Deaf Students

Paper Summary:

This paper first explains the historical and legal background of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and the least restrictive environment (LRE) provision, as they apply to the general population. The author stresses the problems created when, by mandate, deaf students are put into mainstream classes, which most often results in more socio-cultural damage than good to the deaf community because it separates the deaf individuals from each other through language. The paper states that, if IDEA is properly implemented, deaf students and all special needs students could afford the opportunity to be placed in special education situations based on the fact that the conventional classroom cannot adequately meet their needs. The paper includes examples of court cases and personal experiences of students.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Historical Framework of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Early Court Interpretations of the LRE Mandate
Recent Court Interpretations of the LRE Mandate
Socio-cultural Framework of LRE
Are Deaf Students Suffering in Silence?
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Cost arguments against specialized education for deaf students in favor of LRE also fail to make a valid point. Ostensibly, proponents of LRE claim that the provision of special education is cost prohibitive in an era of restrictive school budgets and an aging population that generates lower tax revenues which are needed to finance public education. However, when the cost of special education is weighed against the cost of institutionalizing, imprisoning, hospitalizing or keeping a special needs individual on the rolls of the welfare system because they cannot support themselves after high school, the investment in special education is a far better value from a multitude of points of view."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Davis, L. J. (1993, October 4). The Prisoners of Silence. The Nation, 257, 354+.
• Houng, LPH (2005). The Mediational Role of Language Teachers. Retrieved August 19, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://exchanges.state.gov/forum/vols/vol41/no3/p32.htm.
• Osborne, A. G., & Dimattia, P. (1994). The IDEA's Least Restrictive Environment Mandate: Legal Implications. Exceptional Children, 61(1), 6+.
• Palley, E. (2006). Implementing the Least Restrictive Environment Mandate. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 16(4), 229+.
• Where 'Special Needs' Truly Can Be Met. (2003, August 25). The Washington Times, p. B03.

More papers on Deaf Students:

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• Term Paper # 124445 : "Education of Deaf Students"

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