7 minute read
Meet the LUDINGTON-BARQUET FAMILY- Mariana, Darren, Sofia, Jack
by Angelica N. Gray, MA, / Photos by: Heather Gregg - 21 Vines Photography
Mariana and Darren’s love story began in Mexico City in 2001. They moved to the US 16 years ago and relocated to Farmland 9 years ago. They lived in Virginia and then Miami where they welcomed their daughter Sophie in 2009. The Ludington-Barquets completed their family with the birth of their son Jack in Muncie, IN on 2012.
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Jack was born profoundly deaf and with other developmental disabilities and when he transitioned to preschool, he needed the specialized services of an Oral Deaf Program to ensure his progress with his language, so the Ludington-Barquets relocated to the Indianapolis area when Jack was about 2 years old. His parents stated that time is of the essence when you have a little one that needs to develop spoken language due to the limited window of opportunity allowed by the neuroplasticity of a young brain. Mariana shared that she and Darren didn’t know if Jack would learn to listen and talk. He was bilaterally implanted with cochlear implants at the age of 14 months. Due to his low muscle tone, his physical development had been affected and they needed to work on many areas of need. The family found themselves working on a variety of skills all at the same time, with several different interventionists that supplied invaluable knowledge and support to them. Mariana recalls that time was ticking and Jack needed high intensity of services. He then started in a full-day program the day after his 3rd birthday and remained in that school for three and a half years. He received daily speech therapy in addition to PT and OT weekly services. Mariana exclaimed that “No one tells you the amount of hard work that a kid with special needs will need!” She said that the family started to “look at the prices at the pump a little more carefully once you start driving everywhere for medical appointments and therapies!”
Through the years of therapy, Jack surprised them each day and defied so many obstacles. Mariana and Darren were not quite sure if Jack would be able to walk independently. This skill took a while for Jack to master because his balance is deeply affected as is his hearing due to both senses being housed within the internal ear structure. Mariana recalls the day that Jack got on a bicycle and started pedaling, and took off. And he never stopped pedaling after that day! Jack, now age 9, has made so much progress and now attends mainstream school in the gifted and talented program and has scores in the 99th percentile for language! Jack and his sister, Sofia, attend Towne Meadow Elementary School in Carmel, IN.
The Ludington-Barquets recall the long days and long nights of uncertainty and are grateful for those who gave encouragement and advice. This advice came from one of Jack’s aunt that is an elementary school teacher who said, “any kid will succeed when the parents are truly involved in his life.” With that advice, Mariana wants families to know that it’s important to be involved, to be present, to be open to learning every day, and to be an example for your child. The Ludington-Barquets are grateful for Jack’s team of providers at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, TheraPlay, St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf Special Education team at Carmel Clay School district.
Mariana works as an Educational Advocate and Parent-to-Parent support for Indiana Hands & Voices, a not-for-profit organization led by parents of children that are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). The organization’s goal is to support parents through their journey of raising a child who is DHH without a bias around communication modes or methodology. Her advice to parents is always “what works for your child is what makes the choice right. No one knows your child better than you as a parent.”
The Ludington-Barquets believe that access is the biggest limitation for a deaf child. They believe that access to information, education, and meaningful interactions with peers is what makes a difference. Jack’s parents have made providing equal access a priority for him in both school and community activities. Mrs. Ludington-Barquet additionally believes that parental involvement is extremely important and has been involved as a volunteer with her children’s school for the past six years. She believes that involvement allows you to support the school, support the team that is supporting your child, and gives your child the opportunity to see your support and involvement.
Jack currently enjoys weekly swimming and gymnastics in addition to hippotherapy and private speech. Jack and Sofia both enjoy reading, and for Jack, it’s his quiet time and gives him the ability to rest from the high demands of the hearing world, which is crucial for a deaf child with hearing technology. Reading is Jack’s escape and his strength. Jack loves collecting antique comics. The family intentionally limits screen time in order to promote opportunities to develop language and literacy. And, oh, boy, has it worked! Jack loves visiting antique stores and talking to anyone about the golden age of comics, finding comic book treasures, and reading them all day long.
Jack has an FM system which is made up of a transmitter (that his parents typically wear) and receivers that connect to his cochlear implants. This system allows Jack to hear his parent’s voices directly in his implants with clarity. When they go to noisy restaurants, children’s museum, or other activities that will allow for him to run with more freedom, the family brings their FM system so that he can always hear their voice if they need to call him or make sure he is aware of any danger around him. An FM system can reach up to 80 feet in distance. Mariana says that one of their biggest challenges is safety due to Jack being deaf. He has to work hard to listen to everything going around him and it can be exhausting for him.
The Ludington-Barquets are a bicultural family and believe that their kids truly get the best of both worlds! They celebrate Christmas Eve and the Three Wise Man as those are the main celebrations in Mexico, but they also expect Santa Claus to show up on December 25! The Ludington-Barquets celebrate Dia de Muertos every November and remember their family back in Mexico.
As a family, the Ludington-Barquets love traveling and one of their favorite destinations is Cancun! They go every year and enjoy the beach, the food, and “the warmth of the people that welcome us back each year!” Mariana says that Mexico is “home for me.” Sofia and Jack truly enjoy going to Mexico to visit the pyramids and learning about the ancient cultures. The Ludington-Barquets love experiencing new foods and learning other languages. Darren attended the University of Pittsburgh and the Steelers are their favorite sports team! When it comes to music, the family loves the Beatles and Jack loves to show off his dance moves. Sofia, on the other hand, doesn’t enjoy dancing, but they all love watching Jack move to his favorite dance tunes!
Mariana shares that she has lived in a different country and in different States within the U.S. She truly finds the community in Indiana as one of the most welcoming and understanding. The special needs community here is amazingly supportive and inclusive. To families who are new to the world of special needs, she would tell you “welcome” and that “being deaf doesn’t mean anything else but that you cannot hear. Deaf children are just children that need equal access to develop and become members of society. Deaf people communicate in a variety of ways, all of them beautiful and functional.”
Thank you, Darren, Mariana, Sofia, and Jack, for sharing your inspirational and encouraging story with us.
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