Should deaf schools be stronger advocates?

[audiodef]

Before high school, I went to regular public schools. I didn't have interpreters, but I sat up front and the teachers were all very accommodating and just plain awesome. In high school, I went to an area school with a deaf program. For college, I started out going to Gallaudet, but eventually graduated from American University instead.

I left Gallaudet for two reasons: lack of a program that matched my goals and academic boredom. I had much more of an intellectual dismay than a culture shock of suddenly being surrounded by hundreds of other deaf people, starting with the two-week new student orientation in which I took placements tests I considered suitable only for 9th grade and below (far below on some tests).

Ever since, I have been wanting Gallaudet to be more of a force in preparing deaf students for the real world. I've wanted Gallaudet to be on the front lines of equal access and the rights of deaf people to participate in society. I want to see in the news that Gallaudet had something to do with a new law that requires online video produced by companies of a certain minimum size to caption their video content. I would love to hear that Gallaudet footed a bill to make it illegal for any government or regulatory agency to garnish social security disability income. And so on.

I think Gallaudet is great in a lot of ways. It's a place for deaf people to seek out a higher education while surrounded by peers. But I want more than a college niche market. Hearing loss affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives and rather than enlightened understanding, society treats people with hearing losses of all kinds like second-class citizens. Places like Gallaudet should fight this as part of their mission statements.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[DeafCaroline]

Before high school, I went to regular public schools. I didn't have interpreters, but I sat up front and the teachers were all very accommodating and just plain awesome. In high school, I went to an area school with a deaf program. For college, I started out going to Gallaudet, but eventually graduated from American University instead.

I left Gallaudet for two reasons: lack of a program that matched my goals and academic boredom. I had much more of an intellectual dismay than a culture shock of suddenly being surrounded by hundreds of other deaf people, starting with the two-week new student orientation in which I took placements tests I considered suitable only for 9th grade and below (far below on some tests).

Ever since, I have been wanting Gallaudet to be more of a force in preparing deaf students for the real world. I've wanted Gallaudet to be on the front lines of equal access and the rights of deaf people to participate in society. I want to see in the news that Gallaudet had something to do with a new law that requires online video produced by companies of a certain minimum size to caption their video content. I would love to hear that Gallaudet footed a bill to make it illegal for any government or regulatory agency to garnish social security disability income. And so on.

I think Gallaudet is great in a lot of ways. It's a place for deaf people to seek out a higher education while surrounded by peers. But I want more than a college niche market. Hearing loss affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives and rather than enlightened understanding, society treats people with hearing losses of all kinds like second-class citizens. Places like Gallaudet should fight this as part of their mission statements.

What are your thoughts on this?

There's a university called "American University"?

 

[shel90]

There's a university called "American University"?

Yes, it is in Washington, DC.

 

[shel90]

I am not sure what you mean that Gallaudet doesnt prepare deaf students for the real world? I know many people who have graduated there and I am a graduate from Gallaudet and we are out in the real world. Some of us struggling, with this economy like million others while others are doing fine.


As for the English issue, many deaf people grow up with no strong first language so when they finally learn ASL, it is usually when they are older but by then, learning English is more difficult so I know Gallaudet offers programs to help with that.

Other than that, I am not sure what other tests you are referring to.

 

[audiodef]

There's a university called "American University"?

Yep. American University Washington D.C. | Schools, Colleges, Undergraduate, Graduate, Admissions, Academics, Degrees, Faculty

 

[audiodef]

Let me put this another way: how has Gallaudet prepared you for life in a society in which deaf people are a very tiny and often marginalized fraction? What would you like Gallaudet to do better in this regard?

Or substitute another school you know of for "Gallaudet" along these lines.

 

[audiodef]

There's a university called "American University"?

Yep. www dot american dot edu

It used to be called "The American University". Just around the time I got in, they dropped the "the". But for a long time a lot of equipment still had TAU logos on it.

