Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please

[LittleMiss73]

My son has a bilateral sever to profound hearing loss, hearing aids have not worked for him. We live in southern calif and he attends California School For the Deaf Riverside. He started going to school there when he was 3 years old. I thought giving him a headstart with other children who were deaf would be good for him.(My husband, myself and our other 2 children are hearing) I have come to realize that this specialized school is no better and no worse than a regular public hearing school. The children that are slow learners are always the last to be seen or heard. I was told by the superintendnt of the school that it is only important that the children make it through school and it was not important that they make it out in the hearing mans world, they can live on social security all their lives. I was irate and went off on this man telling him that my son is deaf he is not a vegetable he will make it and he will some day have his job!!!! I from then on was known as the BI$%H!!!!! Now living in California as of 2006 all high school seniors must pass an exit exam or they will not receive their diploma. Well if my son continues the path he is on now he will not graduate high school.

He is 9 and in the 3rd grade. He reads at a kindergarten level and math and spelling I would say about the same. I have been fighting with CSDR since he was in kindergarten he was 6 years old. I wanted him held back but I was told the the incoming kindergarten children were babies and he would feel left out. I have been told this for 3 years. I am coming up on his IEP in June and I am more convienced than ever to have him held back. I intend to fight until they kick me off campus. I am also concidering mainstreaming him. But I am afraid that my not be bennificial to my son either. I don't know what to do anymore for my son, he is so frustrated with school. I feel so bad for him. I am also considering homeschooling him.

I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has anybody had/or is having this problem? If so what have you done to make things better for your child? I am at my whitts end. My other two children are GATE straight A students. I don't see why just because my son is deaf he isn't given the same opportunity.

thank you

Missy

 

[Tikra]

ah Missy, yes I see what you mean by that. For my opinion, I dont really like most of state school for deafies because they would have not give enough education lessons to deaf students compared to what they are teaching hearing students. I have been grew up and took mainstreaming all my life and I have no problem well other than little grammer problem.

In fact, If I were you, I would do research and see if could find best school that would help your son to improve his education specially in english, reading, and math area. I think mainstreaming would be good for him BUT just be sure they provide necesseries for your son's need such as interpreter, tty, etc. Hmm about the homeschooling, well it may be kinda of hard on your son because when he grow up he would have hard time make friends out there other than stay home and take homeschooling however yes education is most important thing.

As what the superintendent has told you is very wrong, I think he/she should be fired for say such as thing like that. I am glad you jump on him/her because I would do same thing if I were in your shoes.

 

[Gemtun]

I cannot believe what the supt told you. Not all deaf people survive on Social Security. Besides, that may not be available when your son grows up.

I grew up in a mainstreaming program and did not have any problem with that. I graduated from college too so you can see that there is a hope for your son if he enrolls in a mainstreaming program.

I admire you for sticking through and fighting for your son's education goals. It is clear that CSDR has low expectations of deaf students and not pushing them up to their limits or even beyond the limits.

There are many wonderful mainstreaming programs in SOuthern California. You can contact John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles or Tripod in Burbank for resources/referrals.

Best of luck

 

[Maria]

Hahaha Shiva ! I personally agree with you. I, myself grew up in mainstream schools, too. LOL I was dismissed one month earlier from the principal because, of my highest credits. Of course, I received a diploma on June 26th after I had my one month vacation.

 

[Maria]

Missy...

Not all deafies live on SSI or SSDI. I am myself and had my own job as a computer specialist (inventory). My hearin' parents' doctor recommended them to send me to St. Joseph's School for the Deaf (in New York City) when I was 5 years old and learned how to talk with the help of hearin' aid...until I reached the age of 8 years, my parents moved to Fresno, California and they sent me to a mainstream school. From there, I met my best old pal who taught me sign language in a bathroom. That was how I got to know how to communicate better in both ways (voice and signings). I believe it helps to use both voice/signings to help communicatin'.... IMO! Wish you the best for your son!

 

[e]

if i were you, i'd pull him out of school immediately after fighting with school. it'll be a waste of time because they have no expectation in deaf children, period. i'd find either special school, tutor and or homeschooling to get him catch up to his age/grade level. then put him in a mainstreaming school with deaf program or no deaf program but provides his needs (ie interpreter, notetaking, etc) **when you find a school with deaf program, be sure that you investigate and more aware in program. not all of them are great, though.**
i grew up in a mainstreamed school with no deaf program but they provided interpreter. until in high school, i transferred to a school for the deaf... i got really upset seeing everything went on there, by how teacher treated the kids, and more. i left there by end of year. missing out one year worth of classes because they didnt have the proper requirements for graduation.
anyway, i hope my information helps you considering whats best for your son. i wish you good luck and everything'll be ok. im happy to hear how much concern you are. unfortunately, not most parents are aware of problems at school for the deaf, nor listen to their children.

