Deaf school in WV looking for renovation needs

[shel90]

You missed the "get by" part. That is pretty important in that sentence.

I was mainstreamed and I was never given opportunities. In fact I was denied them because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to accomplish these opportunities because I couldnt hear. One that I will never forget..the denial of an opportunitiy to go to Interior Designing School all because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to communicate with the clients. So much for developing speech skills and being mainstreamed. That was a big and resounding SLAP to my face at 17 years old. It destroyed the little self-esteem I had left at the time.

If I had gone to a Deaf school or at least learn about my Deaf identity, I would have been able to advocate for myself and told those idiots to fuck off and apply for interior designing school.

 

[TXgolfer]

So, you don't want to answer the question, eh? :roll:

Actually, I already did. More people=more opportunity.....but you have to be proactive.

 

[TXgolfer]

I was mainstreamed and I was never given opportunities. In fact I was denied them because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to accomplish these opportunities because I couldnt hear. One that I will never forget..the denial of an opportunitiy to go to Interior Designing School all because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to communicate with the clients. So much for developing speech skills and being mainstreamed. That was a big and resounding SLAP to my face at 17 years old. It destroyed the little self-esteem I had left at the time.

If I had gone to a Deaf school or at least learn about my Deaf identity, I would have been able to advocate for myself and told those idiots to fuck off and apply for interior designing school.

That is a shame. I'm glad you overcame it.

 

[NitroHonda]

I was answering this...



I was equating getting contracts with getting jobs.

I understood that and... I'm not biting. My biggest issue has been getting past that initial phone call from an unknown potential customer. Once we devise another plan of attack (email or a face-to-face meeting), they are generally good with it. Sure there are times that you just meet that unbearable guy but it's no different from anyone else.

Another thing... WE are the bosses. We both own/owned our own company. We did not have to seek out employment from those that are legally obligated to pay and provide services for us. WE are the one's who have to pay for it. I get a good chunk on VRI services every month and that comes out of my pocket. From an employer's perspective, it's the fear of the costs that come with having a disabled employee. Not an issue for either of us.

 

[TXgolfer]

I understood that and... I'm not biting. My biggest issue has been getting past that initial phone call from an unknown potential customer. Once we devise another plan of attack (email or a face-to-face meeting), they are generally good with it. Sure there are times that you just meet that unbearable guy but it's no different from anyone else.

Another thing... WE are the bosses. We both own/owned our own company. We did not have to seek out employment from those that are legally obligated to pay and provide services for us. WE are the one's who have to pay for it. I get a good chunk on VRI services every month and that comes out of my pocket. From an employer's perspective, it's the fear of the costs that come with having a disabled employee. Not an issue for either of us.

I disagree, at least in my business, insurances cos, home depot etc, had to weigh loss of income if a home owner was sent a contractor who was difficult to communicate with and the homeowner complains. This was especially true 20 years ago.

 

[NitroHonda]

I disagree, at least in my business, insurances cos, home depot etc, had to weigh loss of income if a home owner was sent a contractor who was difficult to communicate with and the homeowner complains. This was especially true 20 years ago.

Technology. FTW! I'm grateful for the opportunities that it has enabled me. Removing barriers one at a time. It's no longer much of an issue... (aside from verbal misunderstandings but I have it written in our contract that all changes must be requested in WRITING).

 

[TXgolfer]

Technology. FTW! I'm grateful for the opportunities that it has enabled me. Removing barriers one at a time. It's no longer much of an issue... (aside from verbal misunderstandings but I have it written in our contract that all changes must be requested in WRITING).

Well played!

 

[shel90]

That is a shame. I'm glad you overcame it.

I wish I did....I don't have the dream job but at least I have a career and am working instead of living off on SSI.

I just wish I was taught that it was OK to be deaf instead of the mentality that being hearing was better. Oh well...nothing I can do about it except to teach deaf children the opposite of what I was taught.

 

[deafdyke]

I'm with you on there being some really great programs. We have one here in Austin. NYOS (Not Your Ordinary School) is a private school with an EXCELLENT Deaf program albeit very small. We hope to be able to afford to send BOTH of sons there in the next year or two as our new business grows. NYOS will work with TSD on dual enrollment opportunities for my son. My own school district won't.

