Saberi 1

Sania Saberi
Professor Malvin
English 115
9 November 2015
Demanding Deaf Schools
In Los Angeles, different groups based on sexual orientation, ethnicity, and race, face
severe discrimination. It is difficult to live in a world where someones needs are not met due to
lack of education in a community. As a deaf and hard of hearing person, receiving proper
education in Los Angeles is a constant struggle due to the language barrier. Many are left with
little to no proper education and the chances of a company hiring a deaf individual over a hearing
person is rare. Deaf and hard of hearing children are in need of a deaf institution to help them
succeed and thrive in the city of Los Angeles. Instead of making families mainstream their
children in hearing schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District should input a deaf
institution, California School for the Deaf, Los Angeles, to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing
kids are getting the right education they deserve.
Historically, deaf children have been neglected by being mainstreamed in hearing
schools. The goal of mainstreaming deaf children is to mold them into normal hearing
students, however there is nothing wrong with being deaf. According to the Dallas Hearing
Foundation, 90% of deaf and hard of hearing children are born to hearing parents. There are
many hearing parents out there that do not know that American Sign Language even exists and
refuse to learn it because they wanted a normal child. Because of the minimal education on
deaf culture, most hearing parents throw their children into mainstreamed schools.

Saberi 2

Since the 1800s, Oralism was the number one method for teaching deaf children in
hearing schools. Oralism is essentially teaching deaf kids how to communicate by using speech
and lip reading instead of American Sign Language (Oralism). This was the preferred method at
the time because it convinced hearing people that if their deaf child could use their voice, then
they were normal. People believed that Oralism would make deaf people function in the normal
hearing world, however, this was not the case. Forcing children to use Oralism instead of their
natural language (American Sign Language) led to severe isolation and depression for many deaf
students. Hearing kids have already mastered the English language, compared to a deaf child that
is just starting to learn how to make the right sounds, pronounce words correctly, and use English
grammar. Many deaf students who are mainstreamed get severely bullied because they are seen
as different.
According to a study made by the Psychology Department at Oxford Brookes University,
hearing students are more likely to want hearing friends rather than deaf friends. The department
concluded that deaf children run into many negative situations when it comes to making friends
in hearing schools because children focus on the similarities they have with their peers, rather
than their differences. This causes deaf children to feel extremely isolated and lonely because
they are most likely the only student that is deaf. According to Oxford Brookes Psychology
Study, speech skills of many deaf children is poor and hearing kids do not have the patience to
try and understand them. Not having anyone to communicate with that wont make fun of their
speech makes deaf kids dread going to school.
In the United States, society praises education as makes it the number one priority for
people. However, as a deaf or hard of hearing student, it is a challenge to get a good education
from a teacher that does not use American Sign Language. As stated before, many deaf children

Saberi 3

are forced to read lips and speak which is the least effective way to communicate. In class, a deaf
child must constantly stare at the teacher lips in order to know what is going on. Although,
because of the lack of education on the deaf community, teachers mainly have no patience with
deaf children and will not repeat themselves so the child can understand. According to Hands For
Help, deaf children taught in mainstream schools are being supported by teaching assistants
who have little experience of deafness and have received none or insufficient training from a
Teacher of the Deaf. This eventually leads to the child giving up and not caring because they are
not given enough help to fully understand what is going on the classroom, which further leads to
eventually failing classes. Sadly, that only proves the stereotype deaf and dumb to come off as
more true. However, deaf and dumb is absolutely not true at all. Deaf and hard of hearing
students need different accommodations to succeed in school. For example, a teacher that knows
American Sign Language and can communicate with the students fluently is a must. Without
that, deaf kids feel lost and hopeless with their studies. Imagine going to a school where
everyone besides yourself spoke a different language and did not try to accommodate to any of
your needs.
In Twilight Los Angeles, Anna Deavere Smith writes about a Congresswoman named
Maxine Waters that makes a speech about racism and how it leads to poorly developed places
like the Bronx in New York City. Waters tries to get the attention of people, Mr. President, Mr.
Governor and anybody else who wants to listen: Everybody in the street was not a thug or a
hood(161). Most of society is driven by stereotypes, not actual facts about a certain minority,
race, or group. Every minority tries its best to be heard and have their issues fixed, but is sadly
very difficult to do. This relates to the education of deaf children. Mainstreaming is the weakest
form of education given to a deaf child. Thankfully, Oralism has declined due to the deaf

