Deaf Education Resources

Question: Deaf people say they are not disabled but they are? .Deaf is also a disability. You have a loss of one of the 5 senses that enable a human being to be "normal"...This disability enables you to have the privilege to gain some accessibility to resources that you would nonetheless would not be allowed to have, just because you're "different."..You say that you are not disabled, should this mean that you should not be allowed to have: interpreters, closed/open captioning, CART, equal access to education, paper and pen, notification systems, TTYs, sign language...It is like you're saying that "I identify myself as deaf but I don't need all the accessibilities (mentioned above)." "I don't want to be treated "so" differently from other folks who think they are regular (so called "perfect") humans?"

Answer: Well , let me tell you this... I am Deaf myself. Do I feel disabled?..... Actually not really because I can communicate each other with sign language but....the sad part most Hearing people always think wrong about idea us and stereotype us or lack of understanding about Deaf people or culture. The saddest part are those people who are not Deaf and not knowing different people because they got ears to learn but they're not using it.

Question: Americans with Disability Act- Can I fight against my college? I am a 23 year old female with hearing loss that would be categorized as pretty severe (deaf in left, partially deaf in right). I attended culinary school from 2007 to 2009 and when I first went to speak with someone about accommodations, I was told there were none, was given a tiny tape recorder and that was it. The woman who was supposed to be my "counselor" sent a mass email to my chefs once or twice at the beginning of the first few quarters and pretty much disappeared. I didn't see or hear from her past that point. I never pursued the matter any further, as I believed that because the college is private and doesn't receive state funding, that I wouldn't get anything. To my total shock, today, I found out that under the Americans w/Disability Act, I AM in fact, entitled to an ASL interpreter, note takers, etc, etc. Do you believe I have enough for a case? I am absolutely furious because even though I did graduate w/honors, it took a TON of hard work and stress. Especially with my chefs from France! I could barely understand them! :( I would have done even better w/ an interpreter or even just a note taker. I just can't believe that they tried to get away without giving me resources they were required to do so by law. I could have taken Spanish (I took French in high school w/the assistance of an interpreter and note taker) which would have helped TREMENDOUSLY in the food-service industry (especially in Chicago where I'm from) but I was unable to and had to drop the class twice. I feel as if I missed out on opportunities that would have been available or more accessible if I had assistance. This is taken from this PDF document: http://www.scadservices.org/EE/images/uploads/PrivateColleges.pdf "This memorandum addresses the obligations of private colleges and universities to provide auxiliary aids and services to deaf students. There are two major federal laws which create this obligation. Since 1973, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. S794, as amended, has required colleges and universities which receive any federal financial assistance to provide interpreters to deaf students. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), P.L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq. (Title III), now requires this of all post-secondary education institutions, regardless of whether or not they receive federal financial assistance." THANKS! :) Mnwomen: did I ask you to answer twice? Nope. No damages? I would have been able to take Spanish which would have helped tremendously in the workforce as it seems that's our second language. But no, I wasn't able to. I took French and passed in high school thanks to amazing help from interpreters and note takers. So yes, I believe I could be further in life if they had given me assistance. And I'm not out for money for any other sort of damages. This is an issue I think only certain people can really understand as I'm seeing from answers.

Answer: np.

Question: Want to be a veterinarian - need educational help? My friend's wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she could remember, but she didn't love high school and did the bare minimum to graduate. After that, she went to community college to get her prereqs out of the way and to save money. She's almost done and has hardly done any research into the schools and programs. Lately, she's all down about it, saying it's too late to apply (this year), her grades aren't good enough, she should've gone directly to a four-year college, her chances of being accepted aren't high so why bother, etc., and is talking about going to school for just as long for something she's not interested in, just for the salary. (She's already worked in the animal care field for over 5 years.) Does anyone, veterinarian or otherwise, have any tangible advice and/or resources for her? It's gotten to the point where I can't talk to her about it. I've changed my education path and goals so it's not like I'm not sympathetic, but I have a problem with her giving up so easily on a passion. Everything I suggest (interning/working at her vet, who offered; starting at vet tech school; applying for the hell of it to see where she falls short; interviewing vets; researching schools to tailor an application; etc) and all of my advice (you can't do high school and college over again so why obsess over the past; you've wanted to do this for so long you owe it to yourself to try; you know you personally won't do as well studying a subject you care nothing about; etc) fall on deaf ears. It's gotten to the point where I offered to research her list of schools and help her through all her applications, having done the same for myself several times, but I don't want to do the work for her. I don't know if she's scared, stubborn, selling herself short, hearing negative messages from others, comfortable in her routine, or what because she won't talk about it with me. I've been there/here, to a point, and I know that once I thought I had the tiniest inkling of what I wanted to do I had to get myself there, do my own research. But we're different people and I think (hope?) that I can help her a bit with the right information presented in the right way. Thanks

Answer: If she is passionate about animals, giving up will be the worst thing for her. There are other animal jobs instead of a veterinarian that she could look into. Ask her if she really wants some office job for the rest of her life. Don't worry yourself over her. Its her life and she's the one that's going to live it. You have been a really good friend so don't beat yourself up if she makes the wrong decisions. She'll learn from them.