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Deaf student may not be able to graduate with teaching degree because of interpreter regulations
Freeland junior Kelly Laatsch watches her Sign Language Interpreter, Jennifer Libiran, while working on a group project in EDU 345 class Thursday morning in the College of Education and Human Services Building. Laatsch is studying to become an elementary teacher and work with Deaf children. (Libby March/Staff Photographer)
After completing almost all of the requirements to graduate from the College of Education, one student’s degree is at risk because of something she cannot control.
Kelly Laatsch, a senior from Freeland, has been deaf since birth. She is in her final year of the education program and is completing her student teaching requirement in a class of hard of hearing students in Saginaw.
Laatsch requested an interpreter to complete this requirement and was told by Karen Edwards, director of student teaching, that if she were to utilize an interpreter, she wouldn’t pass her student teaching requirements.
Laatsch said she brought a section of the Michigan Department of Education Teaching Technical Standards that states (students) should “understand and speak in English” to Edwards’ attention. The document also states students may complete this requirement “with or without reasonable accommodations.”
Despite Laatsch’s efforts, Edwards and Susie Rood, director of Student Disability Services, told her she would need to complete a portion of her student teaching without the aid of an interpreter.
Rood and Edwards created an “Action Plan” designed to wean Laatsch off of an interpreter so she could “become independent.”
“The action plan allowed me to use an interpreter full time for the first two weeks. The following two weeks I could only use an interpreter half time, then for the rest of the semester I needed to show that I can teach without an interpreter,” Laatsch said. “Being severely-profoundly deaf since birth, I knew this wasn’t going to work out. I tried convincing them that even with my cochlear implants and being able to hear and speak well, I still cannot hear as well as a hearing person can.”
Laatsch said in an email that although she is allowed an interpreter part time, she was told the continued use of the interpreter may impact whether she passes student teaching because it hinders her independence as a teacher.
After trying the “Action Plan” for a few weeks, Laatsch again requested full-time interpreters. Rood hired an interpreting agency in Saginaw to accompany Laatsch daily.
“There are days where I will have one or two interpreters. Other days, I’ll have different interpreters throughout one day. Some days, I will go without any interpreter from between 30 minutes to a few hours,” she said. “This is confusing for me and for the students. The class has a lot of students who are at-risk and they very much need consistency.”
At a meeting Laatsch had with Rood and Edwards last week, she was given two options.
“They gave me two options to think about: I could not pass student teaching and just get a bachelors of science (non-teaching), or sign a waiver stating that I will never seek teaching certification in the state of Michigan,” Laatsch said. “I was baffled with both suggestions, especially the latter one. Even though I plan on teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing students, I still want to get my bachelor of science in elementary education.”
Edwards was contacted and acknowleged the incident but declined comment. Rood did not return several calls for comment.
Laatsch filed her case regarding her reasonable accommodations with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights in October, and the case was expected to take as long as 180 days to be reviewed.
This isn’t the first time Laatsch has had difficulty with the education program.
In 2010, she attempted to transfer to Michigan State University to take advantage of the certified deaf education program. When she learned MSU would be phasing out the program by 2013, she chose to remain at Central Michigan University and attempt to create a program.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a long process, but I think it would be really beneficial for students,” Laatsch said in a 2010 Central Michigan Life article.
The program never took off at CMU.
“Currently, I’m just taking it day by day with a lot of unnecessary stress,” Laatsch said about her current issue. “I am loving my student teaching experience in the classroom and look forward to the rest of the semester. But, I believe I should be able to pursue anything I want to do and utilize my reasonable accommodation. It’s my right.”
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74 Comments
wow…what a situation….i’m sorry to read of this ordeal for both kelly and the school, however it’s always best to yield to the development and growth of human potential….the school might want to consider how best to assure this student and all students with disabilities are reasonably accommodated….continued success kelly and keep on keepin’ on girl!
Life is not always fair i think CMU has already made reasonable accommodations. They have paid thousands upon thousand for interpreter and there is no way a school district is going to provide one once she gets into the work place.
