Teaching Profession, Philosophies of

There are different opinions regarding appropriate philosophies when educating deaf children. Regardless, the outcomes for deaf children have not significantly improved over the decades; however, the literature has conveyed that early access to comprehensible communication, whether oral communication or total communication, has warranted positive outcomes for this population. The term Deaf is used to refer to the broad spectrum of deaf children in today’s schools who may or may not self-identify with the Deaf culture.

A federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), places the responsibility on parents to choose the philosophy, yet lack of experience often leaves them feeling vulnerable and inexperienced to make decisions that will create lasting impact. Many students who are deaf are educated in their local school systems, and ...