1st Time IEP-I'm Scared

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

and TOD have noticed his confusion.

We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

(high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

be appreciated.

Thanks,

mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

hearing)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Were do you live exactly? I live in Francestown, NH. My son is 5 and

profoundly deaf. His sister is 2 and hearing. Are you sending him to daycare and

preschool or does the daycare provide preschool classes?

Debi

lmng_farmer lfarmer21@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone

I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

and TOD have noticed his confusion.

We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

(high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

be appreciated.

Thanks,

mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

hearing)

[Guest guest]

I realize that things can vary from state to state, and even from district to

district, but here is our experience.

When our son turned three, I chose to go back to work and put him in daycase.

He had been in EI from the age of nine months (multiple disabilities, including

HOH), and I chose to stay home for two years to help him get therapy, doctor

visits, etc. By the time he was three and transitioning to an IEP, I felt it was

time to start getting him used to a " school environment. " (I was also going

stir-crazy myself--I am NOT cut out to be a SAHM!!!)

Our local school system does not provide daycare or preschool services before

pre-Kindergarten for any child, and pre-K (aka Jump Start) is provided only for

children with disabilities or other learning delays. When we transitioned to an

IEP, DH was working second shift (3pm-11pm), so he was able to take DS to

therapy sessions provided by the school. However, the school system allowed us

to choose the preschool he attended. We did have to pay for preschool, but

preschool is not included in FAPE, unless the school system provides the service

system-wide for all children.

When our son reached the age for Jump Start, he was automatically accepted,

but it was for a half-day program in the mornings. By that time, my husband had

taken a first-shift job (and I was already working first-shift in my job), so

neither of us could be home with him in the afternoons. His daycare was willing

to have him dropped off there after the Jump Start program, but they required

that we pay full tuition anyway (as did all the other daycare programs we spoke

to--lots of them had morning-only programs with reduced tuition, but none had

afternoon-only programs). So we opted out of the Jump Start program, so that DS

could be in the same place all day most days. Therapy provided by the school was

done at the local elementary school (less than a mile from the daycare), but the

school system provided bus transportation on the days therapy took place, and

they scheduled it with the daycare teachers. We also felt that the daycare pre-K

setting was better for him, because

the classes were smaller and he was already familiar with the personnel and

other children.

Additionally, in the first year he was on an IEP, he broke his femur and was

in a body cast (chest to toes) for more than a month. He also needed a few more

weeks after getting the cast off to learn to walk again before we could send him

back to daycare. The school provided speech therapy in our home during that

time, because he was home-bound and could not attend *any* school.

If your own school system requires you to choose from a specific set of

preschools, you may not have much luck. However, it couldn't hurt to bring up

your concerns about those schools at the IEP meeting, and ask if there is a

middle ground. If you are willing and can afford to pay for daycare/preschool of

your choice, they may be willing to provide transportation for therapy, if not

send a therapist to that daycare/preschool.

Kiminy

lmng_farmer lfarmer21@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone

I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

....We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

(high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

be appreciated.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

My son Elias (cancer survivor, bilateral mod-to-severe SN hearing loss,

wears hearing aids)

is in a daycare which is also a preschool. It is a very progressive

preschool that follows a

sort of Bank Street style curriculum (which is in the vein of Montessori,

but less strict).

We've had a wonderful experience with our daycare, but not such a great

experience with

the school system. Luckily, because the daycare is private (a YWCA), we can

work things

out with the teachers pretty easily.

Elias was in Early Intervention for one year, and has now been under an IEP

for

a year and a half, through our school district.

Elias does have an FM system, which we obtained through Early Intervention,

and I can't

say enough for it. His preschool teachers use it whenever they need to get

Elias to

listen (circle time, for example). Although Elias is in a private daycare

outside of the

school district, he does get therapy services through the district. He has

PT, OT, and

a " special education itinerant teacher " , as well as a speech therapist.

Because of the

cancer treatment, he has issues besides the hearing loss - that is why he

has PT and OT.

The IEP experience has been mixed for us. On the one hand, they have no

trouble

providing services at his daycare, as long as the services are the sort of

" normal " services

that they are used to. On the other hand, they won't acknowlege the hearing

loss,

and refused to write in his FM system, or the other accomodations that his

audiologist

requested, into his IEP. The district has never dealt with a cancer kid

before, and

they don't seem to have much experience with hearing impaired kids. So, I

don't think

they understand the complexity of his situation. They did refer him to a

special preschool

that mixes speech and developmentally delayed kids with " normal " kids - but

when

I visited, I found that they did not know much about hearing impaired kids,

and the

accoustics in the rooms were so bad that I could barely hear anyone

speaking.

Even though nothing specific to the hearing impairment is in Elias's IEP, we

haven't

had a problem with his daycare. The teachers are all happy to use the

equipment,

and try really hard to incorporate my suggestions. I do wish we had consult

time

with a TOD because it would help the daycare teachers. But I like the

flexibility

that we have now. I can suggest new tactics all the time without having to

wait

for the wheels of IEP bureaucracy to move. One thing that really helps in

our situation

is that we have used this daycare for 6 years now (my older son went through

too),

and Elias was in the toddler room when he was dx'ed with cancer. The

teachers

all saw the effects of treatment, and are very very sympathetic.

