Although I have pretty much given up on my school district providing an education for Ashley, some of the school staff are trying, and I do appreciate that. At the beginning of this current school year (Ashley's first year in high school), two folks from our state's deafblind project visited the school and did a training for the school staff. I'm really hoping that helped because usually teachers and other staff just don't get the whole deafblind thing.
For example, Ashley's 2nd grade teacher came to an IEP meeting and in all seriousness said, "Ashley is a visual and auditory learner."
Still, I give this year's staff credit for trying harder than staff in the past.
However, one of the things that someone, perhaps the speech therapist, is working on with Ashley is getting her to sign jokes. I'm not sure of the reason why - perhaps to fit in with her peers more or maybe to work on some more signs - I'm just not really sure. But, at the end of the school day, the jokes come home written out on a piece of paper, and attached to the joke paper is a page with pictures of the signs that were used.
This week's joke was, "knock knock - who's there? - train - train who - train makes the flowers grow".
I get it - train - the rain - but let's think about this from Ashley's perspective.
She can't hear - she's deaf. The whole point of the joke is hearing the sound of the word train. So sure, she can sign all the words - but it makes no sense to her.
I wonder if the school staff understands why she is not laughing.
Today I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday :)
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