Parent Choice in Deaf Education
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The phrase “parent choice” pops up a lot in conversations about educational options for deaf children. It sounds empowering—who wouldn’t want parents to have a say in their child’s learning journey? But dig a little deeper, and some uncomfortable truths come to light.
Many professionals use the idea of “parent choice” as a way of advocating against sign language. They say they don't encourage families to sign, because they want to honor parent choices and they believe families want their children not to sign. There is a lot to unpack there, but here are a few problems with it.
It assumes families do not want their children to learn sign language—an idea that lacks solid supporting evidence.
It pits "parent choice" against ASL, which is a false choice. We believe both that parents must have the freedom to make choices for their child. Language is a crucial part of human connection and culture, and sharing language practices and traditions with children is a core part of parenting. Encouraging families to offer their children a fully accessible language doesn't take away any of those freedoms or oppportunities for connection.
For parents to make informed decisions for their children, they need to get comprehensive information—not just about the available approaches, but also about the likely outcomes. The chances that a child will have age expected spoken language skills are not great, and those risks need to be made to parents who are considering spoken language-only options. Without transparent information, families cannot make genuinely informed decisions for their children.
When things don’t go well for a child, the rhetoric of “parent choice” shifts responsibility away from the system and onto families. If parents were never given accurate information, resources, or support, is it fair to blame them rather than the professionals and institutions that failed them?
Parents need the freedom to make thoughtful, loving decisions for children. But society also draws some crucial boundaries for our kids’ safety. I can’t simply opt out of car seats or seat belts, because those choices could have life-or-death consequences. Language is no less vital. We must ensure that well-intentioned parents cannot accidentally—or unknowingly—choose a path that deprives their deaf child of language and the chance to thrive.
In short, “parent choice” should mean full support for families—including honest information and access to resources—not just a catchy phrase to deflect responsibility. Parents and professionals need to work together to protect and empower every deaf child’s future.
