I haven't had a chance to comment here for a bit due to a wedding trip, but I am thrilled to see the immense support and offer of resources and personal accounts. I apologize if this thread brought up negative feelings between advocates of varying methods. That was not my intention. To answer some questions about me so it's easier to understand where I'm coming from, yes, I'm studying to be a teacher for the Deaf. I started in January at Hunter College in NYC. The class that this research paper is for is called Education of Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The paper is meant to be an unbiased study of both Manualism and Oralism, advantages and disadvantages. I want you all to know that these responses have been amazingly helpful and I appreciate every offer. Thank you. If anyone is interested in seeing the paper, I will be happy to share it with you.
Also, shel - may I use a quote from one of your postings? I don't have to put your name if you do not wish it.
This: the oralist philosophy in deaf education puts too many deaf children at a disadvantage over their hearing peers due to the lack of full access to language and information at the educational setting. Even if the child can speak clearly, there is still the issue of receptive language and that's where ASL becomes vital.
Again, thank you to everyone!
