Kids Like ME program

1. Kids Like ME program

2. The History of Kids Like ME: Where did it all begin? • In the late 90s, PSO Consultants visited deaf and hard of hearing students in mainstream settings and noticed that the students were often isolated. • They learned from students that they felt alone and different, but the students couldn’t articulate why. • Many students had little or no access to peers and adult role models who were also deaf and hard of hearing. • The Consultants realized that they could provide a service to meet the needs of these students and address their social/emotional growth.

3. Purpose • To give students the opportunity to realize there are others like them who share common feelings around being deaf or hard or hearing. • To get students together to meet one another and build friendships with one another. • To give students the opportunity to identify with a group and develop a sense of belonging to a unique community. • To help students learn how to advocate for themselves. • To provide students with mentors and role models who are deaf and hard of hearing.

4. Kids Like ME program goals • To create an environment that will encourage deaf and hard hearing students to feel a sense of community and a sense of belonging which will lead to positive social /emotional development. • To provide deaf and hard of hearing students with a peer group and a safe place to discuss their feelings around their hearing loss with other students like them. Our differences are to be celebrated! • To assist the development of life-long self-advocacy skills that students will continue to use throughout their school years and in their future out in the world and in the workplace.

5. Kids Like ME skills are taught and practiced using activities designed to match age group interest levels • Students begin to learn about themselves and each other. It often is the first time that they have met other students with a hearing loss. • Students begin to realize that it is okay to be different and something to be proud of. • Students learn about their particular hearing levels and how to interpret their own audiogram. • Students learn about the importance of their hearing assistive technology. • Students learn the appropriate terms, vocabulary and language that best describe their individual hearing level/loss. • Students learn strategies to help them advocate for themselves for their communication and listening needs in both school and social settings through discussions and role plays. • Students have the opportunity to meet deaf and hard of hearing adults and learn about famous successful hard of hearing and deaf people to aspire to.

6. Around the state, approximately 90 students have been served in the 2017-18 school year through the Kids Like ME programs we offer: 40 Elementary school students 30 Middle school students 20 High school students 6th– 12th grade Peer Overnight

7. Elementary age Kids Like ME programs • Five KLM programs • MECDHH provides KLM programming in their local school districts. • KLM meets three to four consecutive weeks during or after school. • Public School Outreach Consultants/Deaf Mentors/Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Like ME Coordinator work collaboratively and facilitate the program. • Sample activities and skills practiced: • Ball Toss Name Game: Getting to know deaf and hard of hearing peers • What is your favorite _____? Game: Getting to know deaf and hard of hearing peers • Role Playing Communication Situations: Advocacy strategies • What is an Audiogram?: Learning about own hearing loss

8. Middle School Kids Like MEprogram • Two Middle School Programs • MECDHH provides KLM programming in their local school districts. • Students are in the same school but often have never met each other and are not aware that there are other students with a hearing loss at their school. • Students meet periodically throughout the year • Public School Outreach Consultants/Deaf Mentors/Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Like ME Coordinator work collaboratively and facilitate the program. • Sample activities and skills practiced: • Communication Breakdown; Troubleshoot and Brainstorm: Self-advocacy skills • Rap Sessions: Sharing thoughts and feelings about own hearing assistive technology and learning from peers about theirs

9. High School Kids Like ME program • One high school KLM program • MECDHH provides KLM programming in their local school districts. • KLM meets monthly during or after school. • Public School Outreach Consultants/Deaf Mentors/Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Like ME Coordinator work collaboratively and facilitate the program. • Sample activities and skills practiced: • Personal Interests and Your Future: Learning about yourself and looking ahead • Famous Deaf and Hard of Hearing People: Learning that hearing loss is not limiting

