Re: Meeting tomorrow

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/18/2006 4:04:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

I know that I am probably over thinking about our meeting tomorrow to

discuss 's triennial testing, but I'd rather be prepared than be caught

off

guard.

I didn't think to reply to this before, but I feel it's important. I can't

tell you how many times I've walked into a meeting and had quite a collection

of supportive documentation in my briefcase that never made it onto the

table. I am always as prepared as I can be for these meetings. (And as hard as

I

try to cover every base, I miss stuff -- we all do because we're not psychic.)

But often, when the district would start to argue a point, I could reach

into my bag and pull out the supportive documentation to hand out to the key

people. It was very empowering to know that I could back up my requests/points

and I think that made me a stronger advocate for our son.

I have also walked into meetings with letters that never made it onto the

table. I used to carry a letter requesting a new meeting, stating that I had

called an end to the current one because I felt it was going nowhere -- that

was pretty standard for a while. Our district was famous for delaying

techniques like not inviting the people I'd requested, or add people I had not

approved to the meeting. So, I had a form letter ready and I didn't have to

worry

about requesting a new meeting. I knew I could do it in a heartbeat. Another

letter that never hit the table was a request to start disciplinary action

against a teacher. Having already proven I would pursue this kind of thing,

they

knew where I was going on that topic and changed their approach immediately.

I carried all kinds of things that no one ever saw.

There is nothing to feel embarrassed or silly about when it comes to being

prepared. Our district pulled some of the worst stuff I've ever read about on

these lists and from that I learned to be prepared. I know what they're

capable of so I am always as ready as I can get. What's the worst thing that

could

happen -- you've " wasted " some time?

But is it really wasted? No, I don't think so. By over-preparing for a

meeting, you've just educated yourself in so many useful ways and you're a

better

advocate because of that. I've often found that find that I'm the best

informed person at the meeting and I know more about available resources than

the

professionals. To be honest, that lack of knowledge is not really the

professionals' fault, our son is a one-of-a-kind for our district. They've

never

needed to know about D/HOH kids before, and now they do because we forced them

to

learn.

What was their fault were the games and lies and delaying techniques they

used to try and deny needed services. But those people have long since been

fired from our district.

And yet I still prepare for every meeting. The only thing I don't bother

with now is looking up the legal citations. I don't bother because I no longer

need them and if I did, I now know how to find them!

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

Deb,

Where do you live? Perhaps someone on the list kinow of a place near

you where they evaluate HOH kids?

Meeting tomorrow

Hi all,

I know that I am probably over thinking about our meeting tomorrow

to

discuss 's triennial testing, but I'd rather be prepared than be

caught

off guard.

We are meeting tomorrow to, I assume, discuss what testing needs

to happen

and for me to sign off on those tests. From going back and rereading

some older

posts it looks like most of the testing is IQ or language evaluations.

Does

that sound right? Is there something else that I should make sure is

done?

is currently the only child in our district who wears hearing

aids, and

it's been at least 9 years since they had a student who wore aids, so

I'm not

all that sure they will know what should be done. Her HI will be there

and

should, however she is the one that told me initially when I asked

about

's triennial testing that it 1) wouldn't change her eligibility

and 2)

that the tests are not normed on deaf/hoh children so they don't give

an

accurate picture. So you can see why I feel the need to be educated

about this

stuff. I'm also afraid that they will take the HI's lead and say

something

about the tests being an ineffective measure of 's

ability because they are not normed on deaf/hoh kids. If they are

uncomfortable with testing her, I am more than willing to take her to

somewhere

that wouldn't be, like the nearest deaf oral school or our state school

for the

deaf, but do I share that with them?

Any suggestions or words of advice are greatly appreciated.

Debbie, mom to , 6, moderate SNHL and , 3, hearing

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that

never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

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[Guest guest]

Her HI will be there and should, however she is

the one that told me initially when I asked about 's triennial testing

that

it 1) wouldn't change her eligibility and 2) that the tests are not normed on

deaf/hoh

children so they don't give an accurate picture.

This sentence scares me. If you only give your child tests normed on deaf kids,

you will not have any idea of how your child compares to typical children. If

your child is in a public school with typical kids, that is what is important.

You need to remember the Gallaudet research that says the average 18 year old

deaf/HOH student reads at a 4th grade level. This is using the Stanford

Acheivement Test (SAT) that is normed on both deaf and typical kids. So if

your child is in 5th grade and reading on a 2nd grade level, against typical

norms it would look as if your child needed more help and if compared against

deaf norms, they would probably be above average and wouldn't need help. I

worry about people with the attitude of only testing kids with tests normed on

deaf kids - they are ok with this status quo and that status quo is often what

they are aiming for. Not usually what the parents are hoping and aiming for.

Celeste, a mom who used to be on the list, who is a huge ASL advocate and

whose Deaf daughter went to college, wrote an article on this and it may be on

Kay's website somewhere. Does anyone know if it is??