Keeping Up with the Kenty's: Ga Hands and Voices

Several weeks ago, my friend Kelly and I were chosen to be a part of the GA Hands and Voices Advocate Training. The training was held in Macon, and couldn't have happened at a better time for me. The training was held Friday and Saturday...and all I can say is WOW!! This is a great organization in the state of GA and I can't wait to help other families throughout the state.

GA Hands and Voices:

Hands & Voices is a non-profit, parent-driven national organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are non-biased about communication methodologies and believe that families can make the best choices for their child if they have access to good information and support. Our membership includes families who communicate manually and/or orally. From American Sign Language to cochlear implants, our organization represents people from all different approaches to, and experiences with, deafness or hearing loss. We are one of over 30 statewide chapters comprised mainly of parents along with professionals.

Georgia Chapter Website: http://www.gahandsandvoices.org/

National Website: : http://www.handsandvoices.org/.

(Wonderful group of ladies)

The training was AMAZING!! Even though it was weeks ago, I still get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. Thanks to Janet DesGeorges from the Colorado Hands and Voices for putting on a GREAT training.

Here is a list of topics that we discussed:

1.Education Law & Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

2.TURBO IEP

3. Advocacy & the rules of Engagement: How to become an Effective Educational Advocate

4. Heading 'Em Off at the Impasse

5. Practical Application of Advocacy-Pop up IEP

6. Empowered Parents: Playing a Role in your child's success

Dinner with everyone!!

I walked away from the training a different person. If you need resources for a child that is deaf or hard of hearing, and you live in the state of Georgia, please contact me and I will be glad to help. If I don't know the answer, I will find out for you.

On a different note:
This training came at the right time for me. Jansen was up for re-evaluation at the school system and they have been doing testing on him since October. This was a very stressful time for me. I knew Jansen was making progress with his school work, and I feared we would lose his IEP(he has had support with speech and language since he was 2). I went to his IEP meeting with an opened mind, and listened to the whole team speak about my child.

Here is a list of things that were discussed at the IEP meeting:

1. Testing from the school psychologist....everything was Average or Above Average

2. Speech/Language Therapist talked about his testing...everything was Average

3. Hearing Impaired Specialist: Talked about ways to help Jansen in the classroom and gave several accommodations that need to be put into place.

4. Classroom teacher discussed his progress in the classroom since Interventions were put into place with blending and sight words. She discussed the FM system and how she felt it was helping him in whole group setting .

5. I discussed the importance of making sure everyone knows about his hearing loss, and that I felt he needed extra support, due to the fact, on paper he qualifies as a "Hearing Impaired." I also stated that I felt Jansen has made a lot of progress in Kindergarten due to all the interventions that have been put into place.

6. The IEP team discussed all this info and Jansen LOST his IEP...This has been very hard for me to swallow. As an Advocate for Jansen and a teacher, this was not what I wanted to happen. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that Jansen is doing well and that all testing is normal, but I also feel he needs support in the classroom. I am NOT giving up on this, and I will stay on top of things for Jansen. Jansen will be going to 1st grade next year, and I will be by his side the whole step of the way.

Since the meeting, Jansen is in SST (Student Support Team), due to the Accommodations that he needs. Some accommodations that he has in place are: Seating, FM System, and the teacher will check for understanding once directions are given. He is still being evaluated by the Occupational Therapist for fine motor skills. I hope to hear these results before the end of the school year.

I took Jansen for a hearing test on March 28, 2011, and here is the info:

1. Jansen's right ear is still perfect with an air conduction score of 10db.

2. Jansen's left ear still has a working nerve with an air conduction score of 75db.