"What works for your child is what makes the choice right" tm
I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a woman.
Depending on the day or even the hour I may be more one than the other. In the early years of raising my oldest daughter Zahra, late identified as deaf, it seemed I was a drowning mother, terrified mother, unsure mother. Until I became the informed, empowered and powerful mother.
Reflecting on one’s work is important, particularly when you’re a teacher. Deaf Educators today are spending more time “on the floor” with families providing consultation, support, education and “hands on therapy” during home visits with early intervention programs. Many Deaf Educators received very little education about how to conduct such visits.
As the mother of two medically Hard of Hearing, culturally Deaf, daughters, transitioning from IFSP to IEP was a very stressful and scary time for our family. Due to the hard work and awesome planning during the Birth to Three years, my daughter was transitioning at an age appropriate level. The initial transition meeting was not as dramatic as expected. Our local DHH program sent a county representative, along with our current IFSP provider and a School District representative. My daughter, Cassie, 2.5 years old at the time, was very social and chatted away with the strangers in the room.
What the mind can conceive and believe, you will achieve. All throughout my life this is what my father would tell me and it has become a large part in helping me achieve, and to continue chasing after, my dreams of becoming a surgeon. I am very passionate about my love for medicine and I have high aspirations in achieving my goals.
Q: What about children/students who want to go to the regional Deaf/hard of hearing program in their community and are told they are not “deaf enough” or have “too much hearing?” It seems some people in the educational community judge this by audiograms.
The year was 2005 and my husband and I had been married for 18 years. We had 2 healthy boys, age 17 and 14 at the time, when we found out we were having a baby girl. I vividly remember the day Alysa was born. It was filled with mixed emotions- extreme happiness and even anxiety. Her syndrome was a surprise to us.
Four years ago I began an amazing journey I never expected. My son did not pass the newborn hearing screening and we were referred to an audiologist. He was just six weeks old when we had our first audiology appointment. I can still remember hearing the audiologist say,”I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?” Regardless which one I decided to hear first, I needed to know the results of my son’s auditory brainstem response (ABR) exam.