deaf child in florida

[fan of florida]

having booked our holiday to florida for next september, i have now found out that my daughter has lost her hearing. She had meningitis two months ago and we have only now discovered she has been losing her hearing. We are obviously devasted but need to get on with making sure she has a normal life and hope that she will be able to enjoy this trip.

I assume that there are lots of people who have taken deaf children to florida. is there extra assistance in the parks for deaf children? Do they need more assistance and enjoy it as much?

any advice appreciated.

[Orlandobelle]

Can't help with the question but I know there are others on the Special Needs forum who will be able to - just moving this post over there :)

[BevS97]

There is member on here called SignTalker who will be able to help you. I do know she has mentioned some difficulties with the parks using ASL rather than BSL, but I believe there are some screens you can use to see captions in some of the shows as well.
Jules (signtalker) will definitely be able to tell you more.

[ali and boyz]

how bad is your daughters hearing. the reason I am asking is my son also lost his hearing to something similar to meningitis when he was 4 (he is now 16 today :smile: ) It left him serverly deaf in one ear and moderate to severe in the other ear. He was fitted with digital hearing aids which you can hardly see and the only thing we have to watch is for him to remember to take them out when going on the rides that are a bit fast etc and also to remember that when he is swimming he won't hear a thing because he obviousley won't have his aids in but also there is a certain noise when you are in the pool even for us that can hear which make hearing worse.

I was in tears when they fitted him with his hear aids . he is now just sat his standard grades and studying for his highers. Because the virus struck him when he was 4 he is clear in his speach and therefore we choose not for him to learn to sign but to be oral.

any more questions please ask

[signtalker]

Hi there, disney are very geared up for people with slight hearing losses to profound.

Is your daughter a hearing aid user?,or does she sign?.

Im more than happy to help with your questions, if you want to PM or email me,

Jules

[signtalker]

Just for abit more info disney offer the following

Reflective captioning-this projects captions onto an acrylic panel in front of you, this is avalible at certain locations in all parks(of which I can let you know if this is of help to your DD).

Video captioning- Caption ready monitors have a CC symbol and can only be activated by remote control. these are avalible through guest relations and require a deposit($25 which could be more at time of posting)but you must return the item on the same day for a refund. again this is avalible in all parks on certain rides.

Handheld captioning-This is a portable device system that uses wireless handheld receivers to display text in locations where fixed captioning systems are impractible(such as moving attractions0 these are also avalible at guest services($100 deposit)

Assistive listening devices-A lightweight wireless device that receives an infra red signal from overhead transmitters at certain locations in order to amplify sound. Avalible at guest services $25 deposit)

Written aids- Guest assistance packets containing dialogue,flashlights and pen and paper are avalible at or near performance araeas or entrances for most shows and attractions.

Sign Language- This unfortunetly is only interpreted in ASL and not BSL so would be of no help.

any questions ask away

Jules

[Mazzy]

I am partially deaf myself and can tell you that WDW is absolutely the best place in the World to take a deaf child on holiday, she will have so much fun as there is lots of visual stimulation, and as Jules has said above, they provide a lot of help for deaf visitors.

If you have not already done so, I would suggest you also contact the NDCS, they will be able to offer support and advice to you and your family on how to best help your daughter with her deafness. You can find them here: http://www.ndcs.org.uk/

Hope this helps a bit - the biggest thing you can do for your daughter is to find the best way for her to communicate with people, whether it's lipreading or signing, and to give her a good social link to the deaf community, she will thank you for that when she is older.

