CHAPTER 29

"Why is there a movement to close down residential schools for the deaf in this country?"

Money. Many deaf schools are not state-run, some operate with very little government funding. But why?
I believe that deaf schools should be state-run because deaf education is just as important as standard state school education. "Mainstreaming sounds like a great, inexspensive alternative to costly state-run schools". Mainstreaming law was not originally intended for deaf children rather is was a way to ensure that handicapped/disabled childrens individual needs. Instead it became an excuse to shift deaf education from residential schools into local day programs. It is said that many parents want their deaf kids to be "normal" but what is "normal"?
There are many advantages as well as disadvantages to residential schools. However, I feel as though the community should have more of a choice!

"The future of the schools depends on the support of the deaf community"