Deaf Education Summit Set For Saturday

PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) — Up to 100 parents, speech therapists and counselors are expected to gather Saturday in Port Allen for a first of its kind summit on deaf education.

The Advocate reports the meeting will take place at the West Baton Rouge Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Rana Ottallah, a parent and one of the event organizers, says one of the aims is to strengthen a current "bill of rights" law for Louisiana's roughly 2,000 deaf children who attend public schools. Sessions also will include discussion on early intervention, how deaf kids thrive and parent advocacy.

The featured speaker is Beth Benedict, a professor with the Department of Communications Studies at Gallaudet University.

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