AUDISM FREE AMERICA

AFA AWARD for Courage STAND!

2012-01-28T13:34:00.002-05:00

AFA AWARD - AFA has been on the look out for unsung heroes who stand against audism.
AFA honors & praises Brian Bauer for his courage stand against Hear Indiana. He shows great spirit to stand for our cultural & linguistic rights! Hands-Wave and great praise to Brian Bauer!
If you would like to nominate someone for an AFA Stand award - email us at audismfreeamerica (at) gmail.com - provide the person's name, contact information, and why s/he should get an AFA STAND award.

AFA's Letter to Indiana Legislators Opposing HB 1367

2012-01-23T23:10:00.002-05:00

23 January 2012

Indiana State Legislators

200 West Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731

Dear Legislator,

This letter serves to express Audism Free America’s staunch opposition to Indiana House Bill #1367. House Bill #1367 is dressed-up as a bill which will ensure Deaf and Hard of Hearing children achievement of “optimal communication and academic abilities” after being placed in the hands of “an appropriate agency” (determined by the Office of Management and Budget) at a cost which is undeterminable. It fails to explain how the Outreach Services at the Indiana School for the Deaf (staffed by professionals in the field) will be improved upon by these vague actions. It is completely incomprehensible except when considering the big picture.

In May 2011, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed to the Board of Directors at the Indiana School for the Deaf individuals who had vested interest in the HEAR INDIANA organization. HEAR INDIANA is one of the biggest supporters of House Bill # 1367. This organization, which professes to be all about “options, choices and unbiased information” is a chapter of the AG Bell Association. The AG Bell Association promotes the Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) method which specifically excludes American Sign Language as well as other “visual language systems.” These organizations are behind the recent legislative actions in the states of Delaware and Utah as well as Indiana. Their unwritten agenda is clear---to influence states to close traditional schools for Deaf children in the United States and increase the number of so-called Option schools (which are exclusively oral/aural). While these programs proclaim they are new and dealing with recent technological advancements that impact education, this oral/aural only methodology is actually antiquated, as well as exclusionary and oppressive. These programs deny Deaf children access to a natural signed language which has been documented via decades of research to be acquired with the same ease and manner as individuals acquiring spoken language.

It is clear that the recent House Bill 1367 is part of an overt and systematic effort to ensure the education of Deaf children in your state is moving toward forced assimilation promoted by oral-aural only approaches such as LSL/Option Schools. Such an effort results in denying Deaf and Hard of Hearing children a fully accessible, natural language, cultural identity and education of the whole child for a world in which the languages and cultures of both Deaf and Hearing people are respected.

As a national grassroots network, Audism Free America is committed to combating audism. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life. For bilingual/bicultural Deaf Americans, clearly, House Bill #1367 is threatening their way of life and that of future generations.

We strongly urge you to do the just and right thing by voting against the House Bill #1367 and encouraging your fellow legislators to do so as well.

Let Freedom Roll!

Patti Durr, Karen Christie and Ruthie Jordan

on behalf of AFA

AFA's Letter to Indiana Gov. Opposing HB 1367

2012-01-23T23:02:00.000-05:00

23 January 2012

Governor Mitch Daniels

200 West Washington Street, #206

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731

Dear Governor Daniels,

In May 2011, Audism Free America (AFA)* wrote to you to express our grave concerns related to the individuals you appointed to the Board of Directors at the Indiana School for the Deaf which lacked transparency and ignored the interests of stakeholders in the Indiana School for the Deaf school and community.

We stated in our letter of May 2011: ”Your appointments reek of a new strategy aimed at closing Deaf schools which are motivated primarily by budgetary concerns and secondarily by language oppression.”

It is clear that the recent House Bill 1367 that this is a further step in such a strategy and is an overt and systematic effort to ensure the education of Deaf children in your state is moving toward forced assimilation promoted by oral-aural only approaches. This results in denial of a fully accessible, natural language, cultural identity and education of the whole child for a world in which the languages and cultures of both Deaf and Hearing people are respected.

It is not by chance that recent appointees to the ISD Board and those supporting the House Bill 1367 are both from HEAR INDIANA organization. This organization proudly endorses an exclusionary, oppressive and antiquated method of education for Deaf children dressed up as technologically advanced. The methodology promoted by HEAR INDIANA/AG BELL Association deny Deaf children access to a natural signed language which has been documented via decades of research to be acquired with the same ease and manner as individuals acquiring spoken language.

“Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.”

---Paulo Freire

We join with those who oppose House Bill #1367 and see it as assurance that “optimal communication and academic abilities” will be denied to Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Indiana as the office of management and budget becomes enriched. Outreach services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families needs to be left in the hands of professionals such as those at the Indiana School for the Deaf. We remain gravely concerned that the Governor of Indiana is one of those leaders who work with select groups to impose unjust actions, and thus will remain vigilant in our efforts that justice be served for Deaf children and their families.

Let Freedom Roll!

Ruthie Jordan, Patti Durr, and Karen Christie

on behalf of AFA

AFA DENOUNCES FDA’s APPROVAL OF NEWBORN STEM CELL EXPERIMENTATION

2012-01-17T02:11:00.002-05:00

English text below the video box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JrIQW36Wsg

scroll down under press release for link to a community based petition

AFA PR (PRWEB) January 16, 2012 http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9108761.htm

AFA Denounces FDAs Approval of Newborn Stem Cell Experimentation

Audism Free America (AFA), a grassroots Deaf activist network, condemns the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its approval of a study which will use cord blood stem cells on infants as young as six weeks old in an effort to eradicate the Deaf population of the United States.

AFA further denounces the FDA, Cord Blood Registry ®, LSL/AVT specialists,*Children’s Memorial Hospital (Houston), and the principal investigators of this study for undermining the human rights of their patients and promoting eugenic outcomes.

The newswire released on January 12, 2012 from Cord Blood Registry® and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital states that parents of newborns and infants between six weeks to 18 months will be recruited. The infants will undergo MRIs (which frequently include sedation), blood tests, and be given their own stored stem cord blood via IV infusions. Possible health risks to the infant were not mentioned. (see http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53686-cord-blood-childrens-memorial-hermann-fda-approved-stem-cells-hearing-loss)

The newswire contained alarmist views of how being Deaf impacts language abilities and social development without describing research concerning the negative impact of withholding American Sign Language and access to cultural identification with other Deaf people.

When contacted, Dr. Harlan Lane, Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University and recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award stated: “Children who are born Deaf or early become so have a dual heritage – they have their parents’ ethnicity and also that of the sign language minority; their natural language is American Sign Language. Exclusively pathological views of Deaf children have been out of date for decades. Deaf babies are healthy babies and live fulfilling and contributing lives.”

AFA advocates for the rights of Deaf Americans, cultural resurgence, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

AFA calls upon governmental agencies to ensure their commitment to protecting all citizens, including Deaf newborns and infants. The actions by the FDA serve to highlight the medical community’s systematic effort to threaten the culture, language, and right to life of Deaf people—and therefore, endangering linguistic and cultural diversity in the United States.

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

*LSL/AVT specialists (Listening and Spoken Language/Auditory Verbal Therapists) are those certified by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy and promote oral/aural only approaches to language development excluding all forms of signing.
--------------------------------
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Link to community based petition started by Karen Kingrey http://signon.org/sign/stop-stem-cells-experiment.fb1?source=s.fb&r_by=1970141

EHDI Reps Agree to Meet with AFA Reps in St. Louis

2012-01-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

EHDI representatives have responded to Audism Free America's 5 demands and have agreed to meet with us in St. Louis before the EHDI conference.

To see AFA's demands in ASL and English go to:
http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2011/12/afas-5-demands-of-ehdi.html

For information on the EHDI conference go to:
http://ehdiconference.org/

Fla Gov. Scott's office reply to AFA re: Felix Garcia

2012-01-11T08:26:00.000-05:00

Audism Free America (AFA) sent a letter to Governor Scott re: Felix Garcia, a Deaf man who has been unjustly imprisoned for nearly 30 years, and received a prompt reply from the Governor's office. AFA will follow up with the various offices below and post those letters to keep you informed and if you wish to send your own letters.

You can learn more about Felix’s case in “The Silent Treatment” article by James Ridgeway in Mother Jones. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/deaf-prisoners-felix-garcia?page=1 (see pages 2-3 also).

