Does a public school have to provide sign language for a hard of hearing child? NY?

Answer 1

They have to make accomodations for the education I am not sure sign language would be required, but find out what they are wanting to do instead. If you feel sign language is the only way to go you can always appeal their decision and have a hearing. I have enlcosed a website with all the information on education law in the US.

Answer 2

Under Federal law (the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) any child is entitled to reasonable accomodations. The state or the school system cannot legally deny accomodations.

What constitutes reasonable accomodations, however, can vary from one case to the next. For instance, if the child has some hearing and can use hearing aids, the school could reasonably insist on that instead of an interpreter in man cases.

Also, an interpreter may not be required for the entire school day--that of course depends on the classes and how they are presented, etc. And obviously, if a teacher or teachers can sign, that may also be considered adequate (in fact, thats the best of all possible solutions anyway).

But--the bottom line is tha tif an interpreter is needed, the school does have to provide it-though you might have to do some shoving--some schools are not above ignoring the law if they think they can get away with it.

Answer 3

This is something that would have to be determined when the IEP is done. If sign language is the primary form of communication used with a student..both for seaking to the student and being spoken to...the school could be required to provide an aide with signing skills. However, in most of the cases I have worked with as a parent advocate, when a child uses sign almost exclusively for communication, the school system tend to refer the child to placement in a private school that specializes in teaching deaf students.

However, if the child does have some hearing (with or without the use of a hearing aide) and has some spoken language, the school may try to find a way to accomodate.

Again, weather these services would be provided would be determined by the placement/assesment testing done prior to implementing an IEP.

Answer 4

You would be surprised at how many districts provide an interpreter for a student just because he/she has a hearing loss. If the child does not sign, there is no need for an interpreter. The district is required to provide the modifications that the child study team put in the IEP. Whether it is an interpreter, an FM system, or a teacher of the deaf, the district is required to provide it. Remember, the parents are part of the child study team!

Answer 5

Under Idea students with an IEP can be provided services such as a sign language interpreter. However... from my experience as a ASL interpreter and a Sped teacher in training living in NY, I have observed many school districts that won't hire interpreters but rather provide AM systems and other modifications to their students instead of paying for an interpreter. Speak up and tell the school that you want an interpreter.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Are you asking as a parent, teacher or administrator?
If that is what the student needs to participate receptivly in the mainstream classroom, then parents/or teacher should insist.
There are all degrees of functioning with both deaf or hard of hearing, it is such an individual issue. The degree of hearing loss should not be the only factor in determining students' need of interpreter. I would ask for testing to be done both with sign and voice and voice alone. If there is a significant difference, showing that sign helps then that is what the kid needs. If the kid doesn't know sign, then it would be better to teach signs first rather than throw an interpreter at the kid. I guess it depends too on age. I have a kindergardener, HH who has two older siblings who later had to learn sign due to their comprehension problems so mom has decided not to wait and see, so we gave him an interprer this year in K.I will guess that in two years he won't need her.
Other parents are adament about speech/oral only. There is an boy in our neighboring school who really needs an interpreter but parents refuse...
I have 3 HH 5th graders now, and two are fully mainstreamed w/o FM system, just personal amplification. The third is fully resourced w/ oral but with sign support for receptive.
A HH 6th grader of mine fully mainstreamed w/ FM system and interpreter (also have 6 Deaf fully mainstreamed at grade level w/ interpreters and two Deaf part time mainstream-part time resource for reading and language.

I'm in a public school and have worked in a state school just for the deaf and our policy is if the student required more than 61% of the day in resource that he/she may need to go to the state program for the deaf. Seldom saw HH in that school.

Answer 7

Have to be evaluated to determine the services needed...maybe just a hearing aid or maybe an aide (person) that specializes in hearing impairments to take notes & communicate with teachers & classmates. It all depends what your school district resources are and the extent of the need of your child. It can be a long process to get evaluated, identified and have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) implemented. Good Luck!

Answer 8

It's the responsibility of both the parents and school to provide early intervention programme tohard of hearing child. Sometimes a hearing aid may solve the purpose.If then it continues then it's better to keep the child in Special schools meant for hearing impaired childrenfor some years and then in normal schools.

Answer 9

specific that's supplied in some severe colleges around america of a. It fairly varies and relies upon on the college board. this is something that should be reported to them, i think of with a petition perchance? There should be adequate pastime and income the funds to justify the fee of including this direction. I mean what are the possibilities of a individual utilising German in america of a as antagonistic to ASL?? ASL is used in america of a greater than German. which will nicely be a competent argument. community colleges coach ASL and are not that high priced as antagonistic to state colleges.