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:: TheSouthern.com - The Southern Illinoisan ::
The School for the Hearing Impaired in Marion is a perfect example of a successful grassroots campaign.
A nationwide rubella outbreak in the early-to-mid 1960s, which resulted in a higher percentage of children being born deaf, was the impetus for change here in Southern Illinois.
"Parents wanted an educational alternative to sending their kids off to the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville," said Betsy Murphy, assistant director for special education in Williamson County and coordinator of the hearing-impaired program. "They didn't like the idea of sending them that far away."
Murphy, who has worked 34 years with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, said parents basically forced change. By the late 1960s, they had organized, and it was their goal to establish a school in the region.
The first such class was held in 1967 with two students and the numbers grew considerably with each passing year.
Murphy said classes were moved to the Presbyterian Church in 1969. And by the fall of 1976, with the assistance of the late Sen. Gene Johns of Marion, the state appropriated funds for a new school for the hearing impaired to be built at 801 E. Reeves St., right next to Jefferson School.
The center serves 22 counties in the region. Classes are offered to pre-school through high school-age students.
"This is a comprehensive program for kids of all ages," Murphy said. "We offer our services to the deaf and hard of hearing; autistic students; students with auditory processing problems; or any other kind of speech and language impairment or communication disorder."
John Belcher, who is dean of students at the School for the Hearing Impaired, said there are presently 80 students housed at the school. Fewer than half of those are deaf or hard of hearing; however, there has been a spike in the number of autistic children enrolled at the school.
"The number of deaf children has decreased greatly thanks to the rubella vaccine," he said.
Hearing-impaired students at the school learn sign language at an early age. They are then able to communicate with their teachers (12 in all), administrators and fellow students.
"They're not so isolated here, not like they would be at another school," Belcher said.
Belcher said students at his school who are high school age are transported to Marion High School, where they interact with other students with the aid of interpreters. The amount of interaction is based on the severity of the disability.
When it comes to curriculum, students at the School for the Hearing Impaired are taught much of the same material that students in the elementary, junior high and high schools are taught.
"We also follow the Marion School District schedule," Murphy said. "We're in session the same days and amount of time."
Murphy said the public school district where the student resides pays the tab for each hearing-impaired student's education at the alternative school. That comes out to about $18,000 a year per student.
The public school also is responsible for transporting the student to the Marion facility, which also receives local, state and federal funding to maintain operations.
"I've been teaching here for 28 years and I find my work very rewarding," said Deanna Behm, who instructs second- through fifth-graders. "I love seeing kids develop their reading and language skills. I teach all subjects and everything we do is tied in to reading and language."
Susan Whiting, who has taught hearing-impaired middle school-age children at Marion for the last 14 years, is also hearing impaired.
"The kids at this age are trying to find their identity," she said. "It's an emotional, challenging time for many of them and I try to be a role model for them. I want to help them meet their potential."
The School for the Hearing Impaired in Marion is a perfect example of a successful grassroots campaign.
A nationwide rubella outbreak in the early-to-mid 1960s, which resulted in a higher percentage of children being born deaf, was the impetus for change here in Southern Illinois.
"Parents wanted an educational alternative to sending their kids off to the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville," said Betsy Murphy, assistant director for special education in Williamson County and coordinator of the hearing-impaired program. "They didn't like the idea of sending them that far away."
Murphy, who has worked 34 years with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, said parents basically forced change. By the late 1960s, they had organized, and it was their goal to establish a school in the region.
The first such class was held in 1967 with two students and the numbers grew considerably with each passing year.
Murphy said classes were moved to the Presbyterian Church in 1969. And by the fall of 1976, with the assistance of the late Sen. Gene Johns of Marion, the state appropriated funds for a new school for the hearing impaired to be built at 801 E. Reeves St., right next to Jefferson School.
The center serves 22 counties in the region. Classes are offered to pre-school through high school-age students.
"This is a comprehensive program for kids of all ages," Murphy said. "We offer our services to the deaf and hard of hearing; autistic students; students with auditory processing problems; or any other kind of speech and language impairment or communication disorder."
John Belcher, who is dean of students at the School for the Hearing Impaired, said there are presently 80 students housed at the school. Fewer than half of those are deaf or hard of hearing; however, there has been a spike in the number of autistic children enrolled at the school.
"The number of deaf children has decreased greatly thanks to the rubella vaccine," he said.
Hearing-impaired students at the school learn sign language at an early age. They are then able to communicate with their teachers (12 in all), administrators and fellow students.
"They're not so isolated here, not like they would be at another school," Belcher said.
Belcher said students at his school who are high school age are transported to Marion High School, where they interact with other students with the aid of interpreters. The amount of interaction is based on the severity of the disability.
When it comes to curriculum, students at the School for the Hearing Impaired are taught much of the same material that students in the elementary, junior high and high schools are taught.
"We also follow the Marion School District schedule," Murphy said. "We're in session the same days and amount of time."
Murphy said the public school district where the student resides pays the tab for each hearing-impaired student's education at the alternative school. That comes out to about $18,000 a year per student.
The public school also is responsible for transporting the student to the Marion facility, which also receives local, state and federal funding to maintain operations.
"I've been teaching here for 28 years and I find my work very rewarding," said Deanna Behm, who instructs second- through fifth-graders. "I love seeing kids develop their reading and language skills. I teach all subjects and everything we do is tied in to reading and language."
Susan Whiting, who has taught hearing-impaired middle school-age children at Marion for the last 14 years, is also hearing impaired.
"The kids at this age are trying to find their identity," she said. "It's an emotional, challenging time for many of them and I try to be a role model for them. I want to help them meet their potential."