NYOS Charter School

YAY for dual enrollment at an innovative school!!!!! Did you know that Austine has partnered with a PREP school? That way kids can attend a Deaf School but also be strongly challenged educationally......and god, remember in the '80's when it was thought that the only "good" deaf ed programs were Clarke and the other oral schools? There are some amazing stories coming out of a lot of Deaf Schools....some you might not even expect. And you know what? Yes, it sucks that Deaf Schools aren't as good as they COULD be...but at least a lot if not most of the Deaf schools ARE producing students who have at least FUNCTIONAL academic abilty. Like yes they're not on grade level BUT, at least they have FUNCTIONAL literacy. And heck......I'm sure most Deaf Schools are much much better then say inner city schools or the schools in Florida where there are gangs and guns, or the schools in Bumfuck Idaho......it irritates the crap outta me when people assume that ALL schools are the Ideal Suburban School with a lot of local resources. Even those schools have a lot of problems......superficial High Acheivement (you know....the type of suburb where it's Important to attend a Brand Name College and have All the Right Things, and where there's high rates of anorexia and Major Jockhood?)

 

[deafdyke]

Actually that is a pretty bad assumption. Being LD, not being able to hear in that setting was new to me. It wasn't something I had years to adjust to. Also after having a labyrnthectomy I had to convince people that I had enough balance to be on a roof 26 feet in the air and be on ladders 15-20ft in the air. I had more to overcome, not less. I received tons of rejection. I know all about it. I worked through it.

Txgolfer, my point stands. You experienced that as a late deafened person. Not saying that your experience was easy, but you did have advantages over even someone who went dhh as a teen. But your experience was that of a LD person, not someone who has always been dhh.

 

[TXgolfer]

I wish I did....I don't have the dream job but at least I have a career and am working instead of living off on SSI.

I just wish I was taught that it was OK to be deaf instead of the mentality that being hearing was better. Oh well...nothing I can do about it except to teach deaf children the opposite of what I was taught.

You ended up getting a few degrees. I would say you overcame things quite nicely. Well done.

 

[Foxrac]

I was mainstreamed and I was never given opportunities. In fact I was denied them because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to accomplish these opportunities because I couldnt hear. One that I will never forget..the denial of an opportunitiy to go to Interior Designing School all because it was felt that I wouldnt be able to communicate with the clients. So much for developing speech skills and being mainstreamed. That was a big and resounding SLAP to my face at 17 years old. It destroyed the little self-esteem I had left at the time.

If I had gone to a Deaf school or at least learn about my Deaf identity, I would have been able to advocate for myself and told those idiots to fuck off and apply for interior designing school.

Yes, same here, I wish that my parent send me to deaf school at young child, like start in 1st grade, so I don't have to deal with suffered from most cruelest, abusive teacher, also I have LD (learning disability) - that's worse for reading/writing.

 

[Foxrac]

Txgolfer, my point stands. You experienced that as a late deafened person. Not saying that your experience was easy, but you did have advantages over even someone who went dhh as a teen. But your experience was that of a LD person, not someone who has always been dhh.

If you are late deafened or HoH, if you don't wear HA or CI to maintain the oral language, so it could weaken the speech.

That's happened to some of my HoH friends.

 

[Lukin]

If you are late deafened or HoH, if you don't wear HA or CI to maintain the oral language, so it could weaken the speech.

That's happened to some of my HoH friends.

Agreed. but i wasn't late deafened.

Um, my mom did say that I could speak like 1st grade level when I was only 3 years old.

When I moved to DC... I lost interest in speech, threw out hearing aids, and etc (I went to KDES there near Gallaudet campus, until i decided to go back to Mantua Elementary School).

And umm in high school, my muslim friend was surprised at me when i was drunk in our basement, I talked to my Ivory dog.

And yeahhh... lol. Most people tend to understand me whenever I dirnk. I think it has to be with "slow speaking" or something like that.

I do that often at doctor appointments, as interpreter requests aren't exactly mandatory here (unlike US, maybe?). I think there are only at least 30 czech interpreters here, for some 10,000 deaf population. So yeah there you go. I don't really mind to write most of times anyway.

umm what is even my point anymore. I'm going to go to Bavaria pretty soon now. Good day!

