This just made me ill. . .

[JenVanderVeen]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, since I've never posted on this board before, but I just read a news story that has me spitting mad. On abcnews.com, it is reported that a NJ school district has banned a hearing impaired girl from using sign language on the bus to and from school. The school board cites safety concerns caused by other children leaving their seats on the bus to tease this young lady. Can you believe the gall of these people????

Jen VanderVeen

 

[teri]

That is totally AGAINST THE LAW!!!!!!!! They can't do that!!!????!!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!
Oh, man, are they going to have a lawsuit on their hands now!

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teri@iluvdisney.com

 

[BuckeyeBelle]

I have a related concern about my son's preschool... Today they went on a field trip using bus transportation, but they scheduled a bus which didn't have car seats. My son NEEDS a car seat, as do several other kids, therefore my son and those kids could not go! They all had to miss both the field trip *and* a day of school because if it. I am a little (OK, a lot) steamed but haven't said anything because I'm not sure what is legal and what isn't. Is this discrimination? To whom should I raise this complaint?

P.S. I'll bet the NJ situation will be resolved VERY quickly - that surely is VERY illegal! Sounds like the School Board needs better counsel, or at least some common sense!

 

[mickey'sbud]

I can't quote it...but if your child is under an IEP, I think this would be a violation in regards to access. That is access to the activities that non-disabled children do. You'd need someone who can give you more information on this. So many things have loop-holes. That situation was not fair to your child. Good Luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Those situations should make people ill. The problem is that the parents of the children with disabilities are often not aware of their rights, so they don't realize they have any recourse. And, they are used to getting crumbs, so many don't expect more than that.
Here's a link to some places that can help:
Link to Minnesota Pacer Center. PACER stands for Parent Advocacy Center for Education Rights. This link is for the Minnesota one, but each state has a similar organization (part of the IDEA law.
National Listing of Parent Information and Training Centers.
E

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES

 

[Wheelsie]

this absolutely hysterical!! (not the story thats sad)...but that I was JUST about to post concerning this as I just read it online myself

Can you believe the nerve of people...instead of getting the kids that were making fun of her and her friends for using sign...getting onto her FOR USING IT!!! she is deaf!!! Geez....I guess it just goes to show that people that don't live it everyday as well all do just dont get it

Wheelsie Co-Moderator of disABILITIES
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[LindaDVC]

I heard a story on the news about this.
What I heard (don't know the actual facts)
is that several deaf people were shot when observed using signs by a gang member.
The report said gangs now are using signs to communicate and when they saw the deaf folks using sign language they assummed they were from the alternative gang and they were shot.

The reporter stated that the school system wanted all students safe so said no signing! It is a terrible situation. I was telling this story at work yesterday and all the therapists were upset about it!

Linda

 

[SueM in MN]

Here'a link to the origianl story from ABC nesw.com:
Sign language ban imposed on N.J. girl
I couldn't find a recent story talking about any gang killings related to sign language, but it sounds like signing in a school bus would be a lot differnt than signing out in a city street.
I know there have been killings and beatings related to sign language. In one situation that happened about 5 years ago in St. Paul, a deaf man on a city bus was seen signing to a friend by some gang members. When he got off the bus, they followed him and beat him up because they thought he was ignoring them and flashing rival gang signs at them. He ended up blind and with a head injury. There was also a story on CSI on Thursday about a deaf man who was beaten and killed because some teens wanted him to buy them bear and they thought he was ignoring and making fun of them when couldn't hear them and then signed to them.

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES

 

[Wes]

Here is another link to a briefer Asscociated Press article (<a href="http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=NATIONAL&STORYID=APIS7BERV880">http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=NATIONAL&STORYID=APIS7BERV880</a>).

I keep looking for the school board to at least offer something more than the vague "Sign language, or any behavior, is not permitted if it is going to cause a disturbance on the bus". But for some reason that is all the school board chooses to say about it.

This leaves me wondering how they think using sign language can "cause" a disturbance. I doubt that the girl's intent when she uses sign language is to cause a disturbance -- and even if it was, I don't see how she alone could succeed in causing a disturbance simply by using sign language.

It appears more and more that the CAUSE is not the sign language but the reaction to it by other students, but I just cannot tell from the articles. And the school board is certainly not helping to clarify it.

 

[Wheelsie]

the way I am to understand it...is that there were some hearing kids that were making fun the the signing kids and THAT was what was causing the disturbance to the driver....

IMHO...the disturbing kids shoulda got into trouble not the young lady that needs it to communicate with others

Wheelsie Co-Moderator of disABILITIES
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[SueM in MN]

I also don't understand how sign language can cause a disturbance on the bus. If other kids are causing a disturbance because some people are signing, then do something about their reaction, not the signing. And if the driver is freaked out by the signing and that's what the problem is, then they need a different driver.
This story doesn't make sense. =

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES

 

[Wheelsie]

well if the other story s right about the gangs signing and the kids were making fun of the girl...I can see a disturbance being made..but I still think the girl is not at fault how is she to know that gangs use ASL??? she uses it just to get thru a day at school and have fun w her friends

Wheelsie Co-Moderator of disABILITIES
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**********
wheelsie@mail.wdwinfo.com

 

[SueM in MN]

Wheelsie, you don't watch enough rap videos.
The problems with gangs is that they don't know that ASL exists. They make hand motions (they call it flashing signs) that identify their gang to each other and to their enemies. When they see someone using AS L, they assume it is an enemy gang member making signs at them. When the deaf person doesn't answer them, they assume they are being "dissed" and they react accordingly.

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES
o

 

[Wheelsie]

LOL Sue actually I did know that as I live around the inner city of my town true I dont watch rap vidoes (cringe) but you see enuff off it round my neighbourhood to know whats going on...

Id just assumed from what I was reading that the gangs were using ASL as well as their own made up junk

Wheelsie Co-Moderator of disABILITIES
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**********
wheelsie@mail.wdwinfo.com

 

[JudySue]

Let's see if I understand this correctly.

The young lady uses ASL to communicate.

Gangs us "signs" to identify themselves.

Gangs get angry when they don't understand someting they don't understand.

ASL can't be used, because gangs may shoot the user.

The authorities solution is to stop the use of ASL.

I think there's a problem here.

As a quick sulution the school board can put "one way" windows on the school bussus.

But I'd really like a better solution. I's getting hard to believe this is really the 21st century.

Hope this makes some sense. I'm just sitting here fumming!

 

[lisapooh]

This incident was discussed widely at the conference I was at this weekend in Orlando, It was a Deaf Studies Conference and many deaf and hard of hearing were there. There weer several from NJ and are very angry about the situation, A petition was circulated and is being sent to the father of the child to give to the principal, Of course it is coming from the Deaf Community that were at this conference from all over the US and several from outside the US,
BTW the conference was sponsored by Gallaudet University and had many new ideas on educating the deaf as well. The situation in New Jersey was just a side topic that was brought up.

I also meet the interpreter in charge of interpreting at Disney and was able to discuss a few problems I have had as a hard of hearing guest and some that weer brought up here with him. He was very interested and will work towards resolving these things. His name is Mark.

Pooh Bear

 

[Mskanga]

The kids that made fun of her should be banned , not the girl for using sign language.
I really hope the parents sue their butts , this is so very sad!! What goes around , comes around!