I disagree with your statement. Kelly should be provided with accommodations throughout her student teaching. She is planning on teaching the deaf or hard of hearing and therefore will not need an interpreter once hired as a teacher in the future. It is a form of discrimination to not allow someone who was born deaf to obtain her degree because of something that she has absolutely no control over.
Federal government PAYS the school for paying an interpreter to meet an employee’s need….
Refusal of right (ADA) is a FEDERAL CRIME.
Wow this is unbelievable. CMU needs to refund her all monies; tuition, room & board, books, and other fees Kelly has paid to the University immediately. They also need to send her a letter of apology.
Or
Find a way for her to complete her degree. They found a way to build the events center, medical school and they were very successful in inflating attendance numbers to keep the school 1A.
This is ridiculous. What kind of faculty and advisors did she have over the years at CMU. They did not inform her that this would be a problem in her academic field. She really should of transferred to MSU. All the hard work she put in, it comes down to this. Incompetence on the education department.
I don’t understand why this wasn’t discussed WAY before her student teaching experience took place. It should be the University & Student’s responsibility to have a course of action to obtain the goal (Elementary Ed degree) set in place.
As much as accomadation should be required, the student teacher experience is supposed to be as close to an actual teaching experience as possible—if interpreters would not be provided on the job site, they shouldn’t be provided here either.
That’s the thing, the ADA *requires* accommodation (interpreters), this didn’t come along and surprise everyone. The school and disability services knew from the start that this would happen. The only way a teaching job after graduation wouldn’t have to provide an interpreter is if she works for a deaf school. So yeah, required in college and required outside. This will be the same experience.
You’re an idiot. If she needs an interpreter on the job, she gets one on the job. This is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or are you going to challenge the concept that came about with Brown v. Board of Ed. of Topeka?
Why didn’t CMU cover this with her right from the start? CMU should refund her all her monies.
Kelly, I’d try to get statewide media coverage, write to Governor Snyder and your legislators about your unfortunate situation. Sounds to me like you’d be a great teacher. Perhaps, Rick and the Republicans could pass a law quickly to accommodate you and others in this unfortunate situation.
For all the lousy unionized, tenured teachers we have today, sounds like you have the passion and dedication to be a great teacher.
Kelly, one other suggestion. You should contact Bill O’Reilly at Fox News, the Factor, the number-1 cable news show. Bill is a former high school teacher and he could interview you and put the heat on CMU and the state of Michigan to make your dream happen.
Rush Limbaugh has cocklear implants and is the best communicator in media today. A bunch of bureaucracy is keeping you from your dreams!
Good luck!
I’m pretty sure Bill O’Reilly doesn’t give a tiny rat’s patootie about civil rights.
And I have no comment on whether or not Rush has implants, but I’m going to say that screaming like a bigot doesn’t count as being a good communicator.
This is NOT okay, CMU.
An interpreter is a reasonable accomodation under ADA. It is required that she be provided one. As for how close her training will be to an actual classroom, she would use an interpreter to teach hearing students. She wanted to be in a deaf ed program originally, which indicates her future student would likely be deaf/hh in which case no interpreter would be needed. She has made the attempt to comply with what is required. The program has not made the same attempt as they are indeed required to supply an interpreter. She is a great role model for our deaf/hh students who need to see other deaf people advocating for their rights.
If she teaches deaf children, she would not need an interpreter in her future workplace. The job of her school is to give their students the tools to become the best teachers they can. This is an instance of linguistic discrimination–the school needs to do it’s job and teach its students.
By law a school district will be required to provide an interpreter. Using one now is as close to the real teaching experience as it can get.
This won’t even be a trial if she sues, the law is very clear and well established. The only questions to answer after the school caves is what kind of settlement they will have to pay. Will it be her costs of attending the university? She could be nice and only ask for the interpreters she should have gotten in the first place, but the Education department are being unbelievably dumb about this.
the law no longer exists. the irony…
Um what about Gallaudet University!!!! They allow an interpreter with the students who go into student teaching. That is what they did for my sister. She student taught and they gave her an interpreter!
