Dominic
Dominic is a happy four-year-old kid who likes to ride his bike, climb trees and play
with his friends in the neighborhood. But when Dominic was a baby, we knew something was
wrong, we just didn't know what it was. Then when he was about a year old, we found out
Dominic is deaf.
 We read everything we
could about the choices you can make for a child who is deaf. Language was our biggest
concern. Because we live in a big city, we could choose early intervention services that
reflect the kind of life we want for Dominic. My husband and I both have jobs, so we had
to juggle appointments and schedules, but Dominic's therapists worked with us.
At first a therapist came to our house or to our babysitter's and started
teaching Dominic sign language. It was incredible how quickly he took to it. Dominic was a
frustrated kid, but language made such a big difference in his life. When he got older,
Dominic went to a special playgroup for toddlers. Some of the kids in the playgroup could
hear, some were deaf, but all of them had fun.
The staff and the other parents we've met through our Early Intervention Program have
been a great source for information. We still get together with other families to share
stories, ask questions, or just have fun. They help us feel we can handle the situation
and make the choices that are best for Dominic and for our family.
Last Revised: December 10, 2003 |