 

[deafdyke]

For my opinion, I dont really like most of state school for deafies because they would have not give enough education lessons to deaf students compared to what they are teaching hearing students

Shiva, I do agree that the state deaf school really isn't a superb education but, the reason that deaf schools are so bad is b/c nowadays most students who go to them are the end-of-the-line students who fell through the cracks educationally like in the mainstream or in a really bad self-contained classroom or who are oral failures. Kids who start out in schools for the deaf and then transfer to mainstream schools tend to do better.

 

[Nesmuth]

Csdr

I was mainstreamed and am no fan of CSDR.

Being in the social service field for over 7 years, I can tell too few of the deaf graduates from CSDR can read, write, hold jobs, be independent, and most importantly THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

The best thing get the kid out into a mainstream school and have the Sacramento politicians nuke CSDR for all I care.

Richard Roehm

 

[Frisky Feline]

Wow I am totally shocked at the superintendnt telling you about ss benefits or so. It sounds like the superintendt did not care about their own kids in school. Oh my god!

Well, It's up to you that you can check out about other schools or move to other states.

If I were in your shoes, I would put my kid in the mainstreaming school. It's my responsible to check out to see how kid is doing in school and acemdic system. Also, it's better for you to know more by talking to teachers to see if teachers do care about my kid or not. I also will check out for the Deaf club around here so he can make friends at the deaf club but he goes to mainstream school. Just do your best to provide your kid as you can but you better communicate wiht your kid so frequently. I think it's a good idea for you to do homeschooling your kid like 2 hours top everyday or every other day to keep him nose in the books.

I grew up in a deaf school because my parents didn't have really any dipolma but they have good common senes and good morals. They don't know much about mainstream school or hearing school. They thought deaf school is good for me. I don't blame my parents for it and they thought it was good. All I remember was that they keep telling me to do my best as much as I can and don't be giving up or sorry for myself. I even went to Gallaudet and received BS degree. I do ok. I do have english problem but I do learn everyday. It's never too late than nothing. I have a job steady but not wow. It was another long story
My dh's situation is completely different than mine. He is profoundly deaf. His mom had been homeschooling him and teaching him how to speak. She sent him to hearing school. He was the only one person who is deaf in school. Well, he do excellent in school, straigh A and speaks pretty good but no steady friends. There are pros and cons.

my opinion is put him in mainstream school and follow up on his school and search for the deaf club. I believe that overall is sufficent for your kid to be aware with what's going on. Or move to other state to find a better deaf school but Almost most of deaf schools have low standard educations. Or i could be wrong.

good luck.. feel free to PM me about this. FYI I live in northeast.

 

[deafdyke]

Or move to other state to find a better deaf school but Almost most of deaf schools have low standard educations. Or i could be wrong.

Some schools for the Deaf do have low standards for education but that's mainly b/c of the fact that most students who go there went there as a last resort..they are the kids who fell through the cracks and didn't get appropreaite services in mainstream placements. Also, I'd have to say that while many of them have a low quality of education, most of them would probaly rank higher then inner city schools or extremely poor school districts.
Missy...definitly homeschool your son...maybe your husband will get assigned to a new post near a good Deaf school. I'm surprised BBNT hasn't posted here....Paging BBNT!

 

[CatoCooper13]

I was mainstreamed for the first 4 years of my education, then transferred to a deaf residential school where I completed my education. I'm just frankly disappointed that the sister school, Riverside, is totally lacking in looking after their students and ensuring that they get the best type of education whilst being schooled at CSDR. I graduated from CSDF - the sister school of CSDR.
I must admit that I believe that CSDF has a better and higher education standard than CSDR. That's just in my opinion, ok?

What I can suggest is for you to do -- do some serious research on the surrounding schools that can accommodate your child's educational needs, plus find a place that'll be able to help pull up his reading levels up to par. Try to encourage him in reading more and so forth.

 

[jazzy]

A former student at CSDR, I am still upset what they did for me. I stayed there for 3 years till my parents pulled me out and put me in public school with the help of school board. I was very lucky to have a parents who wants the best of rme.I did not learn much there. I remember when I enrolled there I was doing 3rd grade math and just started to learn how to read. At CSDR I was 9 years old and was in 4th grade, they won't let me to do 4th grade math ( I was very good with math at that time) instead they made me to do 1st grade math with other kids who were not ready for that level. I was forced to lower my level to their level. I was starved for learning and I was choked by this system. I was very depress and homesick. Thank God my parents fought to find a better school for me and got best teacher at public school. By the time I left there, I was still doing 3rd grade math and 1st grade reading level. At mainstreamed I went from 1 st grade reading to college level. But my math and writing skill never reach higher. I would have been math teacher if they let me do it my own cuz my favorite subject was math but after CSDR I lost interest in it. Oh well.

