An aspect of IDEA for deaf children receiving education

You'd THINK all we would get along together, especially with Deafhood workshops all over the nation and provided by many Deaf organizations. Sadly, it's still "us vs. them" subconsciously. ASL vs Spoken English. Written English vs. Videophone where folks talk in ASL. Schools for deaf vs. mainstreamed programs. Teachers for deaf that teach by sign vs. Teachers for deaf that teach by oral practices. States sending deaf children to mainstreamed programs instead of schools for Deaf, despite there's evidence that some deaf children may benefit better in schools for Deaf.

Look up IDEA (thanks to someone at work!) which stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and then look up what IDEA can provide for deaf students. You'd find that a lot of states would send their deaf children to mainstreamed programs, and less and less to schools for the Deaf because it'd benefit the state, NOT the children. We don't think of the children's NEEDS, specially communicational, social and educational needs. NAD (National Association of the Deaf said it well in "Comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the Notice of Request for Comments and Recommendations on Regulatory Issues Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as amended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, February 28, 2005" (mouthful, I KNOW!)

"300.551 Continuum of alternative placements:
Recommendation: The NAD respectfully requests that the Department, through the regulatory process, monitoring activities, and other actions, vigorously enforce provisions of the statute and regulations pertaining to the continuum of alternative placements. Rationale: The continuum of alternative placements has been a long-standing and essential feature of IDEA. However, the NAD wishes to call attention to what is apparently a reduced commitment on the part of state education agencies to provide continuum of alternative placement options, as required by law. The NAD continues to support the development, maintenance, and use of placements mandated by the continuum of alternative placements regulations of the IDEA. While the regular classroom in the neighborhood school may be the appropriate placement for some deaf and hard-of-hearing students, for many it is not. The NAD is commited to preserving and expanding the use of the continuum of alternative placements provision to ensure that each deaf or hard-of-hearing child receives a quality education in an appropriate environment. As stated by the Congress: The Committee supports the longstanding policy of a continuum of alternative placements designed to meet the unique needs of each child with a disability. Placement options available include instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction and instruction in hospitals and institutions."

So, in the bottom line, it's "us vs. them" even that NAD observes in states/schools abuse of IDEA especially when it comes to Deaf children. Yes there are deaf children that will do well in regular classrooms but to put other deaf children in regular classrooms that do not meet their social, educational and communicational needs, that's balantly abuse. We need to start instructing schools; that will help starting the snowball rolling to reduce the issue "us vs. them" from elementary schools to adulthood. Stop the vicious cycle!

Written by Jules

There's no winners or losers.

Yesterday working on finances with friends, a friend stood up, reading her pager and screamed "Fernendes is terminated!" out of the blue (thankfully no one spilled drinks!) The friends jumped up and down, screaming and hugging each other. I looked on and smiled, but I had a lot of questions running through my mind as well.
What happens next?
Who will be the next president?
Will FSSA really walk the talk that they talked about for 4 weeks?
Will students, faculty, staff and alumni work together to stamp out audism, racism and deaf oppression?
Will the deaf community really look at themselves and realize that they even silence and oppress OTHER deaf?
Mind you, I LOVE Gallaudet and I am behind FSSA 110%, however we all need to think carefully what we need to do next. We didn't win the war..we won a major battle- (think it like Gettysburg or Normandy) The war will be only won if Gallaudet have a LOT of changes done (bylaws, procedures, policies, crystal-clear boundaries, duties expected of the president, provost and the BOT; recognizing audism practices within the campus, making it mandotary(correct me if I misspell that) for staff to learn sign language (mind you, I'm not asking for 100% skilled signers but enough to help in basic communication, emergencies and necessary situations) and also recognize racism and deaf oppression within the campus as well as the nationwide deaf community. This morning I got a rude email from a blogger "Stop shooting things out of your mouth, *******!" and added that they are already planning to clean the tent city-( but how would we KNOW that if no one said it in any article last night?) after I sent a comment to his/her blog, giving some advice such as cleaning up the tent city, doing research on other universities' policies and bylaws about the president/provost/board/s responsibilties and duties as well as boundaries, and that all deaf are equal: culturally deaf, oralists, sim-com, blind-deaf, etc, you get the idea. (in other words, I was saying that I hope that deafhood is the first priority in mind.) For saying all that, I got that rude email, and I was thinking, "wow..I got oppressed and silenced just now?" That really saddened me because I meant positive and well by my comment. I could say his/her name but what's the point? Right now there's no sense in finger-pointing and we all need to be mature and to recognize flaws within OURSELVES as well as outward (deaf community, campus, audists, racists, and folks who don't realize they practice any of those I just listed.) And that means you as well, blogger. I realize that s/he may be high on the fifteen minutes of fame, and s/he DESERVES that fame- since s/he did help out greatly in that blog, being there in person and speaking out for the deaf community- however s/he needs to look inward and realize- need to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Don't do double standards, folks! You need to respect 'em as you'd want to be respected.

