Well of course it isn't easy...

So my last post was about how nice it is to start the school year in a calm fashion. No issues to confront. The school in on board with my Deaf son. Life is good. Mainstream is really working out. My son loves it and is thrilled school starts next week.

So as a formality I contact the person who manages my son's IEP services to find out what his interpreting services will look like. Last year the plan was a team of 2 highly qualified interpreters full time. I email asking about her vacation. Lamenting the brief time we all had to enjoy our summers. Then almost as an after thought I ask the question. What will his interpreting services look like? I push send and go about my busy day.

A few minutes later I response pops into my inbox. There is a flag on the play my friends. Two new kids entered the district needing interpreters. Two interpreters quit. so now the district is short four..... yes.......FOUR interpreters. *oh sorry for shouting*

So we don't know what next year will look like. There is nothing to fight for at the moment. The school district wants my son to have his services. They are interviewing prospects. I can't force folks to apply for the job. One person I was talking to said that maybe someone could volunteer...... yes dear the same way an airline pilot could volunteer to operate on your brain. Not her fault but it is always exhausting talking to people who know nothing about it. It would be worse if that person worked for the school district so I am patient.

So while other parents are shopping for new jeans and #2 pencils I am leaving offerings to the interpreter fairies.

The School Bell Rings

Next week my son will start his third year as a mainstream student. I can't recall ever starting a year with so much calm. Since the day he was identified there was always something to fight for. There was a service or interpreter issue. There was a teacher to educate or an administrator to address. Things that seemed clear to us were always riddled with red tape and bias. This year we simply picked up his schedule and payed his fees. I woke up this morning and the first thought that came to my mind was what would go wrong?

He got the classes he wanted. We like the teachers he ended up with. What could go wrong? With years of practice under my belt I have learned anything can go wrong. So today I will contact the district to see if the interpreter team is scheduled and qualified. So far that is it. So far it is just a maintenance email to remind the school I am still watching and supportive of my son's education. As I sit here I realize the emails will slowly become his job. We have already shifted a lot of his advocating responsibility to him. Hopefully this year will not focus so much on his right to access but more on his theater and photography classes. This year will hopefully be about getting homework done and not about watching lectures and scrambling to take required notes at the same time. Hopefully this year every movie will be captioned. Hopefully this year we will be able to see what it is like to be typical.

Nothing Clever But Really Cool

Wednesday was amazing. My son is in an all hearing physical theater company. The cool thing is they don't use their voices but only their bodies. Wednesday they went to the deaf school to showcase their theater form. It was awesome! After the show the director and company answered questions and invited the deaf kids to join the company next year..... this was very well received... next year will be such a great year.

Today my son and I took off for  the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland , Oregon to watch Howie Seago, professional Deaf actor, perform. Howie is a rare bird. The kindest role model ever and Haddy is over the moon excited. We will see and interpreted show and go on an interpreted backstage tour....

Life is good for a Deaf kid.

I see What You Are Saying

Tonight I was volunteering at my son's school working the back of the house at a dinner show. Last year as the actors would pass me back stage I would notice some were signing with him. Some would come up to me and make attempts. Cool.

One year later as I sit back stage I notice almost the entire cast and crew is signing conversations with me during the play. It seems it is the most natural thing to do!

Awesome

Hold On Mom.....

"I "forgot" to clean my room and I need to pack my barrel for our adventure in two weeks. I am a teenager so I will selectively notice you when you are signing. For some reason at age thirteen I have all of the answers. "   

Dear creatures that came from my body,

Yes, it is my duty to embarass you morning, noon and night. Parenting is a 24 hour job.

I will always  love you but not so much the mess in your room.

Warmest regards,

The woman who spent 18 hours in labour 

Dear Mr. Shakespeare,

Dear Mr Shakespeare,


I am sure when the stories were forming in your head being ready to commit to paper the idea that your words would prove the world to be a glorious place for a Deaf kid was not even on your radar. Well if I had the chance I would inform you that your words by chance have  shown me the journey we all take is meant to be and if for some reason it is off the beaten path there will be magic and a reason for gratitude. 


Gratefully,


Mom of deaf kid trying to get it right


So I posted recently about my son wanting to go to a Shakespeare intensive  theatre camp this summer. It was a short blip I tossed online in a moment where I felt helpless. The outcome was..... well..... I am sorry I don't have words.

Haddy has four interpreters lined up to work with him at camp....... he gets to go and feel like a typical kid who happens to want to learn about "The Tempest".  The folks who stepped forward to solve this challenge are ..... again ...... no words..... I really don't have the words......  

The other outcome was a gift we would have never imagined. So he has written thank you notes and handed them off to me..... I have been sitting here trying to find the words for my side of the notes..... again..... I can't find them.

 Dear Mr. Shakespeare,
Spare some words for me.

The Thing About Life

So I had a crappy day. Yep, really crappy.

Time for my hearing kiddo to go to sleep....

"Mommy, but you need to read to me....."

I do, I start..... I am lousy.....trying, my voice is like a snail on a rock.

My deaf kid takes over.... they have a story that he has made up.... it is a sort of a chronicle about my daughter's life. They tell me it is called "Unibrow!" Uh, this is maybe OK?

So I am sitting here, being grownup,  with tons of stuff to figure out and my son is signing the next episode of "Unibrow"

I am grateful for the laughter