Education Budget cuts deaf and hard of hearing programs

For our deaf friends, here is the transcript.
My name is Jake.
I am hard of hearing and have been since I was a baby because I was born very premature.
Other than my hearing aids, most people don't even realize I am hard of hearing.
That is thanks to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at the Baker school.
I started at Baker at the age of 3 and remained in the program for 6 years. Thanks to the program I am a successful 6th grader and fully mainstreamed at my home school district in Mt. Laurel.
I am a success story of how a young child, with special needs, can learn to overcome their handicap provided they are given the right support at a young age.
At Baker, I learned to use the hearing that I have and learned to use my spoken word as well as sign language.
And most importantly I learned that I was not the only deaf and hard of hearing little boy. I was not alone.
I met deaf and hard of hearing children my own age, I met older children and I met deaf adults. I learned that I was part of a community and that I could grow up to be successful.
I learned that the only thing different about me was that I couldn't hear as well as others. I learned that is OK.
I realize it must cost a lot of money to keep a program in place for kids like me. I'm not sure how much money it costs but I know that you could not put a dollar value on what the Baker School did for me and for so many other children like me.
(sign I love you) To Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Kraus, Mrs. Bush, Miss Lorraine, Mrs. DeConcini and Miss Jessica, I can never thank you enough for what you all did for me and for what the Baker Program did for me.
Thank you all for listening, (look at the board people).
For listening on behalf of all of those who cannot hear.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Deaf
• Hard of Hearing
• ASL
• Sign Language
• Budget cuts
• School for deaf

[iCanHearUSign]

YOU are an AMAZING !! boy and very BRAVE to present that speech. I HOPE your message was HEARD :)