Deaf Girl Teased for Using Sign Language; School Bans Sign Language, Threatens Deaf Girl – Update

By Duane Lester - June 8, 2010 - 36 Comments -

Typical government school bureaucratic response.

A young deaf girl was using sign language on a noisy bus when her fellow travelers started making fun of her and the other girls using sign. In response, the school decides to ban sign language on the bus and threatens the deaf student with a three day suspension if she tries to communicate with her friends:

Danica’s parents told the paper that other students who rode to school with their daughter made fun of her, and refused to stay in their seats as they teased other girls who were using sign language. They said school officials are singling out Danica and not addressing those who should really be reprimanded.

…

In a statement released through the school district’s attorney, David Rubin, the Branchburg Board of Education refused to discuss the details of Danica’s case, saying only that its version of events differs from the parents’ version.

However, the board insisted it has not violated anyone’s rights and is only trying to protect other students who must ride on the school bus.

“The Board is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities, and is satisfied that there has been no violation of that policy in this case,” officials said in the statement. “The Board is also committed to assuring the safety of all students who travel on District buses, and will continue to take appropriate steps to accomplish that goal.”

Seems to me that if the school were truly trying to do the right thing, they would punish the students who were out of their seats making fun of a disabled student, rather than telling the disabled student it was all her fault and not to do it again.

Update -

Via Freeper Dallas59:

A hearing-impaired New Jersey girl will not be barred from using sign language on her school bus as long as she obeys all the district’s safety rules.

Danica Lesko, 12, was told by her school principal last month that she would be suspended for three days if she did not stop, because the use of sign language was “disruptive.”

District officials in Branchburg were soon bombarded with calls and e-mails from people and groups around the country, who questioned why the ban was needed. The issue also was the topic of several talk radio shows.

Seems to me that signing would be very quiet. How exactly does it become a disruption?

Update 2 -

Linked at Linkiest. Thanks, John.

[912]

http://beartwinsmom.wordpress.com Michelle

This is completely asinine. So, they're basically forbidding her to talk in *her* language, but the other kids can talk. Let's protect the bullies and not help the children who need help.

I'm so incensed.
My recent post This is what 40 looks like
http://beartwinsmom.wordpress.com Michelle

This is completely asinine. So, they're basically forbidding her to talk in *her* language, but the other kids can talk. Let's protect the bullies and not help the children who need help.

I'm so incensed.
My recent post This is what 40 looks like
http://www.moms4sarahpalin.net Tami

As the daughter in law of a deaf couple, I am absolutely dumbfounded by this story. So kids can speak spanish or any other language on an English speaking bus, but a girl who can only speak by means of sign language or speech that is barely understood by even the best listener (if she's a normal deaf person) cannot speak?? I hope her family sues this district for all it's worth and makes a spectacle the likes of which you've never seen!
My recent post The Very Reason I Created This Blog
http://www.moms4sarahpalin.net Tami

As the daughter in law of a deaf couple, I am absolutely dumbfounded by this story. So kids can speak spanish or any other language on an English speaking bus, but a girl who can only speak by means of sign language or speech that is barely understood by even the best listener (if she's a normal deaf person) cannot speak?? I hope her family sues this district for all it's worth and makes a spectacle the likes of which you've never seen!
My recent post The Very Reason I Created This Blog
AgInH-Town

As usual these days, stupidity reigns supreme. My daughter, although totally hearing enabled (though at times I'm not quite convinced of this), chose ASL (American Sign Language) as her option for a "foreign language requirement" in high school. Frankly, I applaud her for that. She could have continued with Spanish (which she had had 2 years of already) but she decided on something different. I'm sure if they had been discussing the homosexual exploits of one or the others women-on-women or man-on-man "same sex" parenting, it would have been perfectly OK. It is truly amazing these days what is considered acceptable/non-acceptable behavior. Of course, given who is running the show in the White House ('time for some ass-kicking'), is it really that surprising?

