I am exploding with unbelievable news today and I don't really know where to begin. First of all, I just read this on the CI CIRCLE:
From our Cochlear rep:
'Consumer Marketing has had the opportunity to work on some great national
television opportunities over the past year.
Our most recent one is an ongoing storyline on the soap opera 'All My Children'.
This week they are scheduled to air episodes that will feature the character of
Spike, a young boy, having implant surgery.
Please tune in to your local ABC affiliate to view these shows on Dec 12, 13 and
14 (see local listings for times).
As part of our partnership with AMC, we've consulted with the show on scripts,
as well as provided product and education to their staff.
Cochlear staff actually went to their studio in New York to help with correct
propping.
We are very excited to see these shows air to an audience of 2,926,000 people!
If you are unable to catch the daily soaps, we will be capturing the clips to
share with you.
We are currently working with show producers on other ideas of how we can
partner to spread education and awareness of CIs. "
Spreading Cochlear Implant Awareness by means of media serves to educate the masses so that a friend of a friend can pass the word on to a new mother who may not have otherwise known all of her options. One trend that I have begun noticing is that there is not too much diversity on these yahoo groups, which leads me to believe that not enough parents are being informed of their options or even the support that is available at Early Intervention levels, Pediatricians' or Audiologists' Offices.
The Pediatric Cochlear Implant Circle decided to do something about making more information available by creating an International PARENT TO PARENT: COCHLEAR IMPLANTS FOR KIDS BROCHURE. This endeavor, lead by a very informed, educated and active parent, Lydia, together with the Gift of Hearing Foundation has come to fruition!!!! WAFREAKINGHOO!!! This brochure, thanks to the joint effort of 1400 parents who have provided the names of doctors, audiologists, surgeons, ci centers, speech therapists, early intervention programs, etc will be available all over the USA and other English-speaking countries.
Many times mothers of children with disabilities leave their careers, abandoning professions that they spent years of education trying to secure and achieve in order to dedicate their time to helping their children learn to speak using the cochlear implant or hearing aids. What a waste of a good woman...right? WRONG! These are the women who are paving the way for future children, who are sensitive and intelligent enough to recognize their kids' needs and work their asses off to make sure they are met. One of the women on the list this week went to fight the school to make sure her daughter's needs were identified and met...and she is winning. Every battle we win makes us stronger and the system stronger for the next child.
A couple of days ago I re-posted Hailey's video with the Santa Surprise, well Hailey's mom Selena just dropped a bomb on the Listen-Up group:
Once again a member of our family is starting a new journey in her life,
however this time it's not Hailey. It is however a journey that will greatly
affect Hailey.
I am glad to announce that I am now the newest student at Bethel College's
School of Arts and Sciences. I'll be working towards my B.A. in Sign Language
Interpretation. Of course after not being in school for almost 11 yrs now, I'm scared
wittless. However I feel blessed with an awesome support system(hint hint, momma
bear). Even though I know it won't always be easy, I'm confident that I will do
well. While I won't actually be able to start ASL classes till the fall(ASL 1 isn't
offered in the spring), Jan 16th will be my fist day of class. I'm going to work
at getting some of my General Studies out of the way.
Anyway, Just thought I'd share.
Education is an ongoing process and we learn from our children every single day. Selene is an inspiration for every mother out there who has deviated her path to fight for her child...POWER TO THE MOMMIES, LADIES!
HOT OFF THE PRESS (WHAT IS WITH THE MOMMAS TODAY!!!??) MEET PAULA (AS IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW HER:)
Paula Rosenthal, J.D. is married and has three children. She, her husband and daughter are all hearing impaired. Her sons have normal hearing. A law school graduate, Paula is the publisher of http://www.HearingExchange.com, an online community for people with hearing loss, parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and professionals. She is also a writer and speaker on hearing loss and related issues. To contact her, send an email to info@hearingexchange.com.PLEASE READ HER 5 Tips to Help Your Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child Enjoy the Holidaysby Paula Rosenthal, J.D. I AM SURE YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY USEFUL
Now, just to remind everyone why we are working so hard to create awareness...here's the latest from Val, co-owner of the support group learn2hear and her daughter Brooke, one of our beloved Cochlear Kids!!!
LATE ENTRY: ANOTHER AMAZING WOMAN/MOTHER...CHECK OUT RACHEL'S BLOG OF SIGNING TIME:The Signing Time Foundation has partnered with Signs of Hope International to bring Signing Time to Ghana Africa.I
11 comments:
Wow, what an inspirational post! I agree, moms are changing the world, plain and simple.
