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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

The battle continues....

Chance's dad just got back from an Alexander Graham Bell Association Conference in Wisconsin. He learned a lot and brought home some good info that we can use for Chance such as teaching music to kids with implants. I really feel that if Chance is given the opportunity, he can learn to hear the different keys and learn to sing. He sings now and he really likes it. He has been getting used to the implants these past few years so we haven't pushed the concepts of notes. We have been kind of unsure what exactly can be expected from a deaf child with implants and musical notes. Now, we feel that he has had the implants long enough to begin helping him to learn the difference in notes and pitches. We don't know exactly what he'll hear, but we feel with training, he can learn notes etc. and be successful with music. He just needs the exposure. Probably more exposure to the actual notes than our other kids though they could use with some formal presentation of notes too. Where is Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music when you need them?

Chance's dad was exposed to other things at this years conference. There was a deaf group protesting the Alexander Graham Bell Association and their focus on deaf children and people speaking.

I look at Chance and I think, so you feel you have the right to protest what the implants have done for my little boy? We don't stand outside of sign language events waving signs and protesting that people are signing. I really don't care what anyone decides to use for communication for their deaf child. I feel that if they choose to sign, they can be trusted to make that decision and go on their way. But for some reason, there are groups that sign that feel that my decision for my son is some how their business. I don't quite know what these groups want really. Do they want all technology thrown away? Do those protesting think parents will remove the implants from off of their children's heads and begin only to sign due to the protests? What would they tell kids like Chance, that hearing is wrong, and his parents should be punished for helping him hear? I don't feel that I have betrayed my son by pursuing hearing options for him. In fact, I feel that we have opened up Chance's possibilities in life and that being able to hear will help him accomplish anything he wants to. This was not a decision that was taken lightly and for other people to continue to hound those who choose to let their children hear is unfathomable to me.

If people don't like implants, they should not get them for themselves or for their children. What is so hard about that?

1 comment:

Abbie said...

They were protesting against oral only motto that Alexander Graham Bell goes by. They are known for being anti-ASL. They are a staunch advocates for speaking which is fine, but they lack the help for those that cannot speak. This association is of no help to children that have been implanted too late where they cannot learn how to speak. AGBell falls short helping that particular group of children. They are trying to raise awareness that incorporating sign language to deaf children regardless of whether or not they are implanted is to benefit them for some kind of language foundation. This is where AGBell falls short helping that particular group of children before it too late.