emailed her teacher who was very responsive and said that there was a monkey who needed help and the kids were asked to bring in money to help transport the money to Florida. .50 would be great! So, the Monkey Plano mystery was solved. Rebecca got $1.00 out of the money that she has saved and gave it towards Monkey Plano - whose name is Pat, but in our house will always be known as Monkey Plano.
Anyway, these are just a few chuckles that we get around our house. God Bless Monkey Plano!!
Saturday, February 2
Ushers & Blue Film????
Rebecca's school amazed me!! A couple of weeks ago her VI from her school told me that she was going to a class to learn more about Ushers. I figured, she probably does a lot of school districts and this was just part of her training so I didn't think much more about it. I had asked when Rebecca first joined the district, how many other children did they have with Ushers Syndrome. They said that there was only 1 other child in high school, so I thought most of the research on how to help Rebecca would need to fall onto me.
Yesterday I went to the school and talked to her deaf ed teacher briefly who said that she also went to this class on Ushers Syndrome (gasp!). She said that one of the things that she is trying to get implemented (another gasp!) immediately was some blue film that can be put over worksheets, books & even the whiteboard to help Rebecca see it better. It makes the black words turn white and the background blue. Has anyone ever heard of this? I did a search on the internet, but I did not find it anywhere.
I am so impressed with Rebecca's school taking the initiative to find out ways to help her learn better. The only items that we had implemented in her ARD were things like close to the board and the interpreter, things need to be put directly in front of her since she has no perpherial vision, speech & VI, etc. I would like to get this mysterious blue film for around the house as well, so when we are reading together I can use it so that she can read with me.
Yesterday I went to the school and talked to her deaf ed teacher briefly who said that she also went to this class on Ushers Syndrome (gasp!). She said that one of the things that she is trying to get implemented (another gasp!) immediately was some blue film that can be put over worksheets, books & even the whiteboard to help Rebecca see it better. It makes the black words turn white and the background blue. Has anyone ever heard of this? I did a search on the internet, but I did not find it anywhere.
I am so impressed with Rebecca's school taking the initiative to find out ways to help her learn better. The only items that we had implemented in her ARD were things like close to the board and the interpreter, things need to be put directly in front of her since she has no perpherial vision, speech & VI, etc. I would like to get this mysterious blue film for around the house as well, so when we are reading together I can use it so that she can read with me.
Tuesday, January 29
Disposable Kids???
I've heard about this adoptive parent who decided to give up on her deaf child. For those of you who didn't hear about this, I will recap. There was a family who had a deaf child for more than one year, she had friends at school and was starting to communicate using ASL. They tried to get the child a cochlear implant but found out she was not a candidate for hearing aids or implants. The family thought that the child would learn to hear and speak. The mom got pregnant and decided it was too hard on their family to continue working with this child and the child went back to the agency.
I will try to get through this without being judgemental which will be hard for me on this one. I am a foster and adoptive parent so I guess I have something in common with this mother, but that is about as far as the similarities go. Foster children already have a difficult time since they have already loss their biological parents and it is difficult for me to comprehend putting a child through another tragedy.
I do not know how old this child is, but we can say that she is over 1 year old and since she was in school we can say that she was over 4 years old. I almost don't want to publish this statistic but I will because this story is all too common. When you commit to being a foster parent, you are committing to the child that you receive. Here are the national statistics for a disruptive placements :
I am not sure of the statistics of when a child become difficult to find an adoptive parent. But in 2004 when we started our journey, it was age 5. That is why we made our criteria for fostering children start at age 5. We wanted a child that may not otherwise be adopted. It makes me nauseous to think about leaving a child out there that I knew that I could help.
There just is simply no substitute for the unconditional support, guidance and love that families can provide adoptable children. There is no reason for those stats to be a part of our society!!
