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

48. No Choice, Mainstreamed in 1994

291 48 No Choice, Mainstreamed in 1994 Amy I was not mainstreamed in my early school years, but I was when I was a student at Western Maryland College and at the University of Maryland. I attended these colleges while working on my master’s degree. Both are regular colleges, primarily for hearing students, so I understand what it’s like to be mainstreamed, as well as to attend classes just for Deaf students. Was it easy for me to learn in classes with the help of interpreters? I will say it was an interesting experience for me. I was the only Deaf student in the entire hearing class at the University of Maryland, but I was so focused on my interpreter for the entire class, I often forgot there were other people in the classroom. Learning with an interpreter is difficult, because sometimes the interpreter’s signs do not keep pace with what teacher and classmates are saying. Sometimes, I could not identify who was talking if two people were talking at the same time. I just got the information of what they were saying from the interpreter, but not who was talking. Also, shifting words from English to ASL is not always easy. By the end of first day of class, I felt my eyeballs would pop out from sockets due to staring at the interpreter for hours and hours. Focusing through an interpreter Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 291 6/27/2012 10:37:50 AM 292 Amy Signs was difficult for me as an adult; I can only imagine how hard this would be for a child. At Western Maryland College, some of the classes I took were taught by Deaf professors and others by hearing professors that required interpreters. That meant I could sign and not have to be 100 percent focused on interpreters. A nice break for my eyes! I look back and wonder, if I had not attended NSD, but was mainstreamed into public schools in my home, which had big schools, I’m sure I would have felt so lost and lonely. As an adult, being mainstreamed, these feelings were not so strong, because I had many Deaf friends I could see when not in class. But as a kid being mainstreamed , trying to make friends and be in school activities that would have been very difficult. Mainstreaming may not be the best choice for every deaf student, some might succeed and some fail, but as for me, I would prefer that every deaf student to be send to Deaf school. Why? Socialization. This is the major part of life that many mainstreamed students miss. When mainstreaming deaf children in a regular school, it can be either for better or worse. It depends on what and how the school district provides for each deaf child. In big cities, the deaf may all be put in one public school where they can socialize with each other and the education may be good. In small or rural cities, due to lack of interpreters or the teacher’s experience as a deaf educator, the deaf child may not receive good education. Not only that, the worst is the deaf child’s lack of social life. It is possible the deaf child might be the only deaf person in the whole public school. Most former mainstreamed students who are adults now that I know, have told me they regret or wish they had attended a Deaf school. For some that decision was made by their parents; in other cases the deaf person chose to be mainstreamed. The mainstreamed students I know lack experiences in social life skills, athletics, and participation in organizations. At NSD, I was able to be part of all the activities. Most mainstreamed Deaf students can’t accomplish this. Many hearing parents are not aware their deaf child has an inner desire to be part of Deaf culture, the Deaf community , and use ASL. Amy Signs Main Pgs 1-320.indd 292 6/27/2012 10:37:50 AM No Choice, Mainstreamed in 1994 293 For example, at Gallaudet, during homecoming, we had a spirit week that included many activities. Students who had attended Deaf schools were aware of this, because that was something we did at Deaf school. During spirit week, many mainstreamed students were not aware of the activities and didn’t understand why it’s important...