People can write to Felix Garcia at:
Felix Garcia #482246-J2116-L
Tomoka Correctional Institution
3950 Tiger Bay Road
Daytona Beach, Florida 32124-1098
-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Governor Rick Scott
Date: Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Subject: RE: xxxx Free Felix Garcia
To: Audism Free America

Thank you for contacting Governor Rick Scott's Office. We appreciate your concerns about a criminal case and the opportunity to respond.

The Florida Constitution limits the Governor's intervention in criminal cases and their appeals. Each state attorney is an elected official charged with certain discretionary duties, including the duty to determine whether or not to prosecute any particular crime committed within his or her jurisdiction. This decision is based on the quality and quantity of the evidence of guilt shown, and in the best interest of justice. The state attorneys operate independently, and as elected officials, they answer to the voters of their individual jurisdictions.

Questions about Mr. Garcia's guilt or innocence, or the procedural fairness of his criminal conviction must be addressed in the courts. Those who wish to contest judicial rulings should speak with an attorney about what appellate procedures may be available.

Decisions over prisoners' movement within the system and access to services while incarcerated are under the administrative authority of the Florida Department of Corrections. To assist you, I forwarded a copy of your email to the Department for their review. If you want to contact the Department directly, please use the information provided below.

Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
(850) 488-7480

The Florida Parole Commission is an entity independent of the Governor's control that protects the public by administering parole, conditional release, conditional medical release, control release, and addiction recovery supervision to all eligible criminal offenders. For more information, please contact the Florida Parole Commission by writing to 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2450 or by calling (850) 922-0000. The web site for the Commission is www.fpc.state.fl.us and the email address is publicaffairs@fpc.state.fl.us.

The Governor has no independent ability to pardon someone. The clemency function is a power to grant full or conditional pardons, restore a felon's civil rights, or commute punishment. There are complicated rules for these lengthy procedures, and these powers are vested in the Governor only with the agreement of two Cabinet members who are also statewide elected officials. For more information, you can write the Office of Executive Clemency at 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2450, or you can call 1-800-435-8286. You may also email the office at clemencyweb@fpc.state.fl.us, and you can reach the office by fax at (850) 488-0965.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact the Governor's Office.

Sincerely,

Warren Davis
Office of Citizen Services
--------------------
AFA's initial letter to Governor Scott

From: Audism Free America
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 5:39 PM
To: Governor Rick Scott
Subject: xxxxx Free Felix Garcia

From: Audism Free America

County: Alachua

Zip Code: 14618

Message Body: 8 January 2012

Dear Governor Scott:

Audism Free America (AFA), is a grassroots advocacy network and we are writing to beseech upon you to release Felix Garcia. Mr. Garcia is a partially Deaf man who has been imprisoned for nearly 30 years for crimes his Hearing brother has recently confessed to committing. As a result of being partially Deaf, Mr. Garcia did not have full access to his original trial and lawyer and no suitable reasonable accommodations were made for him. As a prisoner in various jails for the past three decades, he also has been denied access to full information and services – this includes the use of the telephone.

In the time needed for you and your staff to review Felix’s case, it is imperative that the state of Florida equip the Tomoka correctional Institution (or anywhere he is moved to) with a videophone and relay services and that his case be properly investigated. The Americans with Disability Act title II covers the judicial system and prison facilities. Reasonable accommodations to ensure effective communication are a right that Mr. Garcia has been denied.

You can learn more about Felix’s case in “The Silent Treatment” article by James Ridgeway in Mother Jones. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/deaf-prisoners-felix-garcia?page=1 (see pages 2-3 also).

Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Would you take a moment to envision if you were in his shoes and stuck in prison unjustly in another country? What if you were innocent and did NOT do any crime. Suppose they won’t provide any access or translator for you to be able to speak out for your rights in your language and neglected you for many years while in prison. Imagine if you did not understand guards and other prisoners’ language and you just did your best to understand. Imagine getting raped and assaulted. Imagine being put in isolation and the lack of love from your family when your family members falsely accused you and others looked the other way. Imagine being utterly abandoned by your family and your suffering innocent soul locked within the prison while other prisoners are treated with full language rights and access. That is what your judicial system is doing to Felix Garcia, an innocent Deaf prisoner. Deaf people are human beings who deserve equal treatment in prisons.

AFA, along with other Deaf individuals and Hearing allies, recognize the story of Felix Garcia as a story about cruel and unusual punishment as well as denial of basic rights….because he is Deaf. We know of many Deaf prisoners who have experienced a lack of communication, assault and neglect in prisons. Mr. Garcia is innocent and did NOT commit the crimes for which he has been unjustly charged and sentenced. Also, Mr. Garcia never had full access to information during his arrest, his trial, and imprisonment. We urge you, Governor Scott, to ensure that Felix be provided full access in prison and that he be released as quickly as possible. FREE FELIX now because it is the right, just, wise and valid thing to do.

Let Freedom Roll,

Karen Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan on behalf of Audism Free America

http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/afas-free-felix-letter-to-fla-governor.html

AFA's Free Felix letter to Fla Governor

2012-01-08T17:33:00.001-05:00

8 January 2012

Dear Governor Scott:

Audism Free America (AFA), is a grassroots advocacy network and we are writing to beseech upon you to release Felix Garcia. Mr. Garcia is a partially Deaf man who has been imprisoned for nearly 30 years for crimes his Hearing brother has recently confessed to committing. As a result of being partially Deaf, Mr. Garcia did not have full access to his original trial and lawyer and no suitable reasonable accommodations were made for him. As a prisoner in various jails for the past three decades, he also has been denied access to full information and services – this includes the use of the telephone.

In the time needed for you and your staff to review Felix’s case, it is imperative that the state of Florida equip the Tomoka correctional Institution (or anywhere he is moved to) with a videophone and relay services and that his case be properly investigated. The Americans with Disability Act title II covers the judicial system and prison facilities. Reasonable accommodations to ensure effective communication are a right that Mr. Garcia has been denied.

You can learn more about Felix’s case in “The Silent Treatment” article by James Ridgeway in Mother Jones. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/deaf-prisoners-felix-garcia?page=1 (see pages 2-3 also).

Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Would you take a moment to envision if you were in his shoes and stuck in prison unjustly in another country? What if you were innocent and did NOT do any crime. Suppose they won’t provide any access or translator for you to be able to speak out for your rights in your language and neglected you for many years while in prison. Imagine if you did not understand guards and other prisoners’ language and you just did your best to understand. Imagine getting raped and assaulted. Imagine being put in isolation and the lack of love from your family when your family members falsely accused you and others looked the other way. Imagine being utterly abandoned by your family and your suffering innocent soul locked within the prison while other prisoners are treated with full language rights and access. That is what your judicial system is doing to Felix Garcia, an innocent Deaf prisoner. Deaf people are human beings who deserve equal treatment in prisons.

AFA, along with other Deaf individuals and Hearing allies, recognize the story of Felix Garcia as a story about cruel and unusual punishment as well as denial of basic rights….because he is Deaf. We know of many Deaf prisoners who have experienced a lack of communication, assault and neglect in prisons. Mr. Garcia is innocent and did NOT commit the crimes for which he has been unjustly charged and sentenced. Also, Mr. Garcia never had full access to information during his arrest, his trial, and imprisonment. We urge you, Governor Scott, to ensure that Felix be provided full access in prison and that he be released as quickly as possible. FREE FELIX now because it is the right, just, wise and valid thing to do.

Let Freedom Roll,

Karen Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan on behalf of Audism Free America

AFA's 5 Demands of EHDI

2011-12-30T17:45:00.000-05:00

text info below video box

Audism Free America Rally at EHDI in St. Louis, MO
March 5-6 2012
Five Demands
1. Equitable funding .AFA calls upon EHDI, CDC, NIH, and US Dept of Education to address the historical and contemporary inequality of funding by increasing funds for bilingual (ASL and English) materials, early educational programs, Deaf mentoring programs, and services to parents. Equitable funding should be transparent.

2. Early Healthy Deaf Identification.
AFA calls upon EHDI to shift its approach to Deaf infants and their families from a pathological/medical bias to a positive/culturally-additive model in identification. To ensure this, parents need to be informed at the time of identification that American Sign Language is a linguistic human right for a Deaf child and Deaf/ASL early service providers are trained to work with them. In addition, EHDI should implement the labeling/way of thinking that was published in EHD's 2011 Resource book in the chapter on Partnerships with the Deaf Community.

