Comments on: I’m Sorry, Your Child Is Stupid http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/ Strong Enough To Be... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:06:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: download skripsi gratis pdf http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-15458 download skripsi gratis pdf Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:19:54 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-15458 Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else may anyone get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I'm at the look for such info. Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else may anyone get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m at the look for such info.

]]> By: Elisa http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-13753 Elisa Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:29:16 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-13753 I have had this exact conversation so many times with people. My son will be 5 next week and he is Deaf, he is in an all ASL school, but we are stuck in Utah and the system here could not be more horrific for parents of Deaf kids. I get so annoyed when people say to me "oh he is Deaf, can he read my lips" "No" I say "he has never heard English, he is Deaf, first he has to learn ASL, then written English, then maybe he will learn some lip reading" People are always so surprised at first then they think about it, then they get it. I am frustrated to tears with the broken system here. We know we are going to have to move so we can give Ira everything he needs. What do you think? What state would you say has the best program? I have had this exact conversation so many times with people. My son will be 5 next week and he is Deaf, he is in an all ASL school, but we are stuck in Utah and the system here could not be more horrific for parents of Deaf kids. I get so annoyed when people say to me “oh he is Deaf, can he read my lips” “No” I say “he has never heard English, he is Deaf, first he has to learn ASL, then written English, then maybe he will learn some lip reading” People are always so surprised at first then they think about it, then they get it. I am frustrated to tears with the broken system here. We know we are going to have to move so we can give Ira everything he needs. What do you think? What state would you say has the best program?

]]> By: Ken Chun http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-13143 Ken Chun Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:50:34 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-13143 I'm not deaf, but I was born with spina bifida and I use a wheelchair. They tried to put me in a special education classroom just because I couldn't walk. I'm always a little hesitant to hit the publish button myself on Facebook or Twitter. Never know what kind of reaction I'll get for being myself (very honest and blunt). I’m not deaf, but I was born with spina bifida and I use a wheelchair. They tried to put me in a special education classroom just because I couldn’t walk. I’m always a little hesitant to hit the publish button myself on Facebook or Twitter. Never know what kind of reaction I’ll get for being myself (very honest and blunt).

]]> By: Alicia http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-12072 Alicia Tue, 24 May 2011 04:08:20 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-12072 A deaf friend of mine forwarded your blog to me. I am a Pre-K educator and I work with students with developmental delays and English language learners but I have not yet had the opportunity to have a deaf student in my classroom. Kudos to you and your husband for not taking "no" for an answer. I grew up in school with deaf students mainstreamed in classes with typical peers. One of our classes as speaking students was ASL. I can STILL remember being in that classroom, practicing signs, conversations and presentations of the songs we learned, "Kokomo- by the beach boys" :-). Oh, how found my memories are of having that experience enrich my life! I don't understand why the school district is not treating ASL as a language. It is another language! It's so simple it's STUPID to interpret it any other way! A deaf friend of mine forwarded your blog to me. I am a Pre-K educator and I work with students with developmental delays and English language learners but I have not yet had the opportunity to have a deaf student in my classroom. Kudos to you and your husband for not taking “no” for an answer. I grew up in school with deaf students mainstreamed in classes with typical peers. One of our classes as speaking students was ASL. I can STILL remember being in that classroom, practicing signs, conversations and presentations of the songs we learned, “Kokomo- by the beach boys” :-) . Oh, how found my memories are of having that experience enrich my life! I don’t understand why the school district is not treating ASL as a language. It is another language! It’s so simple it’s STUPID to interpret it any other way!

]]> By: Rachell Laucevicius http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-12069 Rachell Laucevicius Mon, 23 May 2011 21:08:59 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-12069 Sorry if I sound much like the last post, but I am also close to tears reading this. And, also want to include a shameless plug for the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD). I have frequently asked the EXACT same things that I read in your blog and am disheartened that with so much support, the media ignores our requests, yet shows coverage on a deaf child receiving cochlear implants as some miracle instead of embracing the 3 year old with well above average language acquisition because that language is signed. I am tired of being told that my deaf son will be different and not assimilated into society because he is different. I am just tired! Any insight on how you do it and resources you have used would be so appreciated. Sorry if I sound much like the last post, but I am also close to tears reading this. And, also want to include a shameless plug for the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD). I have frequently asked the EXACT same things that I read in your blog and am disheartened that with so much support, the media ignores our requests, yet shows coverage on a deaf child receiving cochlear implants as some miracle instead of embracing the 3 year old with well above average language acquisition because that language is signed. I am tired of being told that my deaf son will be different and not assimilated into society because he is different. I am just tired! Any insight on how you do it and resources you have used would be so appreciated.