We have had children come in and out of our home, but it has never been our decision for any of our children to leave & I am proud to say that! We have been through mental institutions, RAD, ADD, PTSD & now Ushers Syndrome with our kids. I cannot fathom turning any of these kids away because of their circumstances. Under each one of these things lies a child-a loving & caring child. It may take you years to uncover that child, but how can you say that child is not worth years of your effort.
How will this mom be able to look at her biological child when he/she is born and say "I traded a child for you"?
I also know that it is difficult with a special needs child and it requires a ton of your time, but again how can you say that it is not worth it. Most of these children have been through hell already, more than what most people will experience & you can't get off your cushy behind to assist this child that you committed to. Sorry - now I'm being judgemental, I told you it would be hard for me.
Now, the compassionate side of me says that you do need to do what is best for your family and if that did not include what is best for this child then maybe it is better that it did not go on any further. I pray for this family and the choice that they made. I pray for this child that she can forgive, find a good forever home who can accept her for who she is - a beautiful child of God with unique abilities to change her world.
I will try to get through this without being judgemental which will be hard for me on this one. I am a foster and adoptive parent so I guess I have something in common with this mother, but that is about as far as the similarities go. Foster children already have a difficult time since they have already loss their biological parents and it is difficult for me to comprehend putting a child through another tragedy.
I do not know how old this child is, but we can say that she is over 1 year old and since she was in school we can say that she was over 4 years old. I almost don't want to publish this statistic but I will because this story is all too common. When you commit to being a foster parent, you are committing to the child that you receive. Here are the national statistics for a disruptive placements :
- Less than 1% of infant adoptions disrupt.
- 10% to 12% of adoptions of children aged three and older disrupt.
- Of children placed for adoption at ages 6 to 12, the disruption rate is 9.7%.
- Of children placed for adoption at ages 12 to 18, the disruption rate is 13.5%.
- Of children of any age with special needs placed for adoption, the disruption rate is 14.3%.
I am not sure of the statistics of when a child become difficult to find an adoptive parent. But in 2004 when we started our journey, it was age 5. That is why we made our criteria for fostering children start at age 5. We wanted a child that may not otherwise be adopted. It makes me nauseous to think about leaving a child out there that I knew that I could help.
There just is simply no substitute for the unconditional support, guidance and love that families can provide adoptable children. There is no reason for those stats to be a part of our society!!
We have had children come in and out of our home, but it has never been our decision for any of our children to leave & I am proud to say that! We have been through mental institutions, RAD, ADD, PTSD & now Ushers Syndrome with our kids. I cannot fathom turning any of these kids away because of their circumstances. Under each one of these things lies a child-a loving & caring child. It may take you years to uncover that child, but how can you say that child is not worth years of your effort.
How will this mom be able to look at her biological child when he/she is born and say "I traded a child for you"?
I also know that it is difficult with a special needs child and it requires a ton of your time, but again how can you say that it is not worth it. Most of these children have been through hell already, more than what most people will experience & you can't get off your cushy behind to assist this child that you committed to. Sorry - now I'm being judgemental, I told you it would be hard for me.
Now, the compassionate side of me says that you do need to do what is best for your family and if that did not include what is best for this child then maybe it is better that it did not go on any further. I pray for this family and the choice that they made. I pray for this child that she can forgive, find a good forever home who can accept her for who she is - a beautiful child of God with unique abilities to change her world.
Sunday, January 27
Sign Word Challenge
When I knew that I was going to adopt a deaf child we instantly started learning sign language. After we learned the basics (numbers, letters & colors), I didn't really knew where to start with everything else. I made a committment to learn at least 50 words a month - now I have learned over 300 words. Some of the words that I learned were intentional words that I sought out and others I just came across and they stuck in my mind. I thought I would share some of the words that I started with in hopes that it would encourage others to always seek more vocabulary.
