Update that AG Bell sent to its members

Rally is still on for today at AG Bell headquarters - Volta Bureau. The rain will water the roots of our tree as we grow in unity and empowerment through peaceful and persistent direct confrontation.

-------------

Below is an excerpt from the AG Bell update blast

Note: AG Bell stated the CART services were provided for the two Deaf AG Bell representatives. We found the CART interesting as it had some humorous errors. We asked for a copy of the CART transcript as it is recorded documentation of our meeting...despite the fact that in previous communications with AG Bell, they had forbidden us to do any type of recording. Additionally, we were not informed in advance that they would be having CART. We also brought our own interpreter as it would have been unreasonable to have only one interpreter sign and voice for 10 people.

We look forward to having a copy of the transcript for our records and history.

We look forward to having a response from their board in regards to our three demands.


AGBell UPDATE
>
> AG Bell thanks Children’s Hearing Institute for sponsoring this edition of AG Bell Update
> donate today
>
> Thursday, April 2, 2009
>
> In This Issue….

AG Bell Meets with Representatives of “Audism Free America”
>
> In anticipation of a planned demonstration at the national headquarters of AG Bell, representatives from AG Bell and Audism Free America (AFA) met at the Volta Bureau on Thursday, April 2. Agenda items included three “demands” for AG Bell to “cease and desist from denying Deaf infants children and their families the right to a natural and fully accessible language,” for AG Bell to retract a letter it wrote to Pepsi in January 2008 regarding the portrayal of individuals who were deaf in a Super Bowl commercial; and for AG Bell to support a call for an investigation into the physical and psychological affects of cochlear implants on children. AG Bell provided an ASL interpreter and CART.
>
>
>
> AG Bell was represented by John Stanton, chair of AG Bell’s Public Affairs Council; Catharine McNally, member-at-large; Alexander T. Graham, executive director; Judy Harrison, director of programs; and Catherine Murphy, director of communications. AG Bell responded to each concern presented by AFA, providing documentation and clarifying its position on several of the issues raised. At the conclusion of the meeting, AFA representatives demanded that AG Bell sign “demand agreements” with an ultimatum that they would not leave the Volta Bureau until the executive director signed the agreements. After notifying police, AG Bell negotiated that in exchange for a peaceful departure of the representatives of AFA, it would present the group’s demands to the AG Bell Board of Directors. (emphasis added)
>