Written by Jules

Protest at Gallaudet University

There is a protest at Gallaudet University since yesterday. I was emailed by a friend who works at Gallaudet University about the announcement of new president at 230pm EST, and I am here in Colorado. I was in class when I got the email 'Fez' and I went "WHATTHEFUCK???!!!" I had not lived in Gallaudet while she has been the provost there, but I have already encountered her at a deaf event, in which I will not spill the beans, but I can only say it was negative. What I have in:

1) Through a poll on 'Notwithoutus.org' of gallaudet students, Fernandes only got 13% of students'approval, and 81% of students'disapproval. Mind you, it were on a ballot for undergraduate students to respond to Graduate Students Association and Student Body Government. If you want to know more, you can look up http://notwithoutus.org/node/32

2) Gallaudet University have been performing POORLY as investigated by congress and federal education department. And the current president think that that poor performance can be continued under Fernandes? THINK AGAIN! The deaf students deserve better education and even have the right to better education! Look up laws in education section of federal laws! Http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary.10003306.2005.html.

3. There is no love between the students and Fernandes from what I gather from: http://trimmingthefern.blog.com/, and
http://starvingforaccess.blog.com. Mind you, take those with a grain of salt.

4. I have to admit Ridor writes a good blog, http://ridorlive.com, and he's currently writing what's going on the Gallaudet campus, and I envy him. Colorado is quite a distance from Washington D.C!


I have been reading emails of people telling me what's going on campus, and I have concerns.

1) Fire alarms at dorms and SAC.... PLEASE!!! Do not do that..that will only make the protest more a student prank, than a mature and reasonable protest. We the deaf community need to show the world that we can be responsible and protest peacefully and without antics like those. Burning an effigy is powerful than pulling a fire alarm. Having a hunger fast is noticeable than ordering a pizza and eating it front of the media. If you want to have the ear of the world, do what Martin Luther King Jr. did...he had a strong voice, and he marched peacefully and with numbers. More the number of students, faculty, and alumni you have on campus, the BOT and the current administration will listen!

2) "She doesn't say hi".... That left me speechless.. honestly, it does. Bush doesn't say Hi to me either, but do that make me mad at him? OF COURSE NOT! One needs to have ACTIONS that look bad on the individual. I can understand the protest when one says "she had shut down many programs under MSSD- but what kind of programs were they? "She closed some student organizations- Can you tell which organizations and can those ex-members speak up? Bring up the fact that the congress found Gallaudet university ineffective, and point out that it's under IJK administration in which Fernandes is under! GET information and ACCURATE information at that, to show WHY the protest is going on!

3) Deaf-cultural president. That I can understand. But would the hearing world UNDERSTAND that? The leaders and protesters may need to explain to the media. Some friends finally understood when I said "okay, someone moved to Italy..and learned how to speak Italian, but he's NOT Italian... so would you think the population of Italy would accept him as a president to represent Italy?" I hope you understand what I'm talking about!

Written by Jules

Disabled community and Disasters

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, disabled people found themselves futhermore disabled. A deaf man walked through the flood waters carrying a legless man on his back for hours before they found firm ground. A pair of brothers was found at their uplifted house, not aware of the hurricane or the flooding because they are deaf and blind. Several deaf families seeked help at the Superdome but no one understood them. At the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, a single interpreter was run into exhaustion going forth and back between two buildings where the deaf evacees were placed. Elderly, unable to flee the floodings, died in the nursing homes.

Over and over through time in the United States, people with disabilities have been overlooked in natural or man-made disasters. Several agencies are concerned about this matter, especially after September 11, 2001. The National Council on Disability, the United States Department of Transportation, the President's committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and Americans with Disabilities advocates are among the agencies that focus on people with disabilities-related concerns, such as employment, physical and mental health and, of course, natural and/or man-made disasters. Those agencies work toward the goal of improving emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities.

The National Council on Disability and the Anneberg Washington Program studied what is needed for the emergency preparedness of people with disabilities. Mainly the agency found that barriers for disabled people continue because any new information or accessible lessons developed during former disasters are not put into future preparedness and planning. After any disasters, disabled people have limited or no access to emergency centers; the distribution of much needed water and food may be inaccessible to people in wheelchairs, for example. Limited access to communication is often found during and after the disaster, making it harder for the individuals with disabilities, especially with deafness. Interpreters reported that more often than not, evacees staying at the convention center had to listen to the continuous announcements from the public address system while the deaf people had no idea what was going on unless an interpreter was there. The deaf evacees were a week behind in receiving needed services at the Astrodome due to limited communication. During disasters, electricity could be shut down and that can be incapalitating for people relying on respirators, and/or motorized wheelchairs. A woman with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was carried 68 flights of stairs by two heroic men right after the first plane hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 because she could not use her motorized wheelchair or the elevator.

