From: "Austin Farley" <farley5_99@sbcglobal.net>

Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 1:22 PM

Subject: HELP!!

 Friends,

 I was informed of a situation involving the deaf son  of a department editor at the Tulsa World Friday and I  am up in arms and angry that such discrimination  continues to haunt us.

 Background:

The young deaf man will graduate in May  from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in history. Until December, he had planned to teach and  wanted to teach at the high school level in a public  school system.

Deaf since shortly after birth, he is extremely adroit at lip reading and can sign. I almost hired him  to work in the World's Library, but someone with more library experience came along.  He had taken some College of Education classes and was checking to see what additional classes he would need to be certified as a teacher.

Apparently, the Education dean and/or assistant deans became concerned -- or at least some concern was expressed by someone -- about his ability to function in a classroom because of his deafness.   An assistant dean interviewed him and was amazed at the young man's ability to communicate and to be understood.  And, apparently, this assistant dean gave his approval or said he would recommend approval of his receiving certification.

However, the dean of the college of education, told the young man: "You can take all the education classes  you want, but I won't allow you to be certified to teach. Nobody will hire you."

 Without question, the young man was placed in a quandary. (What job awaits a history major who doesn't  teach or can't get certified to teach?)

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The young man and his mother are looking for anyone deaf or with a communicative problem who is teaching -- particularly in a public or private high school. They made contact with a school district in California which they had heard had such a teacher, but upon checking found that the man was teaching only "signing."

 If you know of anyone in that type of setting and situation, would you let me know -- please?

 I cannot believe any person, purporting to be educated, would deliberately restrict this young man.   I believe he should be, at least, certified and given the opportunity to apply for teaching jobs and let the local school districts decide on his abilities as a teacher. And, I will let one of our good attorneys decided if he has legal recourse.

 Thanks for your help.

 Austin Farley   farley5_99@sbcglobal.net