Re: HELP-Deaf/Special needs classroom

[Guest guest]

Thanks!! I'll definitely remember & use this!

Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

www.geocities.com/the_dutch2000

> Lori,

>

> Welcome back !!!!

>

> First off if signing is Cheyenne's language they must by federal

law

> provide signing for her. By not doing so they are breaking the law

> and you have legal recourse.

>

> IDEA section C part 300.346 (2)(iv)

>

> iv) Consider the communication needs of the child, and in the case

of a

> child who is deaf or hard of hearing, consider the child's language

and

> communication needs, opportunities for direct communications with

> peers and professional personnel in the child's language and

> communication mode, academic level, and full range of needs,

including

> opportunities for direct instruction in the child's language and

> communication mode; and

> (v) Consider whether the child requires assistive technology

devices and

> services

>

>

> Notice it says " in the child's language and communication mode " not

> what they want or have, they have to give Cheyenne what she needs.

>

>

>

>

> Casey, mom to Dawn 22 HH, Ken 11 ADHD, and 9 CHARGE

> AIM ZeeCasey, ICQ# 728514

> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/1220

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the name - if you find her number, I'm definitely

interested!

Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

www.geocities.com/the_dutch2000

>

> > Hello,

> > I've been away from the list for quite a while now...

> > My name is Lori Brittell & my daughter, Cheyenne, who just turned

6,

> > has CHARGE. We live in Mesa, AZ & I'm having a difficult time

finding

> > the right classroom setting for her. She is completely deaf

(auditory

> > nerve is damaged) & she is cognitively delayed. The school

district

> > wants to put her in a very generalized spec.ed. class w/ little

or no

> > sign lang. She is VERY slow to mimick signs, but she'll never

learn

> > if she is not immersed in it! (Hearing aides & other devices don't

> > work because as I said, the auditory nerve is damaged.) The local

> > deaf school doesn't handle other special needs/cognitive delays.

I'm

> > trying to homeschool her, but it's very hard & I can't give her a

> > group of kids who are similar to her & signing all the time.

> > I need help!! Please respond!

> > Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

> >

> >

> > 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis,

Indiana,

> > July

> > 20-22, 2001. Information is available at our website

> > www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

> >

> > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> > Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> > please contact marion@c... or visit

> > the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> > at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori, My 10 year old daughter is also developmentally delayed and

profoundly deaf and I fought to get her into the scool for the hearing

impaired when she was three. They argued that she used a walker. had a trach

and g-tube and other possible learning problems and was'nt a good candidate

for their school. I argued that hearing impairment was her primary learning

problem. We won and she is still at that school and it is the best

educational setting areound here for her, but it was difficult at times to

get them to understand charge. She signs and has a cochlear implant and is

learning to read and do simple math like 2+2 but she is socialized in with

the other kids and they lke her a lot. also check out deaf-blind services in

your state and locate the state advocate by contacting the state board of

education. good luck peggy

Re: HELP-Deaf/Special needs classroom

> on 7/3/01 12:44 AM, vikinglmb@... at vikinglmb@... wrote:

>

> > Hello,

> > I've been away from the list for quite a while now...

> > My name is Lori Brittell & my daughter, Cheyenne, who just turned 6,

> > has CHARGE. We live in Mesa, AZ & I'm having a difficult time finding

> > the right classroom setting for her. She is completely deaf (auditory

> > nerve is damaged) & she is cognitively delayed. The school district

> > wants to put her in a very generalized spec.ed. class w/ little or no

> > sign lang. She is VERY slow to mimick signs, but she'll never learn

> > if she is not immersed in it! (Hearing aides & other devices don't

> > work because as I said, the auditory nerve is damaged.) The local

> > deaf school doesn't handle other special needs/cognitive delays. I'm

> > trying to homeschool her, but it's very hard & I can't give her a

> > group of kids who are similar to her & signing all the time.

> > I need help!! Please respond!

> > Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

> >

> >

> > 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana,

> > July

> > 20-22, 2001. Information is available at our website

> > www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

> >

> > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> > Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> > please contact marion@... or visit

> > the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> > at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

My grand-daughter is also 6 years and this is her second year

at a local school for the deaf in the special needs class. is

also profoundly deaf and her mental age has been assessed as between

2 and 3 years. She is very very happy in her class, although the

children are mixed ages up to 11 years and there are only 5 children

in the class. has a 1 to 1 teacher because of her disabilities

linked to Charge (she is still fed through a tube) and has just begun

to learn toilet training etc.

