I've attended school meetings, parents' evenings, assemblies and reviews.
I've read emails, asked questions and had countless conversations about my children's learning.
Being involved has never been the challenge.
Access has.
Sometimes, people question how involved Deaf parents can be in their children's education.
But attending a meeting and being able to participate fully aren't necessarily the same thing.
I want to understand what's happening at school, celebrate my children's achievements, discuss their challenges and be involved in decisions that affect their education.
That requires communication I can access, understand and respond to.
Being Deaf doesn't make me less involved in my children's education.
It means accessibility needs to be part of that involvement, not an afterthought.
REFLECTIVE QUESTION
What gets overlooked when a parent's involvement is measured by attendance rather than access to participation?
