Devastating Economy STRIKES Deaf Schools
It is becoming a trend here.
Scary trend… the ripple effects of declining economy is showing…
There is an increasing number of deaf schools are in verge of closing, or having significant budget cuts that will seriously compromise the educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing students in a language-rich and visually accessible environment.
Last week, it was South Dakota School for the Deaf.
See article: Rounds: Close SD School for the Deaf, slash budget for State Fair
TODAY… two more states are proposing significant budget cuts on their deaf schools:
Kansas School for the Deaf : see article: School for the Deaf on the budget chopping block
and…
Scranton State School for the Deaf (Pennsylvania) : see article: Rendell announces $289 million in spending cuts
Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) and Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD), Where are you?
What should we do right now before the domino effect hitting other vulnerable state schools with their dwindling enrollment?
Honestly, I am becoming more apprehensive to read news right now….
G’night.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:14 am
George Bush and the Republican are to blame.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hello Amy,
I am current student of Scranton State School for the Deaf. As you said, money is cutting by government. Our Superintendent is fighting for save school. But, as rumor said that Scranton State School for the Deaf cannot be closing, <- Reason? I dont know yet.
Also, deaf schools are not only who cutting money by government. Most of hearing school are same thing. My home area, and at my school area, most of them are cutting by government.
So, economics is so —- up.
-AJR
January 29th, 2009 at 8:54 am
This is a bipartisan issue – the deaf community needs to work with both Republicans and Democrats to achieve things – blaming one party does no one good.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:17 am
How many deaf school around the USA, not counting college? I also wonder how many school have they closed so far (for hearing folks.)
January 29th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Yoda has a very good question.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Mississippi school for the deaf and blind got cut around 630,000. MSD/B ’s budget is around 9 millions.
January 29th, 2009 at 10:44 am
It’s true about hearing schools facing massive budget cuts. Rochester has just now been warned that up to 500 personnel could be laid off from its city schools, and one suburb (Greece) is considering laying off 100 personnel.
What we need to be aware of is that people in power believe that cochlear implants, interpreters and rotating teachers are cheaper than residential deaf schools, and that schools for the deaf are already closing even before budget cuts. This will look very attractive to people who want to reduce costs whenever there is an opportunity. They are going to look at groups like inner city students, vocational education, Regents programs, and cut where it seems least harmful to the city’s future. Guess what programs those are?
We need to pull together concrete arguments for keeping our schools for the deaf and their campuses and to keep reminding the legislators.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am
It s all about crap theory against our Deaf schools and Deaf people s natural abiitlies by deafism and audism people with a nasty, negative, and coward/selfish attitude to force us to be a hearing child. They don’t accept us from day one until now. I don’t see anything in a good change from or by them. They are so easily angrily, misunderstood. They are making tooo damn many mistakes since 1800’s What a big joke for you let it happens to be continued. They denied and pity themseleves too much so they got away with it all along as usual meanwhile they dont know what they are talking about our Deaf Rights. That is a big puzzle for me to see these people who cannot able to read well and understand Deaf s meanings in their writings. Do they understand or denying the truth of our true identity from the experience of Deaf Reality.
It s actually three parties which is MEDICAL, AGBELL, and Government who are working together to make this happens and turn against One party of Deaf community if you mind .. NOT One party that is what I blame for a very bad reason to change. .It s not a better change at all because it will go back to isolation again as I BET YOU. Sighs!
Now there is a reason for me to bring it up. It s worthwhile to have have our Deaf American Civil Rights that we expressed how we feels in Deafnotes already. Please think hard and trying to understand why do we need Deaf Rights for a very good causes for all Deaf people of the Deaf community.
I don’t really believe about the financial issue at all because AUDISM did the one who tried to abolish our Deaf school and separate from d/Deaf to d/Deaf children. They will go back to isolation as of how AGBell’s philosophy view is still carry on and runs that has not been changing at all. AUDISM IS STILL WITH US ALL ALONG. They didn’t change for a better however it gets worse and worse for not having a total communication in our ASL education or Deaf Role Model teachers.
FORCE Deaf babies/children to listen with the hearing devices while we do not understand the spoken language. What a big joke to damage more than ever by Medical, Audism, and Government. What a real conspiracy!! What’s the purpose for them to change for who we are as being deaf. To hide the truth that Deaf people have had been successful without their conformity methods to cover up our being deaf and ASL.
Shaking my head with a very sad and bitter feelings!