Scott Isaacs

"Obama's fiddling while the Gulf is fouled!" "Oh dear Lord, the President said 'ass' on television!" If you don't like President Obama, you have to choose whether you want him to be angry or not in public. You can't complain that he's emotionless while the Gulf of Mexico is being destroyed and then when he shows signs of anger by telling a reporter he talks to all these experts so as to identify whose asses need to be kicked promptly single him out as the chief contributor to the destruction of our culture and our children's morals. Morals, principles and character are 100% dependent upon the foundation that you (yes, if you have procreated and are reading this, YOU) lay for your children and you lay that foundation by teaching by example and consistently giving a negative response to bad behavior. The original poster, nor anyone else, gets to use any of the popular cop outs that many children treat each other with cruelty and that some act like military school rejects because the President cursed to Matt Lauer or because homosexuals have sex, marriage certificates or families. The decline of the behavior of young people in America is directly and solely attributable to people abandoning personal responsibility for the actions of their children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews or cousins and blaming instead something, anything, else that they don't like in our society. Sack up and put what little character you have on display by leading by example… people in the rear of a bayonet charge don't get the opportunity to lead it and the veterans who survive it will call them "REMFs." Those without delicate sensibilities can guess what that means, ask a Vietnam/Afghanistan/Iraq veteran or contact me to find out.

w xengen

Isaacs, you are an idiot!

http://www.gsiblog.com Scott Isaacs

That's some sharp verbal elbows and a tantalizing rational explanation of my stupidity. That's impressive. I sincerely hope you lacked the time to write more or else I'll be forced to feel sorry for you. LOL

AgInH-Town

As usual these days, stupidity reigns supreme. My daughter, although totally hearing enabled (though at times I'm not quite convinced of this), chose ASL (American Sign Language) as her option for a "foreign language requirement" in high school. Frankly, I applaud her for that. She could have continued with Spanish (which she had had 2 years of already) but she decided on something different. I'm sure if they had been discussing the homosexual exploits of one or the others women-on-women or man-on-man "same sex" parenting, it would have been perfectly OK. It is truly amazing these days what is considered acceptable/non-acceptable behavior. Of course, given who is running the show in the White House ('time for some ass-kicking'), is it really that surprising?

Scott Isaacs

"Obama's fiddling while the Gulf is fouled!" "Oh dear Lord, the President said 'ass' on television!" If you don't like President Obama, you have to choose whether you want him to be angry or not in public. You can't complain that he's emotionless while the Gulf of Mexico is being destroyed and then when he shows signs of anger by telling a reporter he talks to all these experts so as to identify whose asses need to be kicked promptly single him out as the chief contributor to the destruction of our culture and our children's morals. Morals, principles and character are 100% dependent upon the foundation that you (yes, if you have procreated and are reading this, YOU) lay for your children and you lay that foundation by teaching by example and consistently giving a negative response to bad behavior. The original poster, nor anyone else, gets to use any of the popular cop outs that many children treat each other with cruelty and that some act like military school rejects because the President cursed to Matt Lauer or because homosexuals have sex, marriage certificates or families. The decline of the behavior of young people in America is directly and solely attributable to people abandoning personal responsibility for the actions of their children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews or cousins and blaming instead something, anything, else that they don't like in our society. Sack up and put what little character you have on display by leading by example… people in the rear of a bayonet charge don't get the opportunity to lead it and the veterans who survive it will call them "REMFs." Those without delicate sensibilities can guess what that means, ask a Vietnam/Afghanistan/Iraq veteran or contact me to find out.

w xengen

Isaacs, you are an idiot!

http://www.gsiblog.com Scott Isaacs

That's some sharp verbal elbows and a tantalizing rational explanation of my stupidity. That's impressive. I sincerely hope you lacked the time to write more or else I'll be forced to feel sorry for you. LOL

http://intensedebate.com/people/dogwings2943 Andrew Riley

I don't speak sign language, but I do have one fairly universal hand gesture that the school board might understand.
http://intensedebate.com/people/dogwings2943 Andrew Riley

