Miss-Delectable

Bill would help assure deaf students best education in Virginia's schools | The News Leader | newsleader.com

HB218 "A Deaf Child's Bill of Rights" was referred from the House Education Committee to Appropriations where it may languish and die UNLESS concerned citizens for an appropriate education for all Virginia's children get involved.

It is really no surprise that the School Boards Association and the Virginia Association of School Superintendents would have concerns about this bill because if passed, a deaf child's free, appropriate education will become a law with teeth. Many school boards and superintendents don't know what is happening in the deaf child's classroom. Even special education supervisors often don't have a clue about educating deaf children. Too many schools down the street, pertaining to be the least restrictive environment for deaf children do not follow regulations, or listen to recommendations. Perhaps legal mandates will change their attitudes.

HB 218 "A Deaf Child's Bill of Rights" must be released by Appropriations for a vote by the House of Delegates. This is an important and timely bill given the horrible state of education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the Commonwealth. HB218 is not a "feel good" bill; it is a bill which recognizes that the least restrictive environment for a deaf child is a language-rich environment. With a law in place, there will be no excuse for schools (from the top down and bottom up) to play lip service to regulations and resolutions.

Our deaf children will finally be guaranteed a free, appropriate, accessible education and, perhaps, policy makers in education will understand that one size does not fit all.

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deafdyke

I hope this includes an option of informing parents of dhh kids of Deaf School. I do think that parents also need to be informed that dhh kids can learn ASL as a second language, and that the Deaf School offers "Clarke style" education as well. One of the myths that really hurts deaf school/deaf ed, is the fact that hearing parents think that Deaf Schools are just for voice off kids, and that they don't offer Clarke style services.

AlleyCat

Why ASL just as a second language?

deafdyke

Because I'm speaking about the oral dhh kids. Of course kids who use ASL as a first language are welcomed at a deaf school.....but parents of oral dhh kids may not realize that a state deaf school (except for Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind) offers the same services that Clarke/CID/St. Joseph's did. That would expand the population, and have ASL GROW....and that would also have the oral kids avoid the oral and mainstream problems......

webexplorer

I checked yours on the internet so far I found these links for the year of 2012, not 2010:

LIS > Bill Tracking > HB218 > 2012 session

Bill Tracking - 2012 session > Legislation