Questions for Louisiana School f/t Deaf…
Amy Cohen Efron created two vlogs responding to an unfortunate event that happened at Louisiana School for the Deaf and in these vlogs, there are important questions regarding deaf children’s right to continue their education, LSD’s staff, teacher, and administrative responsibilities, and suggestions how to improve safety for deaf children everywhere. (Scroll down little bit to view vlogs.)
*** BREAKING NEWS *** Louisiana School for the Deaf students led peaceful protest to keep the school open. Carrying hand-lettered signs, some saying, “Save our School,” “We Love LSD,” and “We Want to Stay,” students marched up Brightside Drive, where the school is located.
“You’re making us miss out on our education,” said 19-year-old senior Brittney Lynch. “They’re forcing us to go home. That’s not fair. This is like our home.”
For more information, see article Deaf School protest ends peacefully
*************
It is important for all of us to realize that sexual abuse in deaf children usually happened at home, then at their community, and lastly, at their school.
Here is the PowerPoint presentation (see link here.) designed for social workers to understand the complexities of sexual and physical abuse in deaf children, especially understanding the linguistic and cultural barriers which deaf children face everyday.
This presentation based on the work of Emilie Edwards, Jennie Vaughn, & Karen Smith Rotabi at UNC School of Social Work and the title of the presentation is: Child Abuse Investigation and Treatment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: Ethical Practice and Policy.
Vlogs can be viewed here:
Lousiana School for the Deaf : Questions
Deaf Children Deserves Much More
(It was suggested that video, “Deaf Children Deserves Much More” needs to be transcribed. I welcome any assistance with this. Please contact me.)
Background stories for you to understand the complexity of the situation.
Louisiana Department of Education’s state superintendent, Paul Pastorek announced the suspension of student services at the Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) in Baton Rouge effective at the end of the school day on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.
All students are bused home for ‘days, not months’ to allow administrators time to implement broad changes to ensure the school is a safe place for children, state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek announced Tuesday.
See today’s article published in 2TheAdvocate.com
History of LSD
Louisiana School for the Deaf - History
Wikipedia on L.S.D.
Past abuse reports
LA School for the Deaf hires consultant following incidents and arrests
Teen accused of sex act with 6-year-old, both attend school for the deaf
The Advocate article
October 7, 2008 - Louisiana School for the Deaf - Temporarily Suspended/Closes
Jamie Berke’s About.Com Deafness Blog -published on October 7, 2008
Detailed reports and press releases:
Complete Story - Press Release dated October 7, 2008
Behavioral Consultants’ Report - 10/08/2008 : The State Department of Education hired consultants to study LSD and produce a report regarding behavioral issues at the school. To view a PDF file of this report, click here.
Louisiana Department of Education website - for any recent updates
October 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Hi,
you did a great job w the vlogs…
It is interesting because there are plenty of situations withing public schools such as the Columbine tragedy. The shootings are fatal but they did not stop education for the students. Didn’t they?
Louisianan Deaf children need equal access.
-Ali
October 9th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I wonder if your school have a program to help students, staff & parents to understand the sex abuse.
During my time at school for the deaf, we did not have the information. Yes, sex abuses happened at my school. I learned about the sex abuse from two alumnus after I graduated.
I looked up and read the info at
Stop It Now
It would be nice to have one Stop It Now for the Deaf children in the U.S.A. We have to stop it for the deaf kids’ sake!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Allison; I checked, It appear that Columbine tragedy did put on hold the student’s education. Since it occured in April. School did not re start till August. For obvious reason, investigator need to protect the site, in order to gather evidence. Somebody correct, if I am wrong.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:28 am
It very unfortunately situation that had happened among deaf children who are abused by adult. They all definitely will need some kind of counseling to help them to continue function in their own life. I have to agree with u that once school is closed and it’s hard to open again. Amy, thank for this spread vlog to deaf community so that they will be aware of it. Thumb up!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I hear that they had a hearing person comment about the situtation at LSD and this hearing person has little or not much experience with Deaf or Deaf Culture commenting for the newspaper. This person said that this was happening at all deaf schools. Why does he have to say that when it is not true but instead happening at some and why did this person not say it was a nationwide problem at both hearing and deaf schools. This once again gives the wrong impression of Deaf schools just like what was happening with Gallaudet’s protest.