Keep Open The Only Local DC Day Camp Choice for Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Greetings,

As parents, guardians, family members and friends of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing CISP campers, we are concerned about the future of CISP, a program our kids have enjoyed very much. We could tell you the many ways CISP is a wonderful and fully-engaging camp; but it all comes down to this: CISP is the only local day camp choice for our elementary-age Deaf/Hard of Hearing children but it is also an excellent camp. Closing CISP would make our Deaf and Hard of Hearing children's only choice... disappear.

We are sure Gallaudet University regrets being in the position in the first place to have to tighten the belt by a couple notches and refocus the purpose and effectiveness of her programs to serve particularly Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and K-12 Deaf education; and regrets to perhaps have to reduce the scope of the type of campers CISP has historically enjoyed serving in the past decades. If CISP must be changed from within to continue to exist, please do so!

Consider options like downsizing the number of campers; cut down the number of camp weeks; relocate the camp operating areas to Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and/or Model Secondary School for the Deaf (both schools have swimming pools); offer Gallaudet student internship opportunities to staff the camp; also proactively market the camp to Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Washington DC and neighboring public school systems; and perhaps rename the camp to represent the purpose and language use. Another recommendation is to also keep this camp open to siblings of deaf children and kids of deaf adults.

Again, CISP is unique because it is a day camp that provides access to sign language. In fact, it is probably the only one in the mid-Atlantic region while Gallaudet is the only liberal arts university in the world. Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids deserve the opportunity to enjoy their summers where they can fully communicate with the staff. Please do not deprive them of this rich experience, and keep CISP open.