Bernard Bragg’s Appeal to the Legislature

Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal threatens the existence of schools for the deaf in New York State. I appeal to every one of the decision-makers in the Legislature to resist this proposal.

My name is Bernard Bragg. I graduated from the New York School for the Deaf, better known as “FANWOOD”, in 1947 – more than a half-century ago. I undertook many activities during my career at Fanwood – actively involved in sports, dramatics, literary programs and assembly lectures. Most importantly, I studied under a number of highly skilled teachers, both hearing and deaf, who helped prepare me for my future. Thanks to their influence, I became a teacher myself at the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley and Gallaudet University, my alma mater. I helped found one of the most influential theatre groups in the world, the National Theatre of the Deaf.

Many Deaf people graduated from Fanwood and became successful leaders in education, advocacy and employment. To mention a few, they are:

Alex Fleischman: Senior executive in sports associations for the Deaf as well as in Jewish Deaf associations.

Fred Schreiber: A world famous leader of the National Association of the Deaf, serving as its CEO for 20 years.

Larry Newman: Superintendent of Instruction at the California School of the Deaf at Riverside. He was also President of the NAD for two terms and recently published two influential books.

Taras B. Denis: Former English teacher and long-time guidance counselor at Fanwood.

Philip Bravin: Former chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University.

Harvey Goodstein: Former CEO of Deaf Way (10,000 people in attendance) and presently on the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University.

Al Berke: A staunch advocacy leader in politics and sports.

I ask, if the New York School for the Deaf closes down due to the Governor’s budget cuts, where will many young deaf and hard-of-hearing students go? Are you suggesting they enter public schools which cannot provide them with a sign language rich environment, instead giving them interpreters, many of whom are not trained in deaf education. These public schools cannot provide a deaf child with activities like signed theater, signed literary programs, and signed assembly lectures. They will fail to provide a free and appropriate public education, and they will fail to provide a FAPE in the least restrictive environment. I foresee that New York courts will see a rise in IDEA litigation.

To each one of you, decision-makers, I appeal to your conscience and your humanity. The future of deaf children depends on your good judgment and empathy.

Sincerely,
Bernard Bragg

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Re-published upon Dr. Bernard Bragg’s request and permission