Saberi 4

community pushing for Manualism, which is using American Sign Language as the native
language for deaf individuals in the community. However, just because something has declined,
doesn't mean it doesn't exist anymore. Many deaf children to this day are still being
mainstreamed into hearing schools and many choose to drop out because they give up. Trying to
learn in an environment that does not accommodate any individual's needs is a challenge that
people do not want to deal with.
In order to fix this problem more deaf friendly schools should be placed in the United
States. Up in Northern California, a deaf school called California School for The Deaf, Fremont
is a K-12 deaf institution only for deaf and hard of hearing students. At this school, American
Sign Language is their form of communication. Throughout history Oralism, or the practice of
speaking, was used to make deaf children normal however, currently Oralism is seen as an act
of oppression to the deaf community. Because California State University Northridge accepts
over 200 deaf and hearing students, many deaf families settle in the Los Angeles to be a part of a
huge deaf community. Instead of making families mainstream their children in hearing schools,
The Los Angeles Unified School District should input a deaf institution to ensure that deaf and
hard of hearing kids are getting the right education they need. Like CSDF, this school can be
called California School for the Deaf, Los Angeles. By doing this, deaf children can finally be
given the chance to not be bullied and not be considered an outlier. Attending a school where
everyone is on the same level will be new to most deaf children, but will lead to big
improvements academically, and emotionally as well.
Not only will this benefit deaf children, but by building a deaf school, this can also lead
to the hearing majority to be more educated in Deaf Culture. Once a new building is being built,
people will start to question what it is for. Hearing the words Deaf School will shock most

Saberi 5

people considering that the majority of the hearing world is very unfamiliar with any related to
deaf people or to their culture. Just like many issues in society, it will take awhile for deaf people
to be seen as equal to hearing people. However, all it takes is a little bit of knowledge engraved
in someone everyday for them to slowly yet hopefully realize, that everyone is all equal. For
example, as stated before, California State University, Northridge has a very big deaf community
on campus and in the city itself. To provide etiquette services for the deaf and hard of hearing,
CSUN has a spot on campus called the National Center on Deafness. Not only does it provide
services, but it is also a popular hangout spot for deaf people in between, before, and after
classes. Deaf people are very happy to communicate with each other using sign because that is
when they feel the most comfortable. The NCOD is not considered a school; now imagine how
happy deaf children would be to be with other deaf kids all day long learning in their own native
language.
Inputting a deaf institution in Los Angeles would be very expensive and to most people it
would seem pointless and a waste of space, however, deaf institutions are essential for deaf
children to succeed and get a good education. Sadly many people do not see this. According to
the Dallas Hearing Foundation, 45% of deaf individuals do not graduate from high school and
only 5% graduate from college. How are deaf people to supposed to be employed? Make money?
Be successful without a good education? Being mainstreamed in a hearing school does not lead
to deaf children being successful. It only lowers their self-esteem as they grow up and constantly
get bullied to the point where they feel so alone and dread everyday of their life at school.
Education is the most important thing in society, and according to Patricia H. Latham, The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that each child who has a disability and
needs special education and related services will receive a free and appropriate public

Saberi 6

education. Mainstreaming is not considered an appropriate form of public education. An

appropriate public education would mean that every deaf child gets to learn in an environment
where American Sign Language is used by every teacher, office workers, nurses, etc.
All over the United States, deaf children lack the connection to a good education.
American Sign Language is not used in hearing schools, therefore deaf and hard of hearing
children are forced to hear and speak to other classmates and teachers in a hearing school. The
percentages of deaf children graduating high school are significantly low and unacceptable.
Living in a country that highly values education, deaf children should be provided with the
proper education, not mainstreaming. Mainstreaming should never be an option and is a
traumatic experience for a child due to bullying, feeling isolated, becoming depressed, etc. The
Los Angeles Unified School District should input a deaf institution, California School for the
Deaf, Los Angeles, to change and benefit the lives of deaf and hard of hearing students.

Saberi 7

Works Cited
Facts - Dallas Hearing Foundation. Dallas Hearing Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web 09 Nov. 2015.
Hands For Help. National Deaf Childrens Society. N.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2015
Latham, Patricia. At a Glance: Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Understood.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
Nunes, Terezinha, Ursula Pretzlik, and Jenny Olsson. Deaf Childrens Social Relationships in
Mainstream Schools. Deaf Childrens Social Relationships in Mainstream Schools i (n.d.):
n.pag. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
Oralism. Oralisam. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
Smith, Anna Deavere. The Unheard: Maxine Waters. Guide to Twilight Los Angeles:
Conceived, Written and Performee by Anna Deavere Smith ; Directed Marc Levin. Brookline,
MA: Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, 2001. 158-162. Print.