Red Cross and FEMA have been criticized by people with disabilities because those agencies do not consider the disabled people when disasters occur. Often these agencies set up evacuation centers or shelters that are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Interpreters reported that when the hurricane predicted to hit Texas, they volunteered to drive a deaf group to a shelter that was handicapped-accessible, but when they arrived there, the shelter was full. So they were sent to another shelter and another before they finally found a shelter for the deaf group. However, nothing was put aside for them such as cots or food. So the interpreters used their pagers to contact the deaf community for help and the deaf community was very happy to donate air mattresses, food and blankets.

Blanck identified key issues that need to be tackled for the people with disabilities. The key issues are 1) ensure that there are accessible locations and services; 2) that the communication and information is accessible to the victims; 3) assure that information for caregivers is reliable and accessible; 4) working with media; 5) working with the disability community; 6) preparing and training for future disasters; and 7) setting up universal design/access and strategies. To explain further the goals are to ensure that the information is accurate and that the people with disabilities get needed supplies and equipment. First, the shelters, evacuation centers and distribution locations(food, water and services) are to be accessible for the people with disabilities. Second, the disabled victims need access to communication and information. For example, they may need to know if other relatives or friends are safe, or if they are to be put in housing. Third, the rescue and crisis intervention personnel need to know where the people are, in order to ensure that they have appropriate tools (such as an interpreter), and track the people for appropriate treatment. Fourth, involving the media will get more attention for the needs for the people with disabilities. After the flooding killed the elderly, media alerted the public and so there was an investigation into on if the elderly could have been safely evacuated before the hurricane hit. Also FCC is responsible to ensure that information is accessible to people with disabilities, including closed captioning during emergencies. Fifth, the disability organizations need to work with rescue, relief, media and state organizations to educate these agencies about the special needs of the disabled community and work together on setting up preparedness plans. Sixth, the rescue and relief organizations need to know what medical gear they will need and how to use this equipment. An example would be how to set up insulin pumps for diabetic people. Seventh, the federal and state government working with the rescue organizations in setting up universal design. This will greatly help and make activities smoother for the volunteers, doctors, rescue folks, as well for the people with and without disabilities.

After the Northridge earthquake, the San Francisco Independent Living Resource Center set up tips for people with disabilities. They have a website and pamphets that are available for the public to read and use. For the mobile challenged, the list includes storing a battery for the motorized wheelchair and a backup equipment such as a walker, crutches or cane. The deaf individual is advised to install visual smoke alarms, and to have written communication to be used for emergency personnel; as well as storing batteries for the TDD (Telecommunication Device for Deaf.) The agency also suggests that the disabled individuals set up a network for personal support. In that in mind, if an emergency occurs, someone can check upon the individual and provide assistance if wanted. Also suggestions are to have a self-assessment on what the individual is able and unable to do in emergencies (such as a person depending on a wheelchair may be unable to go down the stairs yet able to use the phone to ask for assistance.)

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, programs ensuring safety for disabled people in emergencies is required of the local governments. The guide says that the government needs to work with the disabled community in planning and educating the public how to work with the rescue and relief organizations and in turn the rescue and relief organizations need to learn how to work with the disabled community in how to communicate, provide appropriate equipment, and provide appropriate shelters if needed.

The bottom line is that many improvements are needed to be done for the people with disabilities in case of emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. If not for the two men, Tina with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis would have died in the World Trade Center. If not for the interpreters at the Astrdome, the deaf evacuees would not have "heard" the announcements for housing, food and registration information. Without the accessible information and volunteers, those individuals would experience a disaster of their own within the natural/man-made disaster.

References:

An ADA guide for Local Government: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities.
Http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/emergencyprep.htm

Blanck, Peter David. Disaster Mitigation for People with Disabilities: Fostering a New Dialogue.
Http://www.annenberg.northwestern.edu/pubs/disada/

Lathrop, Douglas. Disaster! If you have a disability, the forces of nature can be meaner to you than anyone else, but you can fight back. Be prepared.
Http://www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/independentliving/disaster.htm

Quigley, Mark. National Council on Disability Calls for Immediate Changes in Emergency Planning for People with Disasters.
Http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2005/r05-486.htm

Parks, Louis B. and Warren, Karen. Unable to hear, many were left lost.
Http://www.chron.com/disp/story/mpl/front/3348415.html

Earthquake tips for People with Mobility Disablities. Earthquake Tips for Hearing Impaired.
Http://www.preparenow.org/eqtmdis.html and Http://preparenow.org/deaf/html

Written by Jules

Dream.