3. Stake Holders in Leadership positions.
AFA calls upon EHDI to hire Deaf people who use and support ASL/Deaf Culture in leadership roles at national and state levels.

4. Full Disclosure.
Audiologists should be required to explain the four international documents and their positions on the language and cultural rights of Deaf people. Also, they need to explain the recalls (both voluntary and involuntary) and risks associated with cochlear implants and Audio-verbal Therapy (AVT) programs.

5. Confidential Information and Genetic research.
AFA calls upon EHDI to guarantee that information about Deaf children and their families will not be used for collecting genetic information beyond consults with the families. EHDI will not support financially nor in terms of information sharing any research related to genetic engineering.

AFA presented at American University

2011-10-28T01:22:00.000-04:00

<br><br><br><br>AFA 

Anthropology studies at American University hosted 8th Annual, Public Anthropology Conference and their theme is "(Re)Defining Power: Paradigms of Praxis." We, AFA Reps went and gave a presentation on Saturday, October 15th, 2011 about "Hey, Listen UP & STAND Up!: AUDism & Social ACTivism"
Let Freedom Roll!
AFA

AFA's Letter to Telstra Protesting Dimity Dornan's Audist Statements & Practices

2011-10-25T22:11:00.002-04:00

23 October 2011

David Thodey

CEO Telstra Corporation

Locked Bag 5639

Melbourne VIC 3001

Australia

Dear Mr. Thodey,

We condemn your organization’s recent award to Dimity Dornan as Telstra’s Queensland Business Woman of the Year and write to express our expectation that your organization will withdraw this award in addition to issuing a formal apology.

The statements made by Dimity Dornan in Sydney Morning Herald upon receipt of this award clearly demonstrate that she is not the person who would promote the Telstra Awards in a manner worthy of an organization of integrity. It is an outrage that an individual who works with Deaf people and looks upon their life situation as akin to one suffering from polio. In fact, for many Deaf people that which causes the greatest suffering in our lives is exactly the attitude expressed by your Business woman of the Year—the practice of audism.

Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, the signed languages of Deaf people, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Other quotes by D. Dornan over the years show a consistent pattern of audism (http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/qld/content/2006/s1611325.htm) and (http://the-rebuttal.com/?p=1475):

“A functionally deaf child needs to learn about the world through vision whereas a functionally hard of hearing child learns everything about the world through hearing and fits very nicely in a hearing society and becomes a very strong contributor to that society and therefore is very economically sound.“

“Hearing loss, as we know, is the most common disability in newborn babies, worldwide, and it’s often diagnosed too late for optimal treatment. And in addition to this sad fact, there are presently only enough trained, uh, listening and speaking professionals to effectively treat 8% of all the children and adults, uh, worldwide with hearing loss. The good news is, today we stand where polio was 20 years ago. Through a combination of newborn hearing screening and most important point, the, our wonderful cochlear implants and digital hearing aids and early auditory verbal intervention we now have the potential to decimate the very serious consequences of hearing loss globally.

In addition, D. Dornan’s business practices are suspect. Many auditory-Verbal Centres promote therapies which do not allow Deaf children to sign. Denial of a fully accessible language is the violation of a human right for Deaf children according to international bodies such as the United Nations (see Articles 21, 24, and 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, pages 211 and 227 of the World Report on Disability of the World Bank/World Health Organization). Even these organizations which mention Deaf people under the umbrella of disability, acknowledge the importance of the linguistic and cultural rights of Deaf people.

Such denial of human rights becomes a concern of Deaf people throughout the world. Although we are an American grassroots organization committed to combating audism, we know that audism anywhere harms Deaf people everywhere. Because of this, we must speak out.

The Business Woman of the Year Award appears to be an honorable and a prestigious award celebrating women of exceptional achievement. Your website notes that qualified candidates must demonstrate “integrity” and possess “a balanced approach.” Dimity Dornan’s comments as well as her business practices neither show her as a person of integrity nor one who has a “balanced approach” to dealing with the people she believes she serves.

Your award celebrates the achievement of women in a world where sexism hopefully is no longer tolerated. We ask that you take a stand to show that you will not tolerate audism and ableism-- by withdrawing D. Dornan’s Award and issuing an apology for the audist comments made by your award winner.

Let Freedom Roll!

Audism Free America

AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com

Cc:

Karen James

Commonwealth Bank

Mark Steyn
CEO
Hudson Australia/New Zealand

Michelle Sherwood/Danielle Horan
Executive General Manager Strategic Marketing
Sensis Pty Ltd/White Pages

Chris Carr
Managing Director
Nokia Australia and New Zealand

Jackie Frank
Publisher/ Editor
marie claire--Australia

People of the Eyes are watching you!

2011-10-17T22:42:00.003-04:00

AFA reps visited AG Bell-
Ruthie: Hello - Do you know what's up and where we are now? AG Bell property. We are going to take a stroll up the steps and leave our calling card (holds up AFA's Father of Audism AGBell card) as a message that "The People of the Eye are watching you." So come on up with us.

Look there is a bell here (rings the bell). That is OURS that we left them last time - a bell for AG Bell.

Let Freedom Roll. We are going to keep on keepin' on in coming here until the barricade barrier crumbles down...

International Documents Asserting Rights of Deaf Children

2011-10-05T17:16:00.002-04:00

International documents
asserting the linguistic, cultural,
educational, and human rights
of Deaf children

Below are documentations from the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization/World Bank (WHO), World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) which declare that Deaf children have the right to a natural signed language in early educational programs.

UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
Article 21 - Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by:
e. Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages
Article 24 - Education
3. States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including:
b. Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
Article 30 - Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport

4. Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture.

World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank - WORLD REPORT ON DISABILITY
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240685215_eng.pdf
Deaf students and those with intellectual impairments argue that mainstreaming is not always a positive experience (41, 42). Supporters of special schools – such as schools for the blind, deaf, or deafblind – particularly in low-income countries, often point to the fact that these institutions provide high-quality and specialized learning environments. The World Federation of the Deaf argues that often the best environment for academic and social development for a Deaf child is a school where both students and teachers use sign language for all communication. The thinking is that simple placement in a regular school, without meaningful interaction with classmates and professionals, would exclude the Deaf learner from education and society. [p. 211]
"Promote Deaf children’s right to education by recognizing linguistic rights. Deaf children should have early exposure to sign language and be educated as multilinguals in reading and writing. Train teachers in sign language and provide accessible educational material." [p. 227].
Enabling Environments section:
Feliza: “Until I was 19 years old, I had no opportunities to learn sign language, nor had Deaf friends. After I entered a university, I learned sign language(s) and played an active role as a board member of Deaf clubs. Since I completed graduate school, I worked as a bio-scientist in a national institute. I mainly communicate with my colleagues by hand-writing, while I use public sign language-interpreting service for some lectures and meetings. My Deaf partner and I have two Deaf children...my personal history gives me the distinct opinion that the sign language and Deaf culture are absolutely imperative for Deaf children to rise to the challenge.” [p. 168]

WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF POLICY – EDUCATION RIGHTS FOR DEAF CHILDREN
http://www.wfdeaf.org/databank/policies/education-rights-for-deaf-children
[see also http://www.wfdeaf.org/human-rights]
WFD embraces these following human rights and educational principles:
· Like all people, Deaf people have the right to full access to quality
education.
· Deaf people are primarily visual beings, whose eyes are their portal to the
world of information and knowledge. Thus, sign language and
visual strategies must be made available to Deaf people as a birthright. (Deafblind people may predominantly depend on their tactile sense and have the right to learn sign language, Braille and mobility skills.)
Under “Current Situation” section
Moreover, even in industrialised countries, the majority of current Deaf education programmes do not respect the linguistic human rights of Deaf children. Indeed, most Deaf education programmes fall into the language deprivation category described in theoretical models of education of linguistic minorities. “Language deprivation” for Deaf people means ignoring the use of sign language as a basic communication means, as a language of instruction and as a school subject. Following this, the linguistic human rights of Deaf children are grossly violated in educational programmes all over the world.
Under “Current Research” section
Deaf students learn best through visual modalities and depend on sign language.
- Sign language is a valid linguistic means of conveying thoughts, ideas and emotions. Hearing babies whose parents use sign language have a head start in communicating with their parents. Increasing numbers of hearing people study and utilise sign language annually.
- Deaf children who are in school are often in programmes that do not meet their needs, educationally, socially or emotionally. These include oral programmes that exclude the Deaf learner’s right to visual access to education, professionals fluent in the sign language used by the Deaf community, and supportive, enriching and appropriate environments. Such programmes fail to meet the Deaf child’s needs and goals, and are detrimental to the Deaf child’s educational development, self-esteem and overall well-being.
Under “Linguistic Human Rights” section
- The UN supports the rights of students from minority cultures, specifically the right to education in their mother tongue. This includes the right of Deaf children to the sign language of their country. Previously mentioned new Convention emphasizes that without respecting linguistic rights of the deaf students, their human right can not be fulfilled [see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/minorities.htm]
- WFD supports the right of Deaf children to acquire full mastery of their sign language as their ‘mother tongue’, as well as to learn the language(s) used by their family and community [see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm]
- Deaf children must also have access to adult role models fluent in sign language.
Under “Inclusive Education” section
WFD holds that the least restrictive environment for a Deaf learner is whatever is the most enabling environment for that learner. Full inclusion for a Deaf learner means a totally supportive, signing and student-centred environment. This permits the learner to develop to his/her full educational, social and emotional potential. This is stated also in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Under “Statement of Rights and Recommendations” section
To ensure that the educational rights of Deaf learners are fulfilled, WFD therefore:
• Reaffirms its position that all Deaf people, including Deaf children, have the right to full access to quality education through visual modes, including indigenous sign languages. This position is supported by several international conventions of the UN.
• Supports early identification of Deaf infants and youth, followed promptly with sign language environments and educational intervention strategies and programmes, in partnerships between families, Deaf adults and professionals.
• Calls upon governments to ensure full and equal access to and educational success for Deaf learners based on regular education goals, standards and curricula.
• States, furthermore, that such curricula should provide the opportunity for students to learn in and study both their local/national sign language and the local (written) language as academic subjects.
WFD calls upon national and regional/provincial governments to:
• To sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and modify their education legislation to follow this Convention.
• Put into practice policies or guidelines regarding early identification of and intervention for Deaf children that maximise their visual capabilities and sign language.
• Legalise sign language and quality education for Deaf people of all ages.
• Provide the resources necessary for the development of effective programmes for teaching sign language and Deaf Studies (history, culture, etc.) to involved people, such as:
o Families of Deaf children
o Teachers of Deaf children, administrators and other professionals
o Professionals, including doctors and therapists, for preschool Deaf children
o Interested parties such as but not limited to community service providers, interpreters, and other students
• Provide support for programmes for Deaf people to receive training and become employed as teachers, educational professionals and members of educational teams.
• Establish high standards for quality education programmes and outcomes, from early childhood to professional education, for all Deaf people equal to that for all people; implement assessment and monitoring programmes to ensure that each learner makes appropriate progress.
• Ensure that Deaf learners who may be placed in mainstream educational settings have access to the services of educated, trained and qualified sign language interpreters, other needed support services, Deaf peers and role models, and full participation in both the educative and co-curricular processes.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF (ICED) 2010 NEW ERA AGREEMENT
From Statement of Principles:
Reject all resolutions passed at the ICED Milan Congress in 1880 that denied the inclusion of sign language from educational programs for Deaf students
From Accord for the Future:
Call upon all the Nations to involve their Deaf citizens to assist parents of Deaf infants, children and youth in their support services for both Deaf and hearing family members
Call upon all Nations to refer all identified Deaf infants to regional and national organizations of the Deaf, schools and programs for the Deaf for support with early intervention

AFA's Do's and Don'ts for Parents of Deaf Children

2011-09-09T11:12:00.004-04:00

Greetings Parents:
Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful child!

Audism Free America (AFA) is a network of individuals and groups committed to combating discrimination against Deaf people. We have collected information from parents, Deaf people, educators, and experts in order to create this list of Do’s and Don’ts for new parents of a Deaf infant or child.

Do’s:
• Do make sure your child knows that you love her/him unconditionally.

• Do make sure your child knows that you do not hold the belief that to hear and/or behave as Hearing people do is superior to being Deaf.

• Do make sure your child has exposure and access to a fully natural and fully accessible signed language – American Sign Language (ASL).

• Do make sure you use ASL with your child.

• Do know that four major world organizations have declared the importance of natural signed languages and human rights (see WHO, UN CRPD, ICED 2010, and WFD)

• Do read to your child and foster a love of reading in your child.

• Do make sure your child learns about Deaf history and Deaf culture.

• Do make sure your child learns how to advocate for her/himself.

• Do make sure your home is a Deaf-friendly space by furnishing it with captioned TV, a videophone, doorbell signalers, and DVDs/materials in ASL and English.

• Do make sure that your child’s educational experiences occur through direct instruction whenever possible.

• Do make sure you and your child have contact with other Deaf children, Deaf adults and the Deaf community.

• Do listen to the experiences of Deaf adults.

• Do listen to your child and your own intuition.

• Do celebrate your child’s unique gifts.

Don’ts:
• Don’t deny your child the right to a fully accessible and natural visual language - American Sign Language.
• Don’t believe that you must be fluent in ASL in order to use it with your child.

• Don’t accept anyone (specialists, family or community members) stigmatizing your Deaf child.

• Don’t accept anyone judging your child’s intelligence based on her/his speech.

• Don’t accept anyone telling you that it is harmful for your Deaf child to have a fully accessible and natural signed language along with English.

• Don’t be pressured to use technologies or systems that ban the use of a natural and fully accessible signed language

• Don’t believe myths about miracles and misery.

• Don’t forget to look back to see how far you have come and look ahead to where you are going.

• Don’t accept audism (the belief to hear and/or behave as a hearing person is superior to being Deaf) and linguicism (the belief that one language is superior to another language).

• Don't forget to let your child know that he/she is accepted as a unique person and as a Deaf individual.

There is a wonderful network of parents who can serve as a support system to you and your family. Please feel free to reach out to them:

American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) http://www.deafchildren.org/

Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC) http://www.dbcusa.org/

Deafhood Foundation http://www.deafhoodfoundation.org/

National Association of the Deaf (NAD) http://www.nad.org/

AFA letter to New York Times Editors re: biased series

2011-08-16T08:18:00.003-04:00

Tue, Aug 16, 20

Dear NY Times Editors:

Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots Deaf activist network in the US, which advocates for Deaf American rights, cultural resurgence, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

We want to express our discontent over the series of op-ed pieces the NY Times ran concerning Deaf education. The “debate” is not boiled down to Deaf Schools = manualism (sign language) and Mainstreaming = oral / aural only. Nope, life is much more complex than that. Some Deaf schools are oral / aural only, some are signed English, some are simultaneous-communication (Speaking with some signing), and a few are bilingual-bicultural (ASL + English). Programs offer clinical services in audition and articulation as deemed appropriate via the child’s IEP etc.

The true debate, which your series did not even touch upon, is really about whether or not oral / aural only is alright– ie whether or not the banishing of a natural and fully accessible language and the denial of a Deaf child’s natural visual acuity is acceptable in the 21st century. Four major international organizations have said – it is NOT o.k. to deny Deaf children access to a fully natural and accessible signed language (See the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) New Era and Accord for the Future 2010 Agreement).

The NY Times displayed blatant bias in their selection of writers for your five op-ed pieces. Of the five only one is Deaf. None of them appear to have had any experiences at Deaf schools – either as a student, teacher or administrator. All of them are well versed and experienced with the majority culture and highly and clearly value it.

The old “communication war” was set up to be a binary thing – Oralism Vs. Manualism but in actuality it was always Oralism vs. Bilingualism. Modality vs. multilingualism. To see the NY Times reinforce errors of the past while promoting some unhealthy and unacceptable myths about the “miracles” of future technology and the burden of “the Deaf” on taxpayers skates dangerously close to some of the rhetoric used to push for eugenics (positive and/or negative eugenics).

We request that in the future the NY Times commit to getting the full story and involve the actual byproducts of Deaf education and experts and scholars within the field of multilingualism-multiculturalism, Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf education, and Deaf rights.

As things presently stand though – instead of journalistic integrity examining Deaf Rights, the NY Times has on the record, many wrongs. We hope and trust you will correct such errors in the future.

