Just Say No to Drive-bys
Debra Garvue

I am tired of “drive-bys.” I’ve had enough. I am the mother of a
6-year-old deafblind daughter. Since entering the public school system,
she has been bombarded with drive-bys. What are drive-bys? The term
“drive-by” is my way of describing the school system’s solution to her
education. A deafblind child is placed in a classroom full of children
with multiple disabilities, where he or she is usually the only deafblind
child in the room. Then the drive-bys begin. A vision teacher will drive
by and spend 30 minutes with her, then a hearing teacher will drive by and
spend 30 minutes with her, and on and on. My daughter’s day is fragmented
by various therapists and their minute requirements.

My question is this, do drive-bys work? Is this the best a deafblind child
can hope for? Wouldn’t my daughter be better off in a room full of her
peers with like disabilities? As I delve into these questions, please
remember that these are the opinions of a mother, and a teacher with 15
years of experience.

There are schools for the deaf and schools for the blind. Where are the
schools for the deafblind? This is a question that I have often asked. The
public school system always gives the same answer—there aren’t enough
deafblind children to start a classroom of their own. Is that to say these
children are insignificant? Even though they are few in number, do they
not deserve the same consideration as other children? Many children who
are deaf are immersed in language and communication all day. And many
children who are visually impaired are put in classrooms with like peers
and surrounded by the tools they need to succeed. But children who are
deafblind are placed in classrooms with children who have multiple
disabilities and receive drive-bys. As a mom and an educator, I believe
that students who are deafblind should be placed with their peers and
immersed in language, communication, and vision instruction for the entire
time they are at school.

My daughter, Maddie, has light perception only and some peripheral vision,
but no central vision. She also has a cochlear implant. When she was ready
to begin kindergarten, I toured public school classrooms and was offered
the same option in all of them. They could serve my child in a classroom
(where there were no other deafblind children) and make sure she was seen
by their specialists (drive-bys), but I had finally had it. I did not want
a fragmented education for my child. Fortunately, I am blessed to live in
a city that has a very good private school for children with hearing and
language impairments, and the public school system offered this as one of
my choices.

Usually, any student with visual impairment is considered for the vision
impaired class, but since my daughter had multiple disabilities, this was
not an option for her. This led me to think, yes, my daughter is
deafblind, however, because of her cochlear implants, hearing is one of
her strengths. It dawned on me that it made sense for her to attend a
school that could help her to hear with her implant and to communicate
better. I loved the school, but I was worried that a private school would
not take a deafblind child. Would they agree with my belief that deafblind
children who have cochlear implants or hearing aids should attend schools
for children who are deaf or hard of hearing? Luckily, they did. They had
reservations because they had never taught a child with such a severe
visual impairment, but they accepted my sweet daughter and have met all of
her needs head on. Not only did they accept her, but they have agreed to
look into beginning a regional deafblind program for children like my
daughter because they see the amazing progress she is making.

My daughter is being educated with her peers. No, they are not deafblind,
but they are deaf, and there is another deafblind child in her class. To
me that is definitely a step in the right direction. The school has agreed
to look into opening a pilot program for students who are deafblind and
have implants or hearing aids, and they will provide all-day instruction
by a teacher who specializes in children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
No more drive-bys! The children will also have the services of an
intervener and be immersed in language and communication all day. And the
school will hire a vision consultant to train the staff to teach visually
impaired children.

How did all of this happen? Well, I don’t like to brag, but it was me, a
parent who had had enough. A parent who knew her child like no other and
was certain that a few minutes of instruction and support here and there
would not make enough of a difference. A parent who knew that if she
searched long enough, begged and pleaded, and finally got mad enough, she
could achieve her vision of deafblind education.

But, I can’t take all the credit. In fact, my daughter’s school deserves
most of it. They agreed to everything I suggested. They are dedicated to
building a quality program for students who are deafblind. What more could
a parent and teacher ask for? Finally, a place where deafblind children
will be with their peers and immersed in learning that is focused on them
for the entire school day. I believe every deafblind child deserves to be
educated by a certified deaf educator, and if possible, a deafblind
educator. Can you imagine the progress these children are going to make?
Can you imagine the self-confidence and acceptance they are going to feel?
I can.

As a parent, empower yourself. You know your child, and you know what they
deserve. Seek it out. Make it happen. Say it right now. Out loud. No more
drive-bys!

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