Where Do I Go From Here?

Patience is not one of my virtues. I've seem to have lost more of my patience since I have had children. Not necessarily because of my boys but because of those who are teaching my children.

When my oldest son entered the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) the first year of preschool was rough. His second year of preschool and then kindergarten were pretty good. We finally found a teacher that we liked and seemed to actually take teaching visiually impaired children seriously. By first grade he was mainstreamed our of USDB and in regular school. All has gone well, so far.

My third son entered USBD last year. This is his second year of preschool. His teacher last year was pretty good. At the end of the year when we had his IEP (Individual Education Plan) my husband and I felt that we were being pushed out of USDB because our son was too smart for the school. Oh, they told us it was because it would be difficult to develope his social skills with the students in his upcoming preschool class.

We decided to have him stay at USDB. I'm not so sure that was a great decision. He has been through, I think, three teachers since beginning in September 2008. His current teacher, I can't say too much about because I haven't met her. Yes, I need to go to the school and spend some time however, she also seems to avoiding my requests for a new IEP for Aaron.

My baby will be three years old in March. He is suppose to start preschool at USDB. Needless-to-say, I am reluctant. I want my boys to be educated in Braille and white cane use and I want it to be an education they receive on a daily or every other day basis. If they are placed in a regular school, that won't happen. This is why I chose USDB for my boys for their first couple of years of school.

I write this because I am frustrated. I'm not sure where to go from here. I've become a little involved with Utah Parents of Blind Children but there are never any meetings, that I know of. I attended one meeting that was open to the public to hear and express concerns/opinions about USDB, the future of the school and the future education of our children. I expressed my concerns in the open forum as many others, am frustrated by the whole thing.

That's it!

My sweet husband has invited me to attend the National Federation of the Blind convention this year. I am going to try to get some answers. I'm going to try to find something better for my boys.

Until then, I'm not sure where to go from here.