Delaware

ACLU-DE reviews complaint amid backlash from deaf, hard-of-hearing community

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

ACLU-DE reviews complaint amid backlash from deaf, hard-of-hearing community

The ACLU of Delaware levied a formal complaint against Delaware’s Department of Education just before the Christmas holiday — calling for an investigation into “systemic discrimination against deaf and hard-of-hearing youth.”

Filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, the complaint claims Delaware is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, while it centered largely on access to “Listening and Spoken Language” therapy. The organization called it the “gold standard” when teaching communication skills to children hard of hearing.

That has received backlash from some of the very people it hoped to empower.

Such backlash from the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is underscored by one petition started Dec. 26 — having gained more than 20,000 signatures over a holiday break. The Delaware Association of the Deaf also said it was “profoundly disturbed and disappointed” by the complaint in a response letter to ACLU-DE. And Language First, a Connecticut-based advocacy organization, wrote an open letter saying the complaint discredits other teaching methods for children, while promoting misconceptions about their language acquisition.

“Reviewing current research findings and practices in Delaware and nationwide, there is no agreed upon ‘gold standard,’ a baseless and ideologically driven claim made in your complaint,” writes the board of Delaware Association of the Deaf. “In fact, countless studies on brain development and language in infants, including Deaf infants, recommend immediate and intensive immersion in a fully accessible natural language, including ASL a natural visual language, as being critical.”

The association said LSL therapy is just one strategy, which should not discount “the documented benefits and role” of visual language or bilingual strategies. The board requested a withdrawal of the complaint entirely.

ACLU-DE hasn’t gone quite that far.

The organization removed its posts about the complaint, however, and cited time needed to review community feedback.

“We’re invested in learning more from this community as we review both our actions and our impact regarding the OCR complaint,” wrote ACLU-DE in a tweet Tuesday. “We’ll be reaching out to community members to discuss the concerns that were shared and ensure that our work does not in any way impede ASL education.”

Original complaint: Students with hearing loss in Delaware face ‘systemic discrimination,’ ACLU-DE claims

‘The question is, gold for whom?’

Concerned advocates echoed these calls to pull the complaint.

Many noted a lack of research supporting LSL therapy over other methods, while also opining that Delaware’s School for the Deaf should not be described as restrictive. ACLU-DE’s complaint claimed the state over-refers to the school.

“Schools for the deaf may very well be the least restrictive environment (LRE) for many DHH children,” writes Language First in its open letter, nodding to similar language from federal law. “Indeed, being educated in an environment where one can have direct and fully accessible communication between their teachers and peers does seem to fit the definition of ‘least restrictive.’”

Reaction is still mixed. Nick Fina, project lead for CHOICES Delaware, a grassroots organization for children with hearing loss, supported the initial complaint, saying such access issues stretch over decades. He also pointed to an upcoming informational event about LSL, set for 7 p.m. Jan. 17.

Sara Nović started her petition late last month.

The author and instructor also wrote a letter to ACLU-DE, she shared on her social media, compiling feedback from over 50 Delaware families. She said the complaint was lodged with “out-of-date and incorrect information about deaf education and signed language,” while it posits LSL as a “gold standard” in deaf education.

“The question is, gold for whom?” she writes in the petition.

“LSL advocacy is still built on this philosophy — that deaf children must assimilate and participate in a veneer of inclusion rather than actually learning — to disastrous effect for deaf kids,” the petition also states.

Nović is the author of the “True Biz” — a New York Times best-seller following a teacher and students at a boarding school for the deaf — as well as an instructor of deaf studies and creative writing, according to her website. The Philadelphia resident continues an open call for more input from Delaware families.

And ACLU-DE is ready to hear from more residents, too.

It shared next steps that are to include “conversations with the deaf and hard of hearing community.” Specific dates or events have not yet been made known.

Do you have a story? Share your perspective with us: kepowers@gannett.com.

Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

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Delaware

17-year-old girl hospitalized after shooting in Wilmington, Delaware: Police

Published

6 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

17-year-old girl hospitalized after shooting in Wilmington, Delaware: Police

An investigation is underway after police said a 17-year-old girl was shot in Wilmington, Delaware.

According to the Wilmington Police Department, just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, on the 1400 block of North Walnut Street, officers found a 17-year-old girl gunshot victim.

Police said the teen was transported to a nearby hospital and placed in stable condition.

At this time, no arrests have been made. Police said the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Douglas Rivell at (302) 576-3633 or provide information to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Tip-3333 or Delawarecrimestoppers.com.

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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 8, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 8, 2026

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Wednesday, April 8, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 8 drawing

03-16-17-42-52, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from April 8 drawing

Day: 6-8-6

Night: 4-3-5

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from April 8 drawing

Day: 4-8-1-8

Night: 3-7-1-3

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from April 8 drawing

02-06-14-19-25-34

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from April 8 drawing

14-27-40-46-47, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from April 8 drawing

Day: 9-8-2-4-9

Night: 4-7-6-1-8

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for April 8, 2026

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Delaware

Dairy Sale Sets New Gross Sales Record At Delaware Valley University

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Dairy Sale Sets New Gross Sales Record At Delaware Valley University

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Delaware Valley University’s 25th annual Green & Gold Spring Spectacular Sale marked a milestone on Saturday, March 28. The highest-selling cow in the event’s history was consigned by an alumnus who helped launch the sale 25 years ago.

Lot 6 MS Lamdba Silk-ET RC. sold for a new sale record of $11,700, the highest price ever achieved at the student-run sale, and was consigned by Sanders & Raggi of Littlestown. Josh Sanders ’03 is a DelVal alumnus who was among the first students to organize and run the inaugural sale, making the moment a full-circle achievement for the program.

The anniversary event also set an overall sales record, bringing in $283,504 in gross sales. A total of 86 lots were sold, with an average of $3,297 per lot, also surpassing the previous record set in 2025 with $212,190 in total sales.

Dairy Society student sale chairs with the highest-selling cows from the Green and Gold Spectacular Dairy Sale. From left are: Brett Haines, Caitlyn VanDeusen ’27, Josh Sanders ’03, Jacob Vandoren ’27, Nellie Hankinson ’27, and Joshua Martin, Aaron Ray Tompkins).

Another alumnus, Tyler Coleman ’16, was honored in memorium during the sale. Ethan Arsenault consigned a scholarship calf in memory of Coleman that sold for $4,600. Proceeds from the sale this calf benefited the Tyler D. Coleman Memorial Scholarship Fund. The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences donated an additional $500.

A portion of the profits from the sale benefit the student club, Dairy Society, a major-related club for any students interested or involved in the dairy industry. DelVal Dairy Society members and student sale chairs, Nellie Hankinson ’27, Caitlyn VanDeusen ’27, and Jacob VanDoren ’27, worked alongside the Pennsylvania Holstein Association to plan and facilitate the sale taking place in DelVal’s Equine Science Center.

The students thanked David J. Lentz, associate director of Pennsylvania Holstein Association, and Larry Swartz, auctioneer, for their assistance and continued commitment to the success of the sale.

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