Show Hope For Utah's Utah Deaf-Blind Deaf Within Utah's children of the silent night there is the spark of imagination imagination imag imag- and the sound of hope THESE are youngsters who are multiple handicapped by both the loss of hearing and sight Until recently most of these young people were considered considered considered con con- lost because of our inability to communicate with them Many children of the silent silent silent si lent night have lived their entire lives in institutions or cloistered at home even though their minds were alert and bright BUT BUT NOW something is being done both nationally and here in our state Utah's deaf blind program is in the Granite School District under the direction of Dr Hilda Jones director of Special Education It is the only educational program in the state specifically specifically specifically designed to meet the needs of children who are both deaf and blind THE PROGRAM began last fall at the East Millcreek Millcreek Mill Mill- creek Elementary School with only five children They ranged ranged ranged rang rang- ed in age from Crom five to six The teachers soon discovered discover discover- ed said Mrs Mae Taylor Special Education U Uta Utah t a h State B Board rd of Education Education thai that the children were at different levels of operation The class was split with one group going to the Granite Training Training Training Train Train- ing Center MRS TA TAYLOR explained that most of the children are not totally deaf and blind but impaired in both senses The combination results in an extremely serious almost defeating defeating defeating de de- handicap Financed by a federal grant the program became possible because of a Congressional provision in 1969 which isnow is isnow isnow now Title VI-C. VI These are special education monies Part C involves the regional deaf blind centers FUNDS WERE granted to each of the ten deaf blind centers centers centers cen cen- in the nation to begin to set up a deaf blind pro pro- gram Each year the centers must apply for a new grant The Utah division comes Under under under un un- der the Mountains Plains Center Center Center Cen Cen- ter for Deaf-Blind Deaf Services in Denver Though not a resident center it serves Utah and five surrounding states Coordinated by Donald F. F in Denver the center established establish establish- ed a regional advisory committee committee committee com com- with one representative from each state according to population UTAH HAS liAS two representatives tives Mrs Mae Taylor who is the liaison between the center center center cen cen- ter and the state and Dr Hilda Jones Given the mandate to begin begina a program Dr Jones and Mrs Taylor began locating and identifying Utah's deaf- deaf blind children Five of homo homo- genius age between the ages of five and six were located who needed and could attend a program The majority of the deaf blind children are located along the Wasatch Front said Mrs Taylor SEED MONEY was granted grant grant- ed from the Denver center to aid in establishing the pro pro- gram In addition the state school office granted special education funds The proposal to initiate a deaf-blind deaf program was first offered to the Ogden schools for the deaf and the blind However they were unable to begin the program Mrs Taylor said because of lack of facilities personnel equipment and budget THEREFORE the Granite School District initiated the day school program last f fall ll under Dr Jones The program costs at least per student per year This amount includes teachers teach teach- ers ers teacher aides and sup sup- plies Mrs Taylor emphasized ed the teacher load should be one to one or one to two because of the seriousness seriousness seriousness serious serious- ness of this devastatingly handicapping condition ANOTHER aspect of the program is counseling parents parents parents par par- to teach them how to accept and live with the problem Many parents help helpin in the classroom as teacher aids which helps them become familiar with other children who have the same or similar similar similar sim sim- ilar problems as their own children Periodically Mrs Taylor said there are group meetings w with th parents and teachers But not all of Utah's deaf- deaf blind children are involved their in a program suited to needs Many do not live within with with- in a convenient distance to the school One child attends the Perkins Institute at Perkins Perkins Perk Perk- ins ins Mass Masse But the remainder estimated between 25 to 30 are virtually without a I pro gro- ro- ro gram Some of them said Mrs Taylor are so seriously multiple handicapped as to tobe tobe tobe be non LOOKING optimistically toward toward toward to to- ward the future Mrs Taylor said growth will be considerable considerable consid erable crable partly because several several several sev sev- eral families are moving into the thc Granite District with deaf- deaf blind children She ant two classes both larger larger last years year's program 1 f Concerned about fin final she said it is hoped our portion of Denver's a awill will reflect a greater inc inci of funds Mrs Taylor f fui states slates the program ne need be individualized and not no set up Programs sho shout shou developed to fit the n the children she said not vice versa r J |