forum moms with special needs

[runamuk]

Hi all

I haven't been on alot, work has been crazy.....and I have been dealing with kid issues........warning ahead this may turn into a novel

My youngest son 9 has always been language challenged and finally last year we figured it out.......he is quite hearing impaired.....some may remember last year about this time he went back to MN and recieved hearing aides........life has been better he is more interested in reading and has progressed at alarming speed with language development.......however at school he is slipping........and fast......he has literally gone backward a grade since school started. Now comes my problems.....the special ed teacher and others seem to assume that hearing aides = instant fix........well contrary to their beliefs hearing aides only = louder volume.....so if there is a malfunction in his processing of words that hasn't changed.......also the volume is turned up on all sounds not just teachers voices.....I had the liasion form the deaf/blind school explain this in some detail...yet they still don't get it......the special ed teacher is virtually refusing to "change her ways" of teaching (she is not specialized in deaf/hard of hearing at all) and went so far as to tell me that maybe the hearing aides aren't working or maybe they don't fit right

She doesn't believe in challenging a child and my son's education is suffering....I requested assessments and found it very interesting that he scored at or below grade level on a number of area's HOWEVER in written samples he scored about 3 grade levels above....but on written fluency he was quite low......same with mathematical reasoning very high but fluency very low......ok rather than continue spewing my irritation does anyone have any suggestions?...I am already going to start using some grade level homeschooling lessons as homework (he wants me to home school I have to work so cant) He also wants to do homework and "get ahead of everyone" so there is no lack of desire ......I think he is frustrated with being treated as a "dummy" and not being allowed to even try the harder work so is giving up on school......this kid has loved school until this year this same kid actually asks for homework and he works very hard....

thanks for letting me vent.....

Rori

 

[crponies]

That sounds very frustrating, Rori. I love the school where I teach because it is individualized. Every student takes tests when they come to see where they can perform in each subject area and that's where they are placed. They don't move on until they have mastered the concepts in each section either. I really think the public system (and many private schools) fails a lot of students by the way they try to do things. It isn't as if the kids are little robots who learn everything the same. I hope you can figure out a way to help your son. That is too bad you can't homeschool him but completely understandable. I'm so glad you are an involved parent and are doing things to help your son learn.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Do you have the option of pulling him from school for a couple of terms and then slotting him back in?? What does he want to do?? A friend who has been going deaf for a number of years will give up and take her aids off when ever the Dog Club gets too noisy as she can hear NOTHING- the aids give no depth of hearing, just hearing, and she says she is better off lip reading!! I cannot BELIEVE a special ed teacher can be so arrogant- how dare she!! I would sit down and discuss all the options with your son- he does need input but not from someone as narrow minded and set in her ways as that teacher!!!

 

[Shari]

Rori,

The Public school system is not set up for anyone that is different. Most of the teachers I met before pulling my son out all those years ago.. where narrow minded and not willing to listen to good ideas.

Is there any schools in your area that specialize in the hearing impaired?

Have been told those schools are really good and they let the children go at their speed of learning.

I do feel for you and your son. It is hard having to deal with the public school system.

You could always go to the school board and tell them your concerns and the problems you are having.

If you do a Google search.. you will find lots of information on schools that might be better for him. Many have grant programs.

 

[runamuk]

Thanks guys. There is the idaho school for the deaf and blind however they are over 3hours from where we currently live....and my son is NOT a good candidate for residential (live at school) he doesn't like spending the night at friends .....he is a major homebody

I found a couple great sites that I can use to produce math problems so we will be adding that to our home routine........he reads alot and he often chooses books well above his current level so I encourage and help him there.......

I am not a teacher never wanted to be one and for years it was all I could do to get through giving riding lessons without wanting to k_ill my students......far far preferred coaching kids who could ride and knew the terminology.......

My oldest boy after all the problems of last year ended up in an alternative school...he loves it..his grades have gone from failing everything to almost straight A's he is working at his own rate so some subjects he is above grade level and others he is a bit below but catching up fast........his teachers there are great and are equipped to deal with difficult kid's it is so nice to not get phone calls over every little thing and even nicer to see him wanting to go to school.......

Thanks again if anyone has any sites for more actual grade level work that can be produced for at home that will help........

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

having spent alot of time at ravens school as one of the only parent volunteers in her class since Kindergartern- and doing the grading, and being one who does fluency and other tests with the kids in her class as well as some other classes I do agree there are some issues in our schools. I will say on the other side of the fence though - with so many different types of special needs kids in one or 2 classes it makes it very hard for the teachers to do what needs to be done on a individual basis.