Email, comfortable, amoung, less, ravioli, clumsy, doubt, office, witch, too bad, cool, birthday, light, dream, full, rude, yell, chapter, verse, Target, college, show, stare, bother, fruit, pumpkin, pecan, match, bless, yogart, granola, library, folk, mean, tantrum, fair, caseworker, echo, soldier, answer, bank, begin, bell, Bible, boring, closet, Santa, Christmas, headache, Israel, Superman, life, jelly, radio, cell phone, football, gas, audiologist, astronaut, biscuit, garden, grocery, lamp, chore, honest, lie, Spanish
I have no idea how many words I have really learned because sometimes I don't have my list with me and I try to remember later but I know I didn' t write them all down. What helped me the most was with each conversation that I have, I try to picture it being signed in my head. The words that I don' t know I look up later. I also read the girls books and study them ahead of time so that I can sign them to Rebecca and Jasmine. This has helped me reach outside of my everyday vocabulary and learn even more words.
You don't have to learn 300 words in one day, just take it one word at a time and you will get there. You will find that within your family you use the same words over and over again and those words will become easy for you to remember.
I challenge you to learn 50 new words a month if you are just starting to learn sign language & 20 new words if you are experienced. I would love to hear your progress!!
Email, comfortable, amoung, less, ravioli, clumsy, doubt, office, witch, too bad, cool, birthday, light, dream, full, rude, yell, chapter, verse, Target, college, show, stare, bother, fruit, pumpkin, pecan, match, bless, yogart, granola, library, folk, mean, tantrum, fair, caseworker, echo, soldier, answer, bank, begin, bell, Bible, boring, closet, Santa, Christmas, headache, Israel, Superman, life, jelly, radio, cell phone, football, gas, audiologist, astronaut, biscuit, garden, grocery, lamp, chore, honest, lie, Spanish
I have no idea how many words I have really learned because sometimes I don't have my list with me and I try to remember later but I know I didn' t write them all down. What helped me the most was with each conversation that I have, I try to picture it being signed in my head. The words that I don' t know I look up later. I also read the girls books and study them ahead of time so that I can sign them to Rebecca and Jasmine. This has helped me reach outside of my everyday vocabulary and learn even more words.
You don't have to learn 300 words in one day, just take it one word at a time and you will get there. You will find that within your family you use the same words over and over again and those words will become easy for you to remember.
I challenge you to learn 50 new words a month if you are just starting to learn sign language & 20 new words if you are experienced. I would love to hear your progress!!
Thursday, January 24
Glimpse of the Future? I hope so!
I know this is everywhere on the internet right now, but it is such awesome news I can't help but say something about it!!
http://www.pepsiusa.com/bobshouse/
That is a link to the Pepsi commercial that will air on the Superbowl. I normally do not watch football, but this is making me want to watch!! I hope this is the beginning of a trend. In an age where we have diverse cultures running for president and a Superbowl commercial that includes ASL - I am inspired about our future. What would happen if the two combined in we had a Deaf president? I guess I should slow down and be grateful for the present.
Then there is the opposite that is still going on in the world : see http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=5912924 . The good news is that this is getting publicity so maybe more companies will review their policies and there will be less of this going on. Karen, my prayers and thoughts are with you & I have stopped going to Steak'n'Shake! Good for you for speaking out!
You can keep up with the Steak'n'Shake story on Karen's blog mentioned on the news at http://putzworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.pepsiusa.com/bobshouse/
That is a link to the Pepsi commercial that will air on the Superbowl. I normally do not watch football, but this is making me want to watch!! I hope this is the beginning of a trend. In an age where we have diverse cultures running for president and a Superbowl commercial that includes ASL - I am inspired about our future. What would happen if the two combined in we had a Deaf president? I guess I should slow down and be grateful for the present.
Then there is the opposite that is still going on in the world : see http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=5912924 . The good news is that this is getting publicity so maybe more companies will review their policies and there will be less of this going on. Karen, my prayers and thoughts are with you & I have stopped going to Steak'n'Shake! Good for you for speaking out!
