Detroit Day School for the Deaf

Detroit Day School for the Deaf was a public school for deaf students in Detroit, Michigan for grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8. It was a part of Detroit Public Schools.At the school, the main mode of communication was American Sign Language. When it operated, the school had an early intervention program for children who were hard of hearing and deaf; the program served 300 children.HistoryThe school was established in 1893. At the time, the common practice in American education was to send deaf children to boarding schools; Detroit Day School was intended to serve as a day school so that deaf students could live in their houses while attending school. The school was organized around 1900. In 1905 the school had seven teachers and 45 students. That year the Detroit Free Press stated that the presence of the school was saving the state of Michigan $15,000 each year. Around that period state Senator Jenks was proposing a bill that would have hindered the school. Elizabeth Van Adestine, the principal, said that she did not believe that Jenks's bill would pass.The final school building opened in 1970. In 2008 the school considered adding a high school component in order to make itself viable. In 2010 parents started a letter writing campaign, contacted politicians, and organized rallies to prevent the school's closure.ClosureIn 2009 the State of Michigan took control of the school district. Attempts to close the school began after the takeover. The district had considered closing the school in 2010, but Robert Bobb, the Emergency Financial Manager, cancelled the closing. Bobb had also considered closing the school in 2010 and on one other occasion. Parents of students at DDSD said that they persuaded him to keep the school open both times.