mmilatz22

Hey All! I am planning on majoring in Deaf Education/Elementary Education in the spring. (i am hearing) I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on Flagler College in Florida. Or any opinions at all about going to school for Deaf Education.....

my back story....Ever since I was 7 and learned the ABCs in sign language, I've wanted to learn and use sign language. I now have learned quite a lot of SE and some ASL from on of my best friends (or boyfriend, depending on the week....) who is Deaf. Since I started learning I have decided to pursue a career as a elementary teacher specializing in Deaf Education....

any opinions, suggestions or stories would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

Deafness

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Cousin Vinny

I really don't know that much about Flagler College, even though I have lived in St. Augustine in the past. I'm sure it has a good Deaf Ed. program, though.

My suggestion; go for a Exceptional Student Education degree, not just a Deaf Ed. one. There's too many certified teachers of the Deaf chasing a dwindling number of jobs, thanks to the changing demographics of Deaf people in the student population. This way, you can work in inclusion settings with a wide range of students with disabilities, including Deaf students.

mmilatz22

i get your point about going for ESE instead. I like the idea and have considered it, but i also want to be able to focus on Deaf children...IDK what i am going to do yet....hence thepost! But thanks cousinvinny!

jillio

An Exceptional Student Education degree might put you in a position of being hired in an inclusion situation where you end up with a deaf child in your classroom......however, it does not prepare you to meet the needs of the deaf student specifically. A bachelor degree in this field will include perhaps one or 2 chapters total regarding the educational needs of deaf children.

Special education focuses on children with cognitive delays/disabilities, learning disorders, neurological disorders, and mental/emotional disorders. The deaf child usually does not have any of these conditions. Their educational needs to be focused linguistically using the modes that facillitate a deaf child's language. They do not need the curriculum modified in the way that a child with a cognitive delay would, not do they need the behavior mod techniques used with a child with an impulse control disorder. Assuming that the same techniques will work for a deaf child as for an ADHD child, and therefore the teacher of the deaf child needs no specialized eduucation regarding deafness is one of the main assumptions made by the public school system. It has contributed to the fact that deaf kids in mainstream programs are being woefully undereducated.

I say go for the Deaf Ed degree. Our kids deserve qualified, dedicated, well-educated teachers.

A TOD can still work in the pulbic school system. The majority use self-contained classrooms rather than inclusion.

mmilatz22

i am very passionate when it comes to children, especially when they are deaf. I know too many people (hearing and deaf) that didnt get the proper education they deserve and i want to help change that! i hope that by pursuing a degree in Deaf Ed I can gain the knowledge and tools necessary to begin that change in my area. Thanks to you both for your opinions!

readysetgrow4ki

I'm not trying to create competition here. I'm a Deaf Ed teacher and we can use all the help we can get! There are job openings all over the country, and even some foreign jobs. If you want a job and you are good at what you do, you can get a job pretty easily (especially if you are willing to move to the place that needs you that year.)
Good luck in your studies - it's a great field, inclusion, itinerant, classroom, I've done it all and have loved all of it!!
Lorell