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In a message dated 6/1/02 12:54:24 PM, dcannon@... writes:

<< Deaf/Blind do communicate and do receive input. In fact
one of the noisiest places I have ever been was a deaf blind
party. >>

Yes, but leaving them to hang out and learn brail on their own as babies is
not likely to work out as well as it worked with my kids learning to read
visually. And they wouldn't happen to see other people signing to each other.

<<IMHO (LOL) a child with significant disabilities has all the more
reason to be kept away from the self-esteem destructive world of
government schools.>>

I'm not saying they can't be homeschooled better than they could be put in a
state boarding school. I'm saying they will need special assistance because
some of what they will need to know won't be things the people at their house
already happen to know.

This is not so with ADD.

<<A good chunk of assistive technology will solve the vocalization problem. >>

The equipment and how to help them learn to use it is something the family WI
LL need to get help with.

Not so with ADD.

Sandra

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In a message dated 6/1/02 12:54:24 PM, dcannon@... writes:

<< IMHO (LOL) a child with significant disabilities has all the more
reason to be kept away from the self-esteem destructive world of
government schools. >>

When I was writing about ADD not being a disability in the way deaf/blind and
cerebral palsy was, I was talking about UNschooling very specifically. Maybe
that was missed. Just plain vanilla unschooling won't cover severe
disabilities. But ADD isn't that sort of "disability" (if it is one in ANY
way in an unschooling situation).

Sandra

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In a message dated 6/1/02 1:54:23 PM Central Daylight Time, dcannon@...
writes:


> Even when talking about profound MR, there
> is no reason to think that the parent cannot if so inclined
> provide what the child needs - perhaps buying some services.
>
> IMHO (LOL) a child with significant disabilities has all the more
> reason to be kept away from the self-esteem destructive world of
> government schools.

We have some friends who have a daughter (now 16) with extremely profound MR.
When she was born the doctors all told them to take their daughter home, love
her, protect her and then hope for the best. If she should live beyond 3 or 4
then they should place her in a home. It was so sad, beyond words. I never
realized until a few months ago that what our friend does with her daughter
is unschooling. She keeps documents and has a "curriculum" of sorts, (
basically an outline of what she thinks will be good things to work on over a
certain period of time. Like E. D. Hersh's books only for her MR daughter.)
because she is the type to do so, but IMO what they do is unschooling.
They play all day, they sing songs and do the laundry, they count to 10 while
running the sweeper. She now knows her alphabet, numbers to 10, she can fold
laundry, and loves to listen to her books on tape. She can also run her tape
recorder and the VCR with help. She can make simple sandwiches and fix
herself cold cereal. This girl has never been to a school. She had a woman
come out once who evaluated her, but she also recommended an institution. She
does go to special therapies several times a week and has a group of other
children like her that she enjoys going to. She can't speak very well, but
definitely knows how to get her point across. She knows her pleases and thank
yous, and has wonderful manners. She can't read, but loves books. She can
pick out clothes that match, she can't run the washing machine or dryer, but
can sort laundry, load the washer and take the clothes out of the dryer. She
has learned the importance of good hygiene and does her best to keep herself
neat.
Recently some issues with their local school district came up and our friends
reluctantly allowed their daughter to be tested. The results were that she
was untestable, recommendation: institution. Our friends conclusion? She
would have been a sad, uncared for child forgotten somewhere in an
institution (probably not even alive) if they had listened to all the people
over the years. Instead they have a happy child who contributes to the
family, is loved and loves. She would have never learned even the basics as
she has if placed somewhere. I firmly believe that unschooling can and does
work for everyone. Even a child who will never progress beyond the mental age
of 2 or 3.
~Nancy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Diane

> Yes, but leaving them to hang out and learn brail on their own as babies is
> not likely to work out as well as it worked with my kids learning to read
> visually. And they wouldn't happen to see other people signing to each other.

But you could still read "aloud" to the child--showing the print and signing the
words, just as you do with a seeing child. You sign to them as babies just as you
talk to your hearing babies (harder, though, sometimes, like when you're cooking).
Take them around others who communicate the same way and will communicate with
them. Harder, yes, but the same principles apply.

> I'm not saying they can't be homeschooled better than they could be put in a
> state boarding school. I'm saying they will need special assistance because
> some of what they will need to know won't be things the people at their house
> already happen to know.

True. The parents and others would have to educate themselves.

> This is not so with ADD.

With kids that use alternative learning strategies, the parents also have to
educate themselves as to better and worse strategies. What the already "know" may
be as harmful as what they're aware of not knowing.

Yes, there are differences, but the principles remain the same.