"Canada’s Accessibility Law must recognize sign language nationally. It would be fatal for our province and country to overlook the urgency to protect our Deaf children’s right to equitable education and language acquisition. Rights for only some are rights for none." Kimberly Churchill, TEDxStJohns
The World Federation of the Deaf tells us that early exposure to sign language and multilingualism combined with strong family support for sign language, best prepares deaf children for their future effective participation in society. If it doesn’t happen before they start school or in their early formative years their chance for success drops significantly and tragically their mental health suffers drastically. 92% of DHH children have hearing parents, many of who have never met a Deaf adult. They often receive misinformation, biased guidance and do not realize their right to make more than one choice.
Deaf children’s success in acquiring language at age appropriate levels when exposed to sign language is well documented; however the majority of deaf children continue to be denied exposure to a visual language. "It is a denial of their human right to language and the ineffective educational system policies that perpetuate this injustice. This failure by the educational system to acknowledge a deaf child’s visual experience of the world does not reflect the deaf child’s full potential." (LEAD-K)
The lack of early and fully accessible visual language exposure may be a contributing factor to the low levels of reading achievement in the deaf population. Children are born ready to learn, but for more than a quarter of a million children living in North America who are deaf, they do not have access to the appropriate resources and support to succeed.
It is well documented that globally deaf children face many barriers to education.
According to LEAD-K, "Deaf children are not learning language through the current methodology..." As stated by Sheri Farinha, " We are experiencing an epidemic of language deprivation."
American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) Recognition Campaign at Confederation Building on September 22 12:30-1:15pm
Canadian Association of the Deaf position statement
The World Federation of the Deaf tells us that early exposure to sign language and multilingualism combined with strong family support for sign language, best prepares deaf children for their future effective participation in society. If it doesn’t happen before they start school or in their early formative years their chance for success drops significantly and tragically their mental health suffers drastically. 92% of DHH children have hearing parents, many of who have never met a Deaf adult. They often receive misinformation, biased guidance and do not realize their right to make more than one choice.
Deaf children’s success in acquiring language at age appropriate levels when exposed to sign language is well documented; however the majority of deaf children continue to be denied exposure to a visual language. "It is a denial of their human right to language and the ineffective educational system policies that perpetuate this injustice. This failure by the educational system to acknowledge a deaf child’s visual experience of the world does not reflect the deaf child’s full potential." (LEAD-K)
The lack of early and fully accessible visual language exposure may be a contributing factor to the low levels of reading achievement in the deaf population. Children are born ready to learn, but for more than a quarter of a million children living in North America who are deaf, they do not have access to the appropriate resources and support to succeed.
It is well documented that globally deaf children face many barriers to education.
According to LEAD-K, "Deaf children are not learning language through the current methodology..." As stated by Sheri Farinha, " We are experiencing an epidemic of language deprivation."
American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) Recognition Campaign at Confederation Building on September 22 12:30-1:15pm
Canadian Association of the Deaf position statement
