I was born deaf to a mother who is deaf and a father who can hear. My parents raised me in the oral deaf tradition, in which I attended public schools before they made accommodations for students with disabilities. I did not learn American Sign Language until I was an adult. I know that the way that my parents chose to raise me, educate me, and advocate for me allowed me to be successful working and living in hearing communities. Yet I wish that American Sign Language and Deaf Culture could also have been part of my upbringing and education. That's why I was proud to have served on the Advisory Board for the National Deaf Education project. The National Deaf Education Project seeks to raise communications-driven educational standards for students who are deaf or hard of hearing so that they can communicate effectively and lead successful lives.
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<br/>The Project focuses on reforming education to support the development of communication, language, and literacy skills among students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Founded in 1998, the Project promotes mandated reform that focuses on language-driven education, including annual communication and language assessments, language development programs, and access to communications and language systems for all deaf and hard of hearing children and youth. To that end, the National Deaf Education Project seeks legal recognition that all students with hearing impairments have a basic human right to communication and language, provides education about implementing language-driven programs for deaf and hard of hearing students, and pursues advocacy to support educational initiatives throughout the United States of America on both state and national levels. To learn more, visit ndepnow.org/.
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