History of Deaf education in Utah

oh ok.. So basically they don't let the parents decide what best for their deaf kids. They do the deciding because it is their tax money. One time I did not want to be in English LD class. I told my mom that I rather fail than be in that class (but honestly, it was my horrible English teacher who mumbled so much and refused to help me..and then demand that I'm better off in LD. It became a "contract" that I had to stay til 9th or 10th grade). they told my mom they did not want me to fail at all and forced us to be in that class rather I liked it or not.

and guess what, I quit trying. I just didn't care
 
faire_jour said:
I am telling you that in Utah, services are NOT given until a child is delayed and as soon as they become age appropriate, the services are pulled and they are mainstreamed. The law is in the process of being fought, so that kids can get services.
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And I'm telling you if that is true, they are in violation of several Federal laws. There is nothing to fight in regard to the law. The Federal law is already on the books. Federal law over rides state law. The state law does not need to be changed. The Federal law is already in place to over ride the state law. If parents are allowing the state of Utah to engage in this practice, they are in need of some decent advocates that know what they are talking about and how to get things done.
 
shel90 said:
Nobody is saying that you are lying but just that this is new stuff. That's a shame if Utah does that.
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Its a shame if the parents are allowing them to break Federal law. I am absolutely amazed that no one has taken them to court before now. They get away with it because the parents are allowing them to get away with it.
 
faire_jour said:
You can't be at the School for the Deaf if you are not delayed. They pull the IEP and then you have to be mainstreamed. You can have a 504, and accomadations, but not Teacher of the Deaf services or a placement at the Deaf school.
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A 504 does not provide for accommodations. Only an IEP provides for accommodations.

Federal law states that unless the mainstream school can provide the accommodations as needed for the particular disability, they must send the child to a school that can provide the accommodation. Deafness is the only qualification necessary to get provision of services for the deaf. Delays are not necessary to provide for accommodation. Delays are necessary to have remediation as an accommodation only.
 
Lighthouse77 said:
oh ok.. So basically they don't let the parents decide what best for their deaf kids. They do the deciding because it is their tax money. One time I did not want to be in English LD class. I told my mom that I rather fail than be in that class (but honestly, it was my horrible English teacher who mumbled so much and refused to help me..and then demand that I'm better off in LD. It became a "contract" that I had to stay til 9th or 10th grade). they told my mom they did not want me to fail at all and forced us to be in that class rather I liked it or not.

and guess what, I quit trying. I just didn't care
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Unfortunately, many kids in the mainstream quit trying and stop caring because they aren't getting what they need. It is truly very sad.
 
shel90 said:
Siegel (2002) states, “Failed communication leads to failed education, then failed
education leads to a failed adulthood. Failed communication affects all aspect of life” As
90
a result, deaf and hard of hearing adults have a higher rate of mental illness and have
more concurrent health difficulties than their hearing counterparts (p.10).

quoted from the paper...
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The statement about the incidence of mental illness in the deaf population concerns me a bit. There has been much research done on this topic by well respected psychologists and psychiatrists, and the general consensus is that deaf people do not have a higher rate of mental illness than hearing people. They are misdiagnosed with mental illness more often, however, because the communication differences create a situation where what is a normal response for them is seen as symptomology because the professional doing the assessment did not take cultural and linguistic factors into account. However , that statement suggests that deaf people are more likely to be mentally ill just because they are deaf. That is a very innacurrate message to give.

It has been found that deaf adolescents have adjustment disorders at a higher rate than their hearing peers, but that doesn't have so much to do with their deafness as it does to the environment they are in. Deaf students with access to deaf peers and role models do not have as great a rate of adjustment disorders as do those that are mainstreamed without the psycho-social support they need. Situational depression and anxiety are also a bit greater in the adolescent/young adult deaf population for the same reason. However, the rates of clinical depression are about the same in the hearing population and the deaf population.

These are just more reasons why it is important to make sure that a deaf child has the appropriate educational placement. A placement that does not provide the psycho-social support a child needs puts them at greater risk for adjustment problems and depression and anxiety. It is not the deafness that is responsible; it is the environment.
 
I think deaf people have a harder time getting help if they do have a mental illness. Lack of communication never help them.
 
Lighthouse77 said:
I think deaf people have a harder time getting help if they do have a mental illness. Lack of communication never help them.
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I will certainly agree with that. I would love to see more therapists and counselors becoming fluent in ASL.
 
I went to USD for about 4 years and I don't remember the strike was going on. I was like 5 to 9 years old when I was there.
 
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