I don't speak sign language, but I do have one fairly universal hand gesture that the school board might understand.
http://www.gsiblog.com/ Scott Isaacs

I think this would be what they tend to call an excellent "teachable moment." You take all the kids from the bus that were taunting the girl using sign language to communicate and then you make them wear ear protection from a heavy industrial zone at school for an entire week which, in the absence of the sounds of loud machinery, will render them artificially deaf. They then spend that week learning what it is like for the target of their ridicule to live each and every single day as a deaf person in a world designed to cater to those that can hear. Then, after that week is up, repeat the experiment with the entire school's student population to give them a taste of someone's perspective besides their own because part of learning how to successfully relate to other people is learning how to comprehend their perspective on life and then empathize with it. Simply sending these ignorant, selfish, snot-nosed little bullies to detention for taunting a deaf girl isn't going to teach anyone anything. Well, I take that back… it will teach the deaf girl that when the administration punishes bullies, the bullies finish their punishment after nursing a vicious grudge and then seek out their original victim to take it out on.
http://www.gsiblog.com/ Scott Isaacs

I think this would be what they tend to call an excellent "teachable moment." You take all the kids from the bus that were taunting the girl using sign language to communicate and then you make them wear ear protection from a heavy industrial zone at school for an entire week which, in the absence of the sounds of loud machinery, will render them artificially deaf. They then spend that week learning what it is like for the target of their ridicule to live each and every single day as a deaf person in a world designed to cater to those that can hear. Then, after that week is up, repeat the experiment with the entire school's student population to give them a taste of someone's perspective besides their own because part of learning how to successfully relate to other people is learning how to comprehend their perspective on life and then empathize with it. Simply sending these ignorant, selfish, snot-nosed little bullies to detention for taunting a deaf girl isn't going to teach anyone anything. Well, I take that back… it will teach the deaf girl that when the administration punishes bullies, the bullies finish their punishment after nursing a vicious grudge and then seek out their original victim to take it out on.
Seth

I saw this story this morning, posted in someone's FB status. I'm not sure why it's getting so much traction right now, but apparently the story is 9 years old. It happened in April, 2001. There was an update about it in December, 2007, in Deafweekly. Whether you find the ban justified or appalling, it's old, and hopefully it's been resolved by now. Here's the update (http://www.deafweekly.com/backissues/121907.htm):

STUDENT REFILES LAWSUIT AFTER SIGNING BAN

A deaf New Jersey student who was banned from using sign language on a school bus in 2001 has refiled a lawsuit against Brfanchburg Stony Brook school board and officials. Danica Lesko, who turned 18 in January, has been waiting for justice for seven years, her father, John Lesko, told The Star-Ledger. Danica’s parents contend the ban “set off a chain of events that emotionally traumatized” their daughter and brought in a traumatist who found the youth “mistrustful and defensive.” Said John Lesko: “All we want is to get in front of an impartial jury and be heard.”

Sarah

I don't know why the fact that this story is 9 years old is getting lost (not just here, but many places I've seen it posted). It's infuriating, but I'd rather direct my outrage toward something current.

Seth

I saw this story this morning, posted in someone's FB status. I'm not sure why it's getting so much traction right now, but apparently the story is 9 years old. It happened in April, 2001. There was an update about it in December, 2007, in Deafweekly. Whether you find the ban justified or appalling, it's old, and hopefully it's been resolved by now. Here's the update (http://www.deafweekly.com/backissues/121907.htm):

STUDENT REFILES LAWSUIT AFTER SIGNING BAN

A deaf New Jersey student who was banned from using sign language on a school bus in 2001 has refiled a lawsuit against Brfanchburg Stony Brook school board and officials. Danica Lesko, who turned 18 in January, has been waiting for justice for seven years, her father, John Lesko, told The Star-Ledger. Danica’s parents contend the ban “set off a chain of events that emotionally traumatized” their daughter and brought in a traumatist who found the youth “mistrustful and defensive.” Said John Lesko: “All we want is to get in front of an impartial jury and be heard.”

