Teaching a deaf child with CP and Downs to read

[onesadduck]

The mother of my late little sister's friend wants to teach him to read (his mother and my mother are friends, now). He has Down Syndrome, CP and is deaf. Everyone assumes he is mentally retarded because of the Down Syndrome, but no one has really bothered to measure (how do you measure the IQ of a child who cannot read or hear and has a hard time signing due to CP?). His mother, my mother and I are all convinced he is much smarter than he is given credit for. He goes to a public special education school, where the principal essentially said it was a waste to use their resources to teach him to read because he is deaf and he has mental retardation.

His mother is determined to teach him to read. He is 6-8 years old (I can't remember, exactly) knows some ASL, but is still learning because his diagnosis as deaf came late. So far we have come up with labeling everything in the house with signs that have the name of the object written, and a picture of the sign for that. Also there are some DVDs (I forget what they are called- I think "Signing time") that his mom got.

It's his parents on their own, unfortunately because of the school's lack of cooperation. She has already fought with the school for so much- she has decided her time would be better spent teaching him then trying to get them to do it.

Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
-Alisa

 

[HopperFan]

He can be tested. I have a son with D/S. When we lived in NJ some districts were giving the kids IQ tests that were designed for the deaf and did not require reading or speaking. When we moved were were in the process of getting it done. Once here our district (who had promised prior to move to do it) said they were not trained for it. She needs to pursue and she will probably have to use resources in the deaf community. My memory is it was called Kaufman but they said there were several. http://ags.pearsonassessments.com/group.asp?nGroupInfoID=a3350

But I wouldn't really rely on results in making the decision to teach reading. My DS tests very low on IQ tests but can read. He has friends who test much higher and can not read. I would push the school for an appropriate reading program. She may have to search for the curriculm, but I would do it. I refused a reading program one year that I felt was inappropriate and we got another.

My DS can read, but a strength for him is phonics which would not help your friend. The word signs are a great idea, has she taken it a step further and had him try to match up a word with an object or picture of object. She may have to make or buy lots of picture cards, add some letter cards.

Tell her to keep trying - do not give up on it. Tell her to explore the Edmark Reading programs for special needs. School can order those. Even if he learns the basic life skill words it will be worth it.

ps My son also has severe speach impairment, speaks very little on his own, but can read through a card or book no problem.

 

[pcparamedics01]

I agree with the OP. There are many nonverbal tests. My son is ASD(Autism) he does well on non verbal tests but poorly on verbal tests even though he is verbal but recessive and expressive delayed. Also I would suggest he get outside testing from a Clinical Psycologist to back up the districts report! When the Distict did my son's IQ report I asked for a list of the names of the tests ahead of time to ensure they would administer the right tests.

 

[HopperFan]

Oh, and we had our son tested by a private agency and the school district had to pay for it, because we were not happy with their level of service in the psych test dept.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Oh, and we had our son tested by a private agency and the school district had to pay for it, because we were not happy with their level of service in the psych test dept.

That is the only way to go! The District paid for mine to a couple of years ago. Mainly because they screwed up and they knew it!! I had an adovate and they paid for it all! Good for you!!!!

 

[onesadduck]

Honestly, I'm not sure she wants him tested. I understand this very well. My little sister did terrible on IQ tests! Well, actually she scored 105 at first, then as time went on and she became brain damaged her score went down to 55. But she was much smarter than that! She was hilarious and sarcastic. I've worked with other people with IQs in that range and they did not understand sarcasm. Also, she knew pretty much every Simpson's episode plot so if we missed part of one, she could tell me what we missed, including funny quotes. She didn't want to learn what was taught in school, so she didn't. I know her intelligence declined over the years, but I don't think it was that bad.

If she gets her son tested, and he does poorly for non IQ reasons, they won't let him into higher-functioning classes later on. We are sure he is smarter than they give him credit for, she doesn't want to give them another reason to treat him so poorly. Also, for a child that doesn't hear, know ASL or read, I can imagine an IQ test missing some stuff.

I tend not to trust IQ tests at all, though. I've taken them for gifted programs and have had a range of 150-120. That's a big range. How can an accurate test give that much variability? I know they are useful, but I don't like how much rests on them for NT, special education, or gifted education.

Anyway, I apreciate your input. Thanks, guys.

