deaf students in public class.
I have had a student who was hard of hearing, and had interpreters in class helping him. I treated him like every other student i had in class and didnt cut any corners with him. When he didnt understand me i had help but for the most part as long as i took it slow when i explained stuff to him on a one on one situation. After my class was over he thanked me for treating him the same as everyone else but helping him when needed
Richard ,
That's certainly the right way to approach things. Students with disabilities are more LIKE every other student than they are different -- and that should include both their goals and our expectations for them.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I make it a point to let the Deaf students that are in my class know that they must preform all work as any other student and that I will not treat them in any other way then any other student in any class. This has seemed for me to have the best end results for the student and the class.
Albert,
ABSOLUTELY. Having a disability does not mean that the student will be a good student OR a bad student. How they perform is a function of a great many factors, just as it is for students without disabilities. We don't promise them success, but we won't "protect them" from failure, either.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have had a similar experience and result with a deaf student in my class. Deaf students like all students are individuals. I have also had deaf students, when given the same treatment make little effort and suffer academically. It's all up to the individual.
Antonio,
That's the way it should be! Nice to hear that the college has stepped up to its responsibilities and that deaf students are able to fully participate.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
we have had quite a few Deaf students in our campus with 2 interpreters at a time they get the same treatment as other students and classes run at the same speed as regular classes with regular students , tutoring is made available and students are made feel welcomed to the enviroment .
Eddie,
I would go back and re-explore that issue with whomever is overseeing your program. The reason the interpreter is provided in the classroom is so that the language of the classroom is "available" to the student (that is, the interpreter is providing YOUR explanations in HIS (the student's) words). If the student is not allowed to have/use HIS words in answering your test questions, I would question the usefulness of the assessment. Think about it this way. If you had a student from China who didn't know English, and thus was allowed to have a Chinese interpreter in class with him so that he could understand what was going on, would it make any sense to then test the student in English? An ASL interpreter is not just making standard English "visible" through the signs. The interpreter is providing the information in another language. The student should be able to uses that language throughout. If you would like me to talk to the person overseeing the program, feel free to give her my email address -- JaneJarrow@aol.com.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
He does have an interpreter, but according to the person who oversee's our IEP program he is not allowed to use the interpreter during tests...She said reading a test and having an interpreter available are 2 seperate IEP's...And he is only covered by one.
Eddie,
Hmmm... does he have an interpreter in class (that is, is there a sign language interpreter with him in class)? If so, consider the possibility of having him sign the answers to the test questions back to the interpreter, and having the interpreter act as a scribe, translating what he has said (in ASL) back into standard English.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have worked with a deaf student over the past few weeks and I to admit it is a struggle. he gets the information and understands what I am gettting across to him but he struggles trmendously on tests. I belive it is because his ASL language is different from our English language and something is getting lost on translation. I can explain something to him and I see it in his eyes that he gets it, but when it comes test time...It's a flop.
Bobbet,
I would submit that she WAS a "normal" student! She couldn't hear, but her goals, potential, and (apparently) performance were just the same. One of the first lessons we try to teach is that students with disabilities are more LIKE every other student than they are different.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I had an hearing impaired student in my class who was assisted by an interpreter. She performed excellently and behaved as a normal student. She was also able to lip read. She was very appreciative.
Martin,
That may have been the difference between a class that was heavily based on words/listening/language (the computer class) and classes where those issues were minimal. But whatever the reason for the variation in performance, I'll bet she isn't the only student you have had over time who has done better in the practical classes than the theoretical ones. That may be the lesson to take away... that students with disabilities are more LIKE other students than they are different!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have had a deaf student in 3 classes that I teach. Two classes were hands on project classes and one was on the computer. She had a very difficult time in the computer class which was the first time I had her as a student. We got through it though. She did very well in the other classes which allowed her to use creativity and sewing skills. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to having her again.
Suzanne,
That is exactly the reason that some folks believe deafness to be an "invisible" disability. When you see someone wearing a hearing aid or using sign language, the average person assumes the problem is in not being able to hear. But congenital deafness is MUCH more of a language problem than an hearing problem. I'm glad you were able to adapt things for the student.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I appreciated the course material that addressed the language needs of some deaf students. I had a deaf student in class, and I was prepared for the reality that she could not hear, but I would have benefitted from knowing that her language was actually different than the standard English I had expected from her. Once I realized, with the help of her interpreter, that she actually spoke and wrote a different language, I was able to modify my approach to teaching her, and she was ultimately successful.
Joseph,
That is what the law is all about -- equal treatment for people with disabilities. I am sure the student appreciated you seeing his potential and capabilities, rather than his limitations.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