You can keep up with the Steak'n'Shake story on Karen's blog mentioned on the news at http://putzworld.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 23
Presidential Candidates
I found this link and just wanted to share how the presidential candidates feel about American's with disabilities :
http://www.aapd.com/News/election/peac2008.php
and here is a list of the debates with closed captioning in case you want to catch up:
http://www.taudiobook.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=page&id=20
http://www.aapd.com/News/election/peac2008.php
and here is a list of the debates with closed captioning in case you want to catch up:
http://www.taudiobook.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=page&id=20
Tuesday, January 22
Is Deafness A Cultural Nationality?
You will notice this blog is named, "I'm adopting a Deaf child..." NOT a child with a CI or a hearing child or a Deaf child with a CI - I have a Deaf child. Why is that looked down upon or looked at with pity?
As parents of Deaf chilren we face incredibly difficult decisions - one of the many things that I wrestle with is how my decisions are going to mold her. If she is a Deaf child, isn't she part of the deaf community? How do children who are not given sign language fit into the community? How can parents choose this for their children?
Is Deafness a cultural nationality? Is it right for parents to robb their children of their culture? If your child was of a different nationality, would you teach your child that culture and that language? Why is deafness different? because it is a viewed as a disability? I know Deaf people who are more abled then most hearing people. They travel the country and inspire me in ways that I cannot explain. Sign language is a beautiful language and I do not understand why anyone (deaf or hearing) would shy away from this language or culture.
Just step into this culture for a moment - allow yourself to be submersed into what it could be like before you choose for your child. I thank God that he gave me Rebecca so that I could experience this culture and language for myself.
As parents of Deaf chilren we face incredibly difficult decisions - one of the many things that I wrestle with is how my decisions are going to mold her. If she is a Deaf child, isn't she part of the deaf community? How do children who are not given sign language fit into the community? How can parents choose this for their children?
Is Deafness a cultural nationality? Is it right for parents to robb their children of their culture? If your child was of a different nationality, would you teach your child that culture and that language? Why is deafness different? because it is a viewed as a disability? I know Deaf people who are more abled then most hearing people. They travel the country and inspire me in ways that I cannot explain. Sign language is a beautiful language and I do not understand why anyone (deaf or hearing) would shy away from this language or culture.
Just step into this culture for a moment - allow yourself to be submersed into what it could be like before you choose for your child. I thank God that he gave me Rebecca so that I could experience this culture and language for myself.
Monday, January 21
Opthamologist Continued
So, we went back to the opthamologist today to see if bifocles woudl help. I also asked them about the perpherial range test. Rebecca did not like the bifocles at all, so that is out.
As far as the range test goes, she said that it would be very difficult since she is Deaf and the test involved hearing and pushing a button. I said that I know that there is perpherial loss, I just wanted to know how much. She said there would be no way of telling. I then said that they school is requesting it - hoping that would get her moving. She finally got up and had Rebecca cover one eye and then put some fingers out the side and asked if she could tell her how many fingers. Rebecca got everyone of them wrong.
So, all that was put down was that she has profound perpherial loss. Well - duh!! Sorry, I guess I was just hoping for more like a number of loss so that we would know if it was getting better or worse as time progressed.
Everytime I leave one of these appointments I feel like I have been beaten over the head. Do you feel like that? Do you feel like you are pulling teeth to get them to answer questions or do additional tests? I did not think that I was being unreasonable asking for the test and I thought it would be helpful especially since they did not locate the RP. Why does it have to be so difficult? I take my hearing child to the doctor and I do not have all this trouble - we have even taking her to specialist and did not have this kind of trouble. I do not understand, shouldn't you be more caring & willing to get more information for a child who you know needs it.
Next time we are going to a different opthamologist. Am I being ridiculous or is this as good as it gets?
