Guest guest Posted October 26, 1998 Report Share Posted October 26, 1998 I am glad to hear that is doing so well in school. Did you read the post about one mom's daughter (I forget who it was) who gets teased alot and the teachers hating her being there. have you had any real negative experiences with ? thanks Jen K long island, new york. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 1998 Report Share Posted October 26, 1998 Hi Jen, is doing Ok in school, but we have of course the usual CHARGE issues to deal with. Right now they've tried to change her schedule now for the third time. We're working towards full inclusion, so that's a plus - but its such a battle. We've just changed our funding model and model of education up here in Ontario, so they are still stuck in ancient history and being their only hearing impaired and CHARGE child to boot they are laying new groundwork. They just keep trying to get out of the fact that 's level 3 funding has allocated HER with an assistant and they cannot use this assistant to their own liking. We were just at the school again today for another meeting and I'm upset they haven't schedule her meeting for her actual IEP - I want to get going on this ASAP. likes school and I don't want to run into any problems. It's so easy with all that she has on her plate, that if a program is not properly put into place, I don't want to see frustration and it not working - or them saying it is not. We are very visible in our community and my husband is self-employed and we know a lot of people so a lot of people know . That was a benefit when started the same school my son is in. Some of the kids already knew her and spoke up for her. (Now we work a lot on speaking up for herself). But we had some difficulties and I'm sure more to come. There are a lot of old views out there, a lot passed on down to kids. 's kindegarden teachers were great with this and they dealt with the issues of differences. I also did a program in the school with our local Early Intervention Dept. It was directed at grades 5,6,7. It allowed them to watch home movies of families of children with needs, talk openly, discuss and ask questions and I did a session where I brought in pictures on picture boards of 's history, talked about my feelings, and when she entered school and where I wondered if kids would tease her, accept her, would she make friends?. Told them what likes to do, etc. They got to know her. They asked OPEN questions. I said that our current goal was for to say " Hello " to as many people as possible, in the halls, etc. A lot of them said they would help. Now a lot of the kids see and say " Hi " . We will never change everyone's attitude at one time - just one brick at a time. Now we're in grade 1. So far I havn't noticed anything specific. We're working with the new teacher in her integrated class and her attitude. Who knows yet! (I loved the comment someone else made about the long IEP's - I think we're headed for one). We actually had to deal with it with my son last year. (It happens this year too). He was in grade 5 and it was some of the other kids in his class (of a 5,6 split) that would tease him saying his sister was " retarded " , " mental " . He was being taunted one day out in the playground. He defended his sister and the other boy did not back down and punched right in the mouth, so we got the call of a severely cut lip and it was swollen. handled it very well, he didn't even retaliate. He had a lot of his friends around supporting him. The other child got a suspension. After speaking with the guidance counsellor (who has a brother with Downs syndrome), we are going to implement a program called " Unwrapping the Package " , where they have videos, and representatives coming from an organization called " Aboutface " that teaches and allows for open discussion on differences, especially facial, amongst children. It runs from grades Kindegarden to grade 5. It also has a hands on activity using packages plainly wrapped and several unwrappings leads to these " geodes " (can't remember this part) crystals that are opened and examined. We also do " Town Days " where we visit different stores, depending on the vocabulary we are doing. I just explain the situation and ask for their help. Often even people will ask me " Oh how old is she " and I say " you can ask her " . I can only be 's intervenor for so long, so I encourage our community to get to know her and her to know them and to feel comfortable talking in places. She orders at Macs, and I expect the lady to listen to her. She takes her money and goes in to get ice cream and she orders, and I expect them to listen to her and communicate with her. Practice and positive encouragement. It all sounds so wonderfully positive, but exhausting. The challenge is there to educate, and I don't remember applying for the job! Bye for now! Pat (Rittgassers, , (11), (7-Charge) ---------- > From: Jandmkat@... > To: CHARGEonelist > Subject: Re: Pat: inclusion > Date: Monday, October 26, 1998 1:22 PM > > From: Jandmkat@... > > I am glad to hear that is doing so well in school. Did you read the > post about one mom's daughter (I forget who it was) who gets teased alot and > the teachers hating her being there. have you had any real negative > experiences with ? > thanks > Jen K > long island, new york. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 1998 Report Share Posted October 27, 1998 Pat- All of your strategies sounds terrific! Many of those ideas I have used with my older son. He was the first in our little group of friends to place his own order at McDs. I've always encouraged his independence and confidence. I guess I'll have to remind myself to do the same with Aubrie. I loved your lessons with the older kids at the school. I may like to do something like that one day. is so much older than Aubrie that it may be a helpful approach with his classmates. We are from a small town and very visible. I hope that will be to Aubrie's benefit and that people will just accept her since they've known her since infancy. Michele mom to Aubrie (10.5 mos) CHargE and (7 yrs) IL westml@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 1998 Report Share Posted October 27, 1998 >It all sounds so wonderfully positive, but exhausting. The challenge is >there to educate, and I don't remember applying for the job! Yes! I feel exactly the same way!! I get so tired of teaching people!!! S. Hartshorne 918 S. Brown St. Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 .Hartshorne@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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