I hope you can find a suitable school who will take Cheyenne for as

they say at 's school she is " bathed in language " as of course

everyone from the head-teacher to the secretaries sign and although

is reluctant to sign herself she does understand when we sign

to her, particularly if it is something she likes such as swimming or

going on the beach. My daughter looked at various options for 's

schooling but always felt that she needed to be part of the deaf

community and we are very fortunate to have found the right place for

her. Good luck.

Sue Grandma to (Charge)

-- In CHARGE@y..., <lewcap@e...> wrote:

> on 7/3/01 12:44 AM, vikinglmb@h... at vikinglmb@h... wrote:

>

> > Hello,

> > I've been away from the list for quite a while now...

> > My name is Lori Brittell & my daughter, Cheyenne, who just turned

6,

> > has CHARGE. We live in Mesa, AZ & I'm having a difficult time

finding

> > the right classroom setting for her. She is completely deaf

(auditory

> > nerve is damaged) & she is cognitively delayed. The school

district

> > wants to put her in a very generalized spec.ed. class w/ little

or no

> > sign lang. She is VERY slow to mimick signs, but she'll never

learn

> > if she is not immersed in it! (Hearing aides & other devices don't

> > work because as I said, the auditory nerve is damaged.) The local

> > deaf school doesn't handle other special needs/cognitive delays.

I'm

> > trying to homeschool her, but it's very hard & I can't give her a

> > group of kids who are similar to her & signing all the time.

> > I need help!! Please respond!

> > Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

> >

> >

> > 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis,

Indiana,

> > July

> > 20-22, 2001. Information is available at our website

> > www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

> >

> > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> > Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> > please contact marion@c... or visit

> > the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> > at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks - I'll try this!

Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

www.geocities.com/the_dutch2000

> >

> > > Hello,

> > > I've been away from the list for quite a while now...

> > > My name is Lori Brittell & my daughter, Cheyenne, who just

turned 6,

> > > has CHARGE. We live in Mesa, AZ & I'm having a difficult time

finding

> > > the right classroom setting for her. She is completely deaf

(auditory

> > > nerve is damaged) & she is cognitively delayed. The school

district

> > > wants to put her in a very generalized spec.ed. class w/ little

or no

> > > sign lang. She is VERY slow to mimick signs, but she'll never

learn

> > > if she is not immersed in it! (Hearing aides & other devices

don't

> > > work because as I said, the auditory nerve is damaged.) The

local

> > > deaf school doesn't handle other special needs/cognitive

delays. I'm

> > > trying to homeschool her, but it's very hard & I can't give her

a

> > > group of kids who are similar to her & signing all the time.

> > > I need help!! Please respond!

> > > Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

> > >

> > >

> > > 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis,

Indiana,

> > > July

> > > 20-22, 2001. Information is available at our website

> > > www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> > >

> > >

> > > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> > > Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> > > please contact marion@c... or visit

> > > the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> > > at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Thanks

I agree about being part of the Deaf community - that's what I want

for Cheyenne - she also understands some signs even though she won't

do them!

Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

www.geocities.com/the_dutch2000

> >

> > > Hello,

> > > I've been away from the list for quite a while now...

> > > My name is Lori Brittell & my daughter, Cheyenne, who just

turned

> 6,

> > > has CHARGE. We live in Mesa, AZ & I'm having a difficult time

> finding

> > > the right classroom setting for her. She is completely deaf

> (auditory

> > > nerve is damaged) & she is cognitively delayed. The school

> district

> > > wants to put her in a very generalized spec.ed. class w/ little

> or no

> > > sign lang. She is VERY slow to mimick signs, but she'll never

> learn

> > > if she is not immersed in it! (Hearing aides & other devices

don't

> > > work because as I said, the auditory nerve is damaged.) The

local

> > > deaf school doesn't handle other special needs/cognitive

delays.

> I'm

> > > trying to homeschool her, but it's very hard & I can't give her

a

> > > group of kids who are similar to her & signing all the time.

> > > I need help!! Please respond!

