The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 56

DEKALB EXTRA, December 18, 1980 20C, Eilli Mother Protests School's Refusal to Refer Deaf Son needs the socialization and exposure to more deaf child ren that he is not getting from the DeKalb program. School system administrators and teachers claim he doesn't From the time he was 2 years old until he was 11, Johnny attended the Atlanta Speech School, trying to learn oral communication lip-reading and speech. However, Mrs. McKnight said her son had trouble com municating and "could only understand about half of what was said." He also had difficulty with bis school work and his grades were dropping. Last year she enrolled Johnny in DeKalb's oral communication program at Henderson Mill Elementary School, but at the end of the year was still not making satisfactory progress.

"His teacher told me on numerous occasions that he should be enrolled in the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf," Mrs. McKnight sail "We had been hoping all his life that he would be able to learn to speak and read lips, so he could be as much like a normal child as possible. "But we realized he needed more help," she said. "He needed to learn sign language and he needed the social support of other deaf chUdren around him." Rather than referring Johnny to the state school for the deaf, the DeKalb administration said the school system's total communication program at Briar lake Elementary School would be sufficient to meet his needs. It includes three classrooms, three Interepreters who go1 with hearing-impaired students to their classes, and one speech therapist, according to York Hudgins, director of special education for the school system.

Hudgins said teachers In this program "use total communication both speech and sign language In working with students." There are three other students in class with Johnny, but only one who is totally deaf, Mrs. McKnight said. The Atlanta School for the Deaf, according to a spokesman there, offers a comprehensive educational program which includes regular academic subjects, career education, typing, Industrial arts and physical, education, as well as extra-curricular activities and in tra-mural athletics. Students change classes and have several teachers each day who instruct using both speech and sip language, the spokesman said. About 90 students are enrolled in the same age range as Johnny, the spokesman said.

There are 60 students attending classes there who are DeKalb residents. Neither Hudgins nor Dr. Harold Turner who beaded the special education program until this fall when he was promoted to assistant superintendent of in structional services would comment on Johnny's sit nation. They said schoc' system policy prohibited such discussion. Several meetings and special hearings were held with DeKalb school system teachers and administrators during the summer and fall, but the final result was that the school administrators feel the Briarlake program will meet Johnny's needsTherefore, he will not be recommended for the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.

Mrs. McKnight is trying to get the Office of Civil Rights to champion her cause and file a suit on Johnny1! behalf, forcing the DeKalb School System to refer him to the state schooL By STEVE WRIGHT ROM, MUk IXTRA The mother of a 12-year-old deaf boy says the DeKalb County School System denied her son the right to attend a state-supported school for the deaf in order to build its own special education program. Carolyn McKnight says she has been trying since last June to get her son, Johnny Gossett, enrolled in the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, but her efforts have been blocked by DeKalb school administrators who are "trying to build a program" for hearing impaired youngsters. Johnny, who was born deaf, is a student in the school system's total communication program at Briar-lake Elementary School. Mrs.

McKnight is not satisfied with the progress her son is making there and believes he would do better at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf inClarkston. However, state board of education policy says that I in order for Johnny to attend the special school, be must be referred by the DeKalb School System. And school system administrators refuse to make the refer ral because they claim the program in which young Gossett is enrolled is adequate. Mrs. McKnight claims DeKalb administrators are "too proud" to admit the total communication program for hearing impaired youngsters is inferior to the state program.

As a result, her son is being forced to attend "a new program" that "does not meet all his DeKalb School Superintendent Dr. Robert Freeman said her charges were "absolutely unfair. We have had this program for some time. The case is, we really are trying to do the best for the youngster." In a nutshell, Mrs. McKnight contends her son mum UY limes only.

In fact, there Is a lime slice atop the pie. Mi -Adelman insisted the pie was key lime. Probably regular limes and key limes were used. The carrot cake, on the other hand, was outstanding and quickly gobbled up. p.m.

Monday through Friday and all-day Saturday and Sunday. Eggs benedict ($3.50) and country eggs ($3.25 for an English muffin topped with sausage patties, poached eggs and country gravey) are among the egg dishes available. It was warm, moist and rich perfect characteristics of carrot cake. Both desserts are made on the premises, accord lng to Ms. Adelman.

Bourbon Burger, franchised by Billy Watson, serves breakfast after 11 From Previous Page ble key lime pie and carrot cake. Both were brought out The pie had a distinctive green color, leading the key lime experts among us to suspect the dessert had been falsely named. Flavor-wise, the pie has a lime bite, but not from key COUPON ANTHONY'S AUTO SERVICE WINTERIZE COOLING SYSTEM GHESUMl RD Ibbhris CIST FHIOES SC jTH CZK.LO 2452 Crcsha Imithm 243-4403 y2 C2fl00 i Jjjj i "ir" LHhonia Ploza Liihonia I You'll Hip over th lantoihc SAFETY CHECK $1000 JEANS 6 TOPS ft i i omgotTHE SAMPLER Men's Lfidie a' Leather Jackets y2 (At Low Cost) Bapeifl Jean Fatiai ftnnt Tune Up f45M4 cyl 'SS08 6 cyl 'OS09 0 cyl I TRANS TUNEUP All cart '35 Seals Additional I Exit 32 120 off GrwhamRd. L' I 2813GrhamRd. 243-1 C-M I Bonjour Jeans Gloria Vanderbilt Calvin Klein Levis mi Ml rKlltSALE tmbron Derer Sassoon r- -'--JEANSaTOPS the mm 0 4469 Clan wood Road 1 ICS H.

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