 

[Foxrac]

Agreed. but i wasn't late deafened.

Um, my mom did say that I could speak like 1st grade level when I was only 3 years old.

When I moved to DC... I lost interest in speech, threw out hearing aids, and etc (I went to KDES there near Gallaudet campus, until i decided to go back to Mantua Elementary School).

And umm in high school, my muslim friend was surprised at me when i was drunk in our basement, I talked to my Ivory dog.

And yeahhh... lol. Most people tend to understand me whenever I dirnk. I think it has to be with "slow speaking" or something like that.

I do that often at doctor appointments, as interpreter requests aren't exactly mandatory here (unlike US, maybe?). I think there are only at least 30 czech interpreters here, for some 10,000 deaf population. So yeah there you go. I don't really mind to write most of times anyway.

umm what is even my point anymore. I'm going to go to Bavaria pretty soon now. Good day!

Oh wow, I lived in Woodbridge, VA for short time - in Montclair area, when my father served in Marines. Back in 1993, my parent was in tough decision about send me to KDES, VSDB or special education at public school. My parent rather to live in new environment so they left instead of stay or move to other part of NoVA - right after my father retired.

 

[dkf747]

Actually, I already did. More people=more opportunity.....but you have to be proactive.

I submit that most people are not proactive in this situation. They're just going to school. By the time they learn that they need to network for the future, it's too late for some. Still, just looking back at the hearing school I went to, networking with other kids would be of no benefit now. It's a different story at college though.

 

[deafdyke]

In response to Txgolfer's assertation that this place is a warehouse check out this linky: http://www2.fairmontstate.edu/users/rlosh/July2011NL.pdf
Seven members (out of nine) of the class are going to attend college, including a couple of hearing colleges. Granted a couple of the colleges are non competitive but they DO have career goals, beyond sheltered workshop or going on Disabilty, or bagging groceries at a grocery store.
The other two members are going into relatively skilled trades (again beyond sheltered workshop or going on disability) ....... That doesn't sound like a warehouse to me. Heck, they're doing much better then a lot of inner city schools or schools in Appallachia.

 

[TXgolfer]

In response to Txgolfer's assertation that this place is a warehouse check out this linky: http://www2.fairmontstate.edu/users/rlosh/July2011NL.pdf
Seven members (out of nine) of the class are going to attend college, including a couple of hearing colleges. Granted a couple of the colleges are non competitive but they DO have career goals, beyond sheltered workshop or going on Disabilty, or bagging groceries at a grocery store.
The other two members are going into relatively skilled trades (again beyond sheltered workshop or going on disability) ....... That doesn't sound like a warehouse to me. Heck, they're doing much better then a lot of inner city schools or schools in Appallachia.

Umm.. I think you meant assertion.

Reading the comments for the article, apparently this school is not very well regarded. I don't know if that is true or not. I have no problem with deaf schools as long as they are preparing kids for the future and not just warehousing them.

Hardly an assertion.

Also "are going?" I would hope they are almost done since some went to community college and your link is from 2011.

Also, they are looking at moving they school. That is the topic here.

Officials consider moving West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind » Local News » Cumberland Times-News

80 acres for 120 students is pretty ridiculous.

 

[deafdyke]

Umm.. I think you meant assertion.



Hardly an assertion.

Also "are going?" I would hope they are almost done since some went to community college and your link is from 2011.

Also, they are looking at moving they school. That is the topic here.

Officials consider moving West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind » Local News » Cumberland Times-News

80 acres for 120 students is pretty ridiculous.

Well you kept fixtating on "it's a warehouse"......I do know they're in the process of revamping things (for example they're gonna have short term placements and a post secondary program) Including possibly increasing enrollment....which would be AWESOME.

 

[TXgolfer]

Well you kept fixtating on "it's a warehouse"......I do know they're in the process of revamping things (for example they're gonna have short term placements and a post secondary program) Including possibly increasing enrollment....which would be AWESOME.

Actually, no, I didn't. You completely misunderstood. Not surprising.