Also, you should know that the op-ed piece by Perry Zirkel “What the Law Requires” you feature a photograph that is incorrectly captioned by the NYTimes to read “Members of the National Association of the Deaf demonstrated in Washington in July, calling for specific education for the deaf involving sign language and separate school facilities.” The fact is that the photo was taken at an Audism Free Rally in Washington, DC outside of the Omni Shoreham Hotel where the Alexander Graham Bell Association was hosting it’s Listening and Spoken Language Symposium. It was not an NAD event and we were not calling for separate school facilities at this rally.

If you would care to learn more about who we are and what we were protesting, rallying and hosting a vigil for, please feel free to contact us.

Patti Durr, Ruthie Jordan, and Karen Christie on Behalf of Audism Free America (AFA)

--
LET FREEDOM ROLL!!
AFA

Video of AFA @ AGBell Symposium Rally Day One (7/21/11)

2011-08-04T16:53:00.003-04:00

AFA video of first day of AFA Rally at AG Bell (Listening and Spoken Language Symposium) in Washington DC (July 21 - 23)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-w5rXy3nkM

AFA Meeting with OSEP from Dept of Education (7/22/11)

2011-08-03T19:18:00.006-04:00

Meeting of AFA Representatives with the Director of the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (July 22, 2011)

Contacts and Participants:
Weeks prior to the rally in Washington DC (July 21-23, 2011), AFA representatives contacted a number of offices connected with the Department of Education (DoE) for an opportunity to meet during this time.

While the Civil Rights section of the DoE was not responsive (would only refer us to state DoE offices), we were successful in securing a meeting with Dr. Melody Musgrove. Dr. Musgrove is the Director of the Special Education section of the Department of Education and also was a keynote presenter during the AG Bell Conference.

In preparing for the meeting, AFA invited a representative from the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) to join us. The NAD sent Sean Gerlis, NAD Region 1 Representative to participate. Others attending were AFA Representatives Ruthie Jordan and Karen Christie as well as Patricia Raswant who had provided helpful documents prior our the meeting. Attending the meeting from the Department of Education was Dr. Musgrove, Ruth Ryder, Larry Wexler, Sue Swenson and Ernest Hairson.

Purposes of our meeting:
1. We had concerns related to how the federal government has consistently denied Deaf students access to a free appropriate public educational programming in alignment with research about the language/cognitive abilities of Deaf people and recent international proclamations (ie ICED New Era, UN Rights of the Child, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN statement on prevention and punishment of Genocide, and WFD’s Statement on Human rights).

2. We were concerned that the DoE has not provided appropriate regulatory guidance to state and local agencies in light of recent events at Deaf schools across the United States (Deaf schools being closed or infiltrated with oral only advocates/programs)

3. We felt a need to meet with Dr. Musgrove to explain why it wasn’t cool that she was giving a keynote address at the AG Bell Conference.

AFA’s call to DoE was read aloud by Dr. Musgrove to the group.

**AFA calls upon the Department of Education

to ensure that policies/procedures/programs are, at the very least, in alignment with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2010 ICED New Era Document, World Federation of the Deaf recognition and right to use sign languages…(copies of these documents were provided at the meeting)

to provide the guidance to state and districts whereby:

*the HUMAN RIGHTS of the Deaf child be guaranteed in the educational system
*that the human linguistic rights of Deaf children be acknowledged as the right to be bilingual in ASL (a minority language) and English (as the “official language”)
*that Deaf children have an unconditional right to be educated through the medium of their minority language within a state-financed education system (this is a Linguistic human right)
*that Deaf children have a right to profit from their educational system in particular that they achieve high levels of bi-or multi-lingualism through education

and acknowledge:
parents/guardians who make choices about their child’s education placement/medium of instruction today do not often know enough about the probable long term consequences of their choices to deem it to be voluntary and not done under pressure from the majority (see Skutnabb-Kangas 2008) ; and

any state educational program---but early intervention programs in particular---that promote an oral only approach and promotes a disuse of ASL be not supported by the Department of Education.
___________________________________________
A review of some points made during the meeting:

AG Bell’s Listening and Spoken Language principles were reviewed and shown to also promote a disuse of sign language. Audism as a institutional practice was discussed plus AFA cards and the DBC pamphlet were handed out.

NAD representative handed out NAD position statements on American Sign Language, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, Schools for the Deaf, Inclusion, and Dual language development.

Past Congressional Reports on the Education of Deaf Students in 1964 (Babbidge report) and 1988 (Commission on Education of the Deaf report) were reviewed with DoE emphasizing the findings of the failure of the oral only approach and the need to use ASL in the education of Deaf students. This 1988 report also included testimony, which expressed concerns that DoE was interpreting LRE as mainstreaming for Deaf children---an interpretation which often leads to the most restriction in terms of language access and socio-emotional-educational development.

Mr. Wexler responded that, at present, they did not see another Congressional report on the state of the education of Deaf students coming within the next several years.

Relevant documents were provided to DoE including Kristin Snodden’s 2008 American Sign Language and Early Intervention article (from The Canadian Modern Language Review) which points to how the medical profession and Auditory Verbal Therapy practitioners have worked together to unduly influence governmental procedures and deny Deaf children access to ASL.

In response to Dr. Musgrove’s emphasis on options and parental choice
-it was emphasized that AG Bell Association does not offer options—the only option being oral only.
-we expressed concerns that parental choice being uninformed and valued over child rights.

The Results:
This was seen as a meeting where we could make initial contacts with individuals in the DoE.

The report of the “Achievement Gap for Deaf students” from the California State of Education Address (2007) by Superintendent O’Connell was shared and included in the documents provided to DoE.

This “achievement gap,” Dr. Musgrove agreed was NOT ACCEPTABLE and that statement was the strongest statement she made during the meeting.

AFA plans to follow up with this meeting and ask for a formal response to the calls we have made upon DoE.

NAD apologies to AFA

2011-07-29T23:36:00.005-04:00

July 21-23, 2011 Audism Free America hosted rallies in front of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC to protest the Alexander Graham Bell Association and their Listening and Spoken Language Symposium.

On July 22 Friday at 7 pm there was a Vigil at the AG Bell Association headquarters - The Volta Laboratory and Bureau. During this vigil a few pieces of blue painters trim tape were placed over some words on the Volta Bureau plaque so that the words Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing could read as Alexander Graham Bell Association for the ... Hearing

Later that evening Sean Gerlis - National Association of the Deaf (NAD) designated representative for the AFA rally and the AFA meeting with the Dept of Education posted on facebook and tweeted:
“On behalf of Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Prez of NAD & myself, we NAD do not condone this behavior from @endaudism to desecrate AGB's building.”

July 23 Saturday morning AFA sent an email to NAD CEO Howard Rosenblum and
CCed Sean Gerlis and Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins explaining the incorrectness and inappropriateness of the term "descrate" and that no defacing took place. We also requested a public apology.

On the Evening of July 27 Wed we received an apology from Dr. Scoggins, NAD president, and we asked if we could share this reply with the public. In the evening of July 29 Fri we received a reply from Dr. Scoggins that it was fine to do so. Here is the NAD's reply below.

We look forward to future activism and advocacy as we work collectively to combat audism and ensure equality and justice.

Let Freedom Roll,
Audism Free America
-------

On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Bobbie Beth Scoggins wrote:

Hi cherished AFA Members,

This is to let you know that the NAD was pleased to be present at the rally, and to support your cause in principle. It is imperative that all deaf children grow up with and benefit from American Sign Language in their education, as well as in their social and identity development. We look forward to continuing the mutual advocating on this issue with you.

I sincerely apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from the unintended use of "desecration." We respect your right to express your freedom of speech, and ask that you respect the NAD and its position that we do not engage or participate in any activities that will affect the property of others.

Our mission, vision and values are strong and consistent with what you are trying to do. We hope that both the AFA and the NAD can move forward with our collective work to advocate for all deaf children and their right to acquisition of American Sign Language.

Thank you,
Bobbie Beth Scoggins, NAD President

AFA Rally in Washington DC July 23 2011: DAY THREE Tweets

2011-07-26T10:50:00.001-04:00

Evening of July 22nd...one more tweet in response to a tweet by NAD representatives accusing AFA of "desecration" of the Volta Bureau earlier that evening...

