| Alone in the Mainstream
The First Volume in the Deaf
Lives Series
From About.com
Published mid-year in 2004 by Gallaudet University Press, Dr. Gina Oliva
describes the pro’s and con’s of mainstreamed education from the viewpoint of
mainstreamed students years after they have graduated. Throughout the book,
Oliva intertwines her personal stories of these good and bad experiences along
with the scientific findings from the other mainstreamed students whom she examined.
What’s In the Book?
Oliva lets the adults tell their stories at length so readers are able to get a
more than just a taste of mainstreamed education from the perspective of
affected students. Dr. Oliva in no way, shape, or form makes any comparisons
between mainstreamed education and the residential schools for the deaf;
instead, she lets her research subjects tell their experiences and she dutifully
records the patterns and trends she heard over and over from the subjects. She
lets them talk about how their parents influenced the educational process. She
lets the students talk about the social isolation.
The Price of Mainstreaming
Oliva examines an important question concerning education options and details
consequences that are often missed in other educational studies. Most of the
students in the Solitary Mainstreamed Project admitted they had an excellent
education and were thankful for their education-yet, many said the higher
quality of education came at a cost- lack of socialization. Oliva further
explores the deprivation of socialization to get a clearer understanding of the
costs involved.
Mainstreaming Today
Mainstreamed programs around the country continue to flourish today; teachers,
audiologists, speech pathologists, and educators in the mainstreamed classrooms
are making all kinds of measurable strides in speech and language development,
reading comprehension scores, and keeping students on grade-level. Professionals
working with mainstreamed programs would benefit by reading this book of
collected memories to determine how to keep all the positive consequences of the
mainstream experience intact while addressing the isolating experience that so
many mainstreamed students speak of and experience.
Conclusion
Mainstreamed adults were usually “alone” in their school and did not have others
who shared their stories. Describing educational experiences to family members,
colleagues, or spouses either do not occur or perhaps, fall on ears that cannot
fathom the experience of education in isolation. Oliva’s research succinctly
describes mainstream children’s isolation from peers, support from their parents
impacting education, and their self-awareness of who they are and what they are
capable of today because of mainstreamed education.
Gina A. Oliva is Professor in the Physical Education and Recreation
Department at Gallaudet University.
ISBN 1-56368-300-8, 6 x 9 paperback, 224 pages, photographs
$29.95t
To order by mail, print our Order Form
or call:
TEL 1-800-621-2736; (773) 568-1550 8 am - 5 pm CST
TTY 1-888-630-9347
FAX 1-800-621-8476; (773) 660-2235 | 
