Editorial

EDITORIAL Thoughts on Legal Advocacy, National Commission, Parental Rights and Gallaudet University In an era when funds for deaf children and adults are being cut back and equal opportunity legislation is being undermined, we are increasingly in debt to the Law Center for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf Legal Defense Fund. Through their efforts in the courts, gains are being made in mental health, interpreting, criminal justice, education and other fields. Without this legal advocacy the advances made by deaf people during the late 60's and 70's and the policies in effect since 1980 would have been wiped out. On a different note, The National Commission on Education of the Deaf gives hope for the development of a meaningful direction to our country's deafness-related services. The Commission was established under the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986. Its government-appointed members are competent and able to effectively conceptualize the issues and determine how to structure programs to meet needs. The question unanswered is whether or not the Commission 's recommendations, due in February 1988, will be implemented or just left on the shelf. Will the recommendations be judged on merit or on their agreement with current governmental interpretations of PL94-142? Another issue is the extent to which the Commission will represent deaf-blind people. Will they once again be left out? No deaf-blind person or professional from this field serves on the Commission. Parents' Rights Public education in the United States has been structured as a monopoly. Parents lacking the financial wherewithal for private schools or a mode to another school district have little or no choice about the school their child attends regardless of the quality of its programs. Local schools, no matter how deficient they might be, have a monopoly. Parents ' only avenue to improve their local schools is to petition the school board. Suppose these schools were stores, repeatedly selling inferior merchandise and our only recourse was an indirect appeal to its Board of Directors. Obviously , inferior merchandise would become the rule, not the exception. The current interpretation of PL94-142 eliminates competition , establishes a monopoly and takes away the rights of parents of deaf children. Instead of letting parents choose from among day program, residential schools and mainstream classes, an increasing number of states are giving full control to the local school. Only when the local school refers a deaf student to a residential school is the pupil permitted to transfer. Thus, deaf youth are often locked into inadequate local programs and denied access to superior day or residential schools, which their parents' tax dollars support. Pennsylvania and many other states currently require a referral from the local school before a student can change enrollment . Gallaudet University Gallaudet College has advanced to University status. This milestone in the education of the deaf is the result of visionary progressive action by Gallaudet's President, Dr. Jerry C. Lee, and key leadership on the part of the Board of Trustees. This achievement, and the revitalization of Gallaudet 's sports program have instilled new pride in the students who are tomorrow's deaf leaders. Much remains to be accomplished in challenging students academically and in demanding the excellence of which they are capable. However, significant progress has been made. Congratulations , Gallaudet University! McCay Vernon, Ph. D Editor A.A.O. I March 1987 ...