As far as the range test goes, she said that it would be very difficult since she is Deaf and the test involved hearing and pushing a button. I said that I know that there is perpherial loss, I just wanted to know how much. She said there would be no way of telling. I then said that they school is requesting it - hoping that would get her moving. She finally got up and had Rebecca cover one eye and then put some fingers out the side and asked if she could tell her how many fingers. Rebecca got everyone of them wrong.
So, all that was put down was that she has profound perpherial loss. Well - duh!! Sorry, I guess I was just hoping for more like a number of loss so that we would know if it was getting better or worse as time progressed.
Everytime I leave one of these appointments I feel like I have been beaten over the head. Do you feel like that? Do you feel like you are pulling teeth to get them to answer questions or do additional tests? I did not think that I was being unreasonable asking for the test and I thought it would be helpful especially since they did not locate the RP. Why does it have to be so difficult? I take my hearing child to the doctor and I do not have all this trouble - we have even taking her to specialist and did not have this kind of trouble. I do not understand, shouldn't you be more caring & willing to get more information for a child who you know needs it.
Next time we are going to a different opthamologist. Am I being ridiculous or is this as good as it gets?
Sunday, January 20
Silly String Fixes Anything
We have had a long week here at our house. Adjustments have finally hit home, Rebecca has been very emotional and Jasmine has realized this is not so easy. Everyone kind of hit their wall this week and we are all exhausted. We had doctor appointments which are always stressful to the kids and my husband and I had training so were out part of the week which disrupted the kids schedule.
To break the ice, today we had a silly string fight in our backyard. This requires absolutely no verbal skills and allows everyone to just cut loose. We are all ready to start next week.
I don't know who came up with string in a can, but it is ingenious! The last time we did silly string as a family was when Rebecca was just starting her visitations - everyone was very tense & it really helped. We were not very good at our sign language and this allowed us to have fun as a family without worrying about the language barrier.
The next time you are at the store, pick up some silly string and when things get tough - get the silly string : you will see what I mean. Everyone can just relax and the laughter is contagious.
To break the ice, today we had a silly string fight in our backyard. This requires absolutely no verbal skills and allows everyone to just cut loose. We are all ready to start next week.
I don't know who came up with string in a can, but it is ingenious! The last time we did silly string as a family was when Rebecca was just starting her visitations - everyone was very tense & it really helped. We were not very good at our sign language and this allowed us to have fun as a family without worrying about the language barrier.
The next time you are at the store, pick up some silly string and when things get tough - get the silly string : you will see what I mean. Everyone can just relax and the laughter is contagious.
Friday, January 18
Immediate Response Needed!!
I am so excited about this and I hope my excitement is contagious!! Please show your support for the Deaf/Blind Relay service!
Your comments should be addressed to the FCC and needs to include your mailing address. All comments need to be posted before February 4, 2008. They will then have 90 days to make their decision. You can post your comments on-line on the FCC Web site through:
“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
The proceeding code number is 03-123.
Check out this service at Hawk Relay’s Website : http://www.hawkrelay.com
The video is really great and shows how this service would work.
This service would open so many doors and opportunities for deaf/blind people everywhere. Even if you are not deaf/blind, check out this service and try to put yourself in their situation. You can make thing better for the deaf/blind community and for my little girl.
Please take a moment and do this!
Your comments should be addressed to the FCC and needs to include your mailing address. All comments need to be posted before February 4, 2008. They will then have 90 days to make their decision. You can post your comments on-line on the FCC Web site through:
“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi“http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
The proceeding code number is 03-123.
Check out this service at Hawk Relay’s Website : http://www.hawkrelay.com
The video is really great and shows how this service would work.
This service would open so many doors and opportunities for deaf/blind people everywhere. Even if you are not deaf/blind, check out this service and try to put yourself in their situation. You can make thing better for the deaf/blind community and for my little girl.
Please take a moment and do this!
