Videos of the Experiences Growing up
at the Utah School for the Deaf
and/or Public School
Here is Lisa Richards Roush’s video sharing her experience growing up in the oral program under the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1960s and 1970s.
Background History: Under the leadership of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, a staunch advocate/activist for oral and mainstream education for deaf and hard of hearing students, Utah's trend toward mainstreaming grew steadily in the 1960s. The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) set up an Extension division in Salt Lake City, Utah. This school allowed deaf students to attend classes near home. Again, with Dr. Bitter’s effort in 1962, USD in Ogden was divided into two divisions, i.e., the Oral and the Simultaneous Communication Division. Each had separate classrooms, dormitory facilities, recess, and co-curricular activities, except athletic programs. The implementation of dual tracking constituted the darkest chapter in the education of the deaf in Utah.
Lisa experienced the “front line” in the educational system under Dr. Bitter’s influence. She, as a survivor, is scarred from the experience. I believe sharing this video is a great therapy for her and it also helps preserve our Deaf Education history in Utah. Lisa, thanks for sharing the video!
Background History: Under the leadership of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, a staunch advocate/activist for oral and mainstream education for deaf and hard of hearing students, Utah's trend toward mainstreaming grew steadily in the 1960s. The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) set up an Extension division in Salt Lake City, Utah. This school allowed deaf students to attend classes near home. Again, with Dr. Bitter’s effort in 1962, USD in Ogden was divided into two divisions, i.e., the Oral and the Simultaneous Communication Division. Each had separate classrooms, dormitory facilities, recess, and co-curricular activities, except athletic programs. The implementation of dual tracking constituted the darkest chapter in the education of the deaf in Utah.
Lisa experienced the “front line” in the educational system under Dr. Bitter’s influence. She, as a survivor, is scarred from the experience. I believe sharing this video is a great therapy for her and it also helps preserve our Deaf Education history in Utah. Lisa, thanks for sharing the video!