board room

Description

Hi! My name is Jeanette and I am a mother. I have a deaf son-he is 10 years old and he attends the school for the Deaf. I am not deaf as you can tell because I am speaking but I am choosing to send out this message-MY message in a video format to plea to other parents like myself that have chosen to send their child to a Provincial School. I think it is time that WE as a collective start a dialogue and have a discussion about important changes that will be coming down and have an impact on our children. First of all, I just want to commend you on sending your child to a deaf school because I am sure it wasn't an easy decision for you. I know first hand how difficult it must be to be hearing and send a child to a deaf school and have them learn a different language probably different than the one you are speaking at home. So, you are very brave and as I I said I know how it feels because I do have a deaf child attending the school for the deaf and actually living in residence. So I guess to reiterate, I can really appreciate the decision you made-and I know that must have taken courage but you can probably see how your child is flourishing by attending the Provincial School for the deaf. You are probably seeing them learn, knowing they are communicating, they are understanding and you are probably observing some personal growth within your child every day. It is one of those organic benefits of sending your child to a deaf school that they have accessible education and can learn so freely! And so, hearing parents and deaf parents that have chosen to do so have done this with ease because it is the right decision (in my humble opinion..smile) and knowing your child is in good hands. BUT!!!!!!! I'm not sure if you have heard, there has been a press release by OPSEU and that press release was on June 10th regarding the layoff of 56 full-time staff from Ontario's Provincial Schools- even OPSEU noted how this will hurt the province's most vulnerable students and severely impact the families' rights to choose accessible education....and for me as a mom? This news is terrifying and chilling me to the bone because I'm really now questioning the impact does this have on the schools for deaf and inevitably our children? I feel adamantly that my child has the same right as your child-that has the same right as non-deaf children to attend a school where everything is accessible and there are no barriers in obtaining an education. What is yet to come? One of my favourite authors actually is Barbara Coloroso. She is a renowned author and she is also a consultant. She talks about a number of things: parenting, teaching, school discipline, she talks about nonviolent conflict resolution BUT she also talks about restorative justice. One quote that really has resonated with me is that-she says that children need to be able to see us as parents- take a stand for a value and take a stand against injustice, and whether that injustice is happening in a classroom or its happening in the family, board room or the city streets...take a stand! That's what I am asking you today, here, to do with me. Take a stand against this injustice. We need to ally with the Deaf community and specifically with the Ontario Association of the Deaf. They are VERY concerned about this issue-as so should you be! If you could please find it in your heart to help us, contact the President of the Ontario Association of the Deaf and that email is president@deafontario.ca. Send off an email and ask what you can do to help because we need you. I am asking you this for the sake of my child-but also for the sake of yours. Thanks!