American Sign Language Interpreters in Public Schools: An Illusion

Interpreters can play an important role in supporting access in mainstream classrooms, particularly for students with strong language foundations. To fully support deaf learners, this access must be paired with rich, immersive language environments and explicit instruction—eliminating the illusion of inclusion. Deaf children thrive with direct engagement in language to build strong foundations for learning and interaction. Prioritizing language development alongside access positions students for stronger academic growth and meaningful participation.