CAN DEAF & HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS SUCCEED IN MAINSTREAM CLASSROOMS?

The purpose of this commentary by Shirin Antia in Teachers College

Record is to discuss the issues surrounding the educational placement of

deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) students and puncture the myth that DHH

students in general education classrooms are doomed to academic failure.

Presently, about 63 percent of DHH students attend general education

classes for all or part of their school day. Despite their difficulties

in accessing classroom communication, they have higher achievement

scores than students attending special schools. Although one reason for

the increased achievement may be the difference in degree of hearing

loss, other contributors of increased achievement include access to the

general curriculum, high expectations for achievement, and the

availability of quality support services. Finally, it is likely that a

combination of facilitators, rather than a single "magic bullet"

accounts for the success of DHH students placed in general education

classrooms.

http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=13461