One Client’s ‘Journey’ to Full & Equal Participation

Journey

Journey is a 5-year-old girl who has severe-to-profound hearing loss and a little over a year ago, received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

After being diagnosed, staff within our Communication Centre for Children (CCC) who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Children’s Service Coordination (CSC) programs worked closely with Journey and her family by offering various supports as well as connecting them to appropriate resources.

Natasha Tuck, an SMD Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, was able to connect the family to apply for funding for her Hearing Aids. Journey’s mother, Nava, will never forget the moment her daughter received them. “It was my favourite memory,” she says with joy.

Due to some of Journey’s behaviour and communication challenges, her family was not aware whether or not she would be able to attend the same community school as her older sister. However, Natasha was able to inform the family about a nursery school option and coordinated the intake as well as registration into her home school nursery program. “She was enrolled seamlessly along with the help of Winnipeg 1 School Division,” she adds.

Joanna Hawkins, one of our ASL Early Learning Consultants, also played an integral role in supporting the family. Not only did she teach Journey and her family ASL through in-person meetings but she also provided ASL posters and videos. “Journey learned her ABC’s quickly and has even been correcting her parent’s incorrect handshapes by manipulating their hand into the correct handshape,” jokes Joanna. “They are all happy with their progress,” she adds. In addition, Joanna raised awareness by educating Journey’s classroom peers on various ASL signs such as the ABC’s, numbers and counting, etc.

Furthermore, Journey also received support from Sandra Veal, our CCC Occupational Therapist. “I have been working on getting her settled into school by setting up play and concept skills,” she clarifies. “We have been expanding her play skills and introducing various foods into play. Recently, Journey met a goal related to increasing her social skills around eating.” She describes that for Journey, being around different foods, smells, colours of food, etc. can be challenging. However, she has been able to increase her tolerance during snack time at school by sitting and interacting with friends. Now, her focus is on self-help skills. “I will continue to support the family with their goals for Journey as they relate to OT,” she states.

Cathy Grafton, another SMD staff who works as a Children’s Service Coordinator, is also supporting the family. Currently, she is working on applications for funding to be used for respite over the summer months.

Last but not least, support has to be juggled at home as well. Nava works in the morning and her husband in the evening so there can be a parent present at all times.

When asked what message Nava would like to get across to other parents who might be going through a similar situation, she replies, “SMD is always there and will help you along the way.” Their experience has been humbling to say the least and the support they have received has filled their hearts with hope, “Thank you for all that you've done for my daughter…It is amazing!”

As the African proverb goes, It takes a village to raise a child could not be more true for Journey and SMD has been there every step of the way. Thank you to every staff member involved for working together to eliminate Journey’s barriers to full and equal participation.