[signtalker]

Hope this helps a bit - the biggest thing you can do for your daughter is to find the best way for her to communicate with people, whether it's lipreading or signing, and to give her a good social link to the deaf community, she will thank you for that when she is older

couldnt have said it better myself mazzy!

there are lots of people here who can help, or chat if you need it.

jules

[ali and boyz]

couldnt have said it better myself mazzy!

there are lots of people here who can help, or chat if you need it.

jules

just wanted to say but our son will not go to any deaf clubs, parties or take part in the hearing impaired stuff at school. In saying that he has coped really well and mixes with his hearing peer group. I think it frightened him at the beginning and now copes without the impute. I joined the ndcs although he wouldn't and they have some great information and support groups. We thought him loosing his hearing was the end of the world (until our other son broke his neck and to us that was the end of the world) but we have got to remember he still needs help and sometime have to fight for help for him at school .

disney is excellent so please don't worry, you will all have a fab time

[scottishwee35]

Hi

We went to Florida last Easter times with my deaf daughter (6) and she had a fabulous times. Also Disney Wonder Cruise well she enjoyed it well. I think it is nothing to worry as there have lots of things.

As Signtalker mentioned about Reflective etc as we didn't hire it cos thought my daughter too young for it as we should hire for ourselves lol.

Forgot mention that at Universal Studios as there were lots of interpreter but only USA sign language as one hand but can lip read it. It was brilliant to watch it.

Also if you are planning go to Discovery Cove, please book an interpreter as we got one as she can sign BSL as her family from Newcastle. We had a best day of it. Interpreter came with us sign and we swam with dolphin. My daughter loved it very much. Mind you, it is expensive to pay for Discovery Cove but it was worthing. Discovery Cove have own interpreter so no need to pay extra for it.

I am sure your daughter will have a good times as especially eye contact and see things.:)

Scottishwee35:spin:

[fan of florida]

thank you all so much for your replies.

We only booked to go to florida last week (my husband thought she would be too young at 2 years old - so i had to fight him on that) so to find out just a few days later that she is deaf has been a bit of a shock. it appears she is profoundly deaf in one ear with severe hearing difficulties in the other. they are looking to do an MRI and CT scan within the next week or so with a view to putting cochlear implants in as opposed to a hearing aid.

From what i can gather these cochlear implants will hopefully give her a decent level of hearing.

I don't know whether we should learn to sign as well. i wouldn't have thought it would do any harm?

it certainly sounds that there is a fair bit to help her with. of course at age 2 she won't be able to read so some of it would be above her head.

are there any rides or attractions in particular that anyone would recommend?

[loadsapixiedust]

At 2 years old she will be mostly enjoying visual things like any child that age. I bet she will love meeting all the characters, seeing fireworks and parades.
Hope you will all have a fabulous holiday which will help you over the shock of finding out about her hearing loss.
My friends 2 girls are having their cochlear implants switched on tomorrow and they have high hopes of the level of hearing it will give them back.
Wishing you all the best.

[fan of florida]

thanks for that loadsapixiedust. Did they get these implants in kilmarnock? i have been told that we will be going through there (only around 2 hours drive so could be worse) for most of her treatment.

Please let me know if the implants work.

[TinkTatoo]

:wavey: Hi and welcome to the Dibb

As posted above WDW is a very visual place so there will plenty for your daughter to see and do so she will still be able to have a fantastic time. Most of the rides and shows are aimed at all the senses (sight, hearing and smell) so even if she can't hear what's going on she will be able to see and in a lot of cases smell different things. You have plenty of time to do some research here on the Dibb to find the things that would be best suited for her.

Good luck with the cochlear implants, my next door neighbor's son had his put in a couple of years ago and they have made such a difference to him.

[Mazzy]

Off the top of my head, I would recommend the Dumbo ride, the Winnie the Pooh ride, Small World, and also definitely meeting the characters - the character breakfast at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom is a lovely one - and it's a chance for her to meet the characters upclose - Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet come round to your table in turn.

As your daughter is profoundly deaf, I would definitely recommend that she learns to sign, it will make her life so much easier, and if the whole family and relatives can learn while she is still young, she will have a really close relationship with her family and won't feel isolated. I'm pretty sure the NDCS can help you with this. I hope the implant goes well and you all enjoy your first trip to WDW.

