Editorial

EDITORIAL New Program to Treat Substance Abuse Substance abuse is a significant problem among deaf people just as it is among the hearing. Unfortunately for the deaf person needing help with addiction resources have been few and far between. Programs exist here and there, but none have ever offered a full range of services including outpatient care, intervention, peer support, detoxification , family services, inpatient treatment, etc. Nor has there been developed a model program to treat substance abuse which, if it proved successful, could be adapted for use with deaf abusers in other states. Michigan, which is already a leader in terms of what it does for deaf adults, is now beginning such a program. Conceptualized by Don Brown and the staff of Social Services for the Hearing Impaired and the heads of the state's regular Substance Abuse Program, the model will provide a full range of services to deaf people throughout Michigan who have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Data on this program is available from Don Brown, 302 E. Court Street, Flint, Michigan 48502. Residential Treatment Facilities Additional good news on the mental health front relates to residential care for children. Along with the Hawthorne Center in Michigan, the Hillside Childrens' Center in Rochester, New York is now completing approximately three years of residential mental health service to deaf children . Although both Hillside and Hawthorne have a strong clinical orientation, we look to these excellent programs for some research and/or results of their clinical work. Steve Barrett Heads Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) The recent naming of Steve Barrett as Director of HKNC fills this key position in deaf-blindness with a leader who has an in-depth first hand knowledge of the needs of deafblind people. It is a difficult responsibility, but one which Barrett has the knowledge and experience to fulfull. A lot of what will happen to deaf-blind adults in the future will depend directly upon Barrett's efforts. Harlan Lane's Views Dr. Lane, an articulate spokesman and outstanding scholar in the field of deafness, recently addressed the British Deaf Association on the socio-educational impact of mainstreaming. In essence, Dr. Lane's position is that mainstreaming is an educational disaster. He encourages more emphasis on residential education and the use of American Sign Language as the vernacular of the classroom and total school. Dr. Lane's position is obviously controversial and counter to current trends. However, his is a sophisticated rationale which is enlisting increasing support from psycholinguists and from the deaf community. The concepts of bilingualism deserve to be tested experimentally based on what we know of the success of deaf children of deaf parents, almost all of whom are bilingual. McCay Vernon, Ph.D. Editor A. A.D. I July 1987 185 ...