Very vivid dream..... I have been mulling on this dream since I woke up this morning. I was hobbling with crutches down a street at night, with street lights lit to show old cars, newspapers there and here, a rat scurrying through trashcans... A man in a old raincoat came up to me, and said, "Name is Mister Djinn" (in this dream I could hear and speak.) I said "interesting name." and was preparing to walk past him when he said, "you know genies could give wishes?" I said, "Yeah, I heard about that." I was about to walk away when he said "If I am a real genie, what wish would you like to have, and it is only ONE wish." I looked at him, and said "any kind of wish?" He said "only one that affects YOU, and do not take from other people. An example would be wishing for money and you'd be rich, but your grandma might have been dead for that." Hmm. I looked at him and said "I'd wish that I hadn't been hit by that car on Oct 21st, 2005." He looked at me steadily and then said quietly, "Before granting that wish, I believe we will walk on the past path." Fog came up and envoloped us both... When fog faded away, I saw that we were in Duport Circle, under a lit street light about 200 feet away from Steve's car. Mister Djinn and I watched as Jessica entered the car in the back, and Steve bent in to clean out his car. I watched myself and Grace walking and chatting up the sidewalk, I was like "is this real?" It felt like I was watching myself... I saw the car coming up, but it missed me, but didn't miss Grace. She was hit hard, and she was thrown into two cars, and Jessica screamed her head off, as Steve and the past Julie rushed to Grace. Grace's eyes were open, and she made no motion. She waved her hand over Grace's face, and Grace did not respond. I watched stunned, as Julie checked Grace's pulse at neck, and Julie's hand withdrew trembling. She looked at Jessica, and said "I can't feel a pulse." The genie and I watched as Steve called 911, and cops and EMTs came. They put Grace in a body bag. It was all silent, the dark street, empty, when I looked at the djinn, and questioned, "Could I withdraw the wish?" He said, "yes." Fog covered us both, and next thing I knew, I was back on the street but by myself. I looked around, and wondered if it was a dream. I woke up, feeling it's an echo of a truth somewhere within me...

Written by Jules

P.T.

I have a physical therapist that I see Tuesdays and Thursdays. He isn't so bad, thro we write forth and back. He makes me crack up with laughter with some of his facial expressions, very comic, I tell you. :) At this time I have 7 excerises to do daily X2, some doing 10-20 times, and others alternating legs (right, left, right, left.) Also with the increase of comadium(blood thinner for folks who do not know what that medication is for) dosage, it is not possible for me to get the surgery during spring break. Why? It seems that the medication for blood thinning is too dangerous under surgery (something about bleeding to death due to not being able to clot or close skin.) So that is postponed to May right after I finish final exams. Ugh, that means two more months depending on the scooter(if that EVER comes :::muttering to herself::), braces, and crutches. Pain in the ass, if you ask me. :P

Written by Jules

Heard of 'trauma' pills?

No? I hadn't seen it on CNN, but I could be wrong, mind you. I found it on AOL news some days ago, and it persisted on my mind, thinking a lot of options, possibilities, and also cons. If you hadn't seen the article, here is the link. I hope that will lead you to the link...(trouble with links lately) http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060114130509990001&ncid=NWS000

Anyway...I have mixed feelings about this kind of pills.. I can understand for rape victims or huge trauma, however... if folks are to take pills to shelter themselves over and over, HOW can they adapt to challenges and handle the disasters in the future? For example, it was my childhood that taught me about neglect and violence. That I do not hide, I learned how to adapt, and I compare the experiences to future experiences, and go "this is nothing" compared to what I had experienced. Trauma and disaster can teach human beings HOW to adapt, how to adjust their lives, how to SURVIVE, you see? I know some folks who are VERY VERY sheltered, that when a LITTLE disaster(in one case, falling down the stairs), it was such the end of the world for them, overreacting hugely. I DO have sympathy for them, but they do not need to act like it's ahh, you know.."wah, wah, it's end of my life, I cannot walk anymore!" (in that situation, she only twisted her ankle, and yes I mean you Stacie. Don't grin in that sheepish way.) So you can see why I have mixed feelings about trauma pills.... for rape victims, perhaps, however how can they give EVIDENCE in court when they are asked to tell their experience, and hence there's the chance the rapist could walk out of court, free because the rape victim could not remember details thanks to the trauma pills? So that's a pickle for you.

My dog

Shhhh! Merle is sleeping.
Merle has been with me for 13 years, will be 14 on March 21st... Bless her heart! :)

Uh huh....

Going up and down the stairs aren't so bad thro I often wonder WHEN I would fall. :) The right leg is getting strong but the left leg needs to be strengthened so I can have the brace OFF by January 27th... I use the crutches to walk around, and also for the stairs as well. You know I'm SO looking forward to when I return to school, to give myself a breather from mommy dearest. I am looking forward to when I have Elfquest: Discovery in my hands tonight.. a brand NEW Elfquest story! Finally!!!