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Deaf student signs on at Montague - Muskegon News - The Muskegon Chronicle Online - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com
The typical sounds of a high school day are foreign to Brandon Eldridge.
The ringing of a bell signifying the start of classes, the sounds of chit-chat and giggles shared by students in the hallway and even the authoritative voice of a teacher giving instructions never will be part of Eldridge's educational experience.
Eldridge, who is deaf, is overcoming those obstacles at the same public school system he would have attended all along if not for his hearing impairment.
Eldridge, a high school junior, is in his first year at the local public school, making the transition from the Michigan School for the Deaf -- a public residential school in Flint for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Montague High School staff, Eldridge's mother and Eldridge agree that the transition is paying off with solid results following a rough start. They credit a teamwork approach among those involved with determining the best way to handle the difficulties, mainly associated with communicating and learning expectations.
Pat Collins, Montague High School resource room teacher, said everyone worked to iron out the issues during the first trimester and set the stage for a better educational experience for Eldridge in the second semester, which recently began.
"It was difficult because you wondered if it's the transition or difficulty in studying that was making it tough," Collins said. "Maybe the school he was part of set him up for that. We feel he can be very successful here."
Eldridge points to Montague High School as providing him a more challenging education and a better social experience. Like his schoolwork, Eldridge's social life at school took a little time to develop. Now, he said, he has plenty of friends, some who have even learned bits of sign language.
"Some were afraid, now they're fine," Eldridge said, signing his words to his mother, Kelly Atchison, who interpreted.
Atchison said she is pleased with the transition so far, crediting the school staff and her son with working through the early communication breakdowns. The new school setting is changing her son for the better, Atchison said.
"He seems like a much happier person in general," said Atchison, who listened to her son talk about transferring to Montague for the past couple of years. "He has a sense of belonging now."
Eldridge, 17, is not the first student with a hearing impairment to walk the halls of a Muskegon County public school. According to county school leaders, Eldridge's case is unique because his transition to a traditional public school took place at a relatively old age and he has the highest measurable level of hearing loss.
Eldridge, the son of Joseph Eldridge and Kelly and Jim Atchison, attended Muskegon Public Schools' deaf programs from age 3 to 8, then began attending the Michigan School for the Deaf afterward. The special school promotes itself as providing students an educational offering with exposure to American Sign Language and English.
Located in Flint, the Michigan School for the Deaf required much time away from home for Eldridge. He would catch a bus in Whitehall to travel to Flint on Sunday and return home Friday afternoon.
Sick of living in the dorms and contemplating the upcoming transition to the "real world," Eldridge and his parents made the decision to enter the "hearing world" for school.
Atchison admitted she was worried that in a couple years her son would not be ready for the "real world," because he was at a school where all the students knew sign language.
At Montague High School, Eldridge uses a variety of methods to communicate with his teachers and classmates. He communicates through an interpreter that is assigned to him or by writing notes on paper.
Cody Bailey, Eldridge's interpreter at school, is impressed with the way Eldridge has handled the transition to a traditional public school. She compared his experience to that of a foreign student coming to an American school while not speaking English, although she pointed out that foreign students eventually can learn some English.
Bailey, a 30-year-old who has worked as a school interpreter for more than four years, said trust must form between the student and the interpreter, because the interpreter is signing the student's words.
"It has to make being a high school student awkward, having an old lady following him around," Bailey said.
In addition to Bailey, the school personnel who helped Eldridge work through the transition difficulties included Principal Kevin Kruger, teachers, a social worker and a Muskegon Area Intermediate School District consultant.
"We're way ahead of where we were," Collins said. "He's a lot better off than the first trimester. I see it. He's come a long way."
Eldridge credits Collins as being a teacher who has greatly assisted his transition to the new school.
"He works with me and helps me, so I don't get frustrated," Eldridge said. "He helps me with my homework and works one-on-one with me. He explains stuff well."
Eldridge wants to graduate from high school and attend college. He plans to study auto technology like his older brother, Brent Eldridge.
"I want to learn everything about cars," Eldridge said, adding that one day he may open a shop with his brother.
Eldridge attended the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center part of each school day during the first trimester. He has a full academic schedule at Montague High School during the current trimester.
In the fall, Eldridge played on the varsity soccer team for the Wildcats. He plans on trying out for the varsity football team next year.
Eldridge, who was limited in his sports' choices at the Flint school, is excited about possibly playing on the football team. The Wildcats won the Division 6 state championship in football during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Collins, who also is the varsity football coach, said the coaches would come up with a way to solve any communication issues on the football field if Eldridge put in the offseason work to prepare.