Sarah

I don't know why the fact that this story is 9 years old is getting lost (not just here, but many places I've seen it posted). It's infuriating, but I'd rather direct my outrage toward something current.

BigAl

Seems to me this is going to be a very rich little girl at the expense of the taxpayers who were ill served by these school officials.
BigAl

Seems to me this is going to be a very rich little girl at the expense of the taxpayers who were ill served by these school officials.
Dave

Duane, you just didn't realize that the school district thought the girl was a ninja practicing maneuvers on the bus and not merely using sign language.

And these are the people responsible for educating our children? We're doomed…
Dave

Duane, you just didn't realize that the school district thought the girl was a ninja practicing maneuvers on the bus and not merely using sign language.

And these are the people responsible for educating our children? We're doomed…
NJ Guy

Something lost in all this — here we see a great example of what happens in a group (the NJEA in this case) where their past inhibits the present. They have, for decades, sought out to codify every human behavior so they would have a rule book to hide behind. Common sense, reasoned judgment, adult responsibility — all out the window. If you think PC has gone overboard, this is like the psycho wing of the PC world. My son graduated from HS 4 years ago. His school had a rule book that would exhaust you to read. One particular rule, that took countless hours to develop, ran several pages. It dealt with 'free speech' code. It stipulated that no one could ever say anything that ever upset anyone else in any manner about any topic. In a school. Right. "Sorry, Johnny but that's the wrong answer" —- ooops!
NJ Guy

Something lost in all this — here we see a great example of what happens in a group (the NJEA in this case) where their past inhibits the present. They have, for decades, sought out to codify every human behavior so they would have a rule book to hide behind. Common sense, reasoned judgment, adult responsibility — all out the window. If you think PC has gone overboard, this is like the psycho wing of the PC world. My son graduated from HS 4 years ago. His school had a rule book that would exhaust you to read. One particular rule, that took countless hours to develop, ran several pages. It dealt with 'free speech' code. It stipulated that no one could ever say anything that ever upset anyone else in any manner about any topic. In a school. Right. "Sorry, Johnny but that's the wrong answer" —- ooops!
LarryG

That’s OK. Those kids are just liberals doing their apprenticeship. As for the adults, they’re journeymen. This is just the lefty idea of freespeech. Despicable behavior.
LarryG

That’s OK. Those kids are just liberals doing their apprenticeship. As for the adults, they’re journeymen. This is just the lefty idea of freespeech. Despicable behavior.
Son of Bob

These are the idiots that are "teaching" children across the country. Why is it that everyone is supposed to fawn over "educators," as if their career choices make them Sister Theresa? This is why homeschooling has become so popular. The public school system is a joke run by morons only interested in making as little work for themselves as possible, despite already having the entire summer off for vacation every year. If they have their way, at some point all students will be sitting in chairs with their wrists strapped to the chair arms all day, so that the "educators" don't have to be burdened with the realities of children being children.
Son of Bob

These are the idiots that are "teaching" children across the country. Why is it that everyone is supposed to fawn over "educators," as if their career choices make them Sister Theresa? This is why homeschooling has become so popular. The public school system is a joke run by morons only interested in making as little work for themselves as possible, despite already having the entire summer off for vacation every year. If they have their way, at some point all students will be sitting in chairs with their wrists strapped to the chair arms all day, so that the "educators" don't have to be burdened with the realities of children being children.
mixplix

Call the Governor, I'll bet he would breath fire down the necks of those school officials.
mixplix

Call the Governor, I'll bet he would breath fire down the necks of those school officials.
Robinater4223

wouldn't this be completely undisruptive since they were probably making no noise at all? how dumb
Robinater4223

wouldn't this be completely undisruptive since they were probably making no noise at all? how dumb
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