School frustration

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JennyB

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This is a bit of a rant...

I go to a mainstream school and have no supports aside from seating in the front of the class, and the use of an FM system. I have a profound loss and I wear hearing aids, I can perceive speech sounds with them but I need to speech read in order to communicate.

The other day I was at school and my teacher was talking to some new teacher interns that were coming into our class. He brought them over to me and said "this is our only disabled student." I said back to him that "I am not disabled, I am Deaf.". He argued that I did have a disability because I can't communicate effectivly without supports. I responded by saying that I can communicate perfectly effectivly with ASL/PSE. Bascially we argued for a while before he said "fine you don't have a disability. Then you don't need supports at school" That afternoon he made sure the front row was full, so I had to sit near the back of the class. He also refused to use my FM. I took off my hearing aids and read a book in the back of the room. I was mad.

Who was right in this situation?

I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Do I apologize? Ah!
 
Wow! That teacher needs training or a workshop about sensitivity. It is not his job to determine whether you have a disability or not or if u need support or not. His job is to teach and listen to his students.

Some people get so anal about the littlest things...why is it important to him if u have a disability or not?
 
shel90 said:
Wow! That teacher needs training or a workshop about sensitivity. It is not his job to determine whether you have a disability or not or if u need support or not. His job is to teach and listen to his students.

Some people get so anal about the littlest things...why is it important to him if u have a disability or not?
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I don't know why it is so important for him! What bothered me was that he introduced me as the only student with a disability. I would have prefered 'This is Jenny, she is Deaf' I was just insulted at the way that he presented the whole thing that I felt the need to fight it.
 
My wife was brought up in the Mainstream school district and she had supports such as interpreters...note takers..and deaf class empowerment. If I was you, I would take my concerns directly to the Principal...if no joy at the Principal...then you would have to grow some balls (I'm not saying you don't have them but a lot of high schoolers stop at the Principal) and go to the Superintendent. If still no joy....then go to the Media such as Tv..newspapers..etc.

You'll see they change their attitude so fast they wont be able to say "Ah"
 
Dodge Trucker said:
My wife was brought up in the Mainstream school district and she had supports such as interpreters...note takers..and deaf class empowerment. If I was you, I would take my concerns directly to the Principal...if no joy at the Principal...then you would have to grow some balls (I'm not saying you don't have them but a lot of high schoolers stop at the Principal) and go to the Superintendent. If still no joy....then go to the Media such as Tv..newspapers..etc.

You'll see they change their attitude so fast they wont be able to say "Ah"
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I think Jenny is in college not in high school. Hmmm.
 
Whoa! ... that was uncalled for. Naturally that got your gander up, it would with me, so fight! Golly, he needs a good kick up the backside.
 
JennyB said:
I don't know why it is so important for him! What bothered me was that he introduced me as the only student with a disability. I would have prefered 'This is Jenny, she is Deaf' I was just insulted at the way that he presented the whole thing that I felt the need to fight it.
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Wow, I agree with shel90 and Dodge Trucker, u should have contracted the Principal or a Supervisor about this, u we should been treated with respect and we do have names, we are human being, you should sue them for being disrespectful to you. We are not animals. Ah if only Marlee Matlin were here to see this....she would sue them in a second.
 
shel90 said:
I think Jenny is in college not in high school. Hmmm.
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You know..you COULD be right..I went back and re-read the OP's post and she said she was in school. Guess it would either be in college or high school. Perhaps the OP will elaborate?
 
I am in my final year of highschool.

I also take a few courses at one of the local Universities so for people who have read my past posts I understand how that could be confusing.

This happened in my highschool though.

The way that the school works we don't really have a principal. It is an alternative school. The person who said it the person at the top of the food chain. He is basically the principal.
 
he was the "principal" and he said that to you!!! WHAT! i wud still complain! There must be someone in ur school board to complain to even if it is an alternative school. Like here in ottawa we have the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and then the Ottawa Carleton Catholic School board..you should have that since your in ontario even if it's a smaller town. Complain to the district manager or watev or the board of directors or better yet get in contact with the head of the disabilities dept. on the board!!
 
WTF?!!?! What about the Disabilty support person? That's fucking CRAZY that the teacher did that to you. Doesn't Canada have something like the ADA or disabilty education law?
 
You know............you may want to contact someone at your province's School for the Deaf. They might be able to help you in some way.
 
Sorry to hear what you have to put with. I can understand why you are offended and angry. I would not apologise to the teacher; the teachers are wrong, so they should apologise to you.

There has to be someone in the school who can help you, whether they are a principle or manager or mentor. Goodluck.
 
!!!!!!!!

This is DISCRIMINATION!!!!

!!!!!

I'm APPALLED! You should do something about it - NOW seeing that you're in your final year of high school, and you wouldn't want to fail that, do you?

Contact the district education office, and see what they can do about it.

I'd like to hear about how you are going.

I'm absolutely gobsmacked. I'd LOVE to plant my foot up your teacher's arse! He NEEDS a good wake-up call.

Gosh.
 
Far out, that's not very nice teacher. Is there someone who is higher than Principal that you can report to complain about this.

Another thing is get your parent's support as well, they would help ya to fight out this discrimination. I don't think your parents would like it to find out how this teacher treated you.
 
~SG~'s correct.

Start mobilizing support from your folks and someone above that prick.

Make him pay!
 
Parental support won't happen. I don't live with them, nor do I really speak to them much anymore.

I am going to see what happens today at school before I do anything. I will let you all know what happens this evening.
 
JennyB, I understand how you feel. I dont like anyone call me disability or handicap because those words make me feel like crippy. I like them call me Deaf. that is simple!
 
Jenny,

What your teacher is called here is "Lead teacher." It's nowhere near the authority of a principal, and most likely he lacks the extra training and degree to be a principal. However, he seems full of himself (delusions of grandeur).

The chip on your shoulder didn't help matters, but in this case his introduction of you was wrong, showing off for a student teacher while "putting you in your place."

Since it's high school, you don't have to consult with him in person or in writing (as most college syllabi require), so the chain-of-command others recommended is best. Write down word-for-word what was exchanged, try to get witnesses, and take it to the top.

No matter your reaction (which I would have done, too) this guy cast the first stone, then escalated and exacerbated the insult to actual injury. You'll win this, and will have stated "Don't put me down." Good for you and good luck.
 
IMO I think deaf are disabled, because disabled mean not have the ability and deaf is inability to hear, simple as it is. They're not calling you disabled/handicap as in for general like you don't have the ability to learn, you don't have the ability to do this and that. That's not true. You're disabled simply because you can't hear and sometimes need some support like FM system, interpreter and so on.
But that's just me don't bash on me for stating my opinion.

And Jenny, I think you should talk to Canadian version of ADA or disability service and tell them about discrimination and not providing support.
 
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