This comment killed me,
”Rood and Edwards created an “Action Plan” designed to wean Laatsch off of an interpreter so she could “become independent.”
okay so I am sorry so does this mean if a blind person wanted to teach, they would have to “WEAN” the student off of using a Seeing Eye Dog so that way that person can “become independent”
I would contact the ACLU. CMU has money for new buildings, why not invest in the students.
Wow harsh, put your self in her shoes. She may not need one when she goes into the work place but should’t she have the tools to become a great teacher just like everyone else. CMU is known for being a great teaching school and needs to help all those who are in the program to become great.
You obviously have no morals, try having a heart. If you had a friend, daughter, mother or any family member who was denied their right to become what they want to I believe you would be singing a different song. God Bless.
CMU really needs to think about what their job really is: to educate their students.
Kelly has been at school to learn, and for CMU to discriminate is down right wrong, pathetic, and illegal in my opinion. ADA requires interpreters when needed, and if CMU won’t provide them for her student teaching then I no longer support CMU whatsoever.
The ultimatum presented by the student service rep and the director of student teaching was not appropriate. The “action plan” should not have affected her graduation eligibility. It’s important for Deaf Professionals and hearing administration to work together to come to appropriate accommodation. Limiting a teacher’s, means of communication and access to group equality in an educational team is bold-faced oppression. Getting people involved who have been affected by deafness or talking to members of the Deaf community is one way to spread the word, but I think even bringing this issue to hearing people in the news broadcast profession would be as effective. A teacher reaches thousands of children in a lifetime, think of all the Deaf children Kelly can reach with her story. I believe this is a classic case of money supersedes morality and we (as members of the educated community) shouldn’t support CMU’s decision and shouldn’t let their decision stand.
As an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing and people with disabilities, it is appalling to see this type of situation at the collegiate level. Kelly is a capable student and teacher who has worked hard to do well in school and prepare herself for her dream job. She should not be experiencing this type of institutional discrimination or coercion from authority that is supposed to guide, not oppress.
I am a deaf individual who, like Kelly, speaks and hears with a cochlear implant. As well as I may do, I still require services that make it possible for me to follow what is being said. A responsible human being will work hard to be able to fully access his/her surroundings and he/she should never be denied the opportunity to do this. Accessibility is so important to the millions of deaf, hard of hearing, and disabled people all over the world, and ASL interpreters provide Kelly with this crucial access so that she may fully exercise her fundamental human rights to language, education, and participation. Using interpreters, CART, or other services has been viewed by non-disabled people as being “dependent” and this mentality is damaging for both the individual who receives services and the individual who looks down upon those services. These services allow us to be independent and make decisions about how we want to move, communicate, and live. This is called self-determination.
Kelly is a determined person and no institutional body should try to stop her from reaching her goal of being a caring, professional, and involved teacher.
kelly can’t become a teacher for deaf kids without a masters in deaf education.. lol do your homework, kid
sources: i’m a gallaudet grad student seeking to become a teacher
This is towards her Bachelor’s degree. She is planning to get her Master’s degree IN ORDER to teach deaf students. The article is incorrect, she is not teaching a hard-of-hearing classroom right now. She needs to complete the Bachelor’s degree (which you should know, kid) in order for her to attempt a Master’s degree but CMU is jeopardizing her future within the educational system for her to reach her goal.
Source: Common sense/my brain
Funny. I’m a teacher for deaf kids with a Bachelors in Deaf Education. And I got my BA (and teacher certificate) in Michigan too! Guess I didn’t get the memo.
Kelly knows this. After receiving her degree, she will be going to get her masters.
She is going to be working with deaf students so an interpreter will not be needed. Also, she should have an opportunity to work and if the school districts do not want her then that is a different issue.
