Dive in!!!

     The phrase "dive in" applies to everybody.  I do not mean dive into the pool (although you can do that; if you do, I dare you to try the high dive); what I do mean is to try new things.  Trying new things is perfect for summer or at the beginning of a new school year.

     However, if you are hard-of-hearing, like me, you might be a little more afraid than most people are about trying new things.  The best advice I can give to someone who is afraid to dive in is to just do it and try to anticipate problems ahead of time.

     The first thing to do when you are diving is to figure out where to dive!  I am not going to tell you where to dive in though, just give you some ideas: camps, summer programs, clubs, church groups, sports, etc.  You can pick any one of those categories and find something you like or you can go off on your own tangent.  It is completely up to you, although your parents might have some say in it.  Once you have found what you would like to dive into, it is time to anticipate problems.

     What do I mean by problems?  Problems might be situations such as the instructor not knowing how to use the microphone, people not knowing to face you, or the possibility of your hearing aids getting wet.  In order to find potential problems with hearing aids, you need to ask yourself questions: Is there going to be water involve?  Is this a camp where the counselors are trained with hearing aids or deaf students?  Is it a deaf and hard-of-hearing camp or not?  Is it a camp with lots of activities or a one-hour session per day?  There are lots of question to ask yourself, and lots of problems to consider. Now comes the fun part: solutions!

     For every problem, there is usually a solution.  Here is a step-by-step guide of how I solve the majority of problems that I run into.  First, I collect the following information into a file:

• A one-page summary, "Instructional Accommodations or Modifications," from my IEP (no one is going to read a twenty page IEP or 504 plan),

• A speech bananagram with the limits of my hearing, both with and without your hearing aids, on it (I call it a bananagram for short, the full name is "speech banana audiogram").  When I'm meeting with someone, I EMPHASIZE that the chart is based on the results in a sound booth with no sounds or distractions which is usually the complete opposite of a classroom or a camp,

• A short paragraph interpreting the bananagram, as some people cannot think in terms of decibels and frequencies,

• A list of suggestions to accommodate me for activities such as "don't get the hearing aids wet," "rephrase instructions," and "face the individual with hearing aids."  My audiologist gave me advice on this list.

     Second, I send an e-mail to my instructor or counselor, with everything above attached, explaining that I need help to accommodate me with my hearing loss.  Third, I meet with my instructor, counselor, and/or nurse and talk with them.  At this meeting, I show them how to use my equipment, answer any questions they might have after looking over the e-mailed files, and bond!  Lastly, but not least, have fun when you get there.

     Yes, you're still going to run into problems, hopefully nothing more serious than a paper-cut from all these documents, but anticipating problems, and solving some of them ahead of time, will make communication easier for everybody.  My parting words are...

     Have fun!  Summer's going by fast!!!  Try something new!  Dive in!!!

Summer Camps

     Summer is the time to try out new things, such as going to camp.  Let me guess, your parents won’t let you leave the house because of your hearing devices?  Not to worry, there are camps created specifically for deaf and hard of hearing kids.  Type “deaf and hard of hearing camps” in your web browser and thousands of results pop up for all ages and interests.  Gallaudet University has a good listing of camps by state, but check out the some of websites for camps suggestions.  Here are some suggestions and some of the camps I have attended:

• http://www.gallaudet.edu/x17375.xmldata-blogger-escaped-comment-[endif]

• http://www.ntid.rit.edu/data-blogger-escaped-comment-[endif]

• http://www.nmsd.k12.nm.us/outreach/summerprog.php

• http://www.bloomu.edu/camp_hero - Camp HERO (Here Everyone Really is One)

• https://sites.google.com/site/deafspacecamp/ - Space camp for future astronauts

• http://www.rit.edu/ntid/techgirlz/ - Techgirlz, a college camp and a technology camp for middle school girls 

• http://www.ntid.rit.edu/camps/techboyz - Techboyz, a college camp and a technology camp for middle school boys (I actually did not go to this one, but it is the boys equivalent of techgirlz)

     When looking at deaf and hard of hearing camps, keep in mind what your favorite mode of communication is and what mode of communication the camp primarily uses.  Some use ASL and have sign language interpreters, some use ASL and voice, some use ASL and captioning services (that’s a nice one for me), and many other options.  Contact the camps ahead of time to find out more details.     Now that you know there are camps out there for you, it is time to broaden your search, with the permission of your parents of course.  Just because someone has a hearing loss, does not mean he or she cannot participate in a regular camp environment.  Plenty of camps will make accommodations for campers with a hearing loss, you just have to make them aware of the situation and educate them about your needs.  Every regular camp I’ve gone to has been very receptive to my requests, including figuring out what to do with the hearing aids during a white water rafting trip (leave them on the bus!).  Here are a few suggestions for whatever camp you attend:

• Bring a humidifier for your hearing aids.  I cannot stress how important a dehumidifier can be, it will safe your life one day (figuratively of course).  For humid environments or the occasional unexpected rainstorms, a dehumidifier will save your hearing aids.  I don’t care if the camp is in the Sahara Desert where there is no water to be seen for miles, you must bring a dehumidifier for three reasons:
• Draws moisture out of hearing devices,
• Extends the lifetime of hearing aids
• Stores hearing aids when sleeping or showering.

• Also bring a supply of batteries to last for the entire duration of camp and any other tools that you use to clean or maintain hearing devices.

• If you are going to an educational camp, you may want to bring your microphone if you have one.  An educational camp will be just like school; whatever works for school will work at the camp.  If you have an IEP or a similar plan, send it to the camp to help determine what you need.

• When you do go to camp the best thing you can do is to familiarize yourself with what to expect.  I recommend meeting the camp director, head counselor, or nurse before checking in, and make sure they know what you need.  An audiogram is helpful to show the nurse or head counselor what you can hear, both with and without hearing devices.  A picture tells a thousand words!

     Get out there!  Have fun!  Have a great summer!  Don’t forget to shower when you return!