Hearing-Impaired Girl Banned From Using Sign Language At School


New Jersey school officials have threatened a 12-year-old hearing-impaired girl to stop using sign language to communicate on the school bus or face a 3-day suspension, according to The Washington Times.

Danica Lesko and her parents have told reporters that sign language is the only way for her to communicate after she lost her hearing in an accident.

The Washington Times said that officials at Stonybrook School and district officials in Branchburg New Jersey have said that signing is a safety hazard.

“In a statement released through the school district’s attorney, David Rubin, the Branchburg Board of Education insisted it did not violate anyone’s rights and is only trying to protect other students,” ABC News reported.

“The Board is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities, and is satisfied that there has been no violation of that policy in this case.

“The Board is also committed to assuring the safety of all students who travel on District buses, and will continue to take appropriate steps to accomplish that goal,” the statement said.

According to The Washington Times, Mary Ann Lesko, Danica‘s mother said, “She has a hearing problem, and now she’s being punished for using sign language. It’s absurd.”

Danica’s parents are considering suing over the school’s threat because they claim that the officials are violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Parents are very protective when it comes to their children and their rights and safety.

Some recent news regarding children’s safety included the parents that included the Facebook kidnapping prevented by the child’s parents, and there was also the story of the mother who set up her own sting to nab an online predator.

Parents are protective over their children, and, in the case of Danica Lesko, her parents should be concerned.

How accommodating can the school be if they are telling a hearing-impaired girl that she can’t use sign language to communicate?

Image via Shutterstock/Pavzyuk Svitlana]

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