Jeffrey Petty is a boy who has dreams and goals in his life.
He is being denied quality education at Flour Bluff Independent School District (FBISD) in Corpus Christi, Texas simply because he is deaf.
The school district is turning him away because they do not want to provide him with the appropriate communication access through an sign language interpreter. However, this is not the first time this happened. In 1994, the same situation happened to Katie Murch. However, because of the tremendous support from the community, FBISD dropped the issue. Katie went on to graduate with honors while being involved with various student organizations and activities. She also became Miss Deaf Texas 2007-2009, first-runner up for Miss Deaf America 2008-2010, and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Texas A&M Corpus Christi. She owes this success to the support of her family and friends and the education she received at FBISD.
Imagine what Jeffrey could achieve at FBISD! Please help us change the school's attitude about deafness and to support his enrollment at FBISD.
We the undersigned ask you to revoke your attitude towards deafness and to support Jeffrey's education at Flour Bluff Independent School District.
Jeffrey is a boy who deserves a chance at the best education and the best friend he will make in the best school district in the area. Flour Bluff is Jeffrey's school and wants to deny him his chance. He is in the first grade! Flour Bluff's position is petty and is discriminatory. The lack of certified interpreters should not be used as an excuse to exclude a child who is deaf or hard or hearing. There are other children in the district with a certified interpreter.
If one deaf student can be successfully educated there, Katie Murch, then, so can Jeffrey. After a long battle with the district, Katie ultimately attended Flour Bluff schools, even without judicial approval, and proudly graduated from Flour Bluff High School. She went on to become a college graduate and Miss Deaf Texas. We ask that you rethink your terms, start again, and look toward a bright future for another bright child. Instead of focusing on his hearing loss or the interpreter, imagine what lies in front of Jeffrey when he receives the education you know he deserves.
No child should be eliminated or cast out of a school because of their hearing loss. You are fighting the same battle with a proven outcome. Let Jeffrey stay in Flour Bluff schools and succeed with the education he receives there.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to setting the benchmark for quality education for deaf children around the nation with Flour Bluff ISD.
