{"id":30614,"date":"2015-04-29T16:07:01","date_gmt":"2015-04-29T21:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=30614"},"modified":"2015-04-29T16:07:01","modified_gmt":"2015-04-29T21:07:01","slug":"dallas-isds-deaf-education-program-makes-it-possible-for-hearing-impaired-students-to-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/04\/29\/dallas-isds-deaf-education-program-makes-it-possible-for-hearing-impaired-students-to-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas ISD\u2019s deaf education program makes it possible for hearing-impaired students to thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jakkisha-Smith-WWHS-Deaf-Ed-DFulgencio-0035\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dallas ISD\u2019s deaf education program makes it possible for hearing-impaired students to thrive<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Emily Toman<\/p>\n

April 24, 2015<\/p>\n

Jakkisha Smith can\u2019t hear the ball move up and down the court. She can\u2019t hear it bounce off the backboard and swoosh into the net. She can\u2019t hear her coach shout the next play from the sideline. And yet she knows exactly what to do.<\/p>\n

The junior shooting guard has become one of Woodrow Wilson High School\u2019s star basketball players. She\u2019s also completely deaf.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s one of the many hearing-impaired students who attend Woodrow in the same classrooms as everyone else. It\u2019s one of nine campuses within Dallas ISD\u2019s Regional School for the Deaf, feeding through J.L. Long Middle School and Stonewall Jackson Elementary where the program originated. It serves 620 hearing-impaired students from across North Texas, most of whom attend class in an inclusive setting with hearing children, following the same curriculum and classroom structure as the general student body with accommodations such as an interpreter or a deaf education teacher. The district also has smaller, self-contained settings composed of hearing-impaired students who have other disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pride ourselves on providing equal access to everything that a general education student has,\u201d says program director Arlene Stein.<\/p>\n

The program also enriches the experience of hearing students who learn how to communicate with sign language and form lasting friendships with their deaf classmates from Stonewall to Woodrow. Chris Peters, chair of the site-based decision making committee at Stonewall, has had three children in inclusive classrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe exposure to kids with impairements opens their eyes at an early age,\u201d Peters says. \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s so special about having this program at Stonewall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The deaf education program also extends to extra-curricular activities. Every student must have a facilitator present to attend events. If one is not available, the student misses out. Unlike smaller deaf education programs in the suburbs, DISD has the staff and resources to ensure that students can experience enrichment outside the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t do it like Dallas does,\u201d says lead interpreter Donna Murphy.<\/p>\n

She coordinates accommodations for the deaf education program and herself recently accompanied a student to a track meet when no one else could. Plus, interpreters often form close relationships with students, she says.
\nFor many deaf students these school activities are the their main outlets for communication.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of their parents don\u2019t sign, and their neighbors don\u2019t sign,\u201d Murphy says. \u201cThe teachers and interpreters are like family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within DISD\u2019s Regional School for the Deaf, there are 66 students enrolled at Woodrow, 48 at Long and 27 at Stonewall. Graduating classes are much smaller and vary each year depending on the student\u2019s individualized plan. For some, that means simply finding a job and becoming independent from their parents.<\/p>\n

Deaf education supervisor Pat Robertson says many hearing-impaired children spend the first crucial years of their lives never communicating, stunting their development in the long term.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir language is always going to be behind,\u201d Robertson says.<\/p>\n

Some students spend more than four years in high school; they can remain in the program until age 22.<\/p>\n

Then there are rare students like Jakkisha, who competes right alongside other athletes on the girls basketball team and is on track to attend college. She just happens to be deaf.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never really felt different,\u201d she signs through her interpreter, Elisa Singleton.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because her entire family is deaf, including her brother and two sisters.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s been communicating since the day she was born,\u201d Robertson says.<\/p>\n

Jakkisha is finishing her junior year at Woodrow and has visited with representatives from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., the world\u2019s only university designed for deaf and hard of hearing students. But she has decided she wants to play basketball for a small division 1 school in Texas and stay closer to her family who inspired her from the beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine not having basketball in my life,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Jakkisha\u2019s mother taught her how to play at 5 years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe knew how to coach me,\u201d Jakkish says. \u201cI don\u2019t even like to play basketball if my mom isn\u2019t there.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year Jakkisha is one of the top players among 5A schools with 834 points and 240 rebounds in 32 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year she stood out a lot more,\u201d says her coach Adrian Martinez.<\/p>\n

