How to help people that won't help themselves

[Lucky Day]

We met this little 5 year old 2 weeks ago. She is deaf and in a home daycare situation. She hasn't had any early intervention, she doesn't even have hearing aids. The family has medicaid, they just don't know how to get basic needs met.

I feel mad and powerless about this situation. If she could be brought to our county she would be the 1 more child they need to split the k-5 class. If she could get hearing aids she could have a chance at catching up on language. Her family doesn't want to send her to the residential school. But they are letting her just go to waste.

She's adorable. I went to her day care provider's house and played a simple game of motion commands. She was so happy and kept requesting to spin. She only knows basic signs, and spin was new to her. Her day care provider said that was the first time she had used a sign other than potty.

The care provider had learned some signs from Church and was trying to help the girl learn. Now she's removed from the day care provider's care. The family has lost the funding that kept her in day care. She lives in a crazy rual district that has 2 elementary schools, and a Jr. Senior High. Needless to say, there is no appropriate class for her.

I'm trying to get their contact information information from the care provider. I don't want to harrass them, but how can they let her fall so far behind?!

[Tami Hossler]

I hope you will keep trying. It isn't harassment at all. Sometimes it takes parents a few visits to understand about the importance of language. If you have another Deaf child to bring with you so they can see typical language development through sign language, this might help too. Also bring books to get them started in sign language and resources. Sometimes all it takes is to reach out and take their hand and help them with the first few steps:)

[Lucky Day]

I agree that she doesn't need hearing aids. But it's a grandmother caring for a child with absent mother.... It's like they think because she hasn't developed normally, that there is nothing they can do. She has no language at home and it's like nobody is taking responsibility for her getting help.

[Miss Kat's Mom]

There are plenty of children who don't use hearing aids and grow up to be very sucessful. I wouldn't say that you should judge them on that factor. The idea that she has no language is an issue. I would try to hook them up with a person from Early Intervention. They should be able to get free services in their home.

[Karen Putz]

Oh man, stories like these just break my heart! Is there any way you can connect with the family? There's so many free resources for learning sign etc. at www.dcmp.org. No matter what school placement there is, there are ways to make it work but everyone involved has to have a vested interest in this kid and get language going, pronto.