Introduction

Introduction For more than a century, in odd-numbered years, the Conference of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf, founded in 1868, and the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf, founded in 1850, have been conducting joint meetings to meet the needs of their professional constituencies. Over the years, these meetings have been held by invitation of host schools and programs in all regions of the country. Teachers, administrators, support services personnel and friends and advocates of the deaf have long considered these joint biennial meetings to be among the most important and beneficial professional experiences available in the field of education of the deaf. These meetings have been steeped in tradition and rich in information and knowledge valuable to our profession. The 1987 biennial meeting of the two "sister" organizations was hosted by the New Mexico School for the Deaf in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of its founding. The founder was a young deaf man, Lars Larson, a graduate of Gallaudet College and a man with abiding vision and deep confidence in the future of deaf persons in the territory that was still some years from becoming a State in the Union. The courage and vision of Lars Larson typify the compelling virtues that have characterized educators of the deaf, many who have been deaf themselves, since the days of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. It was a fitting tribute to Lars Larson and the scores of teachers, administrators, alumni, parents and friends of the School who have upheld the ideals he inspired for a century. This special report is dedicated to the memory of Lars Larson and other pioneers of yesteryear who laid the foundation for the first special education system serving the deaf in the world. The CEASD program at Santa Fe departed from the traditional integrated program format of past years. The year 1987 was highlighted by a Congressionally-mandated review and study of education and rehabilitation services and programs for the deaf. For the first time in almost twenty years, oversight of Federally-funded programs occurred and a broad-based review of the status and quality of programs and services throughout the country was conducted by a nationally appointed Commission on Education of the Deaf. The CEASD and other cooperating organizations saw the need for a forum to examine issues and to provide direction to the Commission. That was the primary purpose of the Forum in Santa Fe and the proceedings published in this journal are the results of that epochal conference. The deliberations and recommendations that came out of the meetings in Santa Fe have already been perused by the Commission and they are presented here for the benefit of all who have an interest in the education, welfare and rehabilitation of deaf persons of all ages. In developing the program for the Forum, the CEASD enlisted the cooperation and support of 15 other organizations related to deafness. This was an extraordinary example of mutual support and collaboration to achieve a common goal. The Forum had for its theme, "Meeting at the Crossroads: Charting a Course," and the sense of renewal and perspectives for the future developed were both refreshing and appropriate. The Program Committee was headed by Winfield McChord, President-Elect of the CEASD, and representatives from the 15 collaborating organizations. We owe them a measure of gratitude for having translated "Charting a Course" into reality so beautifully. We are also indebted to Richard G. Brill, Ed.D., superintendent emeritus of the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, for an excellent job of editing the voluminous papers presented at the Forum and compiling them into this report. We also owe a measure of gratitude to Joni Johns, managing editor of the Annals, for the generous donation of her time, energy and gifted expertise that made putting out this special issue possible. The organizations that collaborated with the CEASD in planning and conducting the Forum are: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf; American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association; American Society for Deaf Children; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Association of Canadian Educators of the Hearing Impaired; Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf; Council for Exceptional Children; Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; Council...