Ensuring d/Deaf children become bilingual in sign language and English should be a key priority for policymakers and teachers because this plays an important role in their education, a new study says.
Curriculum and instruction in deaf education should provide opportunities for children to actively use sign language in schools.
DAD Note: A growing number of research studies worldwide has shown similar results to this article also. Some were mentioned in the position letter sent to ACLU Delaware last year.
Close academic gaps in English, language, reading, and math
Boost emotional intelligence
Develop American Sign Language (ASL) literacy
Cultivate leadership skills
Enhance college readiness
Spark interest in STEM fields
Build social capital in the Deaf community
Seize this opportunity to make your summer unforgettable and equip yourself for success! Join us at STEM Academy and let’s embark on a journey of growth, learning, and fun!
Why the ACLU supports the right of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children to access language.
For deaf people, language deprivation during early childhood represents the most significant threat to the exercise of their civil rights and liberties.
In the ACLU’s ongoing work to affirm the civil rights of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing people in prison and on supervision, including their right to access effective communication, many of our clients share one common trait: they experienced the permanent, detrimental effects of language deprivation in their early years.
Nearly all of our clients in these cases were among the 96 percent of deaf children born to hearing parents who did not know sign language. These parents love their children, but struggle to provide them with full access to language, signed or spoken.