It’s not a waste of time to seek accommodations because you want to fulfill your goals. Kelly knows what she’s doing, and even if she didn’t, she has every right to to be accommodated. I hope you aren’t going to bring that attitude into your classroom when you teach. It’s teachers with attitudes like yours that make us look bad.
Sincerely, a deaf person with a master’s degree in education
How can we support this student? Who can we write to?
What certification is she trying to obtain ?!
I found this article about equal access at CMU printed earlier last year:
http://www.cm-life.com/2011/04/20/cmu-freshman-to-be-first-student-to-study-abroad-with-physical-disability/ALL students deserve equal access to education, period. We all use tools to be successful. We all become greater as individuals when we are treated equally as a collective. As a CMU graduate, I cannot express the disappointment I have towards my alma mater. Shame on them. Bravo to Kelly and to every supporter of hers who has taken a stand for justice.
Continue fighting like there ain’t no tomorrow. The more these battles are won the less unnecessary stress others will have to suffer. You go girl!!!
It’s wrong on many levels. She has EVERY right to request an interpreter regardless whether she has Cochlear Implants. Keep that mind that Cochlear Implants are NEVER 100 percent effective. NONE AT ALL. Probably up to 95 percent or LESS. Still, she has every right. CMU has to honor her request regardless, no excuses at all. CMU may have violate her civil rights due to fact that they refused to provide the FULL time interpreter. They provided a part time interpreter. That is so WEAK excuse to save their faces and arses. Get off high horses and let her reach her goal with some help.
Misha
Her deafness should not prevent her from being able to become a teacher. This is discrimination. The deaf are already unable to donate blood without an interpreter present even if it they can communicate by writing. I am trying to end this type of discrimination now. No one should have to be denied an opportunity because of a disability.
So, I have started a petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/houchin-community-blood-bank-stop-denying-those-who-are-unable-to-speak-from-donating-blood
I seriously can’t believe that this kind of stuff is still happening in 2012! I thought we left that kind of thinking behind back in the 1960s.
@48b9554f483e3f369033d216466f53bf:disqus Actually, you don’t need a Masters in Deaf Ed to teach students who are deaf or hard of hearing… It all depends on the state and the school. I have a BS in Deaf Ed and am currently teaching at a school for the deaf in New England. Some states, like Colorado, require an MA while many others (MI included) do not. So she has done her research and is well within her rights to request accommodations. I hope that the she is able to come to a reasonable agreement with the school that will allow to her graduate with the degree she went to CMU for. As a CMU alum, who has always thought the campus was supportive of the Deaf community, I am embarrassed and disappointed that this is happening.
This is a clear violation of the Americans With Disabiities Act. It is disturbing that a director of disability services clearly does not understand the communication needs of the deaf. the “plan” to wean Laatsch off of an interpreter so she could ‘become independent,’ is is a example. What an insult to deaf people everywhere who communicate in sign language and live happy, normal and very independent lives.
What? It cannot be? Yes,It is very irony.. I am so confused.
She cannot teach deaf kids with the degree she is working towards currently. Is she aware of that? She would need to get a degree that is specifically geared towards deaf education. She might as well get this non-teaching certificate and go on to get her masters in deaf ed, then she can teach deaf kids. I think the reason for denial of interpreter was on CMU’s part to ensure quality teachers. Even so, I’m surprised that they denied her an interpreter, this is unheard of. Kelly should have investigated further when she picked this major.
To be clear what I was getting at is that this teaching certificate she’s working on has nothing to do with deaf ed, ergo, the policy was probably in place to ensure that teachers can speak and write in English. It’s their way of screening teachers. You don’t want teachers with bad English, both writing and speaking in school system. That’s my thought on that. If she was majoring in Deaf Ed, I think they would have provided her with a terp.
The article does state that Kelly wanted to pursue a degree in Deaf Ed, but that the program at MSU was phased out, and a program at CMU was never developed. Also? Just because she’s deaf does *not* mean that she has bad English. She’s been through the same courses that every other education student has been through.
