Asked to change swimming lesson classes.

katiek

katiek

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I signed my son (age 3) up for swimming lessons at the local pool. Without his hearing aids, he can hear virtually no verbal language. On the first day, I told the teacher of his hearing diffuculties and she assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. I even offered to stay close by the side to sign when necessary or to show her some basic signs Noah may need during class (wait, stop, sit down, your turn, blow bubbles, kick, etc.). I also explained that he is quite efficient at reading lips and he will answer orally, as that is his first language. The first lesson went fine. The next day, the Director approached him and said, "We feel that having Noah in the pool is a safety concern because he can't hear us. There is a special needs class that you could attend".

I was LIVID and dumbfounded. I replied asking her, "If there was a Spanish speaking child would you insist that they attend the special needs class?" Of course she tole me "No". I retorted that Noah doesn't have a special need and that him not being able to hear is no more a liability than a Spanish speaking child with an English speaking teacher!

Begrudgingly, they have allowed him to remain in the class.

If situations like this arise again, is there a better way that I should handle it? The whole thing made me mad and sad at the same time.
 
I think you handled it pretty well. Just keep up the good work! I would be angry, too.
 
I think the example you gave was perfect. Don't let anyone treat your child badly!
 
Congratulations on having the "come back" ready when you could actually use it! I am inclined to think of those hours or days later.
 
I grew up on swimming lessons and competitive swimming. My mom fought for my right to be a part of the swim team and after that the coaches realized that I was a very strong swimmer and there were no safety issues. Hearing people can be idiots.

Good for you!
 
Whenever I sign my son up for any type of extracurricular activity, I always let them know ahead of time that he is deaf. I explain to them that he is a multimodal student, and give tips on attention getting and communicating with him.

It wasn't until he was older and could communicate and advocate for himself that I stopped attending those practices and activities. I would stay to ensure that he was accessing his surroundings, and was able to clarify for him when he couldn't hear or misunderstood.

I think it comes down to them not being educated about hearing loss. Take some time to gather some information to provide them with, and you share relevant info about your son so they know how to best communicate with him.

I would highly encourage you to stay and be available to clarify for him in case he didn't understand something, especially since his hearing aids will be off.

I really don't think those people were being deliberately hurtful. Sounds like a case of lack of understanding.

Depending on the activity, sometimes it is possible to secure an interpreter, however for something like this, at this young of an age... I would just stay with him...
 
Would the special class be a swimming class? If so, I think you should take the special class because he will most certainly learn better with more direct instruction.

I understand the hostility, but would it not be better for the child?
 
Sadly, the special needs class is "water play" and not swimming instruction.
 
Welcome to our world.this is a perfect example what we go through all the time.people wonder why we seem harsh.sorry to say but this is the norm.it sucks.if you are good with soft confrontation for life, then your soon has it made



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It's hard when it's our children we have to make decisions for. My son doesn't have hearing issues, but he does have asperger's. I have been in situations where the choice was to fight for him or not. There were times when I felt like fighting what was happening would do more to make an example of him than it would to help him. In those situations I usually try to find another solution/facility/teacher that will work with him. Sometimes you can fight the decision but you can't change the perception of the people you are fighting. That's when you have to decide if it's worth it to you. As long as you make the best informed decision for you child that you can then you have done what's right for you.
 
Interesting. This is basically education. Learning is involved. And now a lot of people are arguing for "mainstreaming." :hmm:


I'm glad they are allowing him to stay in the class. I can understand how they might be uneasy simply for insurance purposes. Hope he has a great summer and learns a lot! :)
 
VacationGuy234 said:
Would the special class be a swimming class? If so, I think you should take the special class because he will most certainly learn better with more direct instruction.

I understand the hostility, but would it not be better for the child?
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Would you want your child to have a normal life and have him or her get a chance to learn from classes with a teacher who said that deafness is not a problem or would you have your child be in speacial classes, having him think that he is not ever going to have a normal life because your child will always have it in his or her mind that he or she is not normal? This is my
experience and it's an aweful feeling and hangs with your child forever.

