Thursday's Wavemaker and Fact of the Day!

Wavemaker and Fact of the Day!

Thursday, March 31th

Wavemaker

of the Day

Valerie Shirley

Advocate for the Deaf Muslim community in Minnesota

Valerie Shirley’s son Musab battled a bacterial meningitis infection at 5 months old, which took his hearing and left him with some cognitive challenges as well. She took stock of these new challenges, dove into learning American Sign Language (ASL), and became trained as a public school deaf education teacher so that she could advocate for her son and family.

Based on all she had learned and to support integrating deaf and hard of hearing people into their local Muslim community and cultural heritage, Shirley co-founded the Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community (MDMC) in 2013. She now serves as the Executive Director, leading the organization’s mission to ensure greater access for the deaf and hard of hearing community as well as empowering underserved members of the deaf community in the greater Minneapolis area. MDMC offers interpreting services, literacy support, ASL classes, ASL driver's education, apprenticeships program, and anti-discrimination workshops.

In late 2021, The St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation chose Shirley as one of its four 2021 Facing Race award recipients, providing much needed funding for the organization’s work.

Fact of the Day

Education laws for

deaf and hard of hearing students

What is the IDEA?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that ensures students, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, receive an appropriate education. Included in this law is development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP from 3-22 years old) and an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP from birth to 3 years old).

What is an IEP?

An IEP is a written document that describes what services a public school must provide for a student who needs special education services. IEPs explain how students who are deaf or hard of hearing will be involved in the curriculum and school based activities. An IEP must be developed within 30 calendar days after a student who is deaf or hard of hearing is found to need special education services. Each following year, the IEP team meets to review the student’s progress toward the learning goals and set new learning goals as appropriate.

What is a 504 Plan?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a law that ensures that individuals with disabilities will not be excluded from participation in programs that receive federal financial assistance, such as public schools.

What is the ADA?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that ensures all people, including deaf children, have access to state and local governments, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.

Source - Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center

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Join us for our annual benefit night

TONIGHT!

Thursday, March 31st

5-9pm

flatbreadcompany.com

Three ways to order:

Dine-in
Take-out
Third party delivery

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