Las Vegas Sun

Ditto on Wooddall's comment, as it is about "complete," barrier free access to education. I concur that it is also about choice and add that it is also about ensuring that as allowed by Federal law IDEA, there are options on a continuum or spectrum of placements that include separate facitilities and specialized programs. Having been a teacher and administrator in State Schools for the Deaf, I can attest to the effectiveness of such schools as they offer a comprehensive program that facilitates language aquisition through multiple modalities, optimizing the channels of visual/gestural language to support and enhance English language skills and speech. I commend Bass and the other committee members for their courage and assertiveness to ensure that we do not loose a very valuable, enriching, and beneficial program option for Deaf students. It is not a "hearing" world nor a "deaf world;" but rather it is OUR world where each one of us finds our own meaning, place, and ability to floursih and contribute to society.