What are your opinions about Speech Pathology or Deaf Ed for my major?

Question

Hello. I have been signing for several years now. I have the majority of friends that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. I feel right when with them. I feel that is where I am meant to be. It all seems to be wonderful. I love working and volunteering with them and I know that is what I want to do with my life. However, I am trying to figure out what exactly I want to do in this field. I have applied to many colleges and have gotten accepted into 9 so far. I have been accepted into schools with programs in AS interpreting, Deaf Education and Speech Pathology. I don't know, however, which one I want to major in. I am kinda thinking Deaf ed because I love workign with people. However I'm not sure if I want to work with younger kids or older kids. My first instinct is to work with older children, like in High School, to help better prepare them for High School bbut I don't know what I would major in.

Answer 1

You've convinced me that Deaf Ed is what you love! We need people who can sign really well, ASL, not English so they can bridge ASL to English, as you say for literacy skills.

However, a degree in Deaf ed limits you in some ways. I worked 20 years in a state school for the deaf, which I loved, but the pay stinks so I work in a public school's D/HH resource room where kids come in and out all day. I just don't feel the satisfaction and the district is not Deaf-friendly. My only other choice is itinerant, which I have done a little and run around to 14 different schools to work with kids for 30 minute blocks. Lots of paper work and not much opportunity to get to know the kids. I'm only certified to teach D/HH.

If I didn't have two college-age kids of my own, to support I would go back to the school for the Deaf. I like deaf culture and being with people who look you in the eye when they talk.

I do wish I signed better! Although you sign with friends, you really should try and get more interpreting skills under your belt. More and more states are requiring licensing interpreters, and as you know, Deaf people want the best. So get that degree anyway, then you can always fall back on it and freelance at $30/hour. School interpreters make less- I don't like to interpret because I like to add my ideas!

Speech path? Only if you want to work in a clinic. School SLP are very over worked with huge case loads and tons of paperwork. Ours travel to three schools and never time for articulation- mostly language therapy. Your Deaf friends will think you betrayed them!

You could also go for a minor in psychology- few psychologists sign, counseling, or advocasy, career training/coaching, or English, since you have the interest already.

As far as working with a specific age group, I wouldn't worry about that so much in Deaf ed. as the degree usually is k-12

What colleges did you apply to?

Here a couple sites to keep you inspired:

Answer 2

;-c "STOP LOOKING" !!!  & apply to one of the offers !! .... I feel it would be a great idea to have as`MANY people as possible in public or work places that knows AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE  for the deaf !!!... Now because you may be placed almost anyplace !?! Might mean room for a job opening so you might be of help or an aid in said workplace that you might be able to translate/sign to help others understand some that could use such a helper... I just wished I heard more about programs being set up for such helpers !!! Good~Luck to you !!!!   rRr.,

Answer 3

Well...it sounds like you should go into Deaf Ed.  Your question speaks loud and clear about your passion.  I am a speech pathologist.  You can also work with the deaf population with this degree.  There are schools for the deaf as well as deaf students who are in public schools.  I am sure that you will love either of these fields.  I have been a speech pathologist in a school district for 32 years.  I love it!!

Answer 4

I would enroll in Deaf Ed.  that sounds like your passion.

As for speech pathology-it's true you can't specialize in school-but you could choose to work in a school for the deaf.

Good Luck!