VIDBE-Q Volume 67 Issue 4
Ivey has a rare genetic diagnosis that results from a deletion to the q-arm of
her 21st chromosome. As a result, Ivey is deafblind, has agenesis of her corpus
callosum, an obstructed airway, heart defect, epilepsy, and is tube fed. For the first
two years of Ivey's life, she had a tracheostomy. She has endured major
craniofacial surgeries. She is a patient of the Medically Complex Care Program at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and has spent a large portion of her
childhood within the walls of Scottish Rite.
Upon exiting the NICU, Ivey entered into Babies Can't Wait and Georgia
PINES. At the age of three, Ivey transitioned into the Floyd County School system
in Georgia. She has attended McHenry Primary School, Alto Park Elementary, and
Model Middle School. Currently, Ivey is a Freshman at Model High School. Here,
I must add, we have gained much experience navigating the trials and tribulations
of transitions.
Through each transition to a different school, new classroom teachers/case
managers, service providers, and administrators appeared. In almost all instances,
none had taught a student with deafblindness. In the primary and elementary
schools, through each transition, no matter Ivey's progress, we were thrown back
into Deafblindness 101. Through each new transition, the brakes were applied, and
Ivey was forced to sit idle until the classroom teacher and any new team members
were up to speed in the basics of deafblindness. No matter where Ivey was in her
