Earlier this year, I had planned to make this blog private. I had every intention of doing it. However, I never wrote anything and just didn't do it. Now, I am not going to make it private. There are a lot of changes happening here in Utah concerning our deaf children, and I don't like them very much. My wife and I have always wanted our kids to learn both ASL and spoken english. That has always been our goal. Our son, Johnny has shown recently that he is not very interested in the spoken language, but he still loves signing, and is pretty good at it. Eliza shows more of a tendency to vocalize than Johnny, but she also signs quite a bit. That is probably her main mode of communication. We encourage our kids to do both, and at first thought that we would get that kind of support from Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. Basically we wanted our kids to develop and flourish in every way they could. However, the recent changes by USDB are forcing us to choose one or the other. They will not provide services for parents who want both in their children's lives. I am writing this blog post to state my position on it all and why I feel that way.
First of all, I think it is wrong to force parents to choose one or the other path when the child is only 45 days old. Why? How can a parent know which way would best benefit their children at only 45 days? They can't. At first, we wanted only oral for Johnny and Eliza. However, as time went on we realized they responded better to signing. Imagine if we had to make that choice at only 45 days. I think we would have made the wrong choice for our kids, and there would have been years of frustration following it. I think the real goal of USDB is to eliminate the signing completely. At 45 days, parents who are hearing are still in shock about having a child with hearing loss. They have not yet accepted it, and will only think on the doctors and audiologists who have told them that their children can be normal, happy kids. With modern technology they can hear and speak just like everyone else. The parents, who are still in shock, will overwhelmingly choose the oral route at 45 days, and eventually the ASL program will just fade away. I think this is the real goal of USDB. Utah is a very pro-oral state, so why should the state run school be any different.
So where do I stand? Since I am being forced to choose, I am choosing the ASL/English program for my kids. Before I get a lot of comments about how I am limiting my kids potential, I want to point out a few things. Only in the ASL/English program, will both ASL and spoken english be encouraged. Between the two programs, as now outlined, it is the only one that offers choice. Yes, ASL will be the primary language, but what is so bad about that? It is a beautiful language, and it connects them to a larger community of support and strength. The oral program not only discourages signing, but forbids it completely. There is no option, no choice. No opportunity for my kids to reach their full potential. In the ASL program, my kids will go to school with other deaf children. They will communicate with their friends in their native language, they will receive instruction in their native language, they will be taught that they should take pride in who they are and develop a healthy sense of deafhood. In the oral program they will be mainstreamed into a normal school, where kids will only see their differences, where teachers will spend most of the day talking at them, not to them. They will grow up in atmosphere where they are constantly told how "impaired" and "disabled" they are. For me and my kids, I don't feel like this is right.
I am writing this post, because they are forcing us to choose sides. If you are a parent who is currently doing both, I hope you will join us on this side. Their goal is to take away our options. Don't let them. By choosing the other side, our options are gone.
Resep Perkedel Kentang Telur Dadar Gulung
7 years ago
Good for you! I'm glad you're keeping this blog open to anyone. The word has to get out there! And I like your reasoning for picking the ASL option. It'll be interesting to see what comes of all of this...
ReplyDeleteAs you know, we started at the bi-bi school. I think it is a wonderful school, has great teachers and is perfect for many Deaf kids. BUT, they can not teach a child spoken language. They do not have the professionals, experience, or even time to feasibly make it happen. A child must be surrounded by a language, immersed in it, in order to learn. A bi-bi school can not, will not, and should not immerse a child in spoken language.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is now in the USD oral program. She signs everyday. Her teacher often signs too. It is not forbidden in the old fashioned way. She is learning spoken language, so the teacher is encouraging her to use that language. It is the language of instruction, interaction and education in the classroom. But outside, on the playground, in her tutoring, ASL is more than welcome. Also, if Miss Kat is struggling with something, her teacher, especially in the beginning, when we were transitioning, is more than willing to sign it to her.
If you think about it, spoken language is equally "forbidden" in an ASL enviroment, as it should be. If there are children who do not have access to speech in a class, and one of the students is talking, that isn't fair. The child is being left out. So, how can a bi-bi school encourage spoken language? Logistically, it can't.
Children in a bi-bi setting with become literate, they will sign ASL beautifully, read and write and have wonderful language skills. They may learn some speech. Most likely it will be simple, common phrases, and they can also learn to voice for themselves. They will however, NOT become fluent spoken language users like they would in a program that emphasises speaking and listening.
It is about deciding what is the most important thing for your child. If you want them to become bilingual in both ASL and spoken language, you MUST put an emphasis on both. That means equal importance, equal time. That can not happen in either program that USD is offering.
I also agree that most parents who have to choose between ASL OR spoken language, will choose to forgo ASL. I don't like it either. I don't like taking away a child's options.
You bring up some interesting points, Miss Kat's Parents. I understand that the emphasis at JMS is not on spoken language, and that my children will not get the same immersion at JMS in spoken language. However, I do feel that they have wonderful speech professionals who will help US in OUR efforts and support US in our efforts to encourage our kids in our own way. I understand that putting Johnny in JMS is not putting the same emphasis on speech as on ASL and that by putting Eliza on that same path will do the same for her. I guess what I'm saying is that we are siding with ASL as our kids' primary form of communication, and I just want to encourage other parents to consider the same for their kids.
ReplyDeleteI want to make it clear that I also understand how this will "limit" my children in their opportunities in life. I guess I have met enough happily adjusted Deaf people to know that this doesn't really limit my kids.
I am not saying that MY decision is right for everyone. I just want other parents who are possibly considering the ASL path to know there are other parents out there like them. My wife and I have felt really alone among other parents we know because we favor ASL over speech. We know it is not the popular choice, but we want other parents to know they are not alone. Everyone has to do what they feel is right for their kids, but I fear that some parents are making these choices out of fear of what others might say or think.
Good for you!!! I cannot imagine having a child with a specific disability, but we all have our choices to deal with. That is definately a part of parenthood and for someone to force you to make a choice that will impact the lives of your children and ultimately, your family, is completely, ridiculously unfair and should not be allowed. If your child has the ability to learn both, than that should definately be encouraged. I took ASL in college before the mission and I would have to say that it was my favorite class. I think that it is beautiful and your children will benefit from the exposure to both ASL and spoken english. You commented that you may be limiting your children if they only attend a school for ASL, but consider the fact that as a parent, you have the opportunity of encouraging both types of communication in the home. Again, I do not have first-hand experience with this topic, but I commend you for standing up for what you know is right for your family. It shows great love and dedication to your children. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to comment on something Miss Kat's Parents said (even though I can see it was made a while ago).
ReplyDeleteSome bilingual/bicultural schools DO offer support for children with CIs and hard of hearing children with hearings, including spoken English and CI services (mapping, etc). I know both Kendall Elementary and Maryland School for the Deaf have programs for this. I'm not entirely sure how they work as I haven't had personal experience with them, but it is possible for children in bilingual bicultural schools to be bilingual in ASL and spoken English providing that the school provides the necassary services. I personally know many signing Deaf children with implants that also have near-fluent or fluent spoken English skills.
It really depends on the school. It would be nice if all bilingual-bicultural schools had accomodations for children with CIs.