One poor correspondent

October 7, 2004

Hi folks. I recognize a few names that I've seen in the last few digests

(hi and Barbara!), but I also see lots of new folks.

I've been lurking a little, but mostly just completely out of the loop

lately, what with work, life, yadda yadda yadda.

A little update...Teddy is now seven, and recently started second grade

at our neighborhood elementary school in Rhode Island (he's

severe/profound, aided since 8 weeks). He has a paraprofessional in the

classroom who's really just there for ad hoc support...to make sure he

stays on task, and doesn't miss what's being discussed. She sends home

reports for preteaching and reteaching, and is a great liaison. The para

and the teacher each use an FM transmitter (Phonak Microlink, one's a

TX2 and one's a TX3), and Teddy's using ReSound Canta 7 hearing aids.

Basically, he's doing great. His language is age appropriate receptively

and expressively, and his private AVT has cut him back from once a week

to once a month individual and once a month group. He had a little

expressive blip for a few weeks last spring when he lost both his front

top teeth...but that doesn't count. ;-)

Teddy's big thing is reading. He's about two grade levels ahead in

reading...last year, they pulled him out of first grade when the other

kids were learning reading, so he could go read to the kindergarten

class. That was a big ego boost for him (especially when they clapped!).

He's right about on target for math skills, and he loves science, too.

My hope is that starting in third grade, we can begin to phase out the

paraprofessional in his classroom, and he can really start taking

ownership of his needs, which wind up more being behavioural than

directly hearing-related (although as we all know, in a lot of cases,

the behaviour problems stem from either perception problems or exhaustion).

Here are a few pictures!

I promise to try to be a better list member!

--kerri

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