X50S5

Here’s the link to page 1 of the comic;
5A5A 2045, Page 1 (PDF)

Not much there; just the credits…

Here’s the link to page 2 of the comic;
5A5A 2045, Page 2 (PDF)

This is a typical scenario. Thanks to the Early Detection and Screening initiative, 1,000′s of babies/infants are diagnosed with hearing loss every year. This is needed, as late detection of hearing loss has a profound impact on language development.

Depending on the severity of the hearing loss, availability of insurance, and attitudes of parents and professionals involved, a lot of things can happen. A deaf child could be fitted for hearing aids or Cochlear Implants. They could undergo the AVT regimen, or have ASL. They could receive speech and language therapy at earlier ages. Parents and family quickly accept their deaf child, or they take longer. They learn ASL or rely on their personal mode of communication.

While I may be biased towards ASL, I fully support the parental choices made in this area. They know the situation as it applies to them; I would be extremly reticient in criticizing them for using AVT and relying on CI’s. However, I would extol the virtues of using ASL for language development and have it as an option available for these kids and their families.

Here, Lucky undergoes a CI/AVT approach in ameliorating his hearing loss and language development. Also, I wanted it to fit the overall story; there isn’t much of a story for this comic if Lucky learns ASL.

Here’s the link to page 3 of the comic;
5A5A 2045, Page 3 (PDF)

This placement is increasingly becoming more typical. Thanks to early detection and successful approaches in language development, more and more D/HH children are entering mainstream environments instead of traditional D/HH classrooms or schools. Still, some school placements can be inappropriate for a number of D/HH children, even if they appear to have ‘successfully’ undergone the early detection/language acquisition regimen. It underscores the importance of the IEP in ensuring that D/HH children receive a free and appropriate public education.

Elsewhere, tight state budgets can threaten the health of state-supported Deaf schools nationwide. Declining enrollments (thanks to early detection and language initiatives) do not help our cause in keeping these schools open. Deafness has, and always has, been a low incidence disability. The theory of ”diminishing returns” can be harsh for Deaf schools nationwide; i.e., there can be only so much that can support a Deaf school. Would 50 students total support a Deaf school? 75? 100? Also, Deaf schools have surivived the Great Depression; they can certainly survive the state budget crunches happening now.

Unfortunately, this threat to Deaf Schools is real. The NAD has come out with a position on this issue; NAD Position Statement on Deaf Schools. Their key quote is, “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that educational agencies must make available a continuum of alternative placements to meet the needs of children with disabilities. Among other things, the continuum must include instruction in regular classes, special classes, and special schools. This continuum includes schools for the deaf.”

I still have nagging doubts about this “continuum of alternative placements” legal theory as supported by the NAD. They do have lawyers and may be more authoriative on the subject than they’re letting on in their statement. My view is that this clause is subject to interpretation. A liberal interpretation would definitely ecompass a state-supported Deaf school and mandate its continuing operation. A conservative interpretation could differ considerably, resulting in the closure of the state-supported Deaf school. I do not want to leave this issue up to court interpretation; it is incumbent upon the grassroots political activism to ensure that state-supported Deaf schools remain in operation.

Ironically, Model undermines the “continuum of alternative placements” argument somewhat, as it can take in D/HH students in other states. An uber-conservative court could conclude that since Model is available for D/HH students in their own state, at the high school level, there is no need for a state-supported Deaf school. Yes, it’s a stretch, as Model can be 100 or 3,000 miles away from states all over, as opposed to short distances involved in state-supported Deaf schools.

In this admittedly doomsday scenario, Model is the last Deaf school standing.

Here’s the link to page 4 of the comic;
5A5A 2045, Page 4 (PDF)

Google the future of Social Security, and you’ll find out that the fund will begin to pay out more in benefits than what it would collect, starting 8-10 years from now. What happens then? There may be Social Security reform by that time, restricting eligibility and possibly reducing benefits. Given the third rail nature of the issue, would politicians risk political career suicide in revisiting the issue at that time? Would the current Social Security status quo be maintained somehow?

So many unanswered questions… In this scenario, Social Security reform does occur, and eligibility criteria is further restricted, cutting off people who may have been previously eligible, i.e., deaf people. It isn’t just deaf people; if reform does occur, a whole swath of issues will be decided, ranging from raising of the eligibility age, to controlling Medicare costs, to reducing benefit payments, and more.

Here’s the link to page 5 of the comic;
5A5A 2045, Page 5 (PDF)

A quick note; rechargeable batteries last for a long time. But even their useful lives are finite. The user will eventually need to replace them with a new set of rechargeable batteries. What’s a CI user to do if there are no rechargeable batteries? There could be supply shortages, whole industries going out of business, Peak Oil, anemic economic conditions, or any other cause that could contribute to a dearth of rechargeable batteries as used in today’s CI devices. Granted, it is highly unlikely, as millions of rechargeable hearing aid batteries have been made and this supply could easily last beyond 25 years and more.

Technological solutions that help ameliorate Deafness is nice and all, but there’s limits. Biological approaches in curing Deafness is better. i.e., gene therapies or cochlea hair cell regeneration. If perfected, they will work, Peak Oil or not.

Otherwise, things are looking up for Lucky!