Update Hearing VS Deaf school

April 5th I wrote a post here about

Hearing School VS deaf School

regarding Erin

Last Thursday we had teacher conferences at her school.  She is doing such a great job.  We got all positive feedback on her.  She for the first time in 3 years of conferences did she smile when the teachers were praising her and really taking the praising.  In the past she looked like she was bored and didn't want to be there and when teachers would give her praise, she would just look down and not really accept it.  Not this time, she really believed the teachers when they praised her and she was proud of it.  It was great to see that.  They all commented on the fact that the past couple of months she really has shown motivation and eagerness to learn which is huge for her too.  She continues to complain about being bad at English, but is also realizing that she is improving.  I also had a long talk with the transition person at MDS, they have a program that is both independent living skills teaching and academic teaching.  It sounds really good and it is something that Erin would enjoy.  I was feeling pretty good about this....until the tour....

Last Friday Erin and I toured the hearing school.  I had told Erin she needs to ask questions and really pay attention to what the people are saying, explaining to her that if she doesn't say anything, act not interested, that when the IEP team and her parents meet, we are going to do what we think is best and perhaps not consider something that you saw or thought that you like or didn't like.

I had arranged an interpreter and she was very good with Erin.

We got there before class was over.  There was two counselor/teacher that we toured with.  They are very knowledgeable with the program and had answers and explained everything that Erin or I asked.  I liked that.

Erin will be home for 3 years comes this September. From the time she came home until late last fall, she was going to do fashion, we watch some of the fashion shows, she made herself some pj bottoms and a dress for me with the help her grandma.  Erin didn't have any skills with using a sewing machine and understanding directions.  Her grandma that helped her doesn't have any ASL skills, but they did manage to do it and she did a fairly good job.  Erin said she no longer wanted to do fashion, she didn't really have an answer for why not.

Erin really like taking pictures and modeling with herself and friends.  She for a long time wouldn't let me take pictures of her.  She now does most of the time.  She is taking a photography class at the MDS (deaf school).  I was really excited for her as she was too.  She wants a fancy camera, but has really no clue (I don't have much more clue then she does) about all the different features on it.  I thought this would be perfect before she use her Christmas gift cards to buy an nice camera.

She tells me the class is ok, they can't do a lot due to not having enough cameras, equipment's. 

She enjoying shopping now and wants to buy clothes.  Dave and I will buy her some clothes, but now telling her she needs to buy them herself, she now talking about where she can get a job and wants help with applications.  We haven't started that process for many different reasons yet.

When asked in the past if she was going to go to college, she said yep RIT or G*llaudet, because she was told by peers that is where all the deaf people go.

Now when asked if she wants to go to college, she said she doesn't know because she not good at English or because she doesn't know what she wants to do.

She now is more focused on working because she wants money.

Now back to the tour of school. 

They told Erin there  is just over 2000 students.  We first went down to the Art and Science part of the building.  He pointed down one hallway and said that is the fashion hallway and named off different types of fashion classes.  Erin was impressed by that.  We next went into an art class, the instructor came up to us right away and introduce himself and asked if Erin liked to draw, she got a little shy and I said yes she does.  He explained how you could be in the class if you are a beginner drawer, and expert drawer (he introduced us to a senior that is one of the top 100 artists in MN and has a full ride scholarship.  Her art piece she was working on was amazing and Erin was impressed).  Erin was looking around the art room and taking everything in.

We also walked to the Social Science class and she got to observe a couple minutes in that room.  There was about 25 kids in that room.

She was suppose to see a pull out English class, but they were watching a movie and there was no pull out math class going on.

As we were touring, she saw one of her volleyball teammate.  The teammate recognized Erin and waved at her, Erin got a big smile on her face.

We also got to stop in the head coach VB/Track room.  He came out and spoke to us a couple of minutes and asked me if I signed Erin up yet for VB camp in the June and to let the Park and Rec program know that she needs an interpreter  and if we have any problems getting one, to let him know and he will get one set up for her. 

We got to stand in the hallway when class got out. Very busy, Erin was commenting on that.  She was stating in China the grades are on different floors, so even though there were 3000 kids at the deaf school in China, they were split on 5 different floors.  She got to see the lunch room with approx. 500 kids in there.  They talked about all the different lunch options they had.  I explained to her I would put money in the acct for her.  At her deaf school they have to sign up a month in advance for the next month meals and so forth.  She brings lunch from home because of that.  Erin asked if the terp would be with her during lunch.  They said they can arrange for one to be with her.  We saw a couple more classes before heading back to the office.

In the office we discussed options for Erin.  Erin was asking questions about the pull out classes about if it is only her grade or her ability.  They will be according to her ability, they went on to explain that some classes mix 9-12 graders together and others don't.  They explained that all to us and Erin asked questions when she didn't understand something or questions about how things work.  She was very engaging.

We talked about options after HS.  MDS has been focusing more on the independent living skills and work which is great.  RAHS can also do that, they also can help the college option too.  They explained the diploma to us as some states have a "special ed" diploma and that doesn't get them in college.  MN doesn't have that, everyone gets a diploma, some kids get it after 12th grade, others don't (transition program, etc).

After we left, Erin, Dave and I have been talking.  Erin is very nervous about going to an hearing school, but she is also liking what they are offering.  She talked about hearing school will be a lot harder then deaf school, we said yes, then she would say things like, it will be faster pace, I would be challenged, can be more involved.  Which we said yes to all.  When we talked about MDS, she would say it slow sometimes and boring at times.  We get mix impressions with Erin, she wants more to do in classes, yet when we notified the teachers and they talk to her, she doesn't give them the impression that much.  They have been giving her more harder work slowly and she is responding to that, but she still complains at times. 

We talked about College again with Erin, she doesn't know what is out there, her options for college for her, could she even do college, and so forth.  Erin was also surprise the many different classes and career classes at the hearing school.  She didn't really know that was there that many.  Dave and I are getting the impression with talking to Erin that she really doesn't know what there is out there for careers.  She has some basic ideas, but nothing to in depth of, and at the hearing school she would have a chance to be exposed to more and perhaps find her calling.

Right now, we are thinking half at the deaf school and half with the hearing school,

possible the best of both worlds, she can embrace both of them.  We have a meeting next month with the deaf school to talk more about their programs and so forth.

decisions, decisions and more decisions.