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Coming Soon....Meet our Board and Advisory Committee |
EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATES FOR THE ORAL DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
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4814 Woodstream Village Drive Kingwood, Texas 77345 (281) 359-6725 (Office) (281) 361-9109 (Fax)
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The Vision of Hear Me is to promote positive life experiences which will instill independence and confidence while offering unlimited opportunities for personal fulfillment via Education, Public Awareness, Mentoring, Medical & Educational Outreach, Camp and year round events.
Educational Advocates
- Continuous and current assessment of educational advances and legislative venues
- ARD/IEP and program assistance and assessment
Public Awareness
- Addressing community organizations
- Developing radio PSA’s, TV appearances
- Generation and distribution of bulletins and newsletters
- Advertising in community newspapers
Camps & Events
- Weekend and weeklong activity, information and mentor based experiences designed to promote independence, self reliance and long term relationships
- Sponsorships, guest speakers and media awareness in conjunction with activities
- Seminars on education, advocacy and regulations
Mentoring
- Programs designed in conjunction with activities
- Mentor group of peers with similar life experiences paired to develop long term friendship and support
- Mentoring is a means for positive cultural inroads for present and future generations
Medical
- Outreach program designed to address oral deaf and hard of hearing patient concerns and needs as related to services provided by medical professionals
- Listings of medical care and early detection representatives in the medical community with similar awareness
CALL TO ACTION: THE SANDERS AMENDMENT
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) has proposed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget which would give $10 billion in funds to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA provides children who are deaf or hard of hearing with appropriate modifications so they can participate and learn in a mainstream setting. The amendment is up for approval this week in the U.S. Senate. Please contact your senators today and let them know the importance of this amendment. Attached is a sample letter (http://www.agbell.org/uploads/Advocacy/IDEA/SandersAmendment.doc). You may personalize and email it to your respective senators. To find the email addresses for your U.S. Senators go to: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
Your immediate response is requested as this amendment is expected to be voted on this week. Show your support for educational access for children who are deaf or hard of hearing today!
CALL TO ACTION: THE HEARING AID ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT ACT
SEE OUR CALENDAR EVENTS and ADVOCACY PAGES FOR..
DETAILS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL BRUNCH HELD
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sugar Land Mariott, Sugar Land, Texas
Special Honored Guest
Rep. Nick Lampson
TX 22nd Copngressional District
Houston Endowment, Inc.
Aker Kvaerner, Inc.
City of Houston
Burt Grimes
Mega Sands, Inc.
Robert & Joyce McKenzie
Jesse & Susie Barrera
Calo Christ Fellowship
Robert Scarfo
Christmas for Children, Inc.
Protect Controls, Inc.
Coordinated Design
Mario Margie Urrbanzo
Walter & Nancy Balderach
Texas Children’s Hospital
Excalibur Roofing, Inc.
Michael E. Stoeker
Texas Womans University
Riley & Chere Wedgeworth
Michael & Tamala Irish
Michael & LeeAnn Cis
Daryl & Samantha McCou
Julie Keeton
William Fillmore
Scott & Donna Pittard
Melody Mackert
Carol Alred
Malina Brack
Gary & Tammy Mitchell
Robert and Beverly Joyce
Dr. Sumalai Maroonroge (Lamar University)
Dr. Alfred White
Hearing Aid Express
In Kids (Atascocita)
Matt & Beth Gavin
Mike & Brooke Wahrer
Our FABULOUS & Dedicated Camp Counselors:
Amber Strum
Suzanne Joe
Ali Puente
Gina Mervis
Sarah Ruyle
Daniel Andrews
Holly Hanna
Michelle Kirbie
Adrienne Betz
Jeri Sullivan
Amber Adams
Chris Fillmore
Avery McCou
Taylor Kring
Lauren Cis
Victoria Grudziecke
Eric Bryant
Sanjuanita Garza
Casey Taliancich
Daniel Ramos
April Martinez
Michelle Kirbie
Ashley Arms
Amanda Harris
Naema Kalifa
Matthew Klinger
Cody Wolff
BE SURE TO CHECK OUR "EVENTS" CALENDAR. This week's features:
Congressional Update & Discussion of HR 2329 - Hearing Aid Tax Credit: HLA of Houston and AG Bell, March 15, 2008 Program [See Calendar of Events & Front Page for more details]
The Hearing Loss of America Associations' Walk4Hearing Walkathon. Hear Me will be organizing a "TEAM" of walkers for this event following Camp Hear Me 2008. Please register as part of Hear Me's "TEAM" by completing team registration online at: www.walk4hearing.org. Additional details will be provided as this event draws nearer.
Houston Family Arts Center presents: The Miracle Worker, By: William Gibson. Produced by special arrangements with Samuel French; Directed by Lisa Garza.
Little Helen Keller is both deaf and blind. Only Annie Sullivan realizes that there is a vibrant mind waitig to be rescured from that dark, tortured silence. At the Berry Center: Tiickets available online at www.houstonfac.com.
As part of Hear Me's collaborative networks let them know you were referred by the Hear Me Foundation.
Reassess methodology if student fails to progress:
IEPs do not have to address specific methodologies to provide educational supports for students with disabilities. However, methodologies should be modified or abandoned if the student is not meeting IEP goals.
This did not happen for a high schooler with a reading disability at a Georgia district, in Draper v. Atlanta Indep. Sch. Sys., 108 LRP 13764 (11th Cir. 2008). For three years, the school district declined to consider alternatives to a computer-based reading program despite the student's inability to progress beyond a third-grade level.
Each grading period, whether a semester or a quarter, is a good time to look for student progress. "If there is no progress, you should ask why. Maybe there was a mismatch between goals and objectives, or the student does not have appropriate services."
The ARD committee needs to look at what works and what hasn't [worked] because if a student is failing, then he/she is being provided FAPE.
Schools should create benchmarks for achievement to prevent a disparity between goals and objectives. Objectives should be measurable through performance mechanisms and benchmarks to be utilized by the ARD Committee in developing IEP goals.
In the Draper case, it was clear that the reading curriculum was ineffective for the student. This is a supportive case for parents, emphasizing district responsibility in concentrating on student achievement.