 

[shel90]

Let me put this another way: how has Gallaudet prepared you for life in a society in which deaf people are a very tiny and often marginalized fraction? What would you like Gallaudet to do better in this regard?

Or substitute another school you know of for "Gallaudet" along these lines.

I was mainstreamed orally and had anxiety attacks around hearing people and was slowly withdrawing into my shell. When I learned ASL and then attended Gallaudet, I felt more confident in myself and the anxiety around hearing people is practically gone.



Gallaudet has a career center in which students have the option of going to get training on interviews and etc.

As for interacting with hearing people, most deaf people are from hearing families so they already have some experience. Plus, the students from Gallaudet venture out in DC which is going into the hearing world.

 

[Frisky Feline]

I am not sure what you are looking for.

My husband and I graduated from gallaudet. We were student and took an intership which is helpful for us. So we have a job.

 

[audiodef]

What I'm wondering is if people think places like Gallaudet should be stronger advocates on their behalf. Like I said, what about Gallaudet pressuring the passage of laws that require companies to caption online video? Wouldn't it be great if Gallaudet lent its weight to making it illegal for deaf people who are unemployed to be subject to certain actions by governing authorities, such as garnishment of social security and withholding of driver's license renewal as a penalty for tax debt? You know, things that make life that is already difficult for us even more difficult, especially when we're at such a disadvantage already?

 

[shel90]

What I'm wondering is if people think places like Gallaudet should be stronger advocates on their behalf. Like I said, what about Gallaudet pressuring the passage of laws that require companies to caption online video? Wouldn't it be great if Gallaudet lent its weight to making it illegal for deaf people who are unemployed to be subject to certain actions by governing authorities, such as garnishment of social security and withholding of driver's license renewal as a penalty for tax debt? You know, things that make life that is already difficult for us even more difficult, especially when we're at such a disadvantage already?

I wish Gallaudet would make it illegal to subject deaf people to phone interviews when they applied for jobs. All that would have to be taken all the way up to Supreme Court and Gallaudet is an entity, not a group but they can lobby for causes.

So, do you mean that Gallaudet could take on some lobbying for some causes involving the discrimination of deaf people?

 

[Jazzberry]

What I'm wondering is if people think places like Gallaudet should be stronger advocates on their behalf. Like I said, what about Gallaudet pressuring the passage of laws that require companies to caption online video? Wouldn't it be great if Gallaudet lent its weight to making it illegal for deaf people who are unemployed to be subject to certain actions by governing authorities, such as garnishment of social security and withholding of driver's license renewal as a penalty for tax debt? You know, things that make life that is already difficult for us even more difficult, especially when we're at such a disadvantage already?

I think its more difficult to do two different things really well than one thing really well.

Anyone aware of any colleges and universities that have taken on active lobbying in addition to their education mission?

If Gallaudet has graduated students who have sucessfully lobbied for laws that help the D/d/hh have equal treatment in society perhaps that is a more realistic goal. If they have also have alumni that have been leaders and done good for their community, I think that is also a realistic goal.

That is probably about as much as I can comment as there is still a lot that I don't know.

 

[audiodef]

I wish Gallaudet would make it illegal to subject deaf people to phone interviews when they applied for jobs. All that would have to be taken all the way up to Supreme Court and Gallaudet is an entity, not a group but they can lobby for causes.

That would rock if Gallaudet would do that. I don't have a job any more because of this very issue. When I was working in my old profession, I would get lots of emails from employers and recruiters who were all but drooling over my resume. Once I said I would need to use email or instant messaging, well, as deaf as I am, I could hear a pin drop after that. Everyone simply refused to do anything except by phone. FFS, this is the 21st century, not the 1st.

 

[audiodef]

Anyone aware of any colleges and universities that have taken on active lobbying in addition to their education mission?

There's nothing wrong with Gallaudet being "just a school". But considering that there is no other university like it in this country, they kind of can't wear the "just another school" badge anyway. They might as well go all out.