UUGGHH,
I am a special education teacher, and I love it! There is never a dull moment during my days and my days are never the same.
I spend my days working with kids that need more help than just general education and making sure they are getting what they need.
What is this post about? Kaycee and her educational needs.
Kaycee has bilateral microtia, her ears are not formed on the outside. She has a mild to moderate hearing loss. She hears clearly - when things are yelled, you hold her ear to your mouth and talk at a louder than normal level, or she has her hearing aid on.
The first 24 months of her life, she heard muffled sounds, including 18 months of nothing but Chinese.
Kaycee needs a little extra in her educational setting.
So what exactly is the problem? We are having a hard time getting her into where she needs to be.
We live in a very small town in rural Colorado. We don't have an audiologist, school nurse or anything else like that at our school. We have to share these specialists through our BOCES - Board of Cooperative Education Services.
We have three deaf and hard of hearing preschools within driving distance, one about 35 miles away, one about 50 miles away and one about 65 miles away.
Of course, the one that is 35 miles away is closed to out of district students, as is the one that is 50 miles away. The only one that is accepting students from out of district is the one that is 65 miles away.
UUGGHH - here is my 2 year old, soon to be 3 year old. She has about 60% of her language by using sign language. The rest of it is oral and pointing, asking and the worst part - frustrating...
So we wait for the big transition meeting for Kaycee. To decide what to do with her preschool.
No matter what, some part of this is going to go away from the table not happy.
Unfortunately, I am a part of all of the parts...I work with everyone that will be deciding Kaycee's fate.
I got some really good advice from one of the experts that I work with...
Loyalty is something that should be taken with a grain of salt. The school can rebound from whatever is decided. BOCES can rebound from whatever is decided. But Kaycee won't be able to rebound from whatever is decided. Whatever is decided will affect Kaycee for the rest of her life.
Talk about pressure!!!
Just think, next is the decision about surgery!!!
And just think, when Noah comes home, we get to do the same thing for him!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Oh how I feel your pain!...but please take comfort in the fact that God will lead you to the decision he has in store for Kaycee. Keep trusting.
I can't wait until you start the surgery research process. We still don't know what to do about Maddie...haven't even found the energy to do the research on it...not that it makes much difference. We don't have the insurance right now to cover it.
I didn't get a chance to talk with you this morning about my visit with the special needs preschool yesterday, but let's just say...I'm NOT impressed. Sigh. The people and the services may be fine BUT the place reminds me of Maddie's orphanage. And I think it reminded her of it too...you should have seen the look on her face when we walked in the door. It about broke my heart.
I too feel your anguish.
Wanted to let you know I was born with microtia. Have a right ear, yet just A left lobe. I don't wear a hearing aid, however in grade school--I remember pretty much the weekly hearing tests--which I loathed. Never had surgery either.Unfortunately, I didn't think to ask my folks. Just having my 'little ear' was just how it was. I'm sure they spoke about it, yet it didn't happen. Maybe being in smalltown Iowa was part of the reason.
I'll pray for you, your family, and especially Kaycee. Take it from one who knows--Kaycee may not hear everything, however she will hear better than everyone.
I've put two links from my blog about my adventure with microtia.
Wish you all the best. God will forever be with Kaycee.
Thomasina
http://thomasina1616.blogspot.com/2008/05/microtia-and-me.html
http://thomasina1616.blogspot.com/2008/07/microtia-musings.html
Post a Comment