I'm glad you write about things that are posted on the circle, I'm a member but I don't read everything since I've wound up on so many groups. But I do subscribe to this blog with my reader, so if I miss important posts on the circle I can catch them here from you!
I am inspired by Rachel Coleman and have many times thought about going back to school (when life allows) to become a teacher of the deaf. I used to be a full time middle school teacher (language arts and computer science) before Ethan was born. He has so many needs though (beyond having implants and apraxia) that I don't know when I'll be able to go back to school/work.
Keep up the great blogging Jodi!
Heather,
Thank you so much for your comment, I really appreciated it...keep blogging right back atcha! Ethan is beautiful...Jodi
I was planning on staying home before Nolan's loss was discovered, but when he was diagnosed it cemented my decision! I used to work for a small in-vitro diagnostics firm (biotech), first in product development and then specializing in failure investigations. I've never had a job as worthwhile as working with my kids, though! I'm off to go play some patty-cake with Nolan before Matthew wakes up!
I not only gave up my job but completely changed careers. My bachelor’s and master’s degrees are in applied math, and I spent my first 8 years post grad school working as a systems analyst, returning part time after Rachel was born until she was 4. I took what was supposed to be a year off when Adam was born because that was also my husband’s last year of surgical training, and we moved to Atlanta supposedly just for a year of his fellowship. I saw during that year what a difference my being home made for Rachel's language. Plus, we had an incredible AV therapist here, and so we ended up staying in Atlanta, and I opted to be a stay-at-home mom for awhile. I volunteered as a board member, writer and editor at both the Auditory-Verbal Center in Atlanta and for Cochlear Implant Association, Inc., for many years. When Jessica was in kindergarten, and I was ready to return to work part-time, I decided that I didn’t want the math anymore. I wanted to do something that I felt was more valuable. So, for the past 5 years I’ve worked for Nonprofit Leadership doing fundraising and development for nonprofits – less money than applied math but definitely more rewarding in other ways. As a bunch of cicircle mothers said a couple of months ago, having a deaf child changes your life, but in some ways it’s for the better. Think of the people it’s brought into our lives.
I quit my job the day my son's hearing loss was confirmed with his ABR. In addition to being a mom, I needed to become a hearing loss expert as well. I'm happy to say that a year later we were able to put him in a mainstream preschool. I'm continuing to be a full-time mommy while I make sure both of my kids are getting all the support they need to thrive.
Ok, Jodi, next time I get there, I'm visiting you in Italy! You are one awesome woman yourself. Thanks so much for the bio blurb. It is much appreciated. I'll be blogging about you soon too!
Happy holidays,
Paula
Way cool post...too true, for sure...raising a special needs child changes your life forever...for us, adopting special needs kiddos...I see it as my personal evolution too. Several years ago we adopted Rachel...I felt so isolated, I would drive for hours to connect with other folks...just to get sign language instruction was huge...now fast forward 10+ years, times certainly have changed. The adoption folks still call us, but we say no...unless it is " a deaf little girl just for the weekend!" Lol...
It is amazing to me how my daughters have evolved to become caretakers each in their own style ... but with a competence that clearly sets them apart from their peers...this is a magical era we are living in...we, ladies...and gents too...are a part of history in the making...folks connecting and empowering each other across the world...doesn't get much better than this!
Long live the internet!
Denice from CA
Great post! I had no idea that so many Mom's like me have had ideas to make complete career changes - and have done it!
I would love to stay home with Drew, but that is not practicle (we are in need of health insurance, go figure!).
I have thought about becoming a cochlear implant mapping audi. Maybe that will happen some day...
I quit my job when my oldest was four months old. I went back to work full time for two months and realized I just didn't want to miss any more of his life. He was diagnosed two years later with a profound loss. Then I had two more hh kids. I worked part time as a sign instructor and various other jobs but it's been worth it.
Thank you to everyone who has posted. There are a lot of mothers of newly diagnosed babies who will be making life-changing decisions just as we have done, and I am certain that knowing a little more about our stories will help them. Jodi
It was so hard for me to go back to work after finding out about Brendan's hearing loss. Maternity leave seems so short and there was (and still is) so much for us to learn about hearing loss, therapy, etc.. What if he didn't do well and I hadn't tried everything. Luckily, I have an amazingly dedicated husband and family. Even more luckily, when I was just about to give up after 6 months back at work, another woman asked me if I would be interested in a job share (splitting a full time position in half). I know it's not an option for most people, but working 2 1/2 days a week has saved me. I'm able to spend time with Brendan and not give up all those years of training. Hopefully, with more women (and men) needing flexible options, job shares will become more common.
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