IEP meeting tomorrow!!!

[windz23]

Hi everyone, I thought I would post here because I am getting very nervous about the upcomming meeting. It is for tomorrow. My daughter is 10. When she was 8 she lost her hearing. Up until that point she was a normal hearing child. She could speak and hear and read and write. After her hearing went, we got jossled from doctor to doctor. They are still unclear exactly what happened. She was going to public school and because they were unable to give her the help she needed, they sent her to CID in St. Louis. This is a really good school for the deaf, but unfortantly only teach verbal skills. When I asked if they could get an interpreter in at her public school, I was told that they could, but first she would have to be fluent in ASL. I decided to send Abby to CID and got her the implant. She was at CID for about a year and a half. School has just started, and she is back at public school. I asked for this IEP meeting to ask again for an interpreter. This time I am asking that they teach her ASL so she can become fluent.
The people at the school are very nice. I have already met with her teacher, the nurse, the speach teacher, and the special ed teacher for reading and math. I explained everything they need to do in the class setting to help Abby succeed. We are also in the process of getting Abby a FM system to help her hear in the class setting.
Here lies the problem. From what I understand, the school doesn't have to supply Abby with a teacher to teach her sign if they decide they don't want to. They can say that she has the implant and that she can read and write, so therefore has a mode of communication that is "good enough". (by law) I am nervous that this is what they will say, even though I have the support from the teachers and the nurse I have met with. They were very well informed and understand my fustrations when people assume that the implant is the cure all. It is a tool, but not the answer to deafness. My daughter does very well with her implant. She went to hearing nothing to understanding speach about 75% of the time. I am worried about that missing 25%. I am worried about what will happen when parts need to be replaced, or when there are times when she can't wear her earpiece. Is she expected to spend those times out of school? Is she expected to read lips and written notes in class and try to keep up?
When Abby first lost her hearing, I had no idea what the best thing was for her was. I know now that signing is the answer. That using all the tools available will guild her to a full and promising future. Now I just have to convince the school of this.

Fustrated and Worried in IL.
Mandy mother of Sebastian 12 (hearing)
Abigail 10 (deaf w/CI)
Xavier 6 (hearing)

[teddi]

Hi, Mandy,

We'll keep you in our prayers. Let us know how it goes :)

[Lezliej]

Mandy, I am really curious what the school told you. An interpreter would not be the person to teach ASL to your daughter. An interpreter interprets what the teacher says. Not to say that some language teaching does happen, but not as the primary goal. CID is oral, correct? So she didn't learn any ASL there I am assuming.

I am an educational interpreter and I totally agree that there is a huge language piece missing in most mailnstream systems and that is the learning of ASL as a language. Most Deaf Education teachers are not qualified to do that. What would be fantastic is for all schools to have a Deaf teacher, even part time, to teach language to the kids; like hearing kids take English class. But that doesn't happen very many places that I know of.

I hope you got some good answers and support for your daughter.
Lezlie

[windz23]

Well, the meeting was pretty much a flop. All they could tell me was that they would have to pass it to the higher ups, they couldn't do anything. So it's the waiting game again to see what they say. I told them that the implant and fm system are great, but like all machines, they can break, need new parts, ect...ect.... I asked if Abby is supposed to miss days of school because she's waiting for a new piece, or to be remapped. He said she certainly shouldn't be missing school, that she can read and they will write down her assignments and she can do them, and that yes, she will miss out on class discussions. Now when did this become ok? This is totally unexceptable. How dare they tell me that my daughter can come to school, but nobody will be able to communicate with her effectly unless everything is written out for her. Sorry to rant, but this is beyond stupidity.
Yes, Abby went to CID, and it was an oral school. No sign what so ever. All the sign we know thus far is from volumes 1-6 of ST. We have looked up more online. This is all I can afford to do right now, being a single mother of three. I'm at my wits end on what to do. I'm afraid Abby will fall through the cracks of the public school system if steps aren't taken.

[windz23]

Ok, I spoke to the woman I was supposed to talk to today. She pretty much told me that the district wasn't going to do squat about getting Abby taught in sign. She said if Abby's stuff breaks down, or her map gets wiped, that Abby can read lips. She also said that they didn't know where they could even get an instructor in to teach ASL. From what I understand from everything I have pulled up, that is not an excuse. I am so mad and angry right now. What I feared would happen has happened.

[LizzeeB]

Hi my name is Liz and i have a son who has Asperger's and is going to be turned over to the school district when he turns 3(November). I have an IEP meeting coming up in September. I have been doing alot of studying on IEP meetings and how they are done. If you don't mind i would be willing to e-mail you some notes i have taken from an Attorney who specializes in Special Needs children and making sure that their needs are met within the school system. Let me know!
Sincerely,
Liz:)

[windz23]

Thank you. That would be great. Feel free to email whatever you have that you think would be helpful. Email me at windz23@yahoo.com Again, thanks.

[mom4]

Hi my name is Liz and i have a son who has Asperger's and is going to be turned over to the school district when he turns 3(November). I have an IEP meeting coming up in September. I have been doing alot of studying on IEP meetings and how they are done. If you don't mind i would be willing to e-mail you some notes i have taken from an Attorney who specializes in Special Needs children and making sure that their needs are met within the school system. Let me know!
Sincerely,
Liz:)

Hi, my name is Chris and I am having trouble with the school and requesting a ASL teacher for my son that has Apraxia. The school has said no. Can you email me the notes that you have from the Attorney?
sem338229@version.net

Thanks,
Chris :)