DOLE RECEIVES GALLAUDET DEGREE FOR SUPPORT OF DISABILITY LAWS.

Byline: Associated Press 

Gallaudet University for the deaf hailed Sen. Bob Dole on Friday for a sensitivity - born of his own experience - to the needs of disabled people. But he decided not to talk about that experience.

The Republican presidential candidate was honored at Gallaudet's commencement for supporting ``every major piece of disability legislation'' since coming to the Senate nearly three decades ago.

Dole ``has turned his own experience with disability into a better life for other people with disabilities,'' board chairman Glenn Anderson said in conferring an honorary degree on the Senate majority leader.

But Dole, who suffered a war injury that damaged his right side and crimped his hand, made no reference to his or his audience's disabilities in a brief speech urging graduates ``to stand up for what is right.''

He shelved a draft speech that spoke about how he had been tested by his injury and how the students would be tested, too. The speech also mentioned technological advances allowing deaf people ``full participation - on their own terms.''

Later, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a senior adviser to the Dole campaign and a member of the school's board, said Dole is ``a very private man'' who does not easily speak of personal challenges.

``He doesn't like to talk about those things except in terms of his entire life experience,'' McCain said. ``I think he's prouder of what he's done than what, very frankly, he's been through.''

Though he rarely speaks of his own disability, Dole frequently goes out of his way at campaign appearances to greet the disabled. Outside a Friday evening speech in Dewey Beach, Del., the senator sent Secret Service agents into a minor panic when he hopped up on two rickety, stacked railroad ties to pose with Chris Gordon, who has Down syndrome and was celebrating his 19th birthday.

Earlier, Dole was warmly received by Gallaudet's class of 380 graduates, their families and friends at the country's only four-year liberal arts college for the deaf and hearing impaired, despite some unhappiness on campus over inviting him.

Dole has criticized bilingual education in general, an attack taken by some at the school to include its dual use of American Sign Language and English.

A day earlier, four English teachers filed a $10 million lawsuit against the school contending they lost their jobs in a dispute over how those teaching methods should be balanced.