Amy Signs: A Mother, Her Daughter, and their Stories

31. Mainstreaming, Not for Me

207 31 Mainstreaming, Not for Me Amy You might wonder why I did not want to be mainstreamed at a public school in Grand Island. My parents sent me to NSD, a residential school, when I was four years old, which was the best thing for me. It is something I would have chosen for myself. Why? Because of the language used (ASL), the Deaf culture, and similar peers. After I shouted out at church, “I no want school Grand Island. I want Omaha,” Mother asked me why I felt that way. I said/signed, “At NSD I see deaf adults for role models. No language problem. I understand what is taught, because my teachers use sign in the classrooms . I talk through sign to all the other students. If I go to school here, I cannot sign to other students and teachers.” “Would you be happier if you could be home every night?”Mother asked. “Well, sometimes yes and no,” I said. “I like home with you, John, and Kitty, but have no friends here. All my friends at NSD. Who would talk to me at lunch? I do not want to be alone all the time, like in dance class. No one talked to me. Can I be Girl Scout here?” “I don’t know,” Mother said. “I’m most worried about the quality of your education. Also the schools have no TTY telephones. You could not call me if you had an emergency.” “What if the building has fire? I will die. No lights for me to know there is fire. Do you want me dead?” I asked. Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 207 6/27/2012 10:37:46 AM 208 Amy Signs “Of course not.”Mother shook her head because my question was stupid. “NSD has flashing lights for fire alarm,” I said. “I know,” Mother said. “I will tell you a funny story. The school administration has random fire drills throughout the year, to make sure we all know what to do during an emergency. My teacher, who is hearing, was teaching basic anatomy on how body functions. All of a sudden, the room and the whole primary building had flashing strobe lights in the rooms and halls. My classmates and I knew what it was, but our teacher did not. “She asked, ‘What is that?’ “At that moment, it was like my classmates and I had telepathy. We decided to dance, and told her, ‘It means play time.’ “Another teacher came by our room and said, ‘Get out of the building. This is a fire drill.’ “We knew that of course, but our teacher didn’t. Her face was so red like a dark apple, because she was embarrassed. Later she had the best laugh of her life. The next time, we had a fire alarm drill, our teacher smirked when we tried to dance and forced us out of the room toward the outside. Lights for alarms are part of Deaf culture. I will never know what is happening at public school here.” Mother said, “I’m not worried about a fire. I’m sure your teacher would tell you to leave, or you could follow the class, but I am worried about the quality of your teachers. I don’t think any know sign. If they do, they are probably worse than me.” Mother smiled. “Oh, no. Worse than you. I never learn anything. I want to stay at NSD forever where friends are.” “I want you at NSD, too,”Mother said,“but the law says you must go to school in Grand Island.” “I do not want law. I stay at NSD with friends and teachers who sign. Law is crazy for me. Just tell them no.”I snapped my index and middle fingers against my thumb several times. “No, no, no.” “I will try, Amy,” Mother said. She looked worried. Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 208 6/27/2012 10:37:46 AM ...