Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I've been trying to get the school to get the idea that sign language can be of benefit to Aubrie even though she is verbal. Finally, she is attending the school for the deaf with the intention that she become a fluent signer and return to the home school with an interpreter eventually. So they finally got the idea of the merit of sign as a receptive communication support. However, I never could get them to understand that it could also be a support expressively if the other students and teacher learned sign so that she could clarify when we don't understand her speech. Even if the teachers only knew the alphabet, it could help clarify what she is saying during spelling instruction and she could fingerspell now that she's becoming more literate. You can imagine the discussions over the years trying to get the idea across and suggesting that the classmates would learn if we offered the opportunity. Most kids her age (3rd grade) are eager to learn ASL. And we have a high school student who is deaf so his friends would be interested in learning as well. I tried to suggest we create a district-wide sign club. Oh no, we can't do that, blah, blah, blah. Now fast forward to just recently when the little neighbor girl came to play. We haven't seen much of her this school year. She is Aubrie's age and has been a wonderful, caring friend since preschool. She and her brother were eating dinner with us when Aubrie signed, " More milk please. " They thought that was so cool and wanted to learn to do it themselves. Soon all of them were asking for milk! Then I put in the Signing Times DVD and they eagerly watched and learned more. After about 5 minutes, she came to me and said, " This is so cool! If I learn sign, then Aubrie could sign to me when I don't understand what she's saying! " Hello! 3rd grade friend gets it in 5 minutes. School still doesn't really get it. Go figure, huh? To complicate things, if Aubrie's hearing improves, we won't have a good argument for sign receptively and they surely won't buy it for expressive clarification only. Oh well. I just thought it was fascinating that the little friend came up with the idea on her own so quickly. Michele W Aubrie's mom 9 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 , I wonder if I only write when I'm gaga... When was still in school in Springfield, our 711 person (is it still called that - the deafblind resource for Missouri) funded a sign language group for and her peers; I know that this was done - and done much better in a smaller district in state). Check into that as a resource. Our problem was that when the kids ('s great buddies at the end - bowling, swimming, camp outs, etc) moved up a grade, everything started all over again with another group. So, was always with peers who were learning the absolute basics of sign. The other person in MO I mentioned had a very aware (i.e., and bitchy) mom who somehow got it in her daughter's IEP that the child would follow her peers as they moved up in grade. There were problems, but I think it fundamentally worked. By the way, the family had great support from the Hilton-Perkins program as this was put together. They had specialists coming in to the district off and on and real bonds were formed. This is what our district specifically fought against - though it wouldn't have cost them a penny. Let me know if you'd like me to try my old contacts to see if the kind of support I'm talking about is still available. Pam might know, too. I cannot stress enough how fantastic these folks are. Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 coool > > , > I wonder if I only write when I'm gaga... > When was still in school in Springfield, our 711 person (is it still > > called that - the deafblind resource for Missouri) funded a sign language > group for and her peers; I know that this was done - and done much > better in a smaller district in state). Check into that as a resource. Our > > problem was that when the kids ('s great buddies at the end - > bowling, swimming, camp outs, etc) moved up a grade, everything started > all over again with another group. So, was always with peers who > were learning the absolute basics of sign. > The other person in MO I mentioned had a very aware (i.e., and bitchy) > mom who somehow got it in her daughter's IEP that the child would follow > her peers as they moved up in grade. There were problems, but I think it > fundamentally worked. By the way, the family had great support from the > Hilton-Perkins program as this was put together. They had specialists > coming in to the district off and on and real bonds were formed. This is > what our district specifically fought against - though it wouldn't have > cost > them a penny. > Let me know if you'd like me to try my old contacts to see if the kind of > support I'm talking about is still available. Pam might know, too. I > cannot > stress enough how fantastic these folks are. > Martha > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Michele, I could HEAR you saying this. Funny, isn't it, how the little kids get it. " Out of the mouths of babes " and all that. pam get the idea? I've been trying to get the school to get the idea that sign language can be of benefit to Aubrie even though she is verbal. Finally, she is attending the school for the deaf with the intention that she become a fluent signer and return to the home school with an interpreter eventually. So they finally got the idea of the merit of sign as a receptive communication support. However, I never could get them to understand that it could also be a support expressively if the other students and teacher learned sign so that she could clarify when we don't understand her speech. Even if the teachers only knew the alphabet, it could help clarify what she is saying during spelling instruction and she could fingerspell now that she's becoming more literate. You can imagine the discussions over the years trying to get the idea across and suggesting that the classmates would learn if we offered the opportunity. Most kids her age (3rd grade) are eager to learn ASL. And we have a high school student who is deaf so his friends would be interested in learning as well. I tried to suggest we create a district-wide sign club. Oh no, we can't do that, blah, blah, blah. Now fast forward to just recently when the little neighbor girl came to play. We haven't seen much of her this school year. She is Aubrie's age and has been a wonderful, caring friend since preschool. She and her brother were eating dinner with us when Aubrie signed, " More milk please. " They thought that was so cool and wanted to learn to do it themselves. Soon all of them were asking for milk! Then I put in the Signing Times DVD and they eagerly watched and learned more. After about 5 minutes, she came to me and said, " This is so cool! If I learn sign, then Aubrie could sign to me when I don't understand what she's saying! " Hello! 