10. 6th-12th grade KLM Overnight program • Students gather 3 times a year - Fall, Winter and Spring. • Students participate in experiential kinds of learning and adventure-based activities. • Activities include hiking the Maine Huts, skiing through Maine Adaptive skiing, cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Robert’s Farm Preserve, camping at Bradbury Mountain, tenting on 1 Big Sustainable Island, kayaking with LL Bean, bicycling on Peaks Island, dog sledding with Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience, snow tubing at Mt Hermon and Seacoast Snow Park , swimming at the YMCA , African drumming, Project Adventure and ropes course activities. • Students begin to feel a sense of trust with each other and find KLM a safe place to talk about their feelings and frustrations around their hearing loss whether it be with the group or in natural conversations with other students. Often the best conversations are when two students click and find out how much they have in common. • Many of the students come back year after year and have been participating in the program since they were young. • Many come back after graduating to volunteer in the program. • It is a place to go where they don’t have to explain anything. It is understood. • Friendships continue outside of the Kids Like ME Program.

12. How does KLM help students? • An upper elementary student who began in KLM as a kindergartener, volunteered to mentor kindergarteners and 1st graders. • A fifth grader, shy about his hearing loss, began in KLM with his hood hiding his hearing aids. One week later, the hood was down. • Five middle schoolers discover that, little did they know, they were not the only ones with hearing loss in their school . • Two high school students who had a difficult time accepting their own hearing losses while in middle school, became mentors for middle and elementary students. • A middle schooler, who proudly displayed her purple hearing aids, had inspired an adult she knows to be bolder in her hearing aid color. “I’m so happy that I inspired another person,” • A high school sophomore who lives in a remote area couldn’t believe it when she met other deaf and hard of hearing students for the first time ever. She went home from the overnight with contact information for her new friends so they can stay connected.

13. More perks of the KLM program • Older students and students who have graduated are able to come back to mentor in the various KLM programs. • Interpreters are always provided in the KLM programs but deaf and hard of hearing students learn to figure out ways to communicate with each other. Often the hard of hearing students leave with an interest in learning sign language. • A Family Day incorporated into one of the KLM 6th -12th grade Overnight Programs provides opportunities for families with younger students to talk with older students and staff about their experiences growing up in a mainstream setting. • The younger students are provided with role models to look up to .

14. What are the benefits of positive social interactions with “kids like me?”

15. Responses from students when asked why they like coming to KLM • “I feel a lot more included with this group.” • ”It is an environment where we feel like we belong.” • “Everyone can empathize with each other.” • “It feels like a support group.” • “It is cool to meet kids like myself.” • “It draws us together where otherwise we wouldn’t know each other.” • “We learn a lot about ourselves, for example, terms for the kind of hearing loss we have.” • “I can just be myself and not have to explain anything about my hearing loss.” • “Everyone gets it here.” • “I have made some friendships.” • “I get to see old friends and meet new people.” • “It’s fun!”

16. Parents’ Feedback • “My daughter loves attending! She does not have a lot of exposure to others with hearing aids.” • “My son enjoys the connection with the kids his age. “ • “Both my son and I felt blessed that he was able to be a part of this fabulous program. Thank you!” • “My daughter loves connecting with the kids who “get it” and they have stayed in touch. Excited for the May Overnight Program already. “ • “It introduces them to other deaf and hard of hearing peers. For my daughter she has no girls in her school that are hard of hearing.” • “It is a community that she is a part of which acknowledges and embraces her and others with different communication needs. It gives her a push for greater independence and self reliance. Friendships are encouraged. She has other trusted adults in her life. Thank you!” • “Absolutely recommend this program! He realizes he is not the only one with hearing issues. “ • “Kids Like ME is such a valuable service! My daughter made new friends and I believe realizes that she is not alone!”

17. How does my child/student get involved in the KLM program? • If there are three or more children/students who are deaf or hard of hearing attending the same school or are in the same district, KLM can come to you!! • Contact your PSO Consultant or Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf. • Contact KLM Coordinator at patricia.cook-stewart@mecdhh.org or 207-781-6280.