I know her first grade teacher had to wear a microphone type thing that only one child had ear phones for.. it made it easier for her to concentrate a bit since she was hearing the teacher a bit louder and helped to drown out other sounds she was easily distracted by. However with this child it only worked for a short while.

I am not sure what the answer even is- I do think as a general statement that if more parents got involved with there kids at school and helped out a bit even a lunch hour a couple times a month the time it frees up for the teachers really is huge. I did fluency testing for 2 classes in less then an hour... would have taken one teacher all day to do just her class inbetween teaching, watching kids and testing. as well as the kids going off to there other classes such as music, art computer and PE

I really think that just that small thing makes a difference I know there are some kids who have a hard time and we practice and test each week and they are so proud when I notice the difference or if they have improved by a few words a minute. since I dont have all those kids to worry about and only one task to deal I can take the time they need for the encouragment and praise

I have also been blessed raven has had only one really bad teacher the others have been wonderful and they truly love there jobs and the kids (again I know this from being at the school alot) but with 25 kids in a class sometimes more i do realize there attention is limited.

they are for the most part over talented and work to hard and to many hours for there pay.

My only advice is dont give up of course.. and when you can I knwo it is hard cause you are working but go in and help even for 30 min a couple times a week more then anything.. it will really give you a chance to observe what is really going on with the teachers, and your child and there interaction.

 

[Cronewolf]

Sylvan learning group it took one young lady I know from first grade reading to 12+5 in 6 mo. Now reading on collage level and wants to read all the time.

Hi allI haven't been on alot, work has been crazy.....and I have been dealing with kid issues........warning ahead this may turn into a novel

My youngest son 9 has always been language challenged and finally last year we figured it out.......he is quite hearing impaired.....some may remember last year about this time he went back to MN and recieved hearing aides........life has been better he is more interested in reading and has progressed at alarming speed with language development.......however at school he is slipping........and fast......he has literally gone backward a grade since school started.  Now comes my problems.....the special ed teacher and others seem to assume that hearing aides = instant fix........well contrary to their beliefs hearing aides only = louder volume.....so if there is a malfunction in his processing of words that hasn't changed.......also the volume is turned up on all sounds not just teachers voices.....I had the liasion form the deaf/blind school explain this in some detail...yet they still don't get it......the special ed teacher is virtually refusing to "change her ways" of teaching (she is not specialized in deaf/hard of hearing at all) and went so far as to tell me that maybe the hearing aides aren't working or maybe they don't fit right

 

 

She doesn't believe in challenging a child and my son's education is suffering....I requested assessments and found it very interesting that he scored at or below grade level on a number of area's HOWEVER in written samples he scored about 3 grade levels above....but on written fluency he was quite low......same with mathematical reasoning very high but fluency very low......ok rather than continue spewing my irritation does anyone have any suggestions?...I am already going to start using some grade level homeschooling lessons as homework (he wants me to home school I have to work so cant) He also wants to do homework and "get ahead of everyone" so there is no lack of desire ......I think he is frustrated with being treated as a "dummy" and not being allowed to even try the harder work so is giving up on school......this kid has loved school until this year this same kid actually asks for homework and he works very hard....

thanks for letting me vent.....

Rori

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[runamuk]

I used to help at school alot back when we could afford for me to not work....since coming to Idaho that all changed ....the other big contributor is our school is full of teachers who really should have retired by now....but they don't pay well enough to attract new young teachers.........the interesting thing is he did quite well last year and he had a great teacher........this year we seem to be back to an older teacher who just doesn't want to change.......actually she and I have talked a fair bit and she seems to be coming around.......my biggest problem is the special ed teacher who's job it is to make sure he gets what he needs, she refuses to see that what she is doing isn't working, currently she is his main teacher and she only ever has 3 or 4 students so class size isn't an issue......his speech therapists have always been great and once we got the hearing diagnosed that made it easier for her to work with him and they are making great progress.......I will just start working more with him at home in the evenings .......since they never send homework home we will just make some in the areas I see him slipping.........

 

[runamuk]

Persistance pays off......finally I got ahold of someone at the Deaf/blind school and just sent off copies of all the current assessments...she will get back to me next week after discussing his case with the director.......for right now she offered to help create an immediate course structure to address his needs and to assist with having the special ed teacher follow these guidlines.......until we can develop a full plan....she agrees that getting him back on track is most important before he goes further backward......she is a bit surprised the liasion hadn't offered a "bit" more assistance......I feel quite relieved to finally have some backup.......

 

[Shari]

That is good to hear you are finally getting someone to pay attention!!

As the old saying goes, "You go girl!!"

 

[Miniv]

Hope you continue being the "squeeky wheel" and that it pays off......

