Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Gina Oliva announces the twentieth anniversary edition of her classic book, "Alone in the Mainstream." In the final entry of her vlog series, Oliva issues a call to action for organizations to support the use of sign language with deaf and hard of hearing children.
"Alone in the Mainstream: Looking Back on Public School as a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child" is now available from Gallaudet University Press at
https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Alone-in-the-Mainstream
Visual description: A white woman with short white/gray hair, wearing a grey sweater over a black camisole is sitting in front of a greyish/green wall with a brass wall clock behind her.
***This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the author.***
Transcript:
Now, my last point, which I admit is quite difficult to phrase—difficult to express indeed. Thinking about your task at the state level … it’s very challenging to educate legislators and public school officials about what deaf kids need.
I have a proposal: that those organizations, such as any organization or school related to cochlear implants—they are professional organizations, doctors, audiologists, early interventionists, many different professions are involved here.
Those people are seen as experts—those people who tell parents “Don’t sign, keep your hands down at your sides.” Anyone who does that needs to stop.
And I believe those organizations need to change their position and inform the public of this, and then they can become your allies in getting full language and full socialization for deaf and hard of hearing children.
Good luck and thanks for watching.
Gina Oliva announces the twentieth anniversary edition of her classic book, "Alone in the Mainstream." In the final entry of her vlog series, Oliva issues a call to action for organizations to support the use of sign language with deaf and hard of hearing children.
"Alone in the Mainstream: Looking Back on Public School as a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child" is now available from Gallaudet University Press at
https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Alone-in-the-Mainstream
Visual description: A white woman with short white/gray hair, wearing a grey sweater over a black camisole is sitting in front of a greyish/green wall with a brass wall clock behind her.
***This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the author.***
Transcript:
Now, my last point, which I admit is quite difficult to phrase—difficult to express indeed. Thinking about your task at the state level … it’s very challenging to educate legislators and public school officials about what deaf kids need.
I have a proposal: that those organizations, such as any organization or school related to cochlear implants—they are professional organizations, doctors, audiologists, early interventionists, many different professions are involved here.
Those people are seen as experts—those people who tell parents “Don’t sign, keep your hands down at your sides.” Anyone who does that needs to stop.
And I believe those organizations need to change their position and inform the public of this, and then they can become your allies in getting full language and full socialization for deaf and hard of hearing children.
Good luck and thanks for watching.
