I know my post may be going off track here, but I'd like to share my story about going to the Deaf School.
I've had hearing lost since birth, and had hearing aids in both ears since I was 3 years old. I've gone to pre school, and into the public school system.. I've been held back into kindergarten twice since I was having a hard time. I managed to get going on things after that until about 4th grade. Everythign was getting to be hard for me in lot of classes.. I did have a special Ed Teacher who worked with me much as she could. She did do a good job but I was "left out" since it was just me most of the time. The school did have an FM system for me to hear the teacher, but trying to hear the kid in the back was hard..
In 6th grade, my math teacher suggested I'd look into the deaf school. ( thinik he had a family member or someone go there) He felt that would be the best thing for me.. He saw how hard it was for me, and my social skills was very low with my peers.
I mention this to my parents, and my mom was freaking out about me "moving away from home", but felt it may be for the best. After meetings, tours, and I was off to MSD (Minnesota School for the Deaf, now Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf MSAD).
I did not know ASL other than the basic ABC's, they had ASL class for me, so I learned ASL in a short time, and started to get along with my classmates very well, it was great to know what's going on around you in the class room settings.. I was not feeling left out, missing what others has said or what they said when they asked questions.
Dorm life was great! I loved every minute of it.. We were all like brothers (I'm the only child) and yes, there were days that we didn't get along, but EVERYONE has those days. The staffs were great, and there were some who were really gong all out to be like Mom's or Dad's to us.
I went home almost every weekend the first year of school, then after the 2nd year, I went home every other weekend, and my parents were happy to see that I was happy. I was active in sports, students council and many other things.
After being at MSAD, I wished I've started earlier there, and I am very proud of that school.
19 years later, I still support that school, and I go back once a month to join the PTHAA meeting and If we ever have a child who is deaf or HOH, I will be happy to place him/her to the best school.
So, it's sad to see other states are closing down these deaf schools, and I feel really bad for the child who are forced to go back to this small town public school who has no same peer of deafness/hoh