So my advice is - evaluate the daycares on how willing the teachers seem to

work

with you. How much access do you have to the teachers, and how much time can

you spend with them helping them to work with the equipment? If you can get

TOD

services, it would help, but isn't critical. However, I really think an FM

system

is useful, so I would push for one of those.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My son Elias (cancer survivor, bilateral mod-to-severe SN hearing loss,

wears hearing aids)

is in a daycare which is also a preschool. It is a very progressive

preschool that follows a

sort of Bank Street style curriculum (which is in the vein of Montessori,

but less strict).

We've had a wonderful experience with our daycare, but not such a great

experience with

the school system. Luckily, because the daycare is private (a YWCA), we can

work things

out with the teachers pretty easily.

Elias was in Early Intervention for one year, and has now been under an IEP

for

a year and a half, through our school district.

Elias does have an FM system, which we obtained through Early Intervention,

and I can't

say enough for it. His preschool teachers use it whenever they need to get

Elias to

listen (circle time, for example). Although Elias is in a private daycare

outside of the

school district, he does get therapy services through the district. He has

PT, OT, and

a " special education itinerant teacher " , as well as a speech therapist.

Because of the

cancer treatment, he has issues besides the hearing loss - that is why he

has PT and OT.

The IEP experience has been mixed for us. On the one hand, they have no

trouble

providing services at his daycare, as long as the services are the sort of

" normal " services

that they are used to. On the other hand, they won't acknowlege the hearing

loss,

and refused to write in his FM system, or the other accomodations that his

audiologist

requested, into his IEP. The district has never dealt with a cancer kid

before, and

they don't seem to have much experience with hearing impaired kids. So, I

don't think

they understand the complexity of his situation. They did refer him to a

special preschool

that mixes speech and developmentally delayed kids with " normal " kids - but

when

I visited, I found that they did not know much about hearing impaired kids,

and the

accoustics in the rooms were so bad that I could barely hear anyone

speaking.

Even though nothing specific to the hearing impairment is in Elias's IEP, we

haven't

had a problem with his daycare. The teachers are all happy to use the

equipment,

and try really hard to incorporate my suggestions. I do wish we had consult

time

with a TOD because it would help the daycare teachers. But I like the

flexibility

that we have now. I can suggest new tactics all the time without having to

wait

for the wheels of IEP bureaucracy to move. One thing that really helps in

our situation

is that we have used this daycare for 6 years now (my older son went through

too),

and Elias was in the toddler room when he was dx'ed with cancer. The

teachers

all saw the effects of treatment, and are very very sympathetic.

So my advice is - evaluate the daycares on how willing the teachers seem to

work

with you. How much access do you have to the teachers, and how much time can

you spend with them helping them to work with the equipment? If you can get

TOD

services, it would help, but isn't critical. However, I really think an FM

system

is useful, so I would push for one of those.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My son Elias (cancer survivor, bilateral mod-to-severe SN hearing loss,

wears hearing aids)

is in a daycare which is also a preschool. It is a very progressive

preschool that follows a

sort of Bank Street style curriculum (which is in the vein of Montessori,

but less strict).

We've had a wonderful experience with our daycare, but not such a great

experience with

the school system. Luckily, because the daycare is private (a YWCA), we can

work things

out with the teachers pretty easily.

Elias was in Early Intervention for one year, and has now been under an IEP

for

a year and a half, through our school district.

Elias does have an FM system, which we obtained through Early Intervention,

and I can't

say enough for it. His preschool teachers use it whenever they need to get

Elias to

listen (circle time, for example). Although Elias is in a private daycare

outside of the

school district, he does get therapy services through the district. He has

PT, OT, and

a " special education itinerant teacher " , as well as a speech therapist.

Because of the

cancer treatment, he has issues besides the hearing loss - that is why he

has PT and OT.

The IEP experience has been mixed for us. On the one hand, they have no

trouble

providing services at his daycare, as long as the services are the sort of

" normal " services

that they are used to. On the other hand, they won't acknowlege the hearing

loss,

and refused to write in his FM system, or the other accomodations that his

audiologist

requested, into his IEP. The district has never dealt with a cancer kid

before, and

they don't seem to have much experience with hearing impaired kids. So, I

don't think

they understand the complexity of his situation. They did refer him to a

special preschool

that mixes speech and developmentally delayed kids with " normal " kids - but

when

I visited, I found that they did not know much about hearing impaired kids,

and the

accoustics in the rooms were so bad that I could barely hear anyone

speaking.

Even though nothing specific to the hearing impairment is in Elias's IEP, we

haven't

had a problem with his daycare. The teachers are all happy to use the

equipment,

and try really hard to incorporate my suggestions. I do wish we had consult

time

with a TOD because it would help the daycare teachers. But I like the

flexibility

that we have now. I can suggest new tactics all the time without having to

wait

for the wheels of IEP bureaucracy to move. One thing that really helps in

our situation

is that we have used this daycare for 6 years now (my older son went through

too),

and Elias was in the toddler room when he was dx'ed with cancer. The

teachers

all saw the effects of treatment, and are very very sympathetic.

