Letter to The Oregonian

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March 21, 2007

The Oregonian Portland, Oregon

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) in response to the March 7, 2007 article entitled "Schools for the deaf, blind considering a merger". There are several statements and concepts in this article that we would like to address.

It is a fact that many schools for deaf and hard of hearing students around the country have a very stable student population and several even have growing populations. In these states, where deafness is recognized as a low incidence population with highly specific educational needs, schools for the deaf are valued for the collective services and expertise they alone can provide to their students.

A number of states have recognized the potential and experience of these special schools and have delegated additional or expanded responsibilities to them such as programs that provide state-wide services for the 0 to 5 year old population, extensive summer programs for deaf and hard of hearing children and their families from throughout their state, and outreach programs for teacher education and support. The article mentions schools which have closed…however, the Michigan School for the Deaf is very much alive and well and enjoying renewed state support for their program. While it is true that one of the three special schools for the deaf in North Carolina has closed, the state has continued to support its two remaining schools with vigor.

There are many states that take IDEA's requirement for a full continuum of educational placements seriously and understand the unique language and communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children. They understand and are committed to the deaf child’s need for fully accessible communication. They work collaboratively with local, state and national professionals in the field of deaf education to ensure that every deaf child has every advantage in their educational program. Oregon apparently is not one of these states. It appears that the Oregon Department of Education has not appreciated the value of the Oregon School for the Deaf and its ability to meet the educational needs of deaf children in Oregon.

The proposed legislation (SB 757) to change the school's governance might well be the right approach to guarantee children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families a viable educational option in Oregon. This type of governance arrangement has been long established and continues to work very well in many states. It can and will improve the availability and quality of education of deaf children in Oregon. This, in the final analysis, is what we are all working towards.

Sincerely yours,

James E. Tucker President, CEASD (www.ceasd.org) Superintendent, Maryland School for the Deaf

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