ABSTRACT
Suppose, in a room sat a Deaf professional, a parent, a seasoned teacher, and a Ph.D. researcher. You ask each, “How do you educate a deaf child?” The Deaf professional says, “I can explain why a teaching method works or does not work. I can tell you how being deaf affects day-today living and working as well as the learning of English. My view is relevant.” The parent says, “I have been communicating and guiding my deaf child since birth. I intuitively know what works and what does not work. And I care the most.” And the veteran teacher says, “I have worked in the trenches (classroom) for decades, teaching all types of deaf children
Figure 5.1 Teacher signing “cat” to a toddler
with different backgrounds, talents, and personalities. I have experience.” And finally, the researcher says, “I can provide you with empirical support for best practices. I have the science.”
