Delaware
ACLU-DE reviews complaint amid backlash from deaf, hard-of-hearing community
Americans will soon be able to purchase hearing aids over-the-counter
Millions of Americans will have access to purchase hearing aids over-the-counter under a new FDA rule.
Claire Hardwick, USA TODAY
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.
DELAWARE – Municipal leaders and technology partners gathered for the inaugural meeting of the Government Artificial Intelligence, Technology & Ethics (G.A.T.E.) Committee, a new statewide collaborative focused on the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in government operations.
The committee, initially led by the City of Milford Information Technology (IT) Department, is set to serve as a government AI roundtable, open to municipalities, counties, public agencies, emergency services organizations, and technology partners. Currently participating entities include:
- City of Milford
- City of Dover
- Sussex County
- Kent County
- New Castle County
- Town of Bethany Beach
- City of Rehoboth Beach
- Town of Bridgeville
- Town of Millsboro
- Town to Townsend
- Village of Arden
- Town of Greenwood
- Carlisle Fire Company
- Lewes Board of Public Works
- Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation
- SHI
- Market America
- Wagamon Technology
“AI is not here to replace our talented employees, it’s here to support them,” Milford City Manager Christopher Coleman said. “Humans must always have the final say in reports, decisions, and public-facing projects.”
At the inaugural meeting, Milford IT Director Bill Pettigrew led discussions on AI governance, policy development, security considerations, and practical use cases for local government. Presentations reportedly included demonstrations of Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, along with discussions on prompt engineering, AI policy development, and municipal implementation strategies.
The GATE Committee plans to meet again virtually on Jul. 14 at 8:30 a.m., and will feature additional demonstrations and discussions on AI implementation in government services.
Inside Wilmington’s Constitution Yards Beer Garden
Inside Wilmington’s Constitution Yards Beer Garden
A controversial Senate bill that would require labor union work be used for school projects jumped its latest hurdle in House committee, despite industry opposition along its legislative journey.
Backed by Sen. Jack Walsh, the measure aims to mandate school construction or renovation projects costing $5 million or more to include a project labor agreement with the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council for work carried out after Dec. 31.
Project Labor agreements ensure projects are completed on time and within budget, specify benefits and wages, while enforcing safety.
If passed, this bill would be Delaware’s first project labor agreement requirement law, according to Walsh. At least 12 other states have similar laws in place, according to House Majority Whip Ed Osienski, who serves as the bill’s primary backer in the House.
Supporters have argued that this bill will ensure these projects are completed on time, with high quality labor.
During the June 10 hearing, Taylor Hawk, director of Legislative and Political Strategy for Delaware State Education Association, a union that represents state educators, also argued these agreements will ensure students go to school in the highest quality buildings.
“Policies like PLAs help ensure that publicly funded school construction is completed safely to the highest standards of quality, while supporting the workers who build and maintain these critical community assets,” she said.
It’s not just quality labor supporters have pointed out. Bill backers claim requiring these agreements will be better for workers, too, as unionized laborers have greater protections.
Sam Noel, a representative of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, said requiring these agreements will safeguard workers’ wages.
However, several opponents also packed inside the House chamber. Some told lawmakers this bill will not only take money and jobs away from in-state small and minority-owned businesses, but weaken their ability to compete with other companies and states.
Jason Stallings works for Quality Exteriors based in Harrington, which specializes in commercial roofing. During the hearing, Stallings said around 75% of the company’s yearly work comes from school and state projects.
But there are no union roofing contractors in Delaware, he said, so the work would have to fall to out-of-state laborers.
“The passing of SB 272 will pretty much be the end of our company that’s been in business for 40 years in Delaware,” Stallings said.
Others also argued this bill will lead to potential layoffs and increase project costs on the taxpayers’ dime.
Brian Maxwell, director of the Delaware Office of Management and Budget, also said construction projects with a labor agreement cost roughly 30% more per square foot than those without.
“If the cost of school construction is escalated by just 10 to 20%, that will further place significant pressure on both the state and local school district budgets,” Maxwell said during the hearing.
The Sussex County Vocational Technical School District is building a new high school in Georgetown, now expected to open in September 2028. Superintendent Kevin Carson told lawmakers this bill stands to increase costs on that project.
In the hearing, Carson said requiring a project labor agreement would bump construction costs of the high school by about 22%, costing taxpayers an additional $22 million. Opening is already delayed by one year, as the district will increase the size to accommodate 1,800 students.
The bill will now head to the House chamber for further consideration. The bill already passed close to party lines in the Senate on May 21.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
Sophia Voight is a growth and development reporter. Reach her with feedback and story tips at svoight@delawareonline.com.
When successfully remediated and redeveloped, brownfields are placed back into productive use, like the UD STAR Campus building depicted here occupying the site of a former automotive assembly plant /Delaware DNREC photo
Early-bird Registration for Conference Ends June 30
Environmental professionals, developers, municipal leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders are invited to register now for the Delaware Brownfield Conference to take place Thursday, Aug. 20 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Registration and conference details are available on the de.gov/brownfields webpage.
Hosted by the DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances, the conference offers a full day of practical learning, networking and collaboration focused on redevelopment outcomes.
The conference will also highlight how Delaware’s Brownfield Development Program is helping move projects forward by supporting the cleanup and redevelopment, reuse or expansion of properties that may be perceived to be environmentally contaminated, and turning abandoned and underused sites into new opportunities for commercial use, housing, jobs and local investment.
That value is underscored by a recently published study, “Economic Impact on Delaware’s Economy: The Brownfield Program 2025.” Commissioned by DNREC and prepared by the University of Delaware’s Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research, the study reviewed 113 brownfield sites with remediation completed between 2015 and 2022 and found significant increases in property values, along with gains in employment and tax revenues. For example, the report found the studied sites supported 5,853 jobs in 2022 and paid more than $2.3 million more in county property taxes in 2024 than in their completion year. Attendees can learn more about these findings and related topics at the conference.
Early registration discounts are available through June 30, including general admission early-bird pricing and a special rate for students and government/nonprofit professionals who register by the deadline.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations that want to be supportive of the conference and brownfield redevelopment. Sponsorship levels include benefits such as conference registration, promotion in the program and email marketing and exhibit space. For sponsorship information, email Melissa Leckie of the Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Alyssa Imprescia, Alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov
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