There is another deaf student in my Secondary methods course; she, too, comes to class with two interpreters. Just this week she taught a lesson, partially with the aid of an interpreter and she was no less effective than any of her hearing classmates.
Where does it ever say that she is unaware that she needs a Master’s in Deaf Education to teach deaf kids? You can’t get a Master’s without a Bachelor’s first…lol, do your homework.
My own mother is a paraprofessional, no Master’s degree in Deaf Ed, and she works with deaf students every day.
Im shocked about this CMU took thousands of dollars from this girl for her education just to tell her she is screwed. Its good to see the true side of central michigan university and how theywait until she she is almost graduated to stab her in the back . greedy money pricks. I thought CMU would have been a great school for my children and now I think they will go elsewhere.
While I agree with the majority of the comments, she should not expect to have interpreters with her full time. If she is to teach in the real world, she’ll have to do it on her own. What this requires is some creative thinking on her part in order to be able to effectively communicate with individuals that have a communication barrier with her. There is a moderate foreign population in my area and thus my high school created an ESL program – should it be required that the teacher knows every single native language of every single student in order to teach? No, they must find a way to effectively communicate with all types of students – Kelly should do the same.
The ADA clearly states that she is entitled to an interpreter by law.
for work, yes – but for education, a student does not legally have the right to an interpreter. the only thing that keeps people from not giving interpreters to anyone is 1.) its a dick thing to do and 2.) it would potentially be a PR disaster
the American’s with Disabilities Act Title 1 covers employment Title 2 covers state and local government, including any entity that receives funding from such, Title 3 includes public accommodations. CMU IS required by law to provide accommodations to this student. It is a federal law. http://nad.org/issues/civil-rights/ADA
Okay so since the interpreter are her ears in a way, you want to take that away from her? Hmm and a seeing eye dog are the eyes for the blind, okay so then what your saying, we should take that dog away from the blind, that way that blind person can “do stuff on their own”.
I have a deaf sister and I am well educated in deaf culture. Yes it is true that deaf people don’t need an interpreter all they time, but if they need one according to ADA you are allowed one. My advice to you and I don’t mean this in a bad way, if you don’t know one thing about how a deaf person lives from day to day and their troubles they have with discrimination then I would suggest that you be very careful with what you say.
It hurts to see people saying, “oh she doesn’t need one” “Life is tough”. I have seen what my sister has gone through and see much discrimination she has faced growing up. It’s frustrating and sad to see people not give the same rights and freedom as a hearing person has to a deaf person.
Amen to that! A person who wears glasses are not forced to get rid of them to teach a class. How about someone in a wheelchair or who uses a cane or crutches? Ignorance is not bliss, it is stupidity and discriminatory!
Keep at it Kelly, change doesn’t happen all by itself. It only takes 1 person !!! It may take time but it WILL benefit so many more who follow. And you deserve resonable accommodations, it’s the law – IDEA.
If she plans to work with deaf students, I fail to see how she would need an interpreter upon graduating to work.
Also, the schools are well aware of the ADA laws. So I again, fail to see how much they paid for these interpreters has anything to do with it.
The fact is, the school is trying to use a disability to deny a student the right to a degree that he/she has earned.
It sounds like you are an ignorant of everything! If she
teaches the hearing class, yes, the hearing students need the interpreter to
understand their deaf teacher. If she teaches the deaf class, she doesn’t need
the interpreter at ALL! It’s all about the political issues against the deaf
students. I have heard many different kinds of problems going on in MICHIGAN
— the only state out of 50 states that has continued to make the issues with
the deaf people The State of Michigan once tried to force two kids to have the
cochlear implants without consent. It is the old news!
All she wants is to earn her degrees then move out of her
native state, she doesn’t need craps anymore and finds the school that has deaf
students. She can became the teacher assistant until she passes the
certification for teaching. She can be hired as the full-time teacher. I failed to see how CMU understood her need
and accommodations – not even trying to help her out but trying to fail her.
How helpful of them!
