Equity in education: signed language and the courts

This article examines several legal cases in Canada, the USA, and Australia involving signed language in education for Deaf students. In all three contexts, signed language rights for Deaf students have been viewed from within a disability legislation framework that either does not extend to recognizing language rights in education or that presents obstacles to systemic language planning. The limitations of disability rights legislation in each country is outlined, along with alternate legal arguments for signed language planning in education.