He says things move quickly on the court, leaving little time to communicate plays through interpreters, so Jakkisha has had to adapt. She can read lips, and some of her teammates have learned a few words in sign language.<\/p>\n

Martinez has a deaf brother, so he\u2019s sensitive to Jakkisha\u2019s experience but, \u201cat the same time, I try to treat her like the other kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Jakkisha can\u2019t hear any of the action on the court, her motivation is the same as the rest of her team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just really want to win,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/lakewood.advocatemag.com\/2015\/04\/24\/dallas-isds-deaf-education-program-makes-it-possible-for-hearing-impaired-students-to-thrive\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dallas ISD\u2019s deaf education program makes it possible for hearing-impaired students to thrive By Emily Toman April 24, 2015 Jakkisha Smith can\u2019t hear the ball move up and down the court. She can\u2019t hear it bounce off the backboard and…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[4621,558,19,10758,2850,23459,898,40,23458,23460,9254,21660],"class_list":["post-30614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-article","tag-basketball","tag-dallas-dfw","tag-dallas-isd","tag-disd","tag-donna-murphy","tag-gallaudet-university","tag-interpreter","tag-jakkisha-smith","tag-pat-robertson","tag-regional-school-for-the-deaf","tag-stonewall-jackson-elementary"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-7XM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35101,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2017\/02\/10\/oral-deaf-education-learning-success-for-the-hearing-impaired\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":0},"title":"\u2018Oral\u2019 Deaf Education: Learning Success For The Hearing Impaired","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2018Oral\u2019 Deaf Education: Learning Success For The Hearing Impaired February 6, 2017 By Robbie Owens DALLAS (CBS11) \u2013 Inclusion. Acceptance. Success. It is what all parents want for their children. Now, a unique program offered at Sudie Williams Elementary in Dallas helps hearing impaired students overcome obstacles to getting there.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/oral-education-image.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21976,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/02\/22\/inside-the-life-of-a-deaf-dallas-high-school-football-player-is-it-harder\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":1},"title":"Inside the life of a deaf Dallas high school football player: Is it harder?","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Inside the life of a deaf Dallas high school football player: Is it harder? By TAWNELL D. HOBBS Staff Writer tdhobbs@dallasnews.com February 10, 2013 The constant clanging of iron weights used by student athletes sounded throughout a workout room at Woodrow Wilson High School. But for varsity football player Montray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35181,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2017\/02\/23\/dallas-regional-program-for-the-deaf-job-hiring\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":2},"title":"Dallas Regional Program for the Deaf – Job Hiring!","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Regional Program for the Deaf\u00a0Providing a full continuum of services Dallas ISD is looking for more wonderful teachers to add to their classrooms! Positions are available. Program information is attached and has great information about our RDSPD! Please contact Sandy Culpepper for more information. sculpepper@dallasis.org (972) 581-4785. (See link\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Dallas-Regional-Program-for-the-Deaf.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25390,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/11\/16\/nacogdoches-isd-deaf-ed-program-receives-high-ratings-in-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":3},"title":"Nacogdoches ISD Deaf Ed Program receives high ratings in review","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"November 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Nacogdoches ISD Deaf Ed Program receives high ratings in review November 15, 2013 NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (KETK) \u2014 The Nacogdoches ISD day school that supports hearing impaired children and their families received high marks in a recent statewide Peer Review process. \u201cI was very pleased with the results of our review,\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9040,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/01\/22\/after-the-bell-deaf-action-center\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":4},"title":"After The Bell: Deaf Action Center","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"January 22, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"After The Bell: Deaf Action Center by CHRIS FLANAGAN \/ WFAA-TV Posted on January 18, 2010 DALLAS \u2014 Golf is known as a \"quiet\" game. But for a Dallas teenager, it's silent. When Frank Alvarado isn't walking the hallways at Woodrow Wilson High School, there's a good chance he's walking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10067,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2010\/04\/11\/smoke-alarms-for-the-deaf-and-hearing-impaired-dallas\/","url_meta":{"origin":30614,"position":5},"title":"Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired – Dallas","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"April 11, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Smoke Alarms for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department is now installing smoke alarms for persons who are deaf or have hearing impairments! Attention: Senior Fire Prevention Officer Carey Roper This easy to install fire alarm monitor comes complete with smoke alarms, receiver and bed-shaker specially designed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30614"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30616,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30614\/revisions\/30616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}