Opthamologist Update
I tried again the morning of the appointment to call the opthamologist and there was no answer - great! Okay, we are going to the appointment not knowing if an interpreter will be there or not. Rebecca is not in school & I did not go to work. We walk in and I go up to the counter, both ladies are on the phone - one tell me when she gets a minute that the phones have been down all morning. Ok, we wait. When one finally gets off the phone, I tell her who we are and ask if there is going to be an interpreter present. She looked at me like I was 1/2 crazy - she said that she remembers taking my calls and asked if the office manager ever got back to me. I said no, she said, "as far as I know, there will be no interpreter". She asks around, it's confirmed - no interpreter!
I had decided earlier that day that if there was no interpreter I would go ahead with the appointment since Rebecca and I were home and I didn't want to waste the day, but I would make it a tremendous learning experience for them. I explained to the lady the liability of not having an interpreter and she didn't really seem to care. I fill out my paperwork and turn it back in to the other receptionist who I then explain again the liability of them not having an interpreter. Again, no response other then "sorry".
We go back to the waiting room and they come out to dialate Rebecca's eyes. I do not know the sign for dialate & it is not in my book. They start to move towards her to put the drops in her eyes and I say "NO - I need to explain to her what is about to happen. You are going to have to be very patient today since there was no interpreter provided, I am going to do the best that I can". I tell Rebecca they are going to put 4 different drops in her eyes, this will D-I-A-L-A-T-E her eyes. Things will be blurry and bright. It may be hard for her to see after they do it & all of that is normal. This will help them to see her eyes better.
Next we go to another room with a different person. Again I tell the lady (who I actually went to school with - wierd) that no interpreter was provided as legally required and I am going to have to do my best. She is just going to have to be patient. The lady says for Rebecca to read the letters on the chart when looking through the thing in front of her. Well, when she is looking through the thing - she is not looking at me, so this gets tricky. The girl keeps going back and forth. Tell me which one is better, now read them to me, now tell me which one is better, etc. We fingerspelled the letters instead of doing what the suggested which was have her write it. It worked much better.
Now Rebecca's sight is getting worse because of the dialation - she cannot see me up close. They do the pressure test on one eye and Rebecca starts to cry - they say that they do not have to do the other eye. We go into the next room where the doctor looks closer at her eye. Again, I explain Rebecca is Deaf and her office did not provide the interpreter that is legally required. She just says, we'll do the best that we can.
They said that they could find no evidence of the RP, however she definately has the night vision loss. I already knew that she could not see in the dark and it's a good thing that the RP has not revealed itself yet. She wants Rebecca to come back next Monday to see if she could benefit from bifocals.
I also thought after the appointment, I do not think that they did the perpherial field loss test. I'm going to have to ask them about that on Monday as well.
I had decided earlier that day that if there was no interpreter I would go ahead with the appointment since Rebecca and I were home and I didn't want to waste the day, but I would make it a tremendous learning experience for them. I explained to the lady the liability of not having an interpreter and she didn't really seem to care. I fill out my paperwork and turn it back in to the other receptionist who I then explain again the liability of them not having an interpreter. Again, no response other then "sorry".
We go back to the waiting room and they come out to dialate Rebecca's eyes. I do not know the sign for dialate & it is not in my book. They start to move towards her to put the drops in her eyes and I say "NO - I need to explain to her what is about to happen. You are going to have to be very patient today since there was no interpreter provided, I am going to do the best that I can". I tell Rebecca they are going to put 4 different drops in her eyes, this will D-I-A-L-A-T-E her eyes. Things will be blurry and bright. It may be hard for her to see after they do it & all of that is normal. This will help them to see her eyes better.
Next we go to another room with a different person. Again I tell the lady (who I actually went to school with - wierd) that no interpreter was provided as legally required and I am going to have to do my best. She is just going to have to be patient. The lady says for Rebecca to read the letters on the chart when looking through the thing in front of her. Well, when she is looking through the thing - she is not looking at me, so this gets tricky. The girl keeps going back and forth. Tell me which one is better, now read them to me, now tell me which one is better, etc. We fingerspelled the letters instead of doing what the suggested which was have her write it. It worked much better.
