Interview
I interviewed my mentor, my mother.
What did you learn from the Parent and Professional Program?
"During the Parent and Professional Program I learned of the importance of teaching Olivia about her diagnosis prior to her leaving for college. After high school, Olivia will be responsible for arranging her disability services in college, so she will need to know the details of her hearing loss and of what accommodations that she will need to be successful in her classes."
What information did you gather that would help in choosing a college?
"During the parent panel session I learned of the importance of visiting the Disability Services Office at each school we tour. It is crucial to hear about that services that they offer their students and what Olivia might quality based on her 504 Plan. I also learned that we can request items for the dorm such as a flashing smoke alarm in her room and a doorbell for her door, so someone could effectively wake her in the event of an emergency. There are also note taking services that she can request that would be helpful during large lectures or if a professor has an accent or is soft-spoken (even her able hearing friends will like this advantage.)"
What new knowledge did you hope to gain from this experience?
"I learned a great deal from attending campUS. I met parents of children with hearing loss and we were able to discuss some of the issues we experience and best practices of what has worked and what hasn't. Most importantly I heard an incredible speaker that was born with normal hearing and lost a significant portion of her hearing due to an illness. She was able to offer an insight that immeasurable. I discovered that the way I had been communicating with my child for nearly her entire life was stressful for her and it often times caused a strain in our relationship because she thought I was always yelling at her, when in actuality, I thought I was communicating correctly. Once I realized a more thoughtful way of speaking to Olivia, our relationship improved considerably. I felt like a horrible parent for causing my child pain and suffering. I sat and listened with tears in my eyes and wondered why I hadn't known about this before. There should be classes for parents with kids with a hearing loss so that we know the most effective ways to interact. This was the most important information I have ever received as a parent."
"During the Parent and Professional Program I learned of the importance of teaching Olivia about her diagnosis prior to her leaving for college. After high school, Olivia will be responsible for arranging her disability services in college, so she will need to know the details of her hearing loss and of what accommodations that she will need to be successful in her classes."
What information did you gather that would help in choosing a college?
"During the parent panel session I learned of the importance of visiting the Disability Services Office at each school we tour. It is crucial to hear about that services that they offer their students and what Olivia might quality based on her 504 Plan. I also learned that we can request items for the dorm such as a flashing smoke alarm in her room and a doorbell for her door, so someone could effectively wake her in the event of an emergency. There are also note taking services that she can request that would be helpful during large lectures or if a professor has an accent or is soft-spoken (even her able hearing friends will like this advantage.)"
What new knowledge did you hope to gain from this experience?
"I learned a great deal from attending campUS. I met parents of children with hearing loss and we were able to discuss some of the issues we experience and best practices of what has worked and what hasn't. Most importantly I heard an incredible speaker that was born with normal hearing and lost a significant portion of her hearing due to an illness. She was able to offer an insight that immeasurable. I discovered that the way I had been communicating with my child for nearly her entire life was stressful for her and it often times caused a strain in our relationship because she thought I was always yelling at her, when in actuality, I thought I was communicating correctly. Once I realized a more thoughtful way of speaking to Olivia, our relationship improved considerably. I felt like a horrible parent for causing my child pain and suffering. I sat and listened with tears in my eyes and wondered why I hadn't known about this before. There should be classes for parents with kids with a hearing loss so that we know the most effective ways to interact. This was the most important information I have ever received as a parent."