3rd grade friend gets it in 5 minutes. School still doesn't really get it. Go figure, huh? To complicate things, if Aubrie's hearing improves, we won't have a good argument for sign receptively and they surely won't buy it for expressive clarification only. Oh well. I just thought it was fascinating that the little friend came up with the idea on her own so quickly. Michele W Aubrie's mom 9 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Hi Martha, I just saw this as it was attached to ellen's note--I did not get it on my computer which is odd. And...makes me wonder if you have received any of my recent emails to you--her and off line??? pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 very odd pam how coem ui get emails from me lol > > Hi Martha, > I just saw this as it was attached to ellen's note--I did not get it on my > computer which is odd. And...makes me wonder if you have received any of my > recent emails to you--her and off line??? > > pam > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I know, Ellen, very odd. I think this is happening a lot lately. I notice that people are responding to things and I am surprised and have not seen the info. I don't know what to do about that. You know what a nit wit I am with the computer. Now, I know you are a wake and alert, but this girl is going to be. Good night, dearie. pam Re: get the idea? very odd pam how coem ui get emails from me lol > > Hi Martha, > I just saw this as it was attached to ellen's note--I did not get it on my > computer which is odd. And...makes me wonder if you have received any of my > recent emails to you--her and off line??? > > pam > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Michele said: >Hello! 3rd grade friend gets it in 5 minutes. School still doesn't really >get it. Go figure, huh? Michele, this doesn't surprise me ONE bit...kids usually 'get it' quicker than adults. Especially adults dealing with budgets/finances. www.chargesyndrome.info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Martha- Sounds like good info. Let's wait and see what next year brings. We're still waiting for final healing of her ear and final outcome of her hearing to decide where she'll go next year. Michele _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of lewcap@... Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 10:55 PM To: CHARGE Subject: Re: get the idea? , I wonder if I only write when I'm gaga... When was still in school in Springfield, our 711 person (is it still called that - the deafblind resource for Missouri) funded a sign language group for and her peers; I know that this was done - and done much better in a smaller district in state). Check into that as a resource. Our problem was that when the kids ('s great buddies at the end - bowling, swimming, camp outs, etc) moved up a grade, everything started all over again with another group. So, was always with peers who were learning the absolute basics of sign. The other person in MO I mentioned had a very aware (i.e., and bitchy) mom who somehow got it in her daughter's IEP that the child would follow her peers as they moved up in grade. There were problems, but I think it fundamentally worked. By the way, the family had great support from the Hilton-Perkins program as this was put together. They had specialists coming in to the district off and on and real bonds were formed. This is what our district specifically fought against - though it wouldn't have cost them a penny. Let me know if you'd like me to try my old contacts to see if the kind of support I'm talking about is still available. Pam might know, too. I cannot stress enough how fantastic these folks are. Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Pam- Oh yes, it was a priceless moment. This is a little girl who has " got it " since she was 3. She has always known how to modify her play for Aubrie, how to listen carefully when she talks, just everything. I should bring her in on the IEP team! Michele _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of pamela.ryan@... Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 11:44 PM To: CHARGE Subject: RE: get the idea? Michele, I could HEAR you saying this. Funny, isn't it, how the little kids get it. " Out of the mouths of babes " and all that. pam get the idea? I've been trying to get the school to get the idea that sign language can be of benefit to Aubrie even though she is verbal. Finally, she is attending the school for the deaf with the intention that she become a fluent signer and return to the home school with an interpreter eventually. So they finally got the idea of the merit of sign as a receptive communication support. However, I never could get them to understand that it could also be a support expressively if the other students and teacher learned sign so that she could clarify when we don't understand her speech. Even if the teachers only knew the alphabet, it could help clarify what she is saying during spelling instruction and she could fingerspell now that she's becoming more literate. You can imagine the discussions over the years trying to get the idea across and suggesting that the classmates would learn if we offered the opportunity. Most kids her age (3rd grade) are eager to learn ASL. And we have a high school student who is deaf so his friends would be interested in learning as well. I tried to suggest we create a district-wide sign club. Oh no, we can't do that, blah, blah, blah. Now fast forward to just recently when the little neighbor girl came to play. We haven't seen much of her this school year. She is Aubrie's age and has been a wonderful, caring friend since preschool. She and her brother were eating dinner with us when Aubrie signed, " More milk please. " They thought that was so cool and wanted to learn to do it themselves. Soon all of them were asking for milk! Then I put in the Signing Times DVD and they eagerly watched and learned more. After about 5 minutes, she came to me and said, " This is so cool! If I learn sign, then Aubrie could sign to me when I don't understand what she's saying! " Hello! 3rd grade friend gets it in 5 minutes. School still doesn't really get it. Go figure, huh? To complicate things, if Aubrie's hearing improves, we won't have a good argument for sign receptively and they surely won't buy it for expressive clarification only. Oh well. I just thought it was fascinating that the little friend came up with the idea on her own so quickly. Michele W Aubrie's mom 9 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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