Miss-Delectable
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Missoula family has second "home" at MT School for Deaf and Blind - Montana's News Station - Fair. Accurate. To the Point. -
Most parents send their kids to school in the morning knowing they will see them again in just a few short hours, but that's not the situation for some Montana parents.
Some of them enroll their vision or hearing-impaired children at the Montana School for Deaf and Blind in Great Falls - not an easy decision when home is hundreds of miles away.
The Winans family of Missoula appreciate that sentiment; they enrolled their seventh-grade daughter Aubrey at the MSDB with the hope that she can receive there what she couldn't at home.
Now, the Winans visit Aubrey every month in Great Falls, where she has spent the last four months at the MSDB.
Aubrey, who is hard of hearing, was in public schools in Missoula until this year; the family said that she was struggling in the school back home.
Her mom, Allie, said, "A lot of tears at the end of the day, feeling frustrated because she had so much to do and she didn't understand the directions."
The family looked into Aubrey attending the MSDB, and once they found out that everything from tuition to housing to food would be free, they decided to try it out.
Her father, Frank, said, "It's heartbreaking at first but you see your daughter a lot happier." And mom Allie noted, “You instantly fall in love with the people here."
In just a few short months, Aubrey has gone from a failing student in the public schools to getting B+ grades, and she’s also improving in other ways, too, no longer taking some of the medications she needed for anxiety.
Frank said, "I think she is doing great. A lot better than being home and protecting her as much as I like to."
But fewer parents are making the decision to send their kids here; enrollment continues to drop, with just about 50 kids enrolled at the school, down from 70 just a few years ago. About 20 of the students live on campus grounds.
The Winans say sending Aubrey here has actually opened her up, and Frank remarked, “I think they are really training them to be out in the world. It's not a bubble here."
Mom Allie concurred, "And she is becoming independent and learning about herself and learning about her hearing."
Now, after just four months here, Aubrey has decided to stay through high school. She said, "I was scared at first, really, but after coming here a few days, it's just a wonderful place to be. No place but home."
Now, it will be home at least until graduation in a few years.
The Winans suggest parents with deaf or blind children should at least check the school out. You can learn more about the school by visiting the MSDB website.
Most parents send their kids to school in the morning knowing they will see them again in just a few short hours, but that's not the situation for some Montana parents.
Some of them enroll their vision or hearing-impaired children at the Montana School for Deaf and Blind in Great Falls - not an easy decision when home is hundreds of miles away.
The Winans family of Missoula appreciate that sentiment; they enrolled their seventh-grade daughter Aubrey at the MSDB with the hope that she can receive there what she couldn't at home.
Now, the Winans visit Aubrey every month in Great Falls, where she has spent the last four months at the MSDB.
Aubrey, who is hard of hearing, was in public schools in Missoula until this year; the family said that she was struggling in the school back home.
Her mom, Allie, said, "A lot of tears at the end of the day, feeling frustrated because she had so much to do and she didn't understand the directions."
The family looked into Aubrey attending the MSDB, and once they found out that everything from tuition to housing to food would be free, they decided to try it out.
Her father, Frank, said, "It's heartbreaking at first but you see your daughter a lot happier." And mom Allie noted, “You instantly fall in love with the people here."
In just a few short months, Aubrey has gone from a failing student in the public schools to getting B+ grades, and she’s also improving in other ways, too, no longer taking some of the medications she needed for anxiety.
Frank said, "I think she is doing great. A lot better than being home and protecting her as much as I like to."
But fewer parents are making the decision to send their kids here; enrollment continues to drop, with just about 50 kids enrolled at the school, down from 70 just a few years ago. About 20 of the students live on campus grounds.
The Winans say sending Aubrey here has actually opened her up, and Frank remarked, “I think they are really training them to be out in the world. It's not a bubble here."
Mom Allie concurred, "And she is becoming independent and learning about herself and learning about her hearing."
Now, after just four months here, Aubrey has decided to stay through high school. She said, "I was scared at first, really, but after coming here a few days, it's just a wonderful place to be. No place but home."
Now, it will be home at least until graduation in a few years.
The Winans suggest parents with deaf or blind children should at least check the school out. You can learn more about the school by visiting the MSDB website.