> > > Lori:CHARGErMom2Cheye

> > >

> > >

> > > 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis,

> Indiana,

> > > July

> > > 20-22, 2001. Information is available at our website

> > > www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> > >

> > >

> > > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> > > Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)

> > > please contact marion@c... or visit

> > > the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page

> > > at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Casey, I had found that section too, and it is certainly helpful. But doesn't it just require that the school district "consider" the child's communication mode and "consider" the need for direct peer interaction? Can't they just "consider" it and decide that some other factors outweigh it? We have been fighting our school district and have managed, so far, to get Danny placed in the hearing impaired program, even though they keep pushing to put him in an orthopedically handicapped program where they don't sign. Those must be amazing teachers, who can teach a deaf child without being able to communicate with him (sarcastic smile...) Re: HELP-Deaf/Special needs classroom Lori,Welcome back !!!!First off if signing is Cheyenne's language they must by federal law provide signing for her. By not doing so they are breaking the law and you have legal recourse.IDEA section C part 300.346 (2)(iv)iv) Consider the communication needs of the child, and in the case of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, consider the child's language and communication needs, opportunities for direct communications with peers and professional personnel in the child's language and communication mode, academic level, and full range of needs, including opportunities for direct instruction in the child's language and communication mode; and(v) Consider whether the child requires assistive technology devices and servicesNotice it says "in the child's language and communication mode" not what they want or have, they have to give Cheyenne what she needs.Casey, mom to Dawn 22 HH, Ken 11 ADHD, and 9 CHARGEAIM ZeeCasey, ICQ# 728514Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Shari Willis, esquire here! : ) The proper interpretation of this is that they must . .

Consider the child's language and communication needs, IN THE CHILD'S LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION MODE . . .

In other words, they can pick and choose between ways to meet his or her language and communication needs (speech therapy 3 days a week or two) but that they can't CHANGE the communication mode of the child. If the child uses SEE, they can't say, "No, we are only instructing in spoken English," or if the child uses braille, they can't say, "No, we are only going to provide large print books." They are supposed to use the communication style of the child, but are given the flexibility to meet the educational goals, etc within that particular style. Now, of course, that is not always how school districts interpret the language. But, I believe they are wrong to interpret it otherwise!

Shari

Katlyn's Hope, Inc and Bradshaw, & Hund

[Guest guest]

Mike,

we were in a district that only 'considered' but didn't really

appreciate or value the implications of the specific language in IDEA

for Kendra, so we finally moved. :-) But in the process of all the

struggles, I met a very great advocate in Simi Valley. She is Vickie

Tomastick and she wrote a great report for us. If your district

continues to threaten to place your son in an inappropriate class

with inappropriate language peers and instructors, you may wish to

contact her. But, you may already know her!

Mom to Kendra, and Camille

--

[Guest guest]

, Thanks for the suggestion! We are scheduled to take Danny to the California Diagnostic Center, which is run by the California State Superintendent of Schools. They have one facility in Los Angeles and another in Northern Calif. somewhere. Danny will stay over a couple of days while they do their tests and make recommendations. We were a bit suspicious that they would just go along with whatever the local school district recommended, but a couple of people have told us that they don't really take sides. I hope they're right. The Center also just recommend services rather than particular placements. We've taken Danny to UCLA Hospital for a neurological work up, and to a neuropsychologist. I don't know where else we would get an independent evaluation but would be interested if something like that were available. Our main interest right now is to try to find out what programs and services are available so we know what to fight for... --Mike Schwartz in Ventura, CA, father of 3.5 year old twins (CHaRGE) and Re: HELP-Deaf/Special needs classroom Forgive me if I am saying something that was already said. My e-mail was down for a week and I've had company, so in catching up I have glanced at many e-mails....but.... Have you considered an independent evaluation? Prior to dealing with our local school system, we had my daughter independently evaluated (at the Boston Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children). It confirmed what we basically already knew...that she needed to go to a school for the deaf that utilized ASL for teaching, had certified teachers of the deaf, and would provide her with deaf peers---critical for language development, etc... This school also has therapists (PT, OT, etc...) who can sign to her. While the recommendentation did not name a specific school it basically described the type of teacher, school and environment she needed. It was obvious which school that was. My town (every town has it's own school system here) was completely supportive of the school choice. Perhaps they would have been supportive without the evaluation, but it didn't hurt to have an independent authority do the evaluation. By the way, I told the school system that I was open to other school options if they had any others. They didn't. They were pleased with my choice....actually I think they were happy I made it easy for them by handing them the solution. My daughter is now going into her 4th year at this school. My local school system sees how well she is doing and would not even consider moving her. They cannot meet her needs like this school can. Good luck. -- We have been fighting our school district and have managed, so far, to get Danny placed in the hearing impaired program, even though they keep pushing to put him in an orthopedically handicapped program where they don't sign. Those must be amazing teachers, who can teach a deaf child without being able to communicate with him (sarcastic smile...) 5th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana,July20-22, 2001. Information is available at our websitewww.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter)please contact marion@... or visit the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation web page at http://www.chargesyndrome.org