Deaf like me is a book written by Thomas and James Spradley. Louise and Thomas Spradley are a normal couple in the year 1964. They have one child, Bruce who becomes ill with German measles, or rubella. Louise discovered that she was pregnant and the doctor tells her that contracting rubella while pregnant could lead to various defects in the newborn. This new gives Louise and Thomas’s nightmares for the next nine months.When Lynn Spradley is finally born, she appears to be a perfectly normal and healthy child. She has no physical deformities,and she also has no noticeable mental deficiencies. Thomas admits in the book to having still lingering fears for months to come. However Lynn continues to grow and develop in a perfectly healthy manner. Gradually, her parents stop living in fear and they start to relax.
Around the 6 months, Lynn and her parents attend a Fourth of July celebration and of course there are fireworks. A child Lynns age would be startled by the noise but Lynn didn't even wake up from her nap. She didn't have any reaction to the loud sounds. This was the first time Thomas and Louise suspected their daughter might be deaf. After 2 years of testing Lynn was pronounced to have profound hearing loss. She is beat by her teaches when using her hands to sign and is forced to learn how to talk. Her parents however find a new school that appreciates her.This book shows the struggles of deaf children and the difficulty that parents have raising a deaf child. And if you want to know what happened then you have to read the book :)
1) What would you do if you found out your child was deaf, or had any other disability?
2) Living in this time (late 1960's) would you allow your child to go to a deaf school that forces them to talk and not use sign language? Or would you find better alternatives like the Spradleys did for their daughter Lynn.
19 comments:
To answer the first question, if I found out that my child was deaf or had any other kind of disability, I would initially be sad only because I would have wanted the best for my child, but then I would learn to cope with it. A parent of a child with a disability needs to be a role model for that child by showing that it is perfectly acceptable to be different. I would try to provide all the tools I could for my child to help with their disability. To answer the second question, regardless of the time period, I would definitely not allow my child to go to a school where he or she was beaten because he or she was using hands to sign, and I would find an alternative school as the Spradleys did. Disabled children should not be disrespected; however, they should not be coddled either. They should be treated equally and provided assistance when necessary.
1. If I found out my child had a disability at first I would be sad or maybe even mad just because you want the best for your children and a lot of people don't treat people with disabilities with much respect. I would try to raise them the best I could and try to give them all the opportunities as everyone else,
1) If my child was deaf, I do not consider this to be a big disability, and would adapt to the new challenges quickly. If my child had a more severe disability, I would have a harder time learning how to best raise my child, but I would do the best that I could.
2) I would find a school in which my child would be able to use sign language when neccessary, but I would also want my child to be able to talk if possible, simply because that opens up so many more opportunities in life.
to answer question 2, i would not allow my child to attend a school that forced them to speak if they were deaf. If they truly have the inability to speak, then they shouldn't be forced to and they should be allowed to freely communicate in whatever way they can and feel comfortable doing. i would want the best for my child so i would do whatever i could to find a school that specialized in the teaching of deaf children.
1) What would you do if you found out your child was deaf, or had any other disability?
My first reaction, like many others, would be shock. After I realized that there is not fixing it, I would have to work with what I have and make the best of it. I would find the best education possible for my child, and help them the nest I could.
I think that if I found out that my child had a disability it would be very hard for me. I think that I would be able to deal with it and help my child through whatever means possible if I had a strong relationship with someone that would be there to help me support my child and do what was best for him/her. I know it would be difficult at times but that child would be like any other child just unique in their own way and deserved love like any other child that is not handicapped and I think that knowing that my child was no different would make it easier to deal with.
1. If I found out my child had a disability, I would be very sad because I would want to be the best parent I could be, and it is difficult for a child to grow up with a disability. I would feel that I am not doing my job as a parent.
It would be sad to find out that your chilld had a disability. I would do evrything I could to ensure that my child had as close to a normal life as possible. I would pay for whatever treatment or equipment he or she would need regardless of price. I know being a parent of a child with a disibility brings added stress but you have to look at the positives
I agree with all of you. I too would think that having a child who is deaf would be sad, but i wouldn't care. I would treat my child the same as everyone else, and i would have to learn sign language. And all you can do is love your child and be the best parent you can :)
I also agree with all of you saying you would not allow your deaf child to attend a school were they are forced to talk and not use sign language. Like heather said all you want is the best for your child.
1) If I found out that my child was deaf, I would do everything that I could to ensure a healthy development. It's sad that the teachers do not understand the difficulty that a disabled child goes through.
I agree, I would be sad at first because everyone hopes for the very best for their child and depending on how severe the disability, life could be difficult. But I would eventually move past that obstacle because your child needs your full attention. The best thing you could do for that child would be to love them and raise them as you would for any other child. As for the second question, I would definitely find an alternative school like the Spradley's chose to do because a school specialized for that child's disability could greatly improve that child's life. An alternative school would also help to prepare them for success while still caring about their specific needs.
If I found out my child had a disability, I would be scared. My child's entire life would be different and I would think about how they were going to grow up. What others would say or do. I know that I would love my child dearly for the simple fact that he or she is my kid, how could you not love him or her? I think the fear would show the most when my kid went off to school. If everything is okay, I think I'd have nothing to fear because I'm not sure I've ever encountered anyone who has made fun of a child with a disability.
If my child were to get beat as it happened in the book, no, I wouldn't allow it. It isn't my child's fault if they cannot talk because they're deaf. It's not like he child is defying the teacher just to be a pain. If the child isn't beat, I think that sending him or her to a school for deaf children would be acceptable up to a certain grade level. But I also feel like just because my child is different, it doesn't mean I should seperate him or her from a "normal" school life. I think that if my child wouldn't be ridiculed for having a disability, I would allow my child to go to a "normal" school.
Regarding question # 1, if I found out my child was deaf or had another disability, at first I would be extremely sad. I would be sad because I know my child would grow up having to face many adversities and misfortunes. He or she is going to have to grow up very different than every other normal child. They will have extra struggles with everything they learn. But, nonetheless, I would love my child just as much as I would love a child without disabilities. I would just be very nervous for the life they were going to lead and how they were going to learn to live with their disability.
1. at first it would be very hard coping and figuring out the best way to help my child. but i would learn to adapt and do what i can to help my child to the best of my abilities.
2. i would do what i can to find the best place for my child where he/she will get the best education and be in the best envirnoment possible.
1) At first, I would be sad not because he or she had a disability, but because they would be missing out on so much. After I got over being sad, I would do everything in my power to make sure they lead a normal life, and aren’t treated differently than any other child.
2) I wouldn't send my child to a school for the deaf for his or her whole education, because I would want the child to grow up as a normal individual and not view his or herself as 'different'. I would find a normal school that would be willing to enroll my child so he or she could interact with other people who aren’t deaf, as most people they would meet in their life would not have that disability.
If I found out my child was deaf I think I would be in shock and I would be upset that he/she wouldn't have an average or normal childhood. But I would make the best out of the situation and treat it like a normal kid.
I definitely would not let my child attend a school like that. I would look for better alternatives and do whatever necessary to give my child a good education.
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