DO NOT let that happen with your child reguardless if your child is hearing or deaf.:hmm:

BTW, I have mild mental problems. However, I do have a special place in my heart for deaf people because I've had friends who I cared about who are deaf. They are a remarkable people. I look up to them.
 
skypony said:
Would you want your child to have a normal life and have him or her get a chance to learn from classes with a teacher who said that deafness is not a problem or would you have your child be in speacial classes, having him think that he is not ever going to have a normal life because your child will always have it in his or her mind that he or she is not normal? This is my
experience and it's an aweful feeling and hangs with your child forever.

DO NOT let that happen with your child reguardless if your child is hearing or deaf.:hmm:

BTW, I have mild mental problems. However, I do have a special place in my heart for deaf people because I've had friends who I cared about who are deaf. They are a remarkable people. I look up to them.
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As someone who grew up as a deaf child, I can tell you that, "normal" classes are not always the best thing for that child. This is even more true when dealing with something that can be dangerous for that child such as swimming. For my child, I would take the special class for this subject if offered. It's more important to take care of the child in this case.

It is pointless to compare a deaf life with someone that is hearing because it is comparing two totally different things. People born deaf have a deaf life(some better some worse), it is what it is.
 
VacationGuy234 said:
As someone who grew up as a deaf child, I can tell you that, "normal" classes are not always the best thing for that child. This is even more true when dealing with something that can be dangerous for that child such as swimming. For my child, I would take the special class for this subject if offered. It's more important to take care of the child in this case.

It is pointless to compare a deaf life with someone that is hearing because it is comparing two totally different things. People born deaf have a deaf life(some better some worse), it is what it is.
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special class with special attention. how lonesome.

student_sitting_alone_fx8676.jpg
 
katiek said:
I signed my son (age 3) up for swimming lessons at the local pool. Without his hearing aids, he can hear virtually no verbal language. On the first day, I told the teacher of his hearing diffuculties and she assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. I even offered to stay close by the side to sign when necessary or to show her some basic signs Noah may need during class (wait, stop, sit down, your turn, blow bubbles, kick, etc.). I also explained that he is quite efficient at reading lips and he will answer orally, as that is his first language. The first lesson went fine. The next day, the Director approached him and said, "We feel that having Noah in the pool is a safety concern because he can't hear us. There is a special needs class that you could attend".

I was LIVID and dumbfounded. I replied asking her, "If there was a Spanish speaking child would you insist that they attend the special needs class?" Of course she tole me "No". I retorted that Noah doesn't have a special need and that him not being able to hear is no more a liability than a Spanish speaking child with an English speaking teacher!

Begrudgingly, they have allowed him to remain in the class.

If situations like this arise again, is there a better way that I should handle it? The whole thing made me mad and sad at the same time.
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No , you did a great job and came back really fast with a good question what if the child did not speak English etc. A special needs class it for kids that have a hard time using their bodies, being deaf or hoh does not mean you swim with your ears. I guess you could say something like that the next time. And I really hate it being called 'special needs classes'!
Can't someone come up a better word to use instead of making a child feel like there is something really wrong with them .
 
i have deaf friend who lifegard..my opinion someone with disability and (i hate using that word when pertaining to deaf)are far safer you know limitations and work with what you have and lifegards know this and it makes no odds to them..
I was told if you have heart or epilepsy problems then they bring extra lifegard in just for that session(i think deaf diver won medal at olympics)
 
caz12 said:
i have deaf friend who lifegard..my opinion someone with disability and (i hate using that word when pertaining to deaf)are far safer you know limitations and work with what you have and lifegards know this and it makes no odds to them..
I was told if you have heart or epilepsy problems then they bring extra lifegard in just for that session(i think deaf diver won medal at olympics)
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It's not a question of not being able to learn. It's a question of learning correctly. If a person can't learn correctly in a course, that course is not the course for that person.

Once a person has correct knowledge that person can do anything.
 
katiek said:
Sadly, the special needs class is "water play" and not swimming instruction.
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HUH?? So why the HELL would that teacher think your child belong in a water play class? Deaf and hoh people do not take driving lessons or road tests in toy cars to getting their driving license. So why should a deaf or hoh child be told to go to water play when they're trying to learn how to swim?
 
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