She was teaching hard of hearing class and from the UM view she was supposed to speak which she could not. She needed an interpreter to make her students understand her . The cochlear implants is problematic for the deaf. Students who use the cochlear system generally speak and cannot sign so the problem stem from that. The university is making a case that if you have the implants and teaching students who are using implants, why the need for an interpreter? It is problematic to answer this question, but the university must be flexible in this regard. As a deaf or hard of hearing student, she has the right to request for accommodation for a back up purpose even if she was able to speak coherently.
Kelly was my middle scho cheerleading coach and as a team we rarely had a hard time understanding her. She speaks clearly and is easily understood. I cannot believe that anyone who has truly been around Kelly would think she is unable to teach!
Doesn’t mean she can understand you as well as you can understand her. Keep that in mind.
What?! That does not make any sense! The issue is very clear! Rood & Edwards/CMU are breaking the law. Antigreed has stated it well. I hope Laatsch will fight this and not relent. Good luck!
she can be a teacher with deaf and hard of hearing some hearing people are blind and hurt the deaf world they want to work it is their life and hearing sure not do bad toward them saying they cant get their diploma yes they can their would be law suit if they are not doing what they want
frmatmn2ashes - I suggest that you do some research on the American’s with Disabilities Act. Even in the “real world” she is entitled to reasonable accommodations if she fits the definition of a person with a disability. Additionally, under Title III of the ADA, any place of public accommodation whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, stadium, etc. must provide accommodations. So in theory, almost anywhere she goes she is entitled to accommodations. That may not always be interpreters services, but whatever is deemed reasonable for her to participate at a level of her hearing counterparts. Perhaps we don’t have all the facts in this case, but if they are trying to deny her a degree because she needs accommodations, I think the Office of Civil Rights is going to have a field day with this one. Good luck, Kelly!
you may teach deaf kids if you have a BA in DEAF education. but the point is cmu doesn’t have a deaf education program, therefore she has to pursue for deaf education for her MA… but she said she plans to teach deaf kids right out of BA program.. can’t do that, unless your teaching while your a grad student for MA in deaf ed.
i think every deaf student has the right to have interpreter what does this have anything to do with having a “teaching degree” students who are achieving their dreams should not be shatter. They are not deaf and DUMB! She has every right by law to have interpter if she has cochlear implant or not or can or can’t talk. The deaf are human just like hearing people except we cant hear. STOP THE DISCRIMINATION! let her graduate and fulfill her dreams to help deaf,hard of hearing and hearing students stand up for themselves and not let anyone get in the way. I have been down that road. keep going. you go girl! dont give up
Why would a university not tell her this from the start. That is just a definite lawsuit that any lawyer should jump on. They literally just took her money and now want her to move on into a master’s to get more money from her or just accept an “arts” degree. Come on.
I have a deaf sister and am well informed of the deaf culture. What people don’t realize is how cochlear implants work. Cochlear implants amplify the sound, you still have some hearing impairment. It is not as if you are completely cured and “oh my I can hear everything”. The whole cochlear implant thing is an argument against why she doesn’t need an interpreter is irrelevant. Who ever said that does not know anything about cochlear implants or deaf culture.
AUDISM is alive and well! Those of you that know nothing of deafness need to not comment. Cochlear implant or not, speech or not, if she is Deaf then she has the right to interpreters (reasonable accommodations) according to the ADA which is federal law! They are breaking the law, pure and simple. How assinine to think she needs to be “weaned” off of interpreters. Would you wean a blind person off of a seeing eye dog? Would you wean a paraplegic off of a wheelchair? What is the ignorance surrounding deafness in 2012? And just because a Deaf person speaks well does not mean they can hear well. The ACLU will win this for her.
something I was young boy the no skill with technical for interpreter. I knew something in 1973 to 74. Was not good for me reason the time not many skilled with Technical no body to now I knew reason most interpreter not know nothing reason blurrr bad. I removed 100% out I my own studay then working grow up until 1996 closed with my love Kodak! Now I work for kodak what ??? My job on Field Engineer for Kodak copier.then closed in 1996.
