Olivia - Instilling Clarke Confidence in Children
Olivia’s deafness was discovered when she was two-years-old. Olivia was a bright and social child but could not speak, and for a while her family did not know what was wrong. Initial test results were inconclusive, but eventually Olivia was diagnosed as profoundly deaf and received a cochlear implant at 25 months.
The first year after Olivia received her implant was very emotional - and exciting - for her parents, Joel and Michelle. Seeing Olivia laugh the first time she was able to hear their dogs bark, and watching her ring the bell on her bike over and over again in amazement were proud moments for the family. Although Olivia attended auditory verbal and speech therapy sessions every week, the family was convinced their daughter needed something more to acquire listening and language skills… that something was Clarke.
“I knew my daughter was extremely bright,” said Michelle. “She needed a special place that would still challenge her intellect while considering her hearing loss.”
Michelle had discovered Clarke online soon after Olivia’s diagnosis, and the family had been receiving newsletters and information from Clarke throughout that year. Inspired by stories of achievement about Clarke students, the family scheduled a visit to Clarke’s Pennsylvania campus.
“At that visit we knew immediately this was the perfect place for our daughter,” said Michelle. “It is a place full of people with years of knowledge and expertise who have made educating deaf children their mission. Clarke follows the same curriculum as mainstream schools and places a high value on academics. We knew Olivia could flourish at Clarke and start to grow a life-long love of learning.”
The family moved from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, and Olivia is now in her second year at Clarke. “She loves it,” said Michelle. “She is confident and comfortable and is challenged every day.” Olivia recently had surgery to receive a cochlear implant for her other ear to further enhance her access to sound.
Michelle and Joel have been impressed with the way Clarke staff have worked as a team with their family and taught them how to incorporate techniques at home to provide Olivia with the consistency she needs to learn to listen and talk. “When you finally find the people that fit for your family, you feel like you can breathe again,” said Michelle. “The teachers and therapists have welcomed us at every session and classroom activity, answered the difficult questions honestly and offered options and solutions to help our family. What Clarke has done for us is just immeasurable. We know Olivia will leave Clarke and head to kindergarten with confidence in herself and her abilities.”
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