USDB Is in hot water in SLC as well...

WOW. Check out this blog:
http://utahdeafeducation.blogspot.com/

A Party at the Pool!
for Utah County Parents and Children
who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

When: Saturday 2 August 2008
Where: Central Clubhouse at 2720 Edgewood, Provo
Time: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
RSVP: Esther (Miriam’s mom)
ilovefelting@gmail.com

• BBQ Beef & plates will be provided
If your last name starts with:
A-F: please bring vegetables or fruit (cut please)
G-L: bread/buns
M-R: drinks (water will be available)
S-Z : desserts
• Also: Bring Swimsuits, Towels & All Your Children!

[NOTE ADDRESS CORRECTION!]
This meeting was originally going to be held in June in Taylorsville.
The following is the NEW information.

PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
Utah State Office of Education
for the
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
28 July 2008, Monday
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Provo School District Office
Utah Professional Development Center
280 West 940 NORTH
Provo

• Parents are invited to present for 3 minutes about Legislative Recommendations
What are the "Legislative Recommendations"?
To read the Legislative Recommendations (11 pages printed)
go to: http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/laws.htm
at the bottom of the page there is a link to a file
--> USDB Legislative Recommendations MS Word 2003 pdf, posted 6/3/2008 Public Input Sessions pdf, posted 6/23/08
go to: www. schools.utah.gov
go to: the special education link
go to: laws/policies
go to: the last article: USDB Legislative Recommendations

• If you would like to comment ahead of the meeting you can fax your information to Karl Wilson at 801.538.7991 or email him at karl.wilson@schools.utah.gov

• This information is from:
Christine Timothy
Utah State Office of Education
Education Specialist
Sensory and Significant Disabilities
(801)538-7576
christine.timothy@schools.utah.gov

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700242350,00.html
This link is to the Deseret News editorial IN SUPPORT of new facilities for USDB -- in SLC.

Let's work on frying TWO fish at the same time. Wouldn't that serve our children, in Utah county, sooner and for less expense?

On Tuesday I attended a rally to support new facilities for USDB (Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind). I'm not really the rally type of person but this is an issue that I have worked on for years only to meet with ineptness and lack of vision or intesrest by USDB. This time this was organized by someone else. I wanted to support them. It was worth it. A mover and shaker dad/salesman (Chris Bijou) arranged a meeting with Governor Huntsman ans several members of his cabinet. I asked if I could go and represent Utah County. Several of the people had seen the Journey to Hear blog and thought I could contribute. I think I did, asking some good questions about how Charter schools are built so quickly, private funding/donations of buildings and also the unique pre-school need deaf children have.

Journey to Hear could raise all the money needed for a new facility get it built and then donate it to USDB? THEM?! Hmmmmm. That doesn't seem to be the right solution.

SOUND BEGINNINGS in Logan (USU) has speech therapy THREE (3!) times a week in the SUMMER. USDB, Utah County, isn't doing anything for deaf children this summer. ZERO. No one seems to "qualify." This seems borderline evil.

Right now we need to figure out hat our goal is. Esther and I are bouncing ideas back and forth. We welcome any ideas/comments.

Parent Meeting in the works for:
a Potluck at the Pool
Saturday
2 August 2008
4-7:00 p.m.
2720 Edgewood
Provo

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/healthyhearing/

This is information about the government's Healthy Hearing Campaign. Here is what the intro paragraph says:
Healthy Hearing 2010 is dedicated to helping people improve and protect their hearing health. It is a part of a public health campaign called Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative from the federal government. Its goals are to increase the quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities. It challenges individuals, communities, and professionals—indeed, all of us—to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life, are enjoyed by all.

Nice to know someone is thinking about Deafness as part of health rather than solely a culture or choice.