Now Rebecca's sight is getting worse because of the dialation - she cannot see me up close. They do the pressure test on one eye and Rebecca starts to cry - they say that they do not have to do the other eye. We go into the next room where the doctor looks closer at her eye. Again, I explain Rebecca is Deaf and her office did not provide the interpreter that is legally required. She just says, we'll do the best that we can.
They said that they could find no evidence of the RP, however she definately has the night vision loss. I already knew that she could not see in the dark and it's a good thing that the RP has not revealed itself yet. She wants Rebecca to come back next Monday to see if she could benefit from bifocals.
I also thought after the appointment, I do not think that they did the perpherial field loss test. I'm going to have to ask them about that on Monday as well.
Tuesday, January 15
Some Success
I have been working on several things for Rebecca lately. She had a pulminary appointment, and opthamologist appointment & I have still been working on getting her an interpreter for her after-school program.
I found out that Children's in Dallas accepts Medicaid, I called them and got Rebecca's pulminary appointment changed to February and they gave me no grief about having an interpreter at the appointment. God Bless Children's!! Thank you for just saying, "Let me see when and interpreter will be available with our schedule". I was on hold for about 10 minutes, but they came back with a date and a time that is only a few weeks away. Thank you for not making me fight for a right!! I quickly dumped the other pulminary specialist after educating them!! Dood riddance!
Our opthamologist appointment is tomorrow and they never called me back to confirm that an interpreter will or will not be there. If I get there and there is not an interpreter I don't know what I am going to do.
I talked to the director of Special Ed for the city that Rebecca goes to school at and finally got somewhere!! Rebecca will have an interpreter during the curriculum time of her after school program. They are hiring someone specifically for Rebecca! I am so proud!! GO REBECCA!! Maybe now more deaf children will join the program & there will be someone there to assist them!
I found out that Children's in Dallas accepts Medicaid, I called them and got Rebecca's pulminary appointment changed to February and they gave me no grief about having an interpreter at the appointment. God Bless Children's!! Thank you for just saying, "Let me see when and interpreter will be available with our schedule". I was on hold for about 10 minutes, but they came back with a date and a time that is only a few weeks away. Thank you for not making me fight for a right!! I quickly dumped the other pulminary specialist after educating them!! Dood riddance!
Our opthamologist appointment is tomorrow and they never called me back to confirm that an interpreter will or will not be there. If I get there and there is not an interpreter I don't know what I am going to do.
I talked to the director of Special Ed for the city that Rebecca goes to school at and finally got somewhere!! Rebecca will have an interpreter during the curriculum time of her after school program. They are hiring someone specifically for Rebecca! I am so proud!! GO REBECCA!! Maybe now more deaf children will join the program & there will be someone there to assist them!
Interesting Results From Dallas
Motor Development of Deaf Children With and Without Cochlear Implants
from the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf EducationThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a cochlear implant (CI) on the motor development of deaf children. The study involved 36 mainstreamed deaf children (15 boys, 21 girls; 4- to 12-years old) without any developmental problems. Of these children, 20 had been implanted. Forty-three hearing children constituted a comparison group. Motor development was assessed by three standardized tests: the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, and the One-leg standing test. Results showed that the hearing children performed on average significantly better than the deaf children (whether or not using a CI). Regarding the use of a CI, there was only a significant difference on one subtest between both groups, although there was a nonsignificant trend for the deaf +CI group to score somewhat worse on average than the deaf –CI group. This led to some significant differences between the hearing group and the deaf +CI group on measures requiring balance that did not hold for the hearing/deaf –CI comparison. Although this study could demonstrate neither a positive nor a negative impact of CI on balance and motor skills, the data raise the need for further, preferably longitudinal, research.
January 14, 2008This article just left me with just one questions - "Then why are we implanting?"
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