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
To clarify there was no "desecration" of the volta bureau. Afa was acting with advice of a lawyer who was present and cooperated w/police
---------------------
DAY THREE
Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Final day of afa rally in dc. Starts 1030am. How hot can this rally get???

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
RaLly is heating up!!!! http://yfrog.com/gzgbenlj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Jehanne is bbbaacckk and standing young and strong!!!!! http://yfrog.com/hscu1gzj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Growing growing crowd fired up gally students champ!!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
The heat is on!! Rally hard http://yfrog.com/kfy5kyhj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
More heat in front of omni http://yfrog.com/h4303mkj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Fired up! http://yfrog.com/kl19qfxj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Know audism what mean?? See pic http://yfrog.com/kjyhrrj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
LoooOkkkkk!!!! http://yfrog.com/gylxndnj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Roar http://yfrog.com/kemk6kvj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
One shirt says it all http://yfrog.com/h25etilsj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
DOR for DBC standing strong in front of omni http://yfrog.com/gy1jqvdvj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
DCAD prez and david nelson in the house

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Rally on john e testifyin truthifyin.

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Oral only baloney http://yfrog.com/h0zxdmrj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
David nelson apologizing on behalf of dcsad. About the heat http://yfrog.com/klipdbsj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Charm --Prez MSAD--- Charming the crowd supporting deaf lang and human rights http://yfrog.com/h712jufj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
DOR of DBC joins afa call for ag bell to apologize for years od damage to deaf kids and families http://yfrog.com/h4ya2ynj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (crowd informed of sit in plans...Six choose to participate)
SIT IN at the AGBELL COnference: Afa six sit in at ag bell session on "cultural and linguistic" competence (go in one of the conference rooms and sit at the front)

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America(@ sit in )
AG Bell member repeatedly asks AFA reps to leave
http://yfrog.com/kki6xsej

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Afa six sit in chant let deaf children sign. stop dividing families oralism fails, interrupt session

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Session ending due to interruption by afa cheers (pic show "cart interrupted")
http://yfrog.com/h3d8gpgj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Arrests being threatened
(Hotel security asks AFA to leave or will call DC police to arrest us for tresspassing)
(Shawn leaves to catch flight!)

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Inside before police arrive and get paranoid abt pictures etc (patti is taking pics of group as AGBell's Communication Director sits) http://yfrog.com/khc9cmij

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Afa lawyer comes in with many many police. If drag out physically, charge --criminal tresspassing.
(after two police move to forcibly lift Mark...they stop and move away)
Afa five left to negotiate with lawyer for some minutes...

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ sit in)
Afa leaves peacefully and hotel officials and police assure us they are "not taking sides"

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
The message to agbell: Wherever u go we will stand strong against u until u meet our demands

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (as we leave in front)
Guess who came to the rally http://yfrog.com/h24vxbpj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Pass the hat. Money for lawyer ann wilcox who also attended last nights vigil http://yfrog.com/hs39151023j

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Gally folks showing up yeahhh http://yfrog.com/kjod1jhj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
INFO: AfA celebration tonight 8pm at marriott shoreham stone cutters lounge. Time to paArrttyyy Time to CELEBRATE!!!!!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Now! the deaf unit of mpd shows up. Our pals from 2009 volta protest. Time to ensure calm and chat!! http://yfrog.com/h3eq0vpj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
The friendly radicals fraterizing with police!!! http://yfrog.com/kh6qzejj
The Group with our signing police http://yfrog.com/h2k92eajj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
We love ur tweets. Great spirit boosters. Thanks to all tweeters/retweeters for ur support!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Afa truly thanks those brave supporters who came out faced Record breaking heat to stand strong with us against denial of deaf childrens human rights of sign language

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
The message to agbell. Wherever u go we will stand strong against u until u meet our demands

---------------
(note: a few tweets were edited for clarity and minor mistakes)

AFA Rally in Washington DC July 22 2011: DAY TWO Tweets

2011-07-26T10:49:00.000-04:00

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
DAy two of afa rally. Beautiful cool. Folks from ny colo maine mass ct socarolina. DC VA MD. Where r u q
22 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Good AM: time to wake up and take a stand! DoE (Department of Education/Special Education Director) Dr. Melody Musgrove keynotes agb conf. at 8 am today.....Will meet with afa folks 1230.
22 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Todays poster!! http://yfrog.com/kjfqthrj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Guess who showed up at afa rally!!! http://yfrog.com/kke51xbj
(Picture of Veditz artwork by Nancy Rourke on AFA "Stand for Justice" T Shirt)

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
U gotta have heart to take a stand!! http://yfrog.com/kffeihmj
(front detail of shirt with AFA logo)

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Thanks nancy for u words and ur veditz t shirts!! Mark making his mark!!
http://yfrog.com/kl8xgayj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
More for today dbc and afa power!! http://yfrog.com/kewhctij

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
U can take a stand and page too!!! http://yfrog.com/kig0iccj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Dc cops. Friendly!!! Wearing afa bracelet!! http://yfrog.com/khk9fhfj

Audism Free America@endaudism Audism Free America
Whom the bell tolls... http://yfrog.com/kjopgsvj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
We r here can't ignore us! http://yfrog.com/kgyyfvkj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Blue ribbon power http://yfrog.com/keug6oetj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Where Afa rally 2500 calvert and conn. Near woodlsey park zoo metro come!!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Sean nad rep joins afa protest. Yeah nad!!!!! http://yfrog.com/kgr7wyhj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Powerful words!!! http://yfrog.com/kiohlnj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
ATTENTION ALL: vigil will be at volta tonight 7 pm foggy bottom metro 3147 volta pl NW near georgetown

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Can't ag bell say "DEAF" q http://yfrog.com/kictxvlj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Words that tell our truth http://yfrog.com/kf3m6wvj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Sean g. Nad rep addresses the crowd. Each time he signs "bell" folks ring cowbells...

Audism Free America

@endaudism Audism Free America
Sean. Rally to confront ag bell s denial of access to language for deaf folks!!

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Ruthie thanks nad for coming giving spirit

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
John E dbc rep !!! http://yfrog.com/khxexwsj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Others step up: Cheryl from mass--asl first! Interp from maine--stand with Afa. Misha--announce next years march. She didn't swear at all!! That's a first!

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Those who stand must also sometimes sit in the shade http://yfrog.com/kh4z1wbj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Afa reps going to dept of ed meeting with Special Ed Director Melody Musgrove, ag bell keynote speaker this morning..(tweeter leaves rally)

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa reps and nad rep meet with musgrove plus 4 others in dept of education

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Afa calls on doe to guarantee the human lang rights of deaf children in edu system

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Afa calls on DoE to be in compliance with iced 2010 New Era Statement, the recent WFD human rights statement, the UN statement on rights of the child and un statement on genocide

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Afa called on doe to ensure deaf children have unconditional right to be edu in asl within state financed edu system

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Afa calls on doe to acknowledge parents often do not have enough info on long term consequences to make voluntary informed decisions

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Afa calls upon doe to not fund state supported edu that denies access to asl esp in early intervention prgms
22 Jul

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America (@ Dept Of Ed meeting)
Musgroves most committed statement--state of deaf ed not acceptable

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America (back @ rally site)
Hot hot we r still standing http://yfrog.com/kh573thj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Little feet stand too http://yfrog.com/kjcs3ygj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
ridors here and standing!

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Day two. Rallying at Omni ends, Vigil at 7 at volta. Time to cool down and cool off.

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Counting down to 7 pm virgil at volta bureau 'for the deaf and hard of hearing'!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Association for who???? http://yfrog.com/khffktej

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa at volta. Their new sign!!! http://yfrog.com/h8rithij

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Ruthie giving afa history anD explain abt 2009 rally

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Quiet at volta. No police. No one answering our knocks on the door

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Hellllooo maryland. Some great MD folks joining us!!

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Leaving notes at agbells doorstep http://yfrog.com/kfxl0qdqj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
The gang taking a stand on the steps http://yfrog.com/kitq1obj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Another new sign at the volta bureau http://yfrog.com/kioaiiij

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Vigil begins http://yfrog.com/kl57521103j

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
More at volta--bearing witness http://yfrog.com/h8he7fsj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
People telling their stories testifying about how ag bell failed them and their families.. then burning ag bell membership cards http://yfrog.com/h21goxdj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Darkness falls in DC as stories of dark days of oralism still being told by folks from both deaf and hearing families

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Done cursing the dark ages of oralism. Now lighting candles symbolizing future hope http://yfrog.com/kj8lwwuj

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Day two ends. tmr last day to take a stand. Omni hotel 1030 to 330. Then time to party!!

