Butler University's new Deaf education program sparks controversy

Deaf community raises concerns over program's focus on teaching speaking and listening skills

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Butler University's new online master's program in Deaf education, funded by a $1.25 million federal grant, is drawing criticism from the local Deaf community. The program aims to train future educators to teach speaking and listening skills to deaf children, particularly those with cochlear implants or other hearing technology. However, community members argue the curriculum only includes one American Sign Language (ASL) class, raising fears that the program will result in fewer deaf children learning to sign.

Why it matters

The debate over the best approach to educating deaf children - whether through listening and spoken language, ASL, or a combination - has long been a contentious issue in the Deaf community. Many studies have found that teaching deaf children sign language helps them communicate naturally, even if they eventually develop the ability to speak or hear using assistive technology. The concern is that programs like Butler's, which focus primarily on spoken language, could repeat the historical mistakes of banning sign language in schools and forcing deaf children to attempt to speak and lip-read.

The details

Butler's new master's program in Deaf education will train future teachers to focus on teaching speaking and listening skills to deaf children. The program is modeled after a similar program at Fontbonne University near St. Louis, which closed last August. While Butler offers ASL as a foreign language for undergraduates and is adding an ASL minor, these classes will not be part of the master's curriculum. This has led to concerns from the Deaf community that the program is not adequately preparing future teachers to work with deaf students who primarily communicate through sign language.

  • Butler's new master's program in Deaf education will launch in the fall of 2026.
  • As part of an effort to cut degrees without a certain number of graduates, IU Indianapolis eliminated its bachelor's degree in ASL interpreting and is no longer accepting new students.
  • Ball State's Deaf education program is required to merge with other degrees before the next school year.

The players

David Geeslin

Former superintendent at Indiana School for the Deaf, who is concerned about Butler's new program.

Jenna Voss

Director of Butler's new Deaf education master's program, who says the degree is designed to train teachers to meet the needs of all deaf children, whether they use sign language or spoken language.

Geoffrey Bignell

Director of advocacy for the Indiana Association of the Deaf, who argues that providing a range of options for deaf education is best, rather than limiting professionals to a specific approach.

Christine Multra Kraft

A deaf individual who struggled to speak English until she started learning American Sign Language, and is upset by Butler's program's focus on spoken language.

Bonnie Conner

Chair of Vincennes' ASL and Deaf culture program, who questions why hearing people don't listen to the experiences and perspectives of deaf people.

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What they’re saying

“Sign language, there's no failure there. It's helping people grow as an individual, as a person.”

— Christine Multra Kraft (Mirror Indy)

“Why don't hearing people listen to deaf people? Why don't they listen to what they already know, their experiences? How can hearing people ever live in our shoes? They can't. They never will, so at least they could understand our experiences and what we know from our experience.”

— Bonnie Conner, Chair of Vincennes' ASL and Deaf culture program (Mirror Indy)

What’s next

The new program at Butler is set to launch in the fall of 2026, amid changes to sign language programs at other Indiana colleges.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions in the Deaf community over the best approach to educating deaf children, with concerns that programs focused primarily on spoken language could repeat the historical mistakes of suppressing sign language. The challenge is finding a balance that respects the diverse needs and preferences of deaf students and their families.