I see the system has not changed much since I was there in early 70's.


My mother helped many students from CSDR to find a good paying jobs back in 70's. They were dumped by CSDR after they graduated from high school and had no skills. VR helped them to go to vocational school, this was where my mother did alot for them to see they got some training and skills ,then she went out and find jobs for them. I don't know about today.

Wish you a good luck finding a better education for your son.

jazzy

 

[Reba]

I was told by the superintendnt of the school that it is only important that the children make it through school and it was not important that they make it out in the hearing mans world, they can live on social security all their lives.

That superintendent should be fired!

 

[Mizzou]

Well I am mainstreamed student myself all of my life.... One time in the past, My parents were trying to learn about ASD (Alabama School for the Blind and Deaf) They learned that mostly of deafies are behind of two years from hearies levels. They decide that I have stayed in public school around the hearies and deafies who are in program for the deaf. I am happy that I went! More challange with hearing world and deaf world...ofc, I am not happy about deafies learn two year behind!

 

[deafdyke]

plus find a place that'll be able to help pull up his reading levels up to par. Try to encourage him in reading more and so forth.

Some advice....turn on the CC on your TV and keep it on. Try Cued Speech...it has worked wonders for many deaf and hard of hearing kids.
There is also a new reading system called Fairview Learning which helps deaf and hard of hearing kids to read. Also join the American Society for Deaf Children's listserv parentdeaf-hh.
I gotta say, it sounds like if you'd sent your son to almost any other deaf school, he's probaly be a very good high achiver.

 

[Ziusudra]

I'm not American, but it looks to me as if that school isn't a very good one as they have low expectations. I have met deaf people who have very low expectations of themselves as that was how they were taught to believe. If they believe that, how can they try and push themselves to their limit to see what they can achieve? I'd suggest trying mainstreaming, that was how I was brought up, and it worked very well, although having interpreters provided and maybe note-takers as your son gets to high school could benefit him enormously.

 

[Sweet_KJ]

I have sent Missy an email. CSDR is notoriously known for poor education (but wonderful teachers) -- there's a lack of care and concern in after-school activities (homework, etc) -- and the school board can be stubborn to changes or improvements.

I do recommend mainstreaming him, especially if the family's in Southern California (there's plenty of schools with DHH programs).

 

[racheleggert]

I think you may need to pull your kid out of deaf school.... Most of deaf schools have really lousy education. I was at MN Deaf school, their education STINKS BIG TIME! I suffered through 2 years of hell, I didn't learn that much like they doesn't teach vocabs, higher level of reading and math... my reading level was like at 4th or 5th grade but when I arrived to public high school, my reading level moved up to like 8 or 9th grade level (I advanced my reading level while at legislature too. to legislative reading level).. When I was at deaf program at my old HS, a teacher said that my reading level is very high than most of D/HH students. I was shocked. My friends who graduated from MN Deaf school have low reading level like at between 2nd-5th grade reading level. They said that they don't learn things that are being taught in piblic school such as how to find jobs, do resume, how to vote, etc.... Some of MSAD grads apporach me on how to vote, I was shocked that the social studies teachers didn't teach them elections and issues... I think Deaf School education should change! not lousy, need more in depth discussions/lecture on classes!!!! Deaf school are stupid, PERIOD!

 

[bethkobrl]

Pull him out of school and home school him. And I agree with deafdyke, keep the closed captions on every tv in your house. Some hearing people find them distracting but give it a few monthes and they will learn to filter them out like background noise. And in the mean time your son will be exposed to writen english. Also I have heard good things about cued speech and the captioned media program has a 3 hour streamed video on it, you can also get it on vhs tape from them. That video will teach you the entire cued speech system for english. The captioned media program is free, the website is: www.cfv.org. They also have videos on sign language and lipreading, as well as many many other topics. It's well worth checking out. Its funded by the goverment. There is really good home schooling materials out there that can be found at bookstores and school suplie shops. He should not have any more trouble in math than a hearing child, so for that you can use any comperhensive math program with lots of visuals and little toy things they call manipitables. The other subjects might be harder depending on the comunication mode you chose to use and you sons fluency in that method. But there are may different ways to teach reading. You could also put print lables on all the different things in your house, that would help with vocabulary. The phonics method for teaching reading is very popular and would work well with speech and cued speech. The language experance method also works well. I suggest going to the book store and looking in the section on teaching children to read, there you will find many books on teaching reading and the vaious methods. The library might not have the most up to date books. Go to the bookstore when you have a few hours so you can study the books. www.readinga-z.com has an excelent phonics based program and guided reading program also worth checking out. Just some stuff off the top of my head. I can be reached at bethko@att.net

Beth Koenig

 

[Nesmuth]

Ah Beth! Its a wonderful surprise to see a trusty associate like you giving these people a good hand!

Richard