What does the term mainstreaming refer to in the context of deaf education?

Mainstreaming in the context of deaf education specifically refers to the integration of deaf students into hearing schools. This practice aims to provide deaf students with the opportunity to learn alongside their hearing peers, thereby promoting inclusion and fostering social interactions in a diverse learning environment. This approach is grounded in the belief that exposure to hearing students and a variety of teaching methods can enhance the educational experience for deaf learners.

By being part of a mainstream classroom, deaf students can benefit from the resources and extracurricular activities available in larger school settings. It also culturally enriches the hearing students, facilitating awareness and understanding of deaf culture. Effective mainstreaming often involves the use of accommodations and support services, such as sign language interpreters, so that deaf students can fully participate in the academic and social life of the school.

The other options presented do not accurately represent the concept of mainstreaming. For instance, isolation in special schools does not embody the essence of mainstreaming, as it separates deaf students from their hearing peers instead of integrating them. Online education, while a legitimate mode of delivery for some deaf students, is not synonymous with mainstreaming, which focuses on physical presence in a traditional school setting. Teaching exclusively through sign language would not encompass the full scope of mainstreaming, which allows for