Parents’ Role in the Education of Children with Hearing Impairment
Fely J. Mustard, MAED – SPED Master Teacher I- City Central School Cagayan de Oro City
The parents are the heart and hope of every family. They guide and assist the children so they grow to be responsible persons. Parents of children with special needs have more difficulties compare to parents with regular children. It is not hard for me to define the role because I myself is a parent of one lovely lady with hearing impairment. The love of my daughter and my great responsibility to rear her even with her disability are the guiding points in my life. She was my first –born and all the while I was dreaming of a healthy baby. I was so excited of her coming to the world. But in second month of my pregnancy I got contacted with the virus German Measles. At first really did not care of the effects of the virus. So I took it as just an ordinary fever and rashes. Unknowingly it had a great impact on my unborn baby. Lea came two weeks ahead of her expected date of delivery. One had passed, my child still could not utter a word, but I considered it as late speech development. By the time she entered kinder still she could not talk and she felt lonely. It alarmed me and eventually seek professional help by a medical doctor specializing in eyes, ears , nose and throat. That time I knew she had hearing impairment. Now, as a teacher of children with hearing impairment I know the pain of having a child with special needs. For seventeen years I taught these children. I know it is very difficult to learn sign language and I pity those struggling mother and fathers who wish to communicate to their child but lack the skill. I really encourage them to learn, so I see to it that every Friday we have sign language session with the parents, guardians and even caregivers. Skill in sign language is beneficial to them in order to communicate everyday to their child. I will continue to teach sign language in any way I can. This is the best I can share my knowledge to those who need it.