DeafSweetMind
January 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am
It’s affecting a lot of school districts all over and I think this is a time where parents needs to be on their guard and make sure that funding for residential schools and special ed isn’t the first in consideration to be cut/reduced.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Oh please. This is nothing new. Some deaf aren’t helping towards this by alleging conspiracy at the slightest whiff of misguided allegations of Audism. Very obscene amounts of programs are being affected regardless of kind (deaf, hard of hearing, hearing, ASL, cued speech, aural, Spoken English, ESOL, deaf schools of all sorts and the mainstream). Cry a river but don’t forget that according to history that both deaf and hearing have failed the deaf even before economic recessions and this will continue for long time to come as long as numerous state schools for the deaf are failing and likewise for the mainstream settings. Administrators and teachers are trying their very best but there’s just always something. My views here is in fact independent of the whole debate on Audism which I don’t like either but please put to rest allegations about Audism. Lastly but not the least importantly this is a bipartisan issue! Get a grip on this!
January 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Amy, this isn’t a Deaf schools issue. This is an issue with the general economy.
Actually, you could look at it the other way around and take the interpretation that the schools for the Deaf are much more stable and on firm budgetary grounds than other state agencies.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Sweetmind, I believe you have made a constructive suggestion: use the Civil Rights argument for keeping our schools for the deaf. Let’s explore that further.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
[...] Zena
January 29th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Sweetmind,
It has nothing to do with Audism. It’s the economy, smarty!
January 29th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Thank you , Dianez. I appreciate your support and understandings. This is my plan to post my new post topic in DeafNotes soon after I am done with my several writing as I am working on it for few days.
One confrontation comment of mine was already removed by ehealth.com recently that relates to Sensitivity and noise that makes hearing people angrily, anxiety, miserable and many mores as they complained about their own hearing. How 258! They took my freedom of speech away and their own censorship that they do not want you to know what I had to say in a very honest confrontation.
They are hiding the truth that I KNEW THE ANSWER already. 
The problem is Audism and Deafism’s negative and nasty audist attitude do not want to change that I am not happy about that. I want to change for the whole truth to put on our documents for our Deaf children’s Rights to be served and protected in their future. It s very important to have Deaf American’s Civil Rights for a change. ADA is NOT applied to us, most of deafies in this America very much and other countries that doesnt have one. It doenst work out since Hearing people get away with it so many times after all we battle with the same old cycles to be repeated that needs to be stopped those abuses our Deaf Rights.
Let’s work together as Teamwork!
Be proud of who you are as being deaf. It s okay for us to live in this society and have the rights to deal with our Deaf natural abilities before anyone can change you for a very wrong reason. It’s for them not us which it s not appropriate to have their control of our mind, soul, and body at all. That is when, how , what it causes of our Deaf Mental Health by Medical professionals and Audism’s nasty attitude to make more scams.. Wake up! This is not a choice that Deaf babies/children had in our Deaf life if you care to see the truth.
Have a wonderful day!
DeafSweetMind
PS: Brain Riley, you got the answer from your last sentence..Thats the whole thing they dont realize that they will have to spend more on Deaf accessories in each classrooms in every school district.
Hearing devices is wasting of our time and money by our taxpayers who doesn’t know any better after all we do not hear/understand everything in spoken languages.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
oh pls tell President Obama help deaf school stay open maybe he will put new law for can’t close deaf school period
January 29th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Sweet Mind,
You are absolutely right about the costly approach to the mainstreamed deaf education with terps and other stuff.
BR just give us the friendly reminder that the American economy affect nearly everyone. That is the truth!
RLM
January 30th, 2009 at 4:54 am
St. Louis could see closing of over one-third of its schools (hearing public schools and plus one Deaf school: Gallaudet School for the Deaf). Gallaudet School for the Deaf will move to other elementary public school. go read that link:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/C749CC4538E0380E8625754E001788D0?OpenDocument
January 30th, 2009 at 6:50 am
There are people in the global-thinking mainstream who asks deaf people if they’re in favor of “separate but equal” doctrine. At least more often than not deaf people would resent “separate but equal” only to be ambushed by the global mainstream at the suggestion that deaf schools constitute as separate but equal (in theory but never, really) doctrine as far as education goes.
The difference needs not based on audiological needs but rather that of language (and, to a widespread extent, remedial academic) needs. Too few deaf schools are practicing widespread ASL in the classrooms and beyond.
Now that begs the question: should deaf schools be renamed as ASL Schools and admit hearing pupils? That’s the idea thrown around by James E. Tucker, Superintendent of the state-run Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) which has two facilities–Frederick and Columbia. This caused an uproar complemented by few fans with their own reasons. How in the world did this idea come about? Declining enrollments. If MSD goes that route they’ll be summarily rendered ineligible for deaf-school competition and those purely mythical national deaf schools sports titles. Taxpayers will be paying for what is a language-based luxury taken advantage by hearing people. Lots of precedent (some conflicting) to be shattered beyond repair and recognition. Think about that.
