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A ban on sign language has been put into place after 12-year-old Danica Lesko, who is hearing-impaired, signed on her school bus after the driver told her not to. Lesko, who uses sign language to communicate to her friends and family, was threatened with a suspension if she continues to sign. Ban on Sign Language Imposed Silences 12-year-old Danica Lesko The Lesko family were in total shock at the school’s actions toward Danica and have taken it upon themselves to pursue legal matters. Danica’s parents argue that their daughter uses sign as her only form of communication with her friends and family, and that banning sign language is in direct violation of the First Amendment. However, officials at Stonybrook School in Branchburg, New Jersey believe that signing on the bus is a safety hazard. They sent a letter to the Lesko family informing them that their daughter has been ordered to stop using sign language on the school bus or she will be suspended for three days. In the letter that was sent by the principal, it stated that Danica was “doing sign language after being told it wasn’t allowed on the bus.” In response to the school’s stance on the issue, Danica Lesko along with her family have filed a lawsuit against the school district over the sign language ban. They claim that the ban is in direct violation of Danica’s civil rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Danica’s mother, Mary Ann Lesko, told reporters, “She has a hearing problem, and now she’s being punished for using sign language. It’s absurd.” Moreover, both parents have told reporters how their daughter was constantly bullied by other children who rode the bus and refused to stay in their seats as they made fun of their daughter and other children who used sign language to communicate. School officials refuse to discuss the case in specific detail, however, they state that the Lesko’s version of the situation differs from theirs. In a statement to the press, the school board stated: “The Board is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities, and is satisfied that there has been no violation of that policy in this case. The Board is also committed to assuring the safety of all students who travel on District buses, and will continue to take appropriate steps to accomplish that goal.”
