Expressive and receptive lanaguage difficulties

[jennym]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for options for further education to start with and for life in general. My young person(B)is 16, has severe expressive and receptive language difficulty but is not deaf.

They had excellent primary education with regular S&L input and learned some Sign-along. In mainstream secondary education sign-along has not developed, S&L input has been indirect and minimal and there are few opportunities for using signing. B is becoming more isolated socially and has few independence skills out in the community. It is hard to know what B's potential is academically but B loves socializing and lights up when in the presence of a good signer. Sadly this happens very infrequently.

Local Further Education College can offer a Sign-along signing support assistant and follow on from the mainstream school but it is not a signing community and there will be few social opportunities. There are very few people living in are part of the woods who can sign.

Hand held augmentative devices have been provided but for various reasons have not worked out.

I have lots of questions but to start with I wonder if there are any specialist schools or colleges who could offer a signing community where B could communicate directly with peers and develop friendships, social skills etc? Do these colleges use Sign-along, BSL or a combination?
Would a college/school for the deaf be appropriate and does anyone have experience of a hearing student with language difficulties in a deaf college?
As B uses Sign-along but has difficulty with the concept of language are there any other people with similar difficulties who have experienced BSL and what has the outcome been for them? I worry that BSL might be a step too far and that we could be setting B up to fail.

I would really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions from people who have experienced this situation or professionals who could recommend options or give opinions on the best possible routes to achieve success.

Many thanks to anyone who has time to reply.

Jenny

[Signalong]

Hi Jenny,

This is another case of young people not receiving continuity of service when they leave school. There are some specialist colleges where Signalong is used, and a few (very few) FE coleges as well. My feeling is that B would not be appropriately placed in a college for deaf students as there is a diffierent culture. Where is your "neck of the woods" (you can reply off-forum to [e-mail] if you prefer)?

We'll try to help if we can, but please would you make representations to John Bercow MP, who is conducting a review for the government into children's speech, language and communication needs - go to www.dcsf.gov.uk/bercowreview/index.shtml for this. The review covers "children" up to 18, and your son's case is pressing and regrettably not uncommon. You might also contact Ivan Lewis, Minister for Social Care, who is reviewing the implementation of Valuing People, and this is very much in that field as well.

Mike Kennard

[Sally]

Hi Jenny

Just seen your query on the forum, I have logged on for the first time . I am a deaf teacher of the deaf but also work with children who have additional learning difficulties. Many deaf people who sign actually use SSE as well as BSL. I know of an FE college in Exeter attached to the deaf school where there are a range of deaf students, some with severe learning difficulties to those who are taking mainstream subjects with support.

Many years ago I believe a hearing child went to the school for the deaf as his only means of communication was through sign, couldn't physically speak.

Sally

[Tats]

I have 2 children aged almost 5 and 3 who after the summer will be starting at a mainstream primary school and nursery respectively. However due to Di George syndrome neither are able to speak so we have been using Makaton and hope to go on to SSE. Looking longer term we too are considering the use of a school for deaf/hearing impaired children as although neither has any hearing difficulty I think it is likely sign language will be their primary form of communication, so where else could provide a better environment for them in a signing community? We live in Scotland and watching a documentary on Donaldson's College in Linlithgow the other day, understand they offer education to children with all sorts of communication disorders, not just hearing impaired. Maybe they would be able to offer some advice?

[Signalong]

Hi Tats,

I've just looked up DiGeorge Syndrome (I'd not come across it before) and it appears to be accompanied by (mild to moderate learning difficulties). I'd be very careful about placing a child with learning difficulties who is not deaf in any establishment which mainly caters for hearing impairment. I know that Donaldsons have extended their remit and it is a signing environment but there may well be alternatives. Where is Scotland are you? (you can reply off-forum to [e-mail]) Schools whose staff training is focused on learning difficulties may well be more appropriate, and if you let me know where you are I might be able to put you in touch with someone who can advise you

Mike Kennard

[louisesmi]

Hi Jenny

We seem to be in a similar situation.

It seems very hard to find a signing group when you are not deaf, and have a communication disorder/learning difficulty. Signing is needed to support their understanding of language, and also to help support their communication. My daughter seems to find it hard to understand signing on its own, with no speech, so a deaf environment may not be that helpful.

We use a communication aid, starting to come into its own now as a support to writing, which is great. And now hopefully looking at smaller more portable devices.

There are lots of problems juggling it all - speech, sign, communication aid - and everybody at school, home and in the community having the necesary skills/ knowledge to support.

We have exactly the same questions and concerns regarding support on leaving school. What next? They need to be able to continue learning how to communicate, develop their language and literacy skills, develop signing skills, and also use of communication aids.

How did you get on finding a college? I would be interested to hear.

I hope things are going well. It is a juggle.

Best wishes.
Louise Smith