Cronewolf brought up a good suggestion too. Check out your local tutorial schools in your area. They do ONE on ONE and specialize in individual students' situations. They don't replace the public school, but give additional assistance.

MA

 

[runamuk]

Hope you continue being the "squeeky wheel" and that it pays off......
Cronewolf brought up a good suggestion too.  Check out your local tutorial schools in your area.  They do ONE on ONE and specialize in individual students' situations. They don't replace the public school, but give additional assistance.

MA

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If I could afford one of those places I could afford private school

 

[DunPainted]

We have a son with Aspergers Syndrome (high-functioning autism) who is extremely noise sensitive. His diagnosis came when he was four years old and the pediatric neurologist told us not to expect him to hold down a job, go to a prom, college, etc.

Trust me, it's been quite a battle throughout the years....mom's know their children best and must be their biggest ADVOCATE!

One of the things I've discovered is many "special ed" teachers do not "educated" themselves on special needs children...which is their job. One of the things I've always insisted is that the bar must be raised on my child's social skills, then academics.

We moved to a small town three years ago (rural area) and I provided all documentation with regard to history/progress. Unfortunately, the special ed folks CHOSE not to do an internet search and LEARN how to deal with David. Last year, his teacher failed him in three subjects....no notice given. Of course, I had advised both the teacher and principal of David's frustration. Little did I know that he was not being "serviced" with the pull-out program in the subjects requiring special attention.

Well, little did the district know is that this particular parent knows the rights of these children and were utilizing State funds elsewhere. I fired off a letter to the Superintendent and State Department of Education.....amazing how the situation was remedied. This year, David received A's, B's and one C+ !

As for your child with hearing impairment, it defies my imagination and experience as a special needs mama how they're trying to pass off their lack of accommodation for his special need on his hearing aid. For goodness sake, elderly folks's biggest complaint about hearing aids is the background noise. Do these "educated" people don't understand this?

My dear friend had the same problem with her son, due to hearing impairment, and home schooled him for one year. They had tubes placed in his ears, adnoids removed, and diagnosed as dyslexic.....and he's doing great in a regular school environment because they had these issues addressed.

By federal law, all schools must make accommodations for students with special needs. Trust me, the squeeky wheel gets the grease and there are advocates out there to help you in this endeavor to "educated" the educators.

If I can help you in any way, please PM me and I'll more than happy to help you through the maze.....with common sense and creative button pushing.

Cindy

 

[MInx]

Hugs to you. I know it's so frustrating. My little grand daughter has Hypotonia and didn't walk till well after two years old, has Turners Syndrome and is missing her left arm below the elbow.

She is Special Ed pre school. They want to mainstream her as she has no learning issues and is so quick, but physically she can get hurt SO easily. Hypotonia makes one weak and she can get knocked over with a feather,

In fact she did just that resulting in a big knot on her head! Not enough teachers even in that small inviroment so my daughter volumteers in class once a week. Would do it more but Evie needs to be out on her own some days a week.

Unfotunatly teachers are not compensated well enough to draw in a lot of future people with those goals. Lets hope for the sake of the children that changes. Maxine

 

[runamuk]

I do believe you have posted pictures of your darling little go getter......

You know I find it interesting that it often boils down to they don't make enough money ...well I tend to differ with that .....most entry level teachers easily make 5k-10k more than I do AND they get summers off.....plus they get medical benefits etc......I make diddly squat drive 45 miles each way have no insurance and sure as heck don't get 2+ months off........most of the teachers in my district make alot more than entry level ALOT because they are all timer's nearing retirement.....anymore I have a tough time taking pity on them because of wages......after all they did choose that profession so ought to have had some idea what they were getting into.......plus our district has this constant need to whine about money yet every year they have budget surpluses of about 1/2 again what the annual budget was

they also have not been drawing and using federal funds that are available.....but they would have to administrate the programs and they lack in wanting to administrate all but the bare bones.........yes another frustration especially considering I am in administration/accounting in a small but rapid growing firm........

 

[rabbitsfizz]

It is not right to say Teachers do not get paid enough- they get paid a lot more than, in some cases, they earn. I was a Teacher for 25 years, special ed and "normal" schooling. My pay was more than adequate but, being a good teacher, I did more than I needed to. At a couple of schools this was appreciated and then I started to notice it was expected, first by the Admin and then by the government. Nowadays you would not get me in a classroom with a pointed broompole!!!

Teachers do have a choice though, to be good Teachers or not to bother, and just do what is required. Unfortunately you seem to have got one of the latter.

Your child is entitled to the same standard of education as a child with hearing- SQUEAK and SQUEAK and go on squeaking until this particular wheel gets greased!!