The Human Right To Language
A new book by NDEP's founder and director, Lawrence Siegel
Gallaudet Press has recently published, "The Human Right To Language," by NDEP's founder and director, Lawrence Siegel. Mr. Siegel who created the Statement of Principle [link] in which he argued that the educational delivery system in America must be "communication-driven" for deaf and hard of hearing students, proposes in his new book that current special education law violates the 1st and 14th Amendment rights of deaf and hard of hearing children. For example when a deaf child is denied a qualified interpreter or cannot access school activities or is denied placement in a language-rich placement she is denied her 1st Amendment right to the "flow of information" in school, is denied her right to "associate" with her peers. She is also denied her right to "equal protection" under the 14th Amendment, which makes it very clear that when an education is offered it must be offered on an equal basis to all. Thus when a deaf or hard of hearing student is denied a language-development program or the same access to what is going in the classroom as his hearing peers, he is denied the "equal protection" of the law.
"The Human Right to Language" represents a true shift in thinking on IDEA and offers a detailed argument as to why it is time for our community to assert its rights under the Constitution. When a deaf or hard of hearing students sits in a classroom and cannot fully access the language and education around him, significant constitutional issues arise that have not been suggested before. It is time they are.
For more information or to purchase this book visit the Gallaudet Press site here:
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/bookpage/HRTLbookpage.html