Alliance for Deaf Education Now

Check this out:  http://www.wfdcongress.org/video/esp/wfd.wmv

This is why we are so passionate about sign language.  Deaf people from different countries have their own sign language.  British Sign Language (BSL), Italian Sign Language or Lingua Italiana dei Segni (LIS), and Costa Ricans' Lengua de Senas de Costarricanese (LESCO) to name a few. 

Despite efforts to eradicate sign language, Deaf people have carried on their language throughout the centuries.  Until 1965, Sign Language has been viewed as the "monkey language."  Dr. William Stokoe took upon himself to prove that ASL is indeed a language in its own right, natural and autonomous.  He succeed and now it is among the most studied language within the linguistic community. 

Now is the time for us to take upon ourself and fight to ensure that ASL has a permanent place within the Deaf Education.  To ensure that each and every employee working with Deaf students are evaluated via ASLPI (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview) prior to appointment.

The premise is simple: When ASL is being compromised, a Deaf child has been denied an education.

ATTN:            Parents of Deaf Students in Detroit Public Schools

                        Deaf Graduates of Detroit Public Schools and DDSD

                        Concerned Deaf Community Members

 

Generation after generation the Detroit Public School system has failed to provide appropriate services and quality education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

 

Enough is Enough

 

We the members of the Deaf Community, DDSD graduates, and Parents of Deaf Children within the Detroit School District have joined together towards the purpose of fixing the problems that plague Detroit Day School for the Deaf and the varied mainstream Deaf Education programs. The Deaf students in DPS have been subjected to a cycle of low educational expectations, horrendous lack of communication skills, and inferior support services. Many of the students remain functionally illiterate after graduation.

 

Enough is Enough

 

The Detroit Day School for the Deaf has recently installed a principal who possesses only minimal skill in Teaching Deaf Students, minimal Sign Language Skills, minimal knowledge of Deaf Culture, and minimal Deaf Education Administration experience. This candidate was selected over at least 2 more experienced Deaf Educators. In addition the school system does not require Administrators, Teachers, Aides or other Paraprofessionals to demonstrate Sign Language proficiency.

 

Enough is Enough

 

The Deaf Education Administrators continue to award contracts for inferior Sign Language Interpreting Services. These services employ people with substandard interpreting skills as well as interpreters who do not show up for assigned classes, leaving the students without any means of communicating in the classroom.

 

Enough is Enough

The Alliance for Deaf Education Now (ADEN) has approached the administration and asked for changes. We need the support of the Deaf Community and Parents of Deaf Children so that the Deaf Education administrators understand… ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

 

We are working to resolve these issues but anticipate we may need to protest before the system improves. If you would like to aid in the protest and support, please post us a note on the blog listed below or call.

         

Leave a Comment at ADEN:  http://aden2005.blog.com or call (313)279-1494 voice*

 

          Sheryl Emery                          Genie Barney                         Dana Hart

            Kenya Lowe                           Randolph Morgan                  Regina Collins

            Deborah Love-Peel*               Calvin Peel                            Karen Baker

            Olivia Roberts                         Joyce Davis                           Dale G. Moore

            Denorval Emery                      Ryan Commerson                  April Stotts

Welcome! The Alliance for Deaf Education Now (ADEN) welcomes you to this weblog where we will share information that will help us gear towards a progressive education for our young Deaf Detroiters. Click on Comments and you will see boxes where you can type in your name or nickname and the message for others to read. Also, look to your right and you can see links to different sources that will help clarify some of the myths that might be encountered throughout the process. Share this with your church, friends, relatives, and fellow parents. We will not stand down. The time is now! The dumbing down of our Deaf youths stops now. Thank you.