We are the parents of three young men: Ruarc, aged 30; Ryan 28, and Nolan, aged 24.  All of our children are out on their own and loving it. Ruarc has a severe to profound hearing loss and was educated in the New York City Public Schools in general education classrooms with supports and services from Hearing Education Services.  He currently lives in Colorado where he works in a ski shop and loves to snowboard.  He did not attend a self contained school for the deaf because the schools here in NYC do not often grant general education diplomas, but IEP diplomas, and we knew he had the intelligence and ability to gain an academic diploma.  As a consequence of our beliefs and his determination, he passed all of his RTCs and graduated from the High School of Telecommunications Arts and Technology with an academic diploma.  It was a fight, but it was a satisfying effort.  Ruarc is a graduate of Gallaudet University, Washington, DC 

          I have worked for Parent to Parent of New York State for the past twelve years.  It is my belief, backed up by research and common sense, that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers and advocates.  Parents, and by that I mean anyone who nurtures a child in their care, are the greatest untapped resource our society has.  Through Parent to Parent of NY State, I hope to help turn that resource into a geyser of support and information.