Mainstreaming the deaf student

Abstract

In most areas of special eduction, Public Law 94-142 has been hailed as a breakthrough. By stipulating that children with disabilities be educated with the least restrictive environment, the law promotes schooling of these children with their non disabled peers. However interpretation of the impact of this law has taken a different turn in the streaming and corresponding closing of separate schools for deaf students, many people have raised strong concerns and objections regarding mainstreaming for deaf children. Is mainstreaming good or bad for deaf students? In this paper, issues on both sides are presented in the form of a debate, in which introduction of one point leads to rebuttal, and the entire piece becomes an exercise in point and counterpoint.