]]> By: Karen http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-11992 Karen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:56:48 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-11992 This post moved me to tears. It should have come with a warning to go get the kleenex! I was a "professional" (interpreter/SKI-HI/infant signing instructor) that happened to have progressive hearing loss before I became the mother of a child born with hearing loss and a cleft lip/palate. Later, two more of my girls developed hearing loss as they got older. My second grader just got her FM and hearing aids. One of my favorite "Signing Time" moments was when you sang and signed "Happy Birthday" to my littlest one as the last in line at a meet and greet in Muncie, IN. What a great first birthday for her! Anyway, now that she is 5, we are currently walking in your shoes and I have taken on advocacy as more of my focus. Things aren't great here especially with the bilingual/bicultural method coming under fire even at the Indiana School for the Deaf. Insert shameless plug here for anything you can do to help out would be much appreciated with the Deaf School. ;) We will continue to buck the system because, as you say, it IS broken and what passes as acceptable certainly is NOT. I love the inspiration you bring with your honesty and spunky attitude. It helps to know I'm not the only one who has fought the good fight only to go home and cry in my pillow about why it is soooo stinking difficult to get professional educators to understand what we KNOW is the right path for our kids. Anyway...all this to say thanks for this post! Every time I need to recharge that battery...I'm rereading this! Karen :) (NICEinterpreter) This post moved me to tears. It should have come with a warning to go get the kleenex!

I was a “professional” (interpreter/SKI-HI/infant signing instructor) that happened to have progressive hearing loss before I became the mother of a child born with hearing loss and a cleft lip/palate. Later, two more of my girls developed hearing loss as they got older. My second grader just got her FM and hearing aids.

One of my favorite “Signing Time” moments was when you sang and signed “Happy Birthday” to my littlest one as the last in line at a meet and greet in Muncie, IN. What a great first birthday for her!

Anyway, now that she is 5, we are currently walking in your shoes and I have taken on advocacy as more of my focus. Things aren’t great here especially with the bilingual/bicultural method coming under fire even at the Indiana School for the Deaf. Insert shameless plug here for anything you can do to help out would be much appreciated with the Deaf School. ;)

We will continue to buck the system because, as you say, it IS broken and what passes as acceptable certainly is NOT.

I love the inspiration you bring with your honesty and spunky attitude. It helps to know I’m not the only one who has fought the good fight only to go home and cry in my pillow about why it is soooo stinking difficult to get professional educators to understand what we KNOW is the right path for our kids.

Anyway…all this to say thanks for this post! Every time I need to recharge that battery…I’m rereading this!

Karen :) (NICEinterpreter)

]]> By: Jessie http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-11925 Jessie Sun, 15 May 2011 14:42:32 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-11925 I am an example as a Deaf role model. You can do anything you want to do in life. But it all bases on the education you get for your child. I agree any child could learn from ASL. It depends on who teaching it and how. There's teachers out there that are signing some English within the ASL, which is totally wrong. Stick to the game plan and she will rise to what ever she wants to be in this world! I am an example as a Deaf role model. You can do anything you want to do in life. But it all bases on the education you get for your child. I agree any child could learn from ASL. It depends on who teaching it and how. There’s teachers out there that are signing some English within the ASL, which is totally wrong. Stick to the game plan and she will rise to what ever she wants to be in this world!

]]> By: bonnie http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-11401 bonnie Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:40:43 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-11401 I'm not sure where the best place is to leave this for you and Leah to check out... but I came across this Party in the USA video tonight and instantly thought of Leah. :) I la,la,love reading your story and blog. Thanks for being so open and sharing your testimony. It's so inspiring to see you truly living out your faith and making the most of your life! God has blessed you and your girls so much! enjoy the ASL version of Party in the USA! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKnQjBf8wM&feature=player_embedded Love from Texas! ~bonnie I’m not sure where the best place is to leave this for you and Leah to check out… but I came across this Party in the USA video tonight and instantly thought of Leah. :) I la,la,love reading your story and blog. Thanks for being so open and sharing your testimony. It’s so inspiring to see you truly living out your faith and making the most of your life! God has blessed you and your girls so much!