Relocation is what some deaf schools needs to do. Swallow historical sentiment (especially facilities such as Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf in Wilson and the majestic North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton merging in favor of modernity in Greensboro (what do you think of this idea?) and the original campus of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia which had to be sold) — all of this just for sake of continued opportunities for the deaf to be educated in separate but equal (at least in theory) doctrine.
You need to understand that according to some DEAF (and hearing alike) folks who are religious Christians these budgetary tragedies (and scandals exposed) amount to mere elements of the last days (hence not fighting anymore) before the second coming of Christ. They’re very much resigned. Most sad but true.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I need to add that there were other reasons behind the mid-1980s closure of the high school department at the original Mt. Airy campus of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. At that time the hugely majestic campus was sold to a small college, a a seminary or something to effect. This wasn’t an accurate example behind the moving for said reason in my previous entry but you can imagine the original school resorting to such decisions and moving to mid-Pennsylvania. Schools in central locations tends to fare well on a consistent basis. Think Indianapolis in central Indiana.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Robert Alfred Hawkins’ comments make sense to me.
We have to look at HARD facts and take a step back and to look at a BIGGER picture, which is not easy I am aware of it.
I don’t need to say anymore.
January 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Brian Riley made the point about the general economy, we are all facing economy meltdown since last year until to now due to new president and other political reasons. They(government, high men, etc) are afraid so therefore they quickly pull the economical plug so we all go down the drain just to save their own skin!
When things goes wild, people jump for good excuses to pullout “unnessary” stuff or get rid of “unimportant” things or people. We were unlucky because we are like a group of peanut which has been tosed to the sea. The only way we HAVE TO be like a thorn to their side, we must keep poking to remind them not to forget us, Deaf people. We will always fight until next generation and to the next after this. It’s like grasp for a wind and it’s all vainty, history repeated itselfs. One or another, we will (maybe) never resolve the on-going crisis – life is truly complicating!
January 30th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Closed Deaf schools? mmmmmmmmm. Lets looks back in depression time. Did any Deaf schools closed during depression time? I don’t think so. Cut budget, yeah. Staffs willing earn little money to stay and work for Deaf school. They have a good heart, Now we are in recession now, not yet depression, not gonna happen cuz we have social security, back then (depression, don’t have social security. Cut budget alot, yes closed no, If close each state will get lots of trouble for not provided Deaf’s education and their rights. Am surprise about few Deaf school closed few years back. Hope Deaf people and parents are fighting back for their rights to education in Deaf School environmental.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Oh, forgot to tell you, as you know former supt of Aalabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Dr. Hawkins, who is now president of Troy State University, is thinking about running Alabama governor. He love AIDB very much, he know how to get money and keep AIDB growing. But Troy State offer him that he can not refused but he still keep in touch with AIDB anyway to keep AIDB running. Troy state now offer BA degree (4 years) in interpreting program. Am gonna vote him because he will do anything to keep AIDB running smoothing and will not cut budgets. So I hope he will win election next year.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:54 am
The success of AIDB is attributed to fiscal conservatism, real-world smarts best achieved with common sense and highest degrees of ethics. Foundations and all helps AIDB lots. Talladega International (NASCAR race) benefits AIDB lots. Their programs and outreach reaches statewide are strong. The key is administrators have smart acumen and networking within state legislature. They don’t need to stoop low and exploit loopholes and hire friends with deaf children for positions. This begs me a question: how many deaf individuals in history headed ASD within AIDB let alone AIDB, if any? I know for a fact some deaf at ASD feels that more deaf administrators, faculty and staff is needed. AIDB is unique in its own right.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
One told me 4.4 million, 90 positions cut at AIDB. It needs to be pointed out that’s expected considering the vast AIDB empire spanning all over the state serving both deaf and blind.
Some services are in fact loss leaders after taking in account of resources spent to train and place blind and deaf for employment at school-based industries as well as beyond even after they finish high school.
You might be surprised at the depth and breadth their annual fiscal budget and what percentage 4.4 million amounts to in this difficult time I believe AIDB will overcome in due time for reasons indicated in my previous posting.
According to research and using 2002-03 as a baseline it’s my estimate that AIDB receives at least $35 million per fiscal year in which about 60% comes from state and 40% from federal and local funds. If it’s 44 million then 4.4 million amounts to 10%. I’m horrible at math but that’s food for thought.
