NY Deaf Schools in Danger of Closing! Governor Cuomo's Proposal Re: 4201 Schools

[shumworld]

I'm going to be enrolling for the January semester. Beyond that what else can I do to help?

[imsocute121]

Omg i know sign language cuz my family iz deaf well some

[rwk360]

How do people who have been deaf since birth and never bothered to learn how to speak since they can't hear themselves thus not knowing how to pronounce words, but they are fluent in sign and they encounter hearing people who do not understand sign, how do they communicate with them? How does the hearing person communicate with the deaf person in a way they can understand if the hearing person can't sign? If both had text devices I guess they could communicate to each other by texting.

[NeonBlueLife]

It's not fair to us deaf schools we are common to hearing school but we need stay deaf school commuation better

[Jeanlucrox14]

@NeonBlueLife truee

[ReneeT60]

February 15, 2011

Hi...

I shared with my sister Amy, a family doctor, your concerns regarding N.Y. Governor's proposal on closing several schools for the deaf. She is fluent in ASL and had several deaf patients in family practice before moving to Florida 6 years ago. Amy asked me if the National Association of the Deaf would take action regarding the Governor's proposal? I have no way of knowing if our NAD should step in and speak in our behalf. We should find a way to make a noise.

[asilentcowboy]

need have PLAN B. not works with 4201 and next step pubic school must have ASL full time all students and staffs teachers..then future not need hire interpeter. cause every body know asl. and you will not know if they are deaf or not. so future deaf people can find job as easy? other choice??

[codawann]

Will talk about this topic on my ASL Radio show this weds nite from 8 to 9pm est, toginet.com/shows/thatkeithwan­nshowculturalbridges live chat for the ASL Community - come let your voice be seen! - Keith Wann

[avbria]

@codawann Thank you for raising community awareness, it is much appreciated. Please continue to make noises to kill the proposal! Namaste! 

[devil20081990]

wow, I learning something from you. Thank you make this video to show me to do.

[NeaLAUGH]

Hi Avbria, Of Course that I'm tear about this 4201. Please send this Link to President Obama's Website. Dont Give Up. I'm thrill to see children in your vlog about it. Amen !

[ReneeT60]

February 13, 2011

Hi...

Deaf children's transition to a regular school may bring more problems. I can share with you what had transpired in 1999. The Deaf Program where I taught phased out and most deaf children were placed in other programs. Most did not have enough accomodations to help them with the learning process. I am seeing behavior problems, short attention span, and some regular classroom teachers made ill-trained interpreters "tutor" deaf students.This shouldn't be the case!

[avbria]

@ReneeT60 Please do! Your story is important that every experience must be told and shared. Pls contact me via youtube mail.

[Salticid68]

Maybe you can tell the governor that highly educated and esteemed Deaf people will bring in economy for this country and indirectly pay back to the government. It won't lose any or much money in the long run? Uneducated people won't do much good for this country and our government.

[DeafJennyWitty]

As a deaf person who went to public schools - I learned a whole lot more when I arrived at Gallaudet. It's terribly lonely going to public schools and trying to 'be hearing' when you're deaf!

What I am interested in - what if a reporter asks you for an alternative plan for Cuomo's plan. Does the Deaf group have an alternative plan? (Consolidate schools into two (north and south or East and West....) cuz money talks, and economics is not great right now. Argue the cost of interpreters?

[avbria]

@DeafJennyWitty Oh yes I know that feeling too as it is no picnic. It would be a disaster to see many more Deaf children to experience like what we went through. I have thought about that alternative plan as well but again it is costly to set up such schools right now. Perhaps we need a 5 year plan to budget for this but it won't be easy since not many will like this as it is hard to give up their historic landmarks.

[cjlex9]

This is nothing new. Govenor Dad tried same thing in 1989. We fought hard to prevent it.. Now 21 years later we are facing this again. I am not going to help fight it again. Time has changed in our rights. We have ADA laws that was passed by George H.W. Bush in 1990 that gave us access to better education that we have rights to have interpreter. Honest in my 30 years in the deaf communities I noticed those who went to public school gotten better education then those who went to deaf school.

[avbria]

@cjlex9 It depends on which schools. For my case, I have seen many students who transfer to RSD getting better education that they ended up catching up for what they had missed. They improved so much in their writing and passed Regents.

[avbria]

@cjlex9 What's more we offer bilingual education that no mainstreaming programs offer so we should not be denying ASL/English education for Deaf children where they are able to thrive. Deaf schools that practice total communication may not work for most and that is an outdated program. Also don't forget that the key is early language development that all Deaf children must acquire ASL since birth where they are able to have a solid language foundation to learn second language at ease.

[DeafJennyWitty]

Really want to see this succeed. Did someone get a permit for the protest? Make sure that the signs have writings on the front and back . I would LOVE to come all the way up from VA in support of this - reality not sure how it would work. Dr. Edwin Black's idea to push for Deaf (Culture) Protection Act would be perfect timing right now.

[avbria]

@DeafJennyWitty It is a rally that has been arranged in advance that includes obtaining a permit. More information will be discussed at the Town Hall at RSD this coming Thursday evening. I thrive the idea about Black's proposal on DCP Act. Thank you for your interest. Will keep you posted.

[Bunjer]

Dangerous ground, hearing decison makers decide how Special Education works for the Deaf. Hearing law makers decisions don't truly represent our Deaf communities. Majority Rule trample on about our consitutional rights to equality and pursuit of happiness and liberty being people of Deafhood, not Deafness.. Horrenous malpractice of hearing professionals are proof, eternally destroying our Deafhood way of life! Deaf Minority Rule should be taken place on Deafhood is EQUALITY for Deaf Education!

[avbria]

@Bunjer Couldn't agree with you more!

[vikingscool]

@avbria same here.

[pdurr]

Barb - as always thanks for making this vlog - all the details, information and clarity is really important. The links in the more info box is important also as well as the translation

[avbria]

@pdurr Your support and leadership are vital to join us for the cause. Thank you for your thoughts. More to come!

[DeafKat]

NY Residences..Please get involved and go to Albany for Rally. Save all deaf schools and stop mainstreaming too. Cut the expenses to keep deaf students at the campus during the weekends,too. It costs more to force them going home every weekends. Interpreters are expensive at the mainstream schools than in deaf schools with real skilled asl teachers.

[avbria]

@DeafKat Thank you for your passion! School district may save money for themselves but if we look holistically it costs more than it is!

[kmayes2010]

Scary time now. I have two kids who attend one of the 4201 schools and they don't want to go anywhere else but only RSD. So I am on your side, gal.

[avbria]

@kmayes2010 It is an alarming time because of the economic challenges that we face. We must fight for the children since it is their education, their future.