So my advice is - evaluate the daycares on how willing the teachers seem to

work

with you. How much access do you have to the teachers, and how much time can

you spend with them helping them to work with the equipment? If you can get

TOD

services, it would help, but isn't critical. However, I really think an FM

system

is useful, so I would push for one of those.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

,

Sounds like you must live in the Manchester area. There is a

preschool in Hooksett called HEAR in New Hampshire

(http://www.hearinnh.org/preschool.html). Maybe it would be an

appropriate school for your son, since it sounds like he's oral. Even

if it isn't, maybe they could help you find knowledgeable people and

resources closer to home.

Lori

[Guest guest]

,

Sounds like you must live in the Manchester area. There is a

preschool in Hooksett called HEAR in New Hampshire

(http://www.hearinnh.org/preschool.html). Maybe it would be an

appropriate school for your son, since it sounds like he's oral. Even

if it isn't, maybe they could help you find knowledgeable people and

resources closer to home.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

other options.

Barbara

lmng_farmer wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone

> I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> be appreciated.

> Thanks,

>

> mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> hearing)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

other options.

Barbara

lmng_farmer wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone

> I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> be appreciated.

> Thanks,

>

> mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> hearing)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

other options.

Barbara

lmng_farmer wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone

> I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> be appreciated.

> Thanks,

>

> mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> hearing)

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry - I meant LISA! Sheesh - too much soccer driving today for a

clear head!

Barbara Mellert wrote:

>

> Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

>

> There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

> Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

> communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

> wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

> had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

> program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

> in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

> other options.

>

> Barbara

>

> lmng_farmer wrote:

> >

> > Hi Everyone

> > I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> > this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> > intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> > been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> > Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> > 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> > disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> > children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> > needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> > appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> > His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> > refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> > preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> > an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> > completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> > and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> > We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> > out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> > grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> > 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> > (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> > treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> > these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> > will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> > can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> > Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> > be appreciated.

> > Thanks,

> >

> > mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> > hearing)

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry - I meant LISA! Sheesh - too much soccer driving today for a

clear head!

Barbara Mellert wrote:

>

> Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

>

> There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

> Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

> communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

> wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

> had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

> program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

> in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

> other options.

>

> Barbara

>

> lmng_farmer wrote:

> >

> > Hi Everyone

> > I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> > this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> > intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> > been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> > Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> > 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> > disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> > children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> > needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> > appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> > His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> > refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> > preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> > an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> > completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> > and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> > We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> > out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> > grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> > 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> > (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> > treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> > these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> > will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> > can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> > Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> > be appreciated.

> > Thanks,

> >

> > mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> > hearing)

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry - I meant LISA! Sheesh - too much soccer driving today for a

clear head!

Barbara Mellert wrote:

>

> Hi Lori - I'm in NH also - I live in Hanover.

>

> There's a wonderful preschool/kindergarten in Hookset called HEAR in New

> Hampshire. It's an oral preschool - not sure if that's your

> communication choice - but the director, Lynda French, is a wonderful,

> wonderful person and could help point you in the right direction. She

> had been with the state MICE program (it's the early intervention

> program that provides teachers of the deaf across the state). If HEAR

> in NH isn't the right place for you, they definitely will let you know

> other options.

>

> Barbara

>

> lmng_farmer wrote:

> >

> > Hi Everyone

> > I am the mom of a hard of hearing son who is turning three

> > this November. We were very blessed in having the best early

> > intervention team you could ask for. I wish I could say we have

> > been as lucky with his daycare and the School District.

> > Our first meeting with his case worker was a disaster. She showed up

> > 20 minutes late, did not bring his file, had no clue even what his

> > disability was. Has no clue about the needs of hard of hearing

> > children but felt compelled to tell us that she did not think he

> > needed a TOD at his upcoming evaluation. Refused to help set up any

> > appointments to any of the preschools that he could be attending.

> > His current daycare situation is awful. The head of the school

> > refuses to share any of the curriculum with us so that we can

> > preteach some songs or stories to him before class (he does not have

> > an FM yet). His TOD has visited twice and requested this,

> > completely ignored. He is not learning as much as he should, SLP

> > and TOD have noticed his confusion.

> > We have him on a waiting list for a new daycare. I visited the 3

> > out of 4 that our city school district contracts out with-one on the

> > grounds of the Manchester-Boston Regional airport, another is in a

> > 100+ year old building with no modifications at all for a HOH person

> > (high tin ceilings, no carpets, large original windows w/o

> > treatments), and the last is in an old mill building. To me none of

> > these are an accoustically appropriate environment, but I feel I

> > will be forced to send him somewhere I don't agree with so that he

> > can receive speech therapy and TOD services.

> > Any advise on what to request during the upcoming IEP meeting would

> > be appreciated.

> > Thanks,

> >

> > mom to (almost 3 and HOH) and (almost 3 typical

> > hearing)

> >

> >

>

>