AFA Rally in Washington DC July 2011: DAY ONE Tweets

2011-07-26T10:48:00.001-04:00

AFA Rally in Washington DC July 2011: DAY ONE Tweets

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa rally day dawns in DC! Omni rally site woolsey zoo metro 2500 calvert@ conn ave. Come put the heat on AGBell
21 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa scopes out omni hotel. Alex graham CEO of agb in dark glasses stopped in his way out to be greeted by AFA three...
21 Jul

endaudism Audism Free America
Lunch before rally in omni among the oralists. Still taking a stand http://yfrog.com/kkdtziaj
21 Jul

endaudism Audism Free America
RALLY IS HAPPENING NOW>>>Poster power at afa rally. "Agbell funds audism". "Oral only full of baloney. Stop the agbell octopus!!"
21 Jul

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
DBC reps arrive to afa rally!!! DOR and JOHN E in the house now!!!!!!
21 Jul

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Guess who is NOT an agbell conference sponsor? Catherine Murphy s (ex-agbell communications director) new job site: Gallaudet University!
Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Catherine Murphys new position--gally PR..but Gallaudet NOT and agbell conf sponsor!! GO Bisons!!!
21 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Police now wearing audism free bracelet!!!! (pics to come)
21 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa think tank tonight. Marriott wardham 7pm inside bar stone cutters
21 Jul

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America (picture with poster "oralism Failed Me")
http://yfrog.com/kjcn2zzj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America(reverse side of above sign: "ASL Saved Me")
More pics http://yfrog.com/kj2zgzj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Power of standing women! http://yfrog.com/kf28yvhj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
We r fired up!! Posters and ringing bells!! http://yfrog.com/ke9iwdsj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Honk to support asl!! http://yfrog.com/kh229txj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Stop audism right in agbells neighborhood http://yfrog.com/klrkegtj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Never forget!! http://yfrog.com/kgiy0hj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Champ protester!!taking a stand in the worst heat on record! http://yfrog.com/keuscchj

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa think tank. 7 pm marriott....Brewing

Audism Free America
endaudism Audism Free America
Afa think tank brewing now!!

Audism Free America
@endaudism Audism Free America
Afa protest day 2 tmr starts 8 am. Key note ag conf-musgrove from dept of ed.

End of Day One...
time to put up our feet and rest our weary heads...

Speech-Language Pathologist Speaks Out...

2011-07-18T13:50:00.008-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdnDi2zHiw

(Voice translate into texts)

Hello everyone. Until now, I have worked as a speech-language pathologist. In the last two or three years I have had the amazing experience of learning American Sign Language, of getting involved in the Deaf community and just seeing all of the amazing things that the community has to offer, that the language itself has to offer. Today, I want to talk to you about Audism. And Audism, for those of you that don't know, is discrimination of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing people based on the fact that they can't hear. And I would like to talk to you in my opinion...give you my opinion what area I feel Audism impacts the most. And I feel it impacts children the most. From the very beginning, I know that information given to parents, hearing parents who have Deaf children, is limited when it comes to American Sign Language, when it comes to the Deaf community, Deaf culture. I understand that many times it's mentioned, or maybe it is emphasized in certain hospitals in certain states. But I know that a wide array, many many places don't offer that information and if they do, it's just a smidgeon of information. And this really baffles me because I know from being a speech-language pathologist, the importance of language development, the importance of having a really strong language foundation. So I don't feel that the information should just be mentioned, or touched upon. I feel that information about American Sign Language, Deaf culture, the Deaf community-the parents should really be inundated with this information. Basically, all options, all information, all perspectives should be really be being offered to hearing parents who have Deaf children from the very beginning. This foundation of American Sign Language is SO important from the time that the child is a baby. And I'm not talking about, you know, "baby signs". I've used signs with hearing parents of hearing babies, so we teach a few signs here and there to the parents and the children. But with Deaf children, many times it's not even emphasized. So why aren't we emphasizing using signs and when I say signs I don't mean just "signs", I'm talking about American Sign Language, the language itself. Really that should be what is used. American Sign Language as most of you know, is a true real language just like any other language. It has all of the aspects of any other language: morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics, all of those things and all of those things that are involved in American Sign Language need to be exposed to the Deaf child from the time the child is a baby. So those deep structures, those deep grammatical structures of the language. And I understand that means the parents have to learn the language. And I know first-hand that it is a hard language to learn. But it can be done. It is just an amazing language to be exposing the children to. So my opinion, is that I feel there should be more focus, there should be more emphasis on American Sign Language and the Deaf community and the Deaf culture and having Deaf people be involved when a baby is born who is Deaf. It is so crucial and so important. And I know from the medical perspective, again, with me being a speech-language pathologist, I know that the medical perspective is different and so all of these other things, like ASL, like I said, Deaf culture, Deaf community, they are kind of just touched upon. And so perhaps the information is more skewed in the medical direction-aural rehabilitation you know cochlear implants, whatever. But really we have to give parents and the children, especially the children, that is what's most important. Give them what they deserve which is the whole picture-every perspective, every piece of information, every option-give them the whole pictures. Because as medical professionals, that is our duty. To inform to the best of our ability for any parent who has a Deaf child, it is our responsibility to inform them of all options.

