First National Deaf Education Reform Leadership Summit Held

Recognizing the decades - old problem of academic and functional underachievement for many students who are deaf or hard of hearing, a grassroots effort to address issues and challenges in deaf education was led by Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Ed.D., and a group of stakeholders across the U.S. . A Planning committee called the National State Leaders Summit, hosted a conference on improving deaf educationon April 26-27, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia . This was the first time that state leaders from various state agencies, schools and programs for the deaf and hard of hearing came together with parents for the purpose of working to improve outcomes for all children and youth who are deaf and hard of hearing. Hands & Voices was well represented, including representatives from Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as Hands & Voices National. The conference far exceeded our expectations. Our goal was 60 participants representing 20 state teams. In attendance were 125 participants representing 35 state teams. This level of interest further reinforced the recognition that we must collaborate with all of our resources to find solutions to assure that every deaf or hard of hearing child has the opportunity for full access to an appropriate educational program based on his/her communication needs, that every deaf or hard of hearing child is expected and supported to achieve the same as his/her hearing peers, that every deaf or hard of hearing child has the opportunity for authentic peer interactions and relationships, and that every deaf or hard of hearing child is expected to be a contributing member of his/her community in adult life.

Five states, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, and Arizona, presented their programs of implementation on deaf education reform initiatives. However, all participants acknowledged the realities of our public education systems that continue to prevent many basic rights to access and communication from prevailing. The group recognized that until we achieve the 1:1 rule (minimally one year's growth in one year's time) we, the education system, are failing these children. Keynotes by Cheryl Johnson (President of Hands & Voices National Board of Directors), Lawrence Siegel, Jay Innes, Jamie Tucker, NASDSE's Gaylen Pugh, John Luckner and Leeanne Seaver, were among many excellent presentations that explored many facets of deaf education reform.

Conference Director Cheryl Johnson said, "at this time we are short on solutions--at least those that have evidence to support they make a difference in educational outcomes. No matter what we have tried in the last thirty years of special education, we have not been able to significantly raise the overall academic performance of DHH students." Identified values were articulated:

• We must persist.
• We need systemic and systematic change.
• We need accountability to assure no DHH child is left behind.
• We need to maximize our resources as teacher and interpreter shortages increase.
• We need to recognize the changing needs of DHH students.
• We need to maximize the benefits of early identification and intervention.
• And we need to accept that we are about ALL DHH children--all communication modes, all placements, all languages and those with additional disabilities. Our profession has demonstrated that we have passion. It is time that we channel it in a unified way towards the same purpose and without prejudice.

The Planning committee recognized the assistance of the many sponsors and supporters, in particular, Joe Finnegan and CEASD for their flexibility and support in allowing this meeting to be scheduled just preceding their annual meeting. This collaboration allowed participants to minimize travel expenses, and time out of their busy schedules. The conference facilitators, Carol Massanari, Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center, Jay Innes, Gallaudet Leadership Institute and Rhonda Tyree, of the Southeast Regional Resource Center also deserve recognition.

Sponsors whose contributions made this meeting possible included the Colorado Department of Education, the Nebraska Department of Education, Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center, Southeast Regional Resource Center, and Gallaudet University Regional Center at Flagler College .

Supporters included CEASD, NASDSE, CAID, DECSEA, GLI, Hands & Voices, the National Center on Low Incidence Disabilities and the National Deaf Education Project.

Finally, this conference would not have been possible without a generous grant from the Marion Downs Hearing Center funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mission of the Marion Downs Center is to provide services, resources, education and research to support the needs of individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, their families and professionals. All activities value individual and family choice in communication needs and technology, and strive to optimize the quality of life for all who are served. The Marion Downs Hearing Center has recognized that hearing loss becomes a problem only when access and resources are not provided in a way that supports and promotes the basic rights to communication and learning.

The Conference Planning Committee:

. Cheryl D Johnson, Chair, Colorado Department of Education

. Robert Hill, Nebraska Department of Education

. Carol Massanari, Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center

. Frank Nesbit, Georgia Department of Education

. Leeanne Seaver, Hands & Voices

. Ron Stern, New Mexico School for the Deaf

NEXT STEPS

Plans are already underway for the 2005 Conference, tentatively scheduled for May 12 & 13 in California . Every state represented is directed to bring its leadership team which has been identified as these three stakeholder representatives: superintendents of state schools for the deaf, state department of education deaf/hard of hearing program consultants or administrators, and a parent leader. Hands & Voices strongly encourages parents in existing or start-up H&V chapters to contact your state department of education and let the state d/hh consultant know that you are interested and available to participate in this important endeavor.

All reports and presentations from the 2005 Leadership Summit conference will be available on the internet at www.ndepnow.org (NDEP is National Deaf Education Project), a website that exists thanks to the collaboration between NDEP and Hands & Voices, co-sponsors of this internet resource.