 

[HopperFan]

Don't get me wrong, I am totally anti-testing !!! My son tests very low, yet is does very well in variety of areas. The problem is standardized tests are too rigid in rules for many disabled. Once the law passed that they could not require it once done, he never had another. He got through the next 11 years quite well without one. Your original post read as though she felt like if he had one that was appropriate, he would do well, and she could prove he needed the additional curriculm.

She should continue to fight for the reading program, no administrator should write him off due to his own misguided preconceptions. She should go to the Head of the school district special education department and the superintendent if need be. Often Principals are ignorant in this area, and do not take the time to become involved with these students. He is WAY TOO YOUNG TO GIVE UP ! She should keep exploring curriculms, and demand they teach him. I know she says she has fought so much, but she has many years ahead to go, and her services could get worse if she doesn't put them in place now.

 

[MightyMom]

I am so frustrated with our school district right now. So this is gonna come out a little more jaded when I typically sound.

These standardized tests being administered now are a joke. Especially the IQ evaluation. My son has CP. One of the IQ test questions was, "Why shouldn't you run with scissors?" My son said, "Because I can't run"

Well DUH he can't run! He has moderate hypotonic cerebral palsy! The problem was.... he was not given credit for that answer because they really wanted to hear, "Because you can get hurt."

The Full Individual Evaluations are a joke because again, they factor in physical limitations.

Sometimes I think about running away, buying a big piece of land in central Texas and starting my own colony. Only people with children with special needs children will be able to live there with their families. We will have excellent teachers who REALLY WANT TO TEACH. (go figure) and we won't have to deal with all the bureaucracy.

I don't know what the answer is for your friend. Sounds like she has a special child who has an incredible amount of untapped potential. I could give you pointers on reading.... but the hearing impairment throws me off cause I haven't had experience with that.

BTW. Your sister sounds like she was an incredible child. She sounds like she had a lot of moxie and charm.

 

[SandrainNC]

Teaching a child is never a waste! What is that principal's deal???? Isn't it kind of illegal to not teach the standard course of study (but with modifications)?? And reading is part of the standard course of study. Good grief.

They are actually testing a new reading program here in NC (Edmark is what the control group is using). My son is in the study with the new reading program. He is doing really really well. I can ask his teacher if she has heard of how it can be modified for a child who is deaf plus cognitively delayed and see what she says. I'm not sure when and if everybody will be switching to it though.

Sandra

 

[bex271]

does the school have a hearing teacher? My son is visually and hearing impaired and also has cp, he is only 3 and in preschool through our school system. He has a hearing/vision teacher that comes in every month to help him, his teacher and aides figure out ways for him to learn and it has helped him a lot. He is learning to use a communication device right now.
So i was just wondering if y'all had this type teacher to be able to come in and help. Our hearing/vision teacher brings in different activities for him to try while at school. I'd also look into a really good speech therapist (if he doesn't have one already) to help too, ours come up with great ideas to help him.
Just some suggestions.

becca

 

[Forevryoung]

bex270 (and everyone else):

You might want to look at aac-rerc.org there is a webcast (movie presentation) about special needs kids and reading/literacy. I've seen the project in action and it's amazing.

Bex, what communication device is your son learning? I may have a present for you.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Teaching a child is never a waste! What is that principal's deal???? Isn't it kind of illegal to not teach the standard course of study (but with modifications)?? And reading is part of the standard course of study. Good grief.

Sandra

Sandra,
I totally agree Sandra!! I believe it is totally ilegal in my state! To the original poster, get an advocate!!! There is huge issues here. They have screwed up in your child's education. Do not settle!!!!!

 

[bex271]

foreveryoung,
he is learning on a dynavox 4 but we are in the process of him getting a Dynavox V max. Which we'll be able to customize more for his needs and it's a lot more user friendly. We tried the cheap talks but he got bored with it.

becca

 

[Forevryoung]

foreveryoung,
he is learning on a dynavox 4 but we are in the process of him getting a Dynavox V max. Which we'll be able to customize more for his needs and it's a lot more user friendly. We tried the cheap talks but he got bored with it.

becca

Becca,
Are you going to use Dynavox software with it or Boardmaker (on the V max)? I have done amazing (and a ton of) programming for Boardmaker (which is the reason for asking)

Definitely look at the aac-rerc.org website, toddlers are learning using visual scene displays (something the V max, with dynavox software can do "easily"- the 4 not so easily)

-Forevryoung

 

[bex271]

forevryoung
we are going to use both (i think) more then likely boardmaker though. It's going to be awhile before we get it, having to go through all the red tape stuff. I'm interested in what you've done so when we get we can hit the ground running so say.

becca