Please stop the LAUSD from eliminating classes for the deaf and disabled!

Disabled and Deaf students deserve an education. The North Valley Occupational Center (NVOC) in Mission Hills, California, offers invaluable, American Sign Language (ASL) classes for disabled and deaf individuals and other interested community members. These immensely popular classes are now targeted for elimination by the Los Angeles Unified School District. We desperately need your help to save these few classes that allow deaf and disabled students access to our educational system!

Please sign the petition to tell the LAUSD Board of Directors not to cut ASL classes for the deaf and disabled!

I can personally attest to the fact that these classes transform lives. A friend of mine has a severe, permanent brain injury from an accident. He can’t speak understandably. So, he must use sign language to communicate. This ASL based program allows him a rare opportunity to fully participate in our educational system. He is inspired, motivated and truly values his time in class. He is progressing in ASL, grammar and math, and takes immense pride in his accomplishments. Both he and his mother also took the ASL class together and they can now understand each other! That outcome is priceless!

So, why are these few transformational classes being targeted for eradication by the LAUSD? There are many other duplicate classes that could be consolidated without such disastrous results. Are these students being cast aside by the LAUSD just because they are not vocal and are considered easy targets for elimination?

This program is very popular and a SUCCESS for the educational system and should be celebrated and used as a model for other school districts. It should be held up as an example of the great things that the LAUSD is doing to embrace and include all members of our diverse community -- not be eliminated!

I hope you will join me in teaching the LAUSD that deaf and disabled community members are an integral and valuable part of our diverse community. They should join us in embracing these motivated students as welcome participants in our educational system and reward rather than punish them!

Please help these deserving students by signing the petition to urge the Board of Directors of the LAUSD to reinstate the American Sign Language classes that may be excised from the school curriculum. You have the power to change lives for the better!