School does make a difference

     Our four year old Marissa has been going to Oostburg Elementary School for the last month and a half.  The school has been trying to meet our child's needs when it comes to an interpreter, but has not succeeded.  They did however find an interpreter at another school and began talking with them about our situation.

     Sheboygan's Early Learning Center has a young girl who wears one hearing aid and has a cochlear implant in the other ear, the school hired a certified ASL interpreter to facilitate the little girls needs.  Oostburg school also contacted Howards Grove among other schools and found that Howards Grove school could take care of us as a last resort.

     Tina and I were very hesitant moving Marissa from one school to another.  Howards Grove was certainly out of the question with my school and Tina's work schedule.  We had a conference at Oostburg with Oostburg faculty and Sheboygan faculty about Marissa switching schools.

     Marissa first started going to ELC at Sheboygan on Tuesday and what a difference it has made.  Marissa would come home from Oostburg school frustrated that she could not communicate with her teachers and students.  She was exhibiting a bully behavior towards other kids due to her frustrations as well.   Marissa's attitude has completely changed she is happy again, participating at school, making friends and her performance has greatly increased.

     Tina and I are so relieved.  We are excited about Marissa's school and the benefits of having an interpreter with her at all times.  Her teachers were very impressed with Marissa's knowledge of ASL and took her in with open arms.