My name is Casey Peck. I am currently a freshman in Beachwood High School. This is my 12th year in Beachwood schools. During the previous 11 years, I learned so much and had a really great experience. Before I came to Beachwood, I didn't know anything, even words like what mama or papa meant. I thought being Deaf I wouldn't be able to do anything, until I was nine and participated in a BHS play and thanks to Beachwood, I realized that I can do just about everything. I have been in Beachwood for so long that I was actually looking forward to graduating from here and being proud about it.
With the program, the students have a brighter future but without it, they would be struggling and be lost. I'm actually worried about the future of D/HH students, where they will get the best education, how they will learn to communicate, or how they can learn to socialize with their peers? Nobody made fun of D/HH because hearing students at Beachwood were raised with D/HH. Several students are really interested in Deaf Culture and they learned ASL (HS has ASL class and there is a waiting list every year to get in).
If the program shuts down, then we students would only have really few options:
1) Mayfield- Oral
2) OSD- ASL
3) Local school- has no experience, students would be made fun of and be isolated.
Beachwood is the only school with total communication in the area. Beachwood encourages us to go to college. They help us realize our dreams can happen and help us to follow our dreams. I really love my teachers, interpreters and friends there and I cannot imagine life without them for my final years in HS. I was 4 1/2 years old when I received a cochlear implant. Although this technology is helpful, I still MUST use interpreters for all of my classes. I still use audiological services and resource services. I am still a Deaf student who needs a specialized education. CI's DO NOT make a D or HH child hearing!
