Ontario Deaf Schools Staff Layoffs

VIDEO [ASL/CC] - The layoff of 56 full-time staff from Ontario’s Provincial Schools will hurt the province’s most vulnerable students with disabilities and severely impact the families’ rights to accessible education.



TORONTO - Vulnerable students in Provincial Schools to suffer from layoffs. The Ministry is moving this work to contingent part-time workers, and away from support workers who have over 20 years’ experience and who have made significant impacts in the lives of parents and students with disabilities, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.



The layoff of 56 full-time staff from Ontario’s Provincial Schools will hurt the province’s most vulnerable students with disabilities and severely impact the families’ rights to accessible education. Ontario government reduces full-time workers who teach students with disabilities.



Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) said that the these students, who are Blind, Deaf, Deaf-Blind and learning disabled deserve far better from the Ministry of Education.



“The Ministry is moving this work to contingent part-time workers, and away from support workers who have over 20 years’ experience and who have made significant impacts in the lives of parents and students with disabilities,” Thomas said. “The move to part-time work will cheapen important programs that accommodate students in Ontario. Meanwhile, full-time social workers, residence counsellors, maintenance workers and support staff will be forced out the door.” ...READ MORE: http://www.nupge.ca/content/5866/vulnerable-students-provincial-schools-suffer-layoffs

A Hearing Mother Speaks out in Support of Deaf Children in Ontario.

Video by Wayne Nicholson



Hi! My name is Jeanette and I am a mother. I have a deaf son-he is 10 years old and he attends the school for the Deaf. I am not deaf as you can tell because I am speaking but I am choosing to send out this message-MY message in a video format to plea to other parents like myself that have chosen to send their child to a Provincial School. I think it is time that WE as a collective start a dialogue and have a discussion about important changes that will be coming down and have an impact on our children.

First of all, I just want to commend you on sending your child to a deaf school because I am sure it wasn't an easy decision for you. I know first hand how difficult it must be to be hearing and send a child to a deaf school and have them learn a different language probably different than the one you are speaking at home. So, you are very brave and as I I said I know how it feels because I do have a deaf child attending the school for the deaf and actually living in residence... Read more: http://youtu.be/K1Bbf8vB7n0

Something Fishy with the Ontario Deaf Education Today ?

Find more at http://www.deafontario.ca/

Arizona Deaf Schools: Students Protest, Demand Action

VIDEO: Arizona probes accusation of conflicts at Arizona Schools for the Deaf & Blind, Superintendent, board president focus of protests, complaints.



TUCSON, AZ. - Two state agencies are investigating the superintendent and board president of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for potential conflicts of interest and excessive travel expenses.



Superintendent Robert Hill and ASDB Board President Bernhardt Jones also have been the focus of multiple protests at school's two main campuses in Tucson and Phoenix over the last two weeks. Students, parents and former employees have called for the two to resign because of a lack of leadership and poor communication with the staff.



Among the concerns:



• Possible conflicts of interest: Hill and Jones have a private business relationship outside their ASDB positions. Jones is the director of TASK12, which administers the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment for a $310 testing fee. Hill is listed as a TASK12 local test administrator at classroominterpreting.org. Neither Hill nor Jones disclosed their roles with TASK12 to ASDB, its board of directors or the state. ...READ MORE: http://azstarnet.com/news/arizona-probes-accusation-of-conflicts-at-asdb/article_e301835a-402d-53fb-b9fa-66e87c65dfe4.html



Read Letter: PDF: Letter from Robert Hill to ASDB staff

Pigs, goats snatched from classrooms: Deaf students protest, demand action.

Outrage swirling at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. One administrator on leave. Another fired. And now students say even their animals are gone.



Arizona Schools for the Deaf & Blind Board of Directors: Acknowledge the vote of "No Confidence" in Superintendent Robert Hill - Five years ago, parents, staff, and community members gathered to ensure that Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind's campuses were truly accessible to American Sign Language (ASL) for the students and staff as well as fostering positive changes in the curriculum in order to advance deaf education.



Today, we find that our students' education is now at risk because of haphazard administrative decisions and questionable conduct by Superintendent Robert Hill, including several allegations of discriminatory conduct in regards to staff (female/sexual) and disability (Deaf).



Nearly 50 ASDB staff members have already personally signed the following statement: We, the members of the ASDB community including staff, parents, alumni, and friends, sign this petition as a Vote of No Confidence in Robert Hill's continued service as Superintendent of ASDB.



Robert Hill has demonstrated a continued failure to exhibit the professional integrity and leadership that is expected and required of the Superintendent of ASDB. Such failures include a fundamental refusal or inability to: ...More details at petition www.change.org petitions arizona schools for the deaf blind.

Deaf Teachers: An Open Letter To AG Bell Association

VIDEO [CC] - Deaf Progressivism: An Open Letter To AG Bell Association in American Sign Language.



In a response to Alexander Graham Bell Association's recent letter to teachers of the Deaf who sign with Deaf children. AG Bell are soliciting temporary memberships that offended many of us due to the exclusion of American Sign Language and labeling us teachers "hearing specialists".

Here is the link to Patti Durr's blog: http://handeyes.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/ya-basta-agbad-and-blue-tape/



Visit http://DeafProgressivism.blogspot.com/