Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,158
- Reaction score
- 7
All kids matter to South Shore mom
It wasn't long after Kim Wirick's son was born 25 years ago that she learned he was profoundly deaf. At the time, there weren't many resources available to help the boy function in a hearing world.
So Wirick, a hairstylist, went back to school and earned a degree in human services, with a specialty in disabilities from the University of Alaska in Anchorage.
Her education would prove invaluable as Chas entered public school.
Because Wirick's husband was in the Air Force, the family moved around the country.
"I always had trouble getting him into regular classes," she said. "When they de-institutionalized the disabled and mainstreamed the children, they were all clumped together in a classroom and taught at the lowest common denominator. Some of the kids, like my son, were very bright.
"But I was told he would never graduate high school with a regular diploma," Wirick said. "That basically meant he could never go to college."
Wirick insisted Chas remain in regular classrooms and be provided an interpreter to help him. Her doggedness paid off.
Chas graduated from high school in 2002 and is currently thriving as a student at Galludet University, a deaf college in Washington, D.C. He's studying to become a minister to the deaf and the disabled for the United Community Church.
This year, Wirick, 49, decided to use all her experience to advocate for other children. In April, she founded a nonprofit called All Kids Matter "to help all disabled children," whether physically, mentally or developmentally challenged.
"My role is to help parents help their children to reach their fullest potential through advocacy, referrals, equipment, tutoring and scholarships," she said. "I wish I would have had somebody like me when my son was a child."
Wirick said she basically goes in, determines the problem by talking with the parents, finds a solution and helps them attain it. She said even today there are many roadblocks to navigate around.
Not long ago, a parent came to one of Wirick's local sign language classes and told her that her 7-year-old son's hearing aids were broken and the insurance company wouldn't cover repairs or replace them. She said she couldn't afford to pay for them herself.
So Wirick went to work.
She went to the South Shore Business Association and told the story to her fellow members. The group and her church, South Shore United Methodist, raised enough money to cover a new pair of hearing aids provided at cost by A-Plus Hearing Aid and to repair the boy's old ones as a backup.
Wirick is the author of "The Boy with the Magic Ears," a story that teaches kids that deaf children are just like them. It can be purchased at the South Shore Gallery, 447 Apollo Beach Blvd. Proceeds go to All Kids Matter.
Her next sign class will begin Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the South Shore United Methodist Church office, 435 Apollo Beach Blvd. She also hosts a coffee for the deaf at Starbucks, 10716 Big Bend Road in Riverview at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of the month.
To make a donation, mail a check made payable to All Kids Matter, 6313 Cocoa Lane, Apollo Beach FL 33572. Every cent goes to help disabled kids, she said.
For information, call (813) 645-3619, e-mail all kidsmatter@ymail.com or visit www.allkids matter.org.
It wasn't long after Kim Wirick's son was born 25 years ago that she learned he was profoundly deaf. At the time, there weren't many resources available to help the boy function in a hearing world.
So Wirick, a hairstylist, went back to school and earned a degree in human services, with a specialty in disabilities from the University of Alaska in Anchorage.
Her education would prove invaluable as Chas entered public school.
Because Wirick's husband was in the Air Force, the family moved around the country.
"I always had trouble getting him into regular classes," she said. "When they de-institutionalized the disabled and mainstreamed the children, they were all clumped together in a classroom and taught at the lowest common denominator. Some of the kids, like my son, were very bright.
"But I was told he would never graduate high school with a regular diploma," Wirick said. "That basically meant he could never go to college."
Wirick insisted Chas remain in regular classrooms and be provided an interpreter to help him. Her doggedness paid off.
Chas graduated from high school in 2002 and is currently thriving as a student at Galludet University, a deaf college in Washington, D.C. He's studying to become a minister to the deaf and the disabled for the United Community Church.
This year, Wirick, 49, decided to use all her experience to advocate for other children. In April, she founded a nonprofit called All Kids Matter "to help all disabled children," whether physically, mentally or developmentally challenged.
"My role is to help parents help their children to reach their fullest potential through advocacy, referrals, equipment, tutoring and scholarships," she said. "I wish I would have had somebody like me when my son was a child."
Wirick said she basically goes in, determines the problem by talking with the parents, finds a solution and helps them attain it. She said even today there are many roadblocks to navigate around.
Not long ago, a parent came to one of Wirick's local sign language classes and told her that her 7-year-old son's hearing aids were broken and the insurance company wouldn't cover repairs or replace them. She said she couldn't afford to pay for them herself.
So Wirick went to work.
She went to the South Shore Business Association and told the story to her fellow members. The group and her church, South Shore United Methodist, raised enough money to cover a new pair of hearing aids provided at cost by A-Plus Hearing Aid and to repair the boy's old ones as a backup.
Wirick is the author of "The Boy with the Magic Ears," a story that teaches kids that deaf children are just like them. It can be purchased at the South Shore Gallery, 447 Apollo Beach Blvd. Proceeds go to All Kids Matter.
Her next sign class will begin Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the South Shore United Methodist Church office, 435 Apollo Beach Blvd. She also hosts a coffee for the deaf at Starbucks, 10716 Big Bend Road in Riverview at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of the month.
To make a donation, mail a check made payable to All Kids Matter, 6313 Cocoa Lane, Apollo Beach FL 33572. Every cent goes to help disabled kids, she said.
For information, call (813) 645-3619, e-mail all kidsmatter@ymail.com or visit www.allkids matter.org.