Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060710/OPINION/607100308
My concern about the merger of the school for the deaf and the school for the blind is based on communication. Deaf people have struggled to be heard for centuries. The Oregon School for the Deaf is finally working hard to create an environment where sign language is used continuously and where all deaf children have equal access to information.
What will happen when more hearing (albeit blind) people arrive at our school? Will this then change the environment so that deaf children are once again oppressed and don't receive continuous access to communication as hearing children do in hearing environments? Will this be true for the students and employees of Oregon School for the Blind?
The school for the deaf is an important cultural symbol, which signifies belonging and identity to deaf people. There is such a long history of hearing people making decisions for deaf people. Deaf people's fear is that this merger will see that happen again.
-- Jeffrey Howard, Monmouth
My concern about the merger of the school for the deaf and the school for the blind is based on communication. Deaf people have struggled to be heard for centuries. The Oregon School for the Deaf is finally working hard to create an environment where sign language is used continuously and where all deaf children have equal access to information.
What will happen when more hearing (albeit blind) people arrive at our school? Will this then change the environment so that deaf children are once again oppressed and don't receive continuous access to communication as hearing children do in hearing environments? Will this be true for the students and employees of Oregon School for the Blind?
The school for the deaf is an important cultural symbol, which signifies belonging and identity to deaf people. There is such a long history of hearing people making decisions for deaf people. Deaf people's fear is that this merger will see that happen again.
-- Jeffrey Howard, Monmouth
