Click to see what you can do to help the crisis in Indiana!

Click here to view

January 23, 2012

As Deaf Youth USA’s Executive Director, I’d like to tell you why I’m opposing Indiana’s HB 1367, which would de-fund and close the outreach center at Indiana School for the Deaf. By the way of introduction, I want to make clear that this is not a formal position from Deaf Youth USA. Deaf Youth USA has always welcomed deaf people from all background —regardless of our educational or language backgrounds. We actively reach out and collaborate with deaf people from diverse backgrounds. We believe that achieving social justice through activism and media is an important part of Deaf Youth USA’s mission. Our nondiscrimination statement reads: We do not discriminate based on backgrounds (educational/identity), race or gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

It’s with this commitment to diversity in mind that I share my strong opposition to a bill that greatly minimizes providing forth information about Indiana School for the Deaf as an educational opportunity for Indiana’s deaf students. By placing the outreach center to parents of deaf and hard of hearing in outside players’ hands, the risk runs high that parents of deaf and hard of hearing will not be able to get sufficient information about one of the nation’s top-ranked bilingual, accredited schools for the deaf. In the long run, this threatens the very existence of an excellent, historical, and respected educational establishment in the great state of Indiana.

Additionally, HB 1367 has not been sufficiently studied nor shared with major stakeholders. The process under which the bill was crafted and proposed indicated an absolutely insidious lack of respect regarding transparency. Diverse parents of deaf children were not consulted. The legislature did not produce an accurate cost analysis. Professionals working at the outreach center already in existence were uniformed until the last minute. As an activist and advocate, I have to ask: where is the democratic principle of community engagement with key constituents? There has been only engagement with people and organizations whose agenda is explicitly divisive.

I urge you to look at the issue carefully and recognize that the logic and argument supporting this bill is inherently flawed in the claim that the new outreach center will be “unbiased”. There is no evidence that the current outreach center is biased and the argument is being made by an organization that expressly stands to profit from the new
outreach center, at the expense of deaf professionals losing their jobs. This is completely unnecessary in a time of economic struggle.

I support the democratic principle of transparency, shared governance, and community engagement. I do not support legislation created through back-room dealing tactics with the key constituents being kept in dark until the bill is proposed. HB 1367 is a flawed bill and I encourage you to oppose it.

Thank you,

Leah Katz-Hernandez

Executive Director, Deaf Youth USA