Because of the massive nature of AIDB the cost-cutting breakdown is shown in the newspaper article online. I really feel bad for the 90 including 16 at ASD.
http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2009/dh-talladega-0117-bfincher-9a16w0240.htm
January 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hello Robert,
Your research skills are proven valuable, and it helps to put us in the perspective of AIDB’s excellent management and fiscal capacity, and it is amazing how they operate on approximately 44 million dollars a year, compared to other schools’ smaller annual budget figures.
Keep coming back and make valuable contributions. There are readers who would be so interested in reading your comments. They are proven valuable!
Thank you so much,
Amy Cohen Efron
January 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
ABCDE-
Thank you for continuing to report on this issue, and bringing pressure on the community to act. I have long suspected that the bad economic conditions will eventually waft its insidous odor into Deaf schools nationwide.
It’s a uphill battle; technically, Deaf Schools violate the spirit (if not the law) of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) as outlined in the IDEA statutory law framework, and would be vulnerable to permanent closure.
FSD recognized this, and managed to amend a state law regarding educational choice in their favor; Fla. Statutes K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1002(6)(a). This way, they ’sidestep’ the thorny issues surrounding LRE in educating Deaf students.
It’s up to the local communities to rally support for their Deaf schools, outline the benefits of having one, and lobbying the state legislators in ensuring that these schools remain open.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Here’s a link; (BTW, its Chapter 1002.20, not 1002. My bad.)
2008->Ch1002->Section%2020#1002.20″>Chapter 1002.20
Scroll down to find (6)(a) or use the Find function on your search browser; you’ll find FSD in the school choice statute. This could serve as model for other Deaf schools?
January 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I’m opposed against anything put in writing whether it be charters, statutes and law that supports permanent existence of deaf schools and it’s ancillary facilities. Why? Existence must be earned on a periodic basis. Annually if you just have to. Complacency is the real problem at deaf schools run by deaf and hearing alike.
January 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
IngeJean, Good one! We Deaf people are always placed last as usual. That makes me sick to my stomach for so many years and it has not healed yet. It probably won’t heal until I die. We Deaf people were and are heroes and die with the bitter feelings as usual. Sighs!
Sighs! Now comes the truth that three parties abolish our Deaf schools in America. Also, NAD has done nothing for so many years that is why I stood up in my own “wipe out blog” and share with you about Deaf American Civil Rights that was by hearing/Audism/Medical/Government who doesn’t want you to know what I knew all along.
Thank you, People for always accusing me of giving out the misinformation or misconceptions. “Scoffs” at Deafism, CIers and Audists with nasty/rude/ignorant attitudes.
There’s a huge CENSORSHIP from alldeaf, deafonline, some hearing /deaf blogs, and in DeafRead. HOW INTERESTING you let it happen after I TOLD THE TRUTH! I hope you ll be very happy. I doubt it will make you happy since we do not have Deaf civil rights all along. Sighs!
RLM – right on, Where are these ASL interpreters like back in the 1970s that used to mingle and hang around with us? That is how they become fluent in ASL and understand the concept of our Visual language and body language and many more.
There is a real shortage of ASL interpreters. Believe it or not! That is real scary for those Deaf babies/children’s basic needs.
RAH – Nothing new comes from you again as of i am speaking of the first comment he stated. Sighs! You don’t see what I saw in my own Deaf eyes since you are very deaf and don’t speak spoken language that I DID all along in the past if you mind. Classrooms should not be required to have the oral/listening restriction for Deaf babies/children who do not hear/understand the spoken language. There is no need to have the artificial languages that relates to spoken languages for us to listen into our Deaf community.
If you are willing to read (listen) the truth that comes from me and many deafies who complained about their not able to understand by spoken languages itself. BI-BI languages is the answer to have the equal access between ASL and English not by our Deaf ears.
This the whole thing makes me sick after all those nasty abuse I received for ten years so you knew I was honest all along.. Thank you so much for having those hate crimes into our Deaf community. I knew the truth from the bottom of my heart without having the evidence all along.. So people were asking us to prove it then they still refused to open their minds.
Remember the topic of “EVIDENCE OF BEING DEAF WITH HEARING AID DEVICE” now it s EVIDENCE OF BEING DEAF WITH BOTH HA AND CI DEVICE that are no differences between both devices. SO BE IT. We are not latened deaf from the start that is more complex dishonest by CI companies. MIND YOU! Thank you, (audist attitude people) for destroying my strongest topic discussion about Evidence of being deaf with any devices.
