Miss-Delectable
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School for the Deaf right to represent both sides | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
School for the Deaf right to represent both sides My wife and I first learned about the opposing approaches to raising hearing-impaired children (American Sign Language/deafness as a culture vs. oral/mainstreaming) when our son was diagnosed with deafness at age 3. We chose to raise him in the hearing world, and it has turned out well -- thanks to his wonderful mother, speech therapist and teachers. He's a fantastic "kid" (well, he's pushing 40 now) is married, has three beautiful children, a master's degree, and is on the faculty of a major university assisting students with disabilities. Sounds like a happy ending so, when it comes to the board of the Indiana School for the Deaf, you'd think my preference would be to fill the board with those of the oral/mainstreaming philosophy. But that's not my preference.
However, neither am I in favor of stacking the deck with those of the ASL/deafness as a culture philosophy. Though I disagree with their approach, I respect their right to think and believe differently than I do. One of the beautiful things about America is its diversity, and its citizens' acceptance of those who are different. It's part of our culture to get along harmoniously with each other despite our differences in race, religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation or belief system.
It is proper that the board of the Indiana School for the Deaf have representation by both schools of thought.
Andrew Morrison, M.D.
School for the Deaf right to represent both sides My wife and I first learned about the opposing approaches to raising hearing-impaired children (American Sign Language/deafness as a culture vs. oral/mainstreaming) when our son was diagnosed with deafness at age 3. We chose to raise him in the hearing world, and it has turned out well -- thanks to his wonderful mother, speech therapist and teachers. He's a fantastic "kid" (well, he's pushing 40 now) is married, has three beautiful children, a master's degree, and is on the faculty of a major university assisting students with disabilities. Sounds like a happy ending so, when it comes to the board of the Indiana School for the Deaf, you'd think my preference would be to fill the board with those of the oral/mainstreaming philosophy. But that's not my preference.
However, neither am I in favor of stacking the deck with those of the ASL/deafness as a culture philosophy. Though I disagree with their approach, I respect their right to think and believe differently than I do. One of the beautiful things about America is its diversity, and its citizens' acceptance of those who are different. It's part of our culture to get along harmoniously with each other despite our differences in race, religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation or belief system.
It is proper that the board of the Indiana School for the Deaf have representation by both schools of thought.
Andrew Morrison, M.D.