"The door is open," Collins said. "I'd love to have him. I'd make him work just like everybody else."
The typical sounds of a high school day are foreign to Brandon Eldridge.
The ringing of a bell signifying the start of classes, the sounds of chit-chat and giggles shared by students in the hallway and even the authoritative voice of a teacher giving instructions never will be part of Eldridge's educational experience.
Eldridge, who is deaf, is overcoming those obstacles at the same public school system he would have attended all along if not for his hearing impairment.
Eldridge, a high school junior, is in his first year at the local public school, making the transition from the Michigan School for the Deaf -- a public residential school in Flint for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Montague High School staff, Eldridge's mother and Eldridge agree that the transition is paying off with solid results following a rough start. They credit a teamwork approach among those involved with determining the best way to handle the difficulties, mainly associated with communicating and learning expectations.
Pat Collins, Montague High School resource room teacher, said everyone worked to iron out the issues during the first trimester and set the stage for a better educational experience for Eldridge in the second semester, which recently began.
"It was difficult because you wondered if it's the transition or difficulty in studying that was making it tough," Collins said. "Maybe the school he was part of set him up for that. We feel he can be very successful here."
Eldridge points to Montague High School as providing him a more challenging education and a better social experience. Like his schoolwork, Eldridge's social life at school took a little time to develop. Now, he said, he has plenty of friends, some who have even learned bits of sign language.
"Some were afraid, now they're fine," Eldridge said, signing his words to his mother, Kelly Atchison, who interpreted.
Atchison said she is pleased with the transition so far, crediting the school staff and her son with working through the early communication breakdowns. The new school setting is changing her son for the better, Atchison said.
"He seems like a much happier person in general," said Atchison, who listened to her son talk about transferring to Montague for the past couple of years. "He has a sense of belonging now."
Eldridge, 17, is not the first student with a hearing impairment to walk the halls of a Muskegon County public school. According to county school leaders, Eldridge's case is unique because his transition to a traditional public school took place at a relatively old age and he has the highest measurable level of hearing loss.
Eldridge, the son of Joseph Eldridge and Kelly and Jim Atchison, attended Muskegon Public Schools' deaf programs from age 3 to 8, then began attending the Michigan School for the Deaf afterward. The special school promotes itself as providing students an educational offering with exposure to American Sign Language and English.
Located in Flint, the Michigan School for the Deaf required much time away from home for Eldridge. He would catch a bus in Whitehall to travel to Flint on Sunday and return home Friday afternoon.
Sick of living in the dorms and contemplating the upcoming transition to the "real world," Eldridge and his parents made the decision to enter the "hearing world" for school.
Atchison admitted she was worried that in a couple years her son would not be ready for the "real world," because he was at a school where all the students knew sign language.
At Montague High School, Eldridge uses a variety of methods to communicate with his teachers and classmates. He communicates through an interpreter that is assigned to him or by writing notes on paper.
Cody Bailey, Eldridge's interpreter at school, is impressed with the way Eldridge has handled the transition to a traditional public school. She compared his experience to that of a foreign student coming to an American school while not speaking English, although she pointed out that foreign students eventually can learn some English.
Bailey, a 30-year-old who has worked as a school interpreter for more than four years, said trust must form between the student and the interpreter, because the interpreter is signing the student's words.
"It has to make being a high school student awkward, having an old lady following him around," Bailey said.
In addition to Bailey, the school personnel who helped Eldridge work through the transition difficulties included Principal Kevin Kruger, teachers, a social worker and a Muskegon Area Intermediate School District consultant.
"We're way ahead of where we were," Collins said. "He's a lot better off than the first trimester. I see it. He's come a long way."
Eldridge credits Collins as being a teacher who has greatly assisted his transition to the new school.
"He works with me and helps me, so I don't get frustrated," Eldridge said. "He helps me with my homework and works one-on-one with me. He explains stuff well."
Eldridge wants to graduate from high school and attend college. He plans to study auto technology like his older brother, Brent Eldridge.
"I want to learn everything about cars," Eldridge said, adding that one day he may open a shop with his brother.
Eldridge attended the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center part of each school day during the first trimester. He has a full academic schedule at Montague High School during the current trimester.
In the fall, Eldridge played on the varsity soccer team for the Wildcats. He plans on trying out for the varsity football team next year.
Eldridge, who was limited in his sports' choices at the Flint school, is excited about possibly playing on the football team. The Wildcats won the Division 6 state championship in football during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Collins, who also is the varsity football coach, said the coaches would come up with a way to solve any communication issues on the football field if Eldridge put in the offseason work to prepare.
"The door is open," Collins said. "I'd love to have him. I'd make him work just like everybody else."