Parental Attitudes Toward Public School Education for Deaf Students and Issues Effecting Placement Choices

In this study, four hearing mothers with deaf children (ages 3-10) were interviewed about the process of choosing a mode of communication and school placement for their children. All of the children attended local public schools. The mothers ' responses were examined in order to identify any common factors that contributed to the choice of public school placement rather than residential school placement, and common factors that indicated level of satisfaction with placement and communication mode. Results indicated a recurring theme of conflict, particularly in three major areas relevant to the deaf child: (1) the grieving process; (2) the cultural versus medical view of deafness; and (3) the school system. Results further indicated that the primary factor influencing decisions about school placement was location, and the child's apparent strengths were the leading factors in the choice of communication mode. All of the mothers were cautiously satisfied with the placement of their child, but were not against change if something better came along. The fundamental goals the mothers had for their children were for them to be able to make their own decisions about what they want to do in the future. (Contains 38 references.) (CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document