[signtalker]

Just to reiterate what mazzy has said, if you contact the NDCS the will put you intouch with the "Langauage aide service", these are qualified people who will come into your house and teach your daughter, and yourselves to sign should that be the route you want to go down. personaly learning to sign is always a bonus in my book!.

My husband was offered cochlear implants, but we decided against it, he uses a mixture of sign and lip reading. What amazes people I know is the fact I was an interpreteur for the deaf, before he lost his hearing(how ironic!), been doing this job now for over 11 years and i cant say enough, how beneficial it is to sign, regardless of hearing aids, or cochlear implants.

WDW really is a fantastic place for sensory loss, and by having a sensory loss, this enables you to stay on the ride(do not disembark) and go around again, we normally do this, as the first time i interpret what is being said/happening, and the second, my husband watches.

if you need any help dont be afraid to ask(im sure you have many questions).

Jules

[Mazzy]

Jules - well you learn something every day! I never knew I was entitled to stay on the ride and ride again! How fantastic of WDW to allow that! Do I need to get an assistance card to be allowed to do this, or is it enough to just tell the CM on the ride?

[ali and boyz]

thanks for that loadsapixiedust. Did they get these implants in kilmarnock? i have been told that we will be going through there (only around 2 hours drive so could be worse) for most of her treatment.

Please let me know if the implants work.

our consultant told us that technology is changing so much that they are hoping, in the not to distant future, to have something similar to the cochlear implants but they charge themselves. They are minuit, put in and forgoten about. he said they have done it in America and are hoping to do it here in the UK soon. Our son was worried it would interfere with his brain :pgig:

With your daughter being young she would pick up sign really quickly.

Let us know how your daughter, and you, get on. all the best

[scottishwee35]

Hi

My daughter have cochlear implant as she is profoundly deaf and have no hearing at all, cannot wear hearing aid when she was 9 months old. I was very upset and hospital offer us cochlear implant and we were thinking for one year. Now she had cochlear implant when she was 2 and half. Now she is 6 and half and she love it, she hear more, listen and talking more now.

She is in Primary One and copy it very well. She is smart, clever and cheeky girl now.

I think it is best way to have it when younger and remember it take while to hear, listen and talking.

I never forget when switch it on, she was burst crying!!

Good Luck and hope everything go well.

Scottishwee35:)

[signtalker]

Jules - well you learn something every day! I never knew I was entitled to stay on the ride and ride again! How fantastic of WDW to allow that! Do I need to get an assistance card to be allowed to do this, or is it enough to just tell the CM on the ride?

mazzy, you need a GAC, but just explain to the Cm about the sensory loss and make sure they stamp your GAC allowing you to ride twice.

Jules

[Mazzy]

Thanks Jules! :D

[scottishwee35]

Fan of Florida

I have copy of my daughter story

'Implant brings everyday joy to Olivia and her family'

If you would like to read it, please email me.

I will send you her story.

Scottishwee35

[evieg1983]

we were at Island of Advanture last week at the sinbad show, i was watching the interpreter and suddenly realised i could understand everything!! she was signing in BSL, i went over to talk to her at the end and she was saying that although she was more 'fluent' in ASL they were required to have moderate abilities in a few more widly used sign languages at least as much to interprate the show they are signing for. I found this very impressive. Dont know if your will be able to take advantage of this yet but it is just an indication of what lengths they will go to to make your stay easy and enjoyable.

[signtalker]

we were at Island of Advanture last week at the sinbad show, i was watching the interpreter and suddenly realised i could understand everything!! she was signing in BSL, i went over to talk to her at the end and she was saying that although she was more 'fluent' in ASL they were required to have moderate abilities in a few more widly used sign languages at least as much to interprate the show they are signing for. I found this very impressive. Dont know if your will be able to take advantage of this yet but it is just an indication of what lengths they will go to to make your stay easy and enjoyable

Oh sounds good, perhaps I should apply for a job there LOL,can have a permanant BSL terp on staff then, its not disney but it would suit me LOL.

jules