Schools- to Halloran

[Guest guest]

,

is adopted and was institutionalized from infancy till the age

of 51/2. When he came to us at the age of 51/2 he was the size of a 2

year old, had a g-tube yet, knew less than 10 words in sign, could not

walk unassisted, couldn't chew food, and was still in diapers. We got

him in May and started him in a diagnostic classroom in Sept. Over that

first summer we worked on potty training, walking, sign language, eating

along with allot of transition issues. He was and still is my miracle

kid. By Sept. he was eating, allllmost potty trained, walking in-between

falling down ;O), knew the alphabet, colors, counting to 20, and many

new words in sign. I kept telling them he should go right into the

hearing impairment classroom but they did not agree with me until about

3 weeks into the start of the diagnostic classroom. The g-tube and the

schools red tape keep him in the diagnostic class for the rest of the

school year. The g-tube was removed by Nov. of the first year. He was

almost 7 when he started kindergarten in the hearing impairment program.

He did real well until 4th grade at which time he hit overload. From the

age of 51/2 to 11 he took so much information in that he needed a break.

The teachers where great and picked up on the fact that was not

absorbing information anymore. He was overwhelmed and needed a break so

we all agreed to have him repeat 4th grade. That's all he needed and got

back onto schedule. Then in the 8th grade the only option given to us

was either to bring him back to our home school with an interpreter or

the deaf school. I'm still trying to figure this one out but the hearing

impairment program only existed up till the 8th grade. I had researched

the requirements for interpreters hired through the school district and

found that they didn't have to hire a certified interpreter. They would

only pay minimum wage and I felt wouldn't get adequate and fair

schooling in the home district. He was lonely at home as it was. How

would it be for him in a school where the only one he could communicate

(maybe) with would be an adult interpreter. Soooooo the teachers and I

both agreed that since had the right to attend school through the

year of his 21st birthday that we had the time to let him repeat 8th

grade in the hearing impairment program and I would work with some other

parents at canvassing to get a senior high program started for hearing

impairment. We were successful but threw me a curve ball in that

he decided to attend the School for the Deaf over that years time.

We realized in time that did have some issues with independent

living skills that weren't going away. Because of this did not go

on to college. Instead he spent a year at Helen Keller National Center

for Deaf /Bind Youths and Adults in New York State. There he went

through job and life skill evaluation and training. It's been determined

that will always need support in independent living. He is high

functioning but does not have all the skills he needs to live

independently safely. Currently he is living here with us, working 2

days a week, and has some deaf support in the community. With God's help

we will have a home up and running sometime this summer for and

three of his friends who are also deaf. I've gotten allot of help from

the deaf community in making the idea of this home into a reality. The

home will be supported by people who are deaf or hearing people with

proper skills in ASL signing. It will the first home of its' kind here

in PA through waiver funding. It hasn't been easy but it has been well

worth the fight.

Vicki mom to (24)