For your info, ehealthy put back my comment in their hearing health forums now.
This is for the parent of Deaf children who should read the important issue about Mental Health- Anxiety Stress forum –> Sensitivity and Noise for their kids that should not be force to have ha or CI devices by Medical/audiologists/Audism at first place. It’s harmful to our Deaf Mental Health and ears all along.
GOOD BYE! You win but you won’t win at all when Audism are still around to control and damage you, your mind, soul, and body that should be forbidden overstep our boundary lines. No Deaf civil rights around the world for Deaf people.
Thanks a lot for not support our Deaf rights from the start.
DeafSweetMind
February 5th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Losing deaf school is not the end of the world. We all knew the change is coming. Heck even the new President said the change is coming and we will have to face it.
Embrace the new change. Maybe something better will come for us in deaf world. It is life after all. We are not only suffering here, hearing people are suffering too.
It is called LIFE.
Wendy
March 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I am a hearing father of a deaf child and I am living this problem.
The deaf of hearing kids have almost no chance because the AMA is pushing implants as soon as the kids are born. The hearing parents do not understand Deaf. The HLAA is super organized and on the board of every government run deaf organization. HLAA and AGBELL are militantly anti ASL and the governments agree. I have been touring the country looking for deaf schools with NEW enrollment an I find that three to five first graders is the average. Five new kids cant keep a 50 or 100 acre school open. Meanwhile you run into Deafism at most of the larger schools. Maryland, Kendall,Indiana, and Ohio are voice off making them even more alien to the hearing parents. I am an exception because my CODA wife has educated me and I understand.
So you have a weakly organized group of deaf organizations not keeping up with the times against
powerful organizations who hate and fear ASL. I know that Bell and the HLAA are wrong and maybe evil but the deaf people need to keep up with the times if they want to survive as a group of any size.
My very smart bicultural wife has suggested that the deaf schools offer the auditory education and bring in more implant kids. These kids arent different, They are Deaf with a capital D. Given the opportunity they will be talking AND signing like the wind. This will really help with enrollment at the remaining schools but the “strong deaf” people are going to have to accept them and not tell them blah blah blah
shut it off.
My boy is severe to profound with big BTE’s And he can slip in and out of ASL, voice, pidgin and total communication easily. And he has two voice off grandparents and lots of strong deaf people around him. He loves sign but he also loves using his words.
He is only seven but he understands. On a recent visit to ISD some of the kids asked if he was hard of hearing but soon Joe figured it out and it was fun to watch him sign voice off to a child with no hearing aids and then turn and “say and sign” to a child he knew was wearing an implant.
Joe has the right idea. The deaf community must start accepting all the deaf children and begin to embrace the total communication method. Thats what Florida school for the deaf is doing and I think they are right.
Remember that I am talking about deaf education here.
I understand that “say and sign” is annoying and I certainly don,t want to interfere with deaf people conversing beautifully in their native language. What I want to do is preserve it. For years I have been watching Deaf of Deaf Wave the problem away. We will always have sign, let the government do what they want. What I see are powerful groups attacking your right to have that language and every deaf child that grows up with no sign weakens your community. And please understand that that is the very community that I want for my son and the same community that he chooses to grow into. I could write a book on this topic. Instead I will leave you with a few thoughts.
First The HLAA and AMA will never back down. Like it or not you must compete with them for ALL the deaf kids. Second try to understand that all the deaf people are going to end up in enclaves like Silver Ridge Maryland. Maybe “Deaftown” sounds like a good idea but its nice to have a choice. Right now the choices are few and in the last couple of months about half a dozen were eliminated. You have to move to Maryland, Florida, Indiana, or Texas if you want Your Deaf first grader to have more than two friends.
Third, Please think about these ideas before you blast me. Then let me have it because I promise to read every word. I really want to know what you think.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Pete s saying in his own quote statement that is “Given the opportunity they will be talking AND signing like the wind.”
I have said it frequently about SIGN “or” SPEAK not SIGN “and” SPEAK at the same time that is not gonna to work for our true expression in ASL because it s not spoken language to relate our visual language. That is not total communication as people thinks from the past so it failed us all along.. Sorry I dont agree with “and between sign and speak at the same time.. No way jose that is going to work. Do it in speech therapy not in BI BI language classroom
Thank you! . Sighs
Deaf SweetMind
July 19th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I wish we could go to Washington, D.C. and talk to President Barack Obama to discuss about our rights to save the deaf schools. We should go there. Please contact me at planelady43@hotmail.com. I am a deaf woman who graduated from Indiana School for the Deaf.