Should my Deaf student attend a Deaf school or a mainstream school to be included with peers?

Some parents wonder if it is better for their Deaf student to attend a school specifically for kids to be educated in ASL, or whether they should attend their local school in order to be included among their hearing peers with an ASL interpreter in the classroom.

Ultimately, the best placement for a Deaf student depends on the student’s and family’s needs and wants. For some, a school for the Deaf provides the most accessible and enriching environment, where they can communicate freely in sign language with peers and educators who share their language and culture. For others, a mainstream public school setting with the right support services — such as accommodations, speech therapy, and/or ASL interpreters — can provide meaningful inclusion while allowing them to learn alongside hearing peers. Our article Supporting a Child With Hearing Loss at Home, at School, and in the Community has a whole section on incorporating sign language into an inclusive gen ed classroom setting, so we encourage you to check it out!