enjoy the ASL version of Party in the USA!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKnQjBf8wM&feature=player_embedded

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

]]> By: Kathy Dickey http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-10752 Kathy Dickey Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:16:05 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-10752 Hi Rachel, Your family has been a part of ours since my son, then 5 mos. old, got his first hearing aids. We have all your DVDS! This is my first visit to your blog(where have I been?!) and I found it through a Deaf advocacy website. My son also has Down syndrome so his situation is extra compicated. We found out at his IEP yesterday that they feel he doesn't belong in the SDC for DHH (where they use Total Communication) anymore because he needs to be in a Functional Skills class (I hate that term) where there is an aide who has only had 3 semesters of ASL. We tried to impress upon them that since David's speech is so severely delayed we want to be sure he has a language. ASL is his first language and as his 9 year old sister says, "Sign language is how he lives his life!" After reading your entry, I am inspired to find out how we can create the best educational setting for our son and not settle for what the broken system has to offer. Just because David has Ds, that shouldn't exclude him from receiving the services that his DHH peers are entitled to!!! Hi Rachel, Your family has been a part of ours since my son, then 5 mos. old, got his first hearing aids. We have all your DVDS! This is my first visit to your blog(where have I been?!) and I found it through a Deaf advocacy website. My son also has Down syndrome so his situation is extra compicated. We found out at his IEP yesterday that they feel he doesn’t belong in the SDC for DHH (where they use Total Communication) anymore because he needs to be in a Functional Skills class (I hate that term) where there is an aide who has only had 3 semesters of ASL. We tried to impress upon them that since David’s speech is so severely delayed we want to be sure he has a language. ASL is his first language and as his 9 year old sister says, “Sign language is how he lives his life!” After reading your entry, I am inspired to find out how we can create the best educational setting for our son and not settle for what the broken system has to offer. Just because David has Ds, that shouldn’t exclude him from receiving the services that his DHH peers are entitled to!!!

]]> By: Amy http://www.rachelcoleman.com/2010/06/17/im-sorry-your-child-is-stupid/comment-page-4/#comment-10604 Amy Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:05:32 +0000 http://www.rachelcoleman.com/?p=2319#comment-10604 Rachel, One of my twins has Down syndrome. He just turned two and already uses 11 signs! One of them he learned from his brother, who knows over 50 thanks to your videos! We have the same problem in Tennessee with ASL instruction. The public preschool teacher won't allow signs. She makes kiddies hand her picture cards. I'm not going to carry stacks of pictures around with me just so my child can communicate with me at the grocery store! One of my friend's daughter was under this woman's tutelage as a speech therapist. The little girl signed a three word sentence (More cracker please)and the teacher refused to give her a cracker until she handed her the picture with the cracker on it. My friend was in the observation room and barged in on the session, demanding her three-year-old child be rewarded for her efforts. From what I have read and now experienced, children who sign have a 30% higher vocabulary than children who don't. I believe it! My typical child shocks us everyday with the new words he signs and speaks! Whenever I catch myself whining about all the therapies and all the things in my life that have to change because of Down syndrome, I just remember your blog about being strong enough, and I pray for the courage and strength to believe that I am strong enough to be his mom! Thanks so much! Rachel,
One of my twins has Down syndrome. He just turned two and already uses 11 signs! One of them he learned from his brother, who knows over 50 thanks to your videos! We have the same problem in Tennessee with ASL instruction. The public preschool teacher won’t allow signs. She makes kiddies hand her picture cards. I’m not going to carry stacks of pictures around with me just so my child can communicate with me at the grocery store!
One of my friend’s daughter was under this woman’s tutelage as a speech therapist. The little girl signed a three word sentence (More cracker please)and the teacher refused to give her a cracker until she handed her the picture with the cracker on it. My friend was in the observation room and barged in on the session, demanding her three-year-old child be rewarded for her efforts.
From what I have read and now experienced, children who sign have a 30% higher vocabulary than children who don’t. I believe it! My typical child shocks us everyday with the new words he signs and speaks!
Whenever I catch myself whining about all the therapies and all the things in my life that have to change because of Down syndrome, I just remember your blog about being strong enough, and I pray for the courage and strength to believe that I am strong enough to be his mom!
Thanks so much!

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