Reason point the teacher is out of order! must be teacher learn with ASL for Technical surely 100% fail.No Reason that why I have tp say I am DARE of all hear think DEAF CAN”T no WAY I CAN FIX MANY INTO DEEP TO BE RIGHT THINGS AND LESS NOISEY. THANK YOU
DUANE OWENS
Please look at the American With Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The laws are quite clear. I would get an attorney. Despite the fact that the laws are quite clear the task at hand is difficult to accomplish. Good luck to you.
Let her back to deaf schools or deaf students under mainstreaming schools where take because of long wait to enroll one deaf school in each area or only state. Go to
Gallaudet University that only deaf university campus with best deaf things in the world and without any interpreter. NTID or CSUN offers, too. Repeat same story with Mrs. Reed who grew up and spoke that made excited hearing people, but she married to ASL deaf husband and taught at deaf school many years long ago according to this historical book.
For those of you who believe that she doesn’t not need an interpreter, by law, not just from ADA but also others, she has the right to an interpreter. For those who believe she will have a barrier with the students she will teach, there will be non for she wishes to teach deaf and hard of hearing. CMU is breaking so many laws regarding her education. In no way should the say ever that she needs to ween off an interpreter. This is oppression. I’ve seen this way too much from hearing people, and I feel disgusted knowing that this is what my culture is doing to the Deaf culture. I am proud to be of service to the Deaf community, I only wish people would truly see and hear with their eyes then with their ears. Then and only then will the oppression and abuse stop.
March 1, 2012
The question is… why wouldn’t CMU place Laatsch, a candidate for B.A. degree in Deaf Education, at a school where deaf and hard of hearing children mingle, such as: Michigan School for the Deaf? I went through a similar experience myself. I was assigned to do my student teaching in two schools and survived without an interpreter in the classroom. This was before ADA was passed.
It takes a brave (publicly funded) organization to go up against the ADA. Maybe this will be the one that overturns it but probably not. Just know that even though you lost this battle there are millions of idiots out there who have your back. The states that yearly try and overturn Roe v Wade, the eager Congresspeople lining up to vote for PIPA/SOPA and hell even the Flat Earth Society feel your pain. Maybe in Utopia/Heaven/Idiocracy your dream can be realized but for now have you considered joining with these groups to form a coalition?
FOR TAXPAPERS, AVOID SENDING DEAF PEOPLE TO BE ON WELFARE FOR LIFETIME! SUPPORT DEAF PEOPLE TO GET DEGREES IN ORDER TO FIND JOBS.
My mom graduated from CMU in 1999, she is blind and used a seeing eye dog for mobility around campus and while she was student teaching within 2 different school systems in the area. She also used adaptive equipment for reading and correcting students work. She was one of the persons involved in CMU getting up to date with the students with disabilities act. With that said, how is it that using an interpreter to communicate and teach is any different than my mother using a CCTV to read and correct a child’s homework, having an aide in a classroom assisting her with certain tasks within the room (like bring up computer programs in which the students use because the adaptive software interferes with the program). I hate to say it, but this perpetuates the level of ignorance that is within the state of Michigan’s educational system. I feel for Kelly. Her struggles shouldn’t be there. She can teach in any school system. Her only issue is she is deaf, not stupid. Here she is trying to earn a degree and provide an income and NOT be on disability, making the state carry her. This makes my blood boil at the stupidity of people and the lack of understanding and in a way intelligence.
The university is simply breaking federal law. Both ADA and IDEA state that reasonable accommodations must be made. Hire a lawyer and make the bastards pay for this misguided professor.
IDEA only applies to elementary & secondary school, but if this school gets *any* federal funding, they’ve been required since 1977 to provide interpreters or other effective means of communication, under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If the school doesn’t get federal funds, then they’ve been required to provide effective communication to deaf students since 1992. It is 2012, and as Dr. King said, “justice to long delayed, is justice denied.” This woman needs a civil rights attorney, ASAP.