The other area that I want to talk about where I really feel Audism impacts is education. Education is so important for the Deaf child and many parents struggle to figure out how am I going to educate my child, what school am I going to send them to and parents deserve to know that Deaf schools are the most amazing, rich, wonderful learning environments for Deaf children. I have had the experience of going into the Deaf schools seeing (for myself)...these children are so alive, they're happy, they are using their language all the time-not only with their friends, but with their teachers. And most importantly, they are learning concepts through their first language, their first natural language, which is American Sign Language. So they're learning school concepts..academic concepts and most importantly, they're learning world knowledge. It is so important for children to develop world knowledge. And the only way to to do that, the only way children can do that, is through their first language, through language, American Sign Language. I want to talk about the concept of Least Restrictive Environment, which we all know came about with IDEA and I want to talk about the least restrictive environment for Deaf children. Society believes that that environment is the mainstream public school system. But let's put all of our notions of Least Restrictive Environment aside for a minute and let's look at two scenarios: So you have one scenario where the Deaf child is communicating freely, all the time, using American Sign Language, talking to his peers, his teachers, learning, just immersed in the language and in the culture. Then we have another scenario, where in many cases, and I am not saying in all cases-I understand that some mainstream schools do have strong Deaf programs with a lot of Deaf children, but let's talk about in general. In many mainstream environments, the Deaf child is alone, the only person that uses his or her language is the interpreter. They feel isolated, they really don't feel included in extracurricular activities, in sports, you know it's hard for the child to get involved because the child feels isolated. And I'm talking about you know, when it's one or two Deaf children in a school and they don't have any other support system of people all around them using their language. And most importantly, they don't have the benefit of learning through their language. The interpreter, yes, is providing...you know, is signing for them but a lot of times the interpreter is required by the IEP to use SEE, Signing Exact English, or Manually Coded English and those systems, they're not even real languages. Those systems are broken. And what's happening is these children are falling behind because of those systems. But let me get back to those two scenarios. So which scenario do YOU think is the least restrictive for the Deaf child? The one where the child is isolated, only able to directly communicate with the interpreter, feels left out from peers, feels left out from extracurricular activities, or the Deaf schools and Day schools, like the charter schools, the day programs where the children are immersed and using their language all the time, with their teachers, with their peers and involved fully in learning through their language. To me, my common sense says the LEAST restrictive environment is the Deaf schools-the residential schools, the day schools. To the Deaf child, that environment is the least restrictive. So all along, all of these years, we've been saying that the mainstream public school is the least restrictive environment when in fact it's the MOST restrictive. And so, I guess, being a speech-language pathologist and also having this opportunity to be involved in the Deaf community and learning the language and really just knowing all different perspectives, and knowing kind of the sides of everything, I am appalled. And I know that not just one person can change what's happening, but this is food for thought about the education of Deaf children. You know, if any of you out there are thinking about it, this is just to spark some thought about it and maybe in the future we can try to change this. because there are so many Deaf adults that I've met that were educated in the mainstream public school system and eventually when they got out, when they got into the real world and they were really immersed in American Sign Language and in the Deaf culture and were able to be around other Deaf people and Deaf peers, it was such a huge change for them. They describe it as coming from the dark into the light. And so why can't we start early? Why can't we provide that for children starting when they go to school? And starting before that? Early intervention, teaching them, having their parents learn American Sign Language and really immerse their kids in this language, and in the culture and in the community. Why can't we start early? So it's really important that we look at all perspectives. That's really my point: that Audism, even if- I know it's hard for medical professionals to accept: Are we being Audist? Are we displaying Audism? In a way we are because we are limited the child's choices, the parents' choices. And especially the parents who have a Deaf child and they don't know where to turn, they don't know where to get information. The parents deserve all the information that they can get, all the perspectives. and all of the wonderful stories that the Deaf community has to offer and the rich language that American Sign Language is...these Deaf children deserve that. And so, I also want to just bring up the point of acceptance. Children want to feel acceptance. And I understand that in some cases cochlear implants work. In some cases they don't. But regardless of what is working and what is not working, they want to feel accepted for who they are. They need that acceptance to build a strong identity and that comes back to once they go to school, being in Deaf schools and residential schools. They develop that identity there, with peers and with adults who are Deaf and who are using their language. Do you think they develop that identity in the mainstream setting? With an interpreter? No, they don't get to develop that identity and experience the social, emotional, and psychological growth that they really need. So feeling that acceptance from parents, from teachers, from speech-language pathologists, from audiologists. And I know that from me working as a speech-language pathologist, I know that accepting that child and working with them in that light really improves their sense of self-worth and their identity. I want to go back for a minute to the topic of education. I did some research on Bilingual Education, which is the best and most preferred method for Deaf children. In fact, it is such an effective method for Deaf children that in Sweden and Denmark it is a law that all Deaf children are educated through the bilingual approach. So, where is the bilingual approach offered in the United States? It is only offered in residential schools for the Deaf and day schools, day programs, there are charter schools across the country that offer that. I understand that some residential schools might have a bad reputation for academic achievement But what's happening is that these kids are first placed in the mainstream environment with an interpreter whose required to use one of the false sign systems, like SEE, MCE, PSE, Contact Variety whatever you want to call it, and where is the language foundation? Remember if there's no language foundation, then the children are going to suffer, they're going to get behind, and they're going to get delayed with their academic success. So what do the mainstream schools do? When the children are failing and they're not meeting their goals, they throw them into the residential schools. And the residential schools are spending all of this time trying to bring them up to the right level and trying to make up for lost time. And this is the problem: if the child was educated to begin with in a residential school or a day school in a strong Deaf bilingual program-that's the point, bilingual education program. If they were educated from the start with that, then they would be so successful and they ARE successful. We see it all the time. Deaf children who have Deaf parents who were exposed to full complete American Sign Language, with all of its properties that I mentioned before, the deep properties of a language. Children who were exposed to that or even children of hearing parents who decided to go that route. So they were exposed to that as babies and as toddlers and then they were put into a bilingual educational program, whether it was a day school or a residential school, these children EXCEL. And the perform at the same level, equal level, as hearing peers. Now, I have heard some sad stories. Recently one of my good friends observed some Deaf students in a high school...and it's not that I've just heard stories, I've seen them. But this one particularly really just made me so sad and it made me really just feel like something has to be done. She went into this high school and these Deaf children were counting coins...Deaf adolescent, teenagers...were counting coins and reading at a 2nd grade level. What is the problem? The problem is a lack of language foundation. A lack of world knowledge. How are they understanding the world around them without American Sign Language? Another story that I heard was about a group of about 17 of 18 high school students. It was about 17 Deaf high school students. And out of all of those Deaf students, ONE when she graduated went to college. And the difference between her and the other students was that they were using American Sign Language in the home on a regular basis. The one difference. So you know I understand the different perspectives, you know there are so many different things to look at, you know the "complexity" of the issue. The point is education. Educating the parents, educating each other. Finding out more information. The point is always that we are held back by ignorance...we are held back by fear. And those are two things that are so easy to conquer. Through learning more and through education. And so it's only fair like I said before to these hearing parents and the child-it's only fair to present all perspectives and all options. So that is my challenge today. We've got to wipe out Audism and its impact on the children. Because we all know that children are our future. The decisions we make today will affect seven generations ahead of us. So that is our challenge. It's my challenge, it's your challenge, it's everyone's challenge. To really think about this. Think about it and try to be open-minded and that we will all work together. Because most important is these Deaf children and them growing up with American Sign Language and having access to Bilingual Education. Thank you.

Think Globally, ACT Locally - ideas of what u do locally

2011-07-16T07:58:00.004-04:00

vlog explaining ideas of what you can do locally if you can not attend the AFA rally July 21-23, 2011

Think Globally, Act Locally
Audism Free America is having a rally in DC July 21-23 in opposition to their agenda of promoting falsehoods that promote the belief that to hear and/or behave as a hearing person is SUPERIOR to being Deaf. scroll down for vlog about the rallies http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/
Many folks would like to support AFA but can not attend the rally. Thank you for your support - we encourage u to Think Globally, Act Locally effort - tweet, facebook, take pix of ASL sign STAND or ur feet STANDing, show the film "Audism Unveiled" (link to DVD ordering below) at a local Deaf club or Deaf school and have a post film discussion, maybe videotape other folks testimonies of OURstories under Oralism and Audism and share, host something at ur home - discussion of some of the Deafhood vlogs about the impact of Oralism and our history, http://www.deafhood.us/wp/ and discuss, etc
to order Audism Unveiled:
http://www.dawnsign.com/product_details.php?item_id=150

AFA Rally Flyer

2011-07-12T20:08:00.003-04:00

AFA Rally Event 2011

2011-07-10T19:23:00.008-04:00

AUDISM FREE AMERICA VLOG:(see under ASL video box for English summary)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SdaMVgkdoQ

AFA TRANSCRIPT FROM VLOG:

Audism Free America
I'd like to share with you how AG Bell's conduct was and still is today rooted in AUDISM. An example of this goes back to 1886 when AG Bell sealed his infamous quote of "We should try ourselves to forget they are deaf. We should teach them to forget that they are deaf." That means to focus on their ears and mouths - listening and speaking so that 'they might be the same as us' That is AUDISM. Since that time - over 130 years have passed-- but today we see that the AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AGBAD) mission is what? "Advocating Independence through listening and speaking." This means that a person who can speak and listen without signing - actively shunning it - is considered "independent." So we see an evolution of AG Bell Association from its origins to present practices taht are rooted in AUDISM via a exclusive focus on ears and mouths - oral/aural ONLYism. That is still audism.

AFA Rally (Thurs, July 21 - Sat, July 23) Mission and Schedule
AFA would like to inform Deaf people and our allies of our plans for the rally schedule and various events.

First, we have made three demands in our direct approach to AG Bell and they are:
AG Bell Association
1. Stop promoting Oral/Aural Only oriented legislations, schools, and medical intervention and stop excluding American Sign Language (ASL)

2. Stop misrepresenting ASL and Deaf Culture

3. Apologize for AG Bell's role in the reign of Oralism (Oral/Aural Onlyism).

AG Bell Association: We urge you to come forward without denials and take a good look at yourself-- come clean, listen to your conscience, stand up and sincerely apologize for what we have had experienced under the years of Oralism. These three demands we have now put forth to AG Bell Association.

AFA Rally:
Thursday July 21, 2011- Rally from 1pm - 4pm
Omni Shoreham Luxury Hotel
2500 Calvert St, NW, near the zoo.

From 2:30pm - 4pm, we will have different presenters including one who has been involved in the field of education and a leader for bilingualism. Some people will come forward to share their stories and spirit.

From 4pm - 6pm, you are on your own for dinner.

At 7pm, there will be a think tank to discuss future plans and issue as we grow stronger and stronger. The location will be announced soon.

Friday July 22, 2011- Rally from 8am - 11:30am Omni Shoreham Hotel
During that time, a representative from the National Association of the Deaf will present. Other people will come forward and share their stories and spirit too. We will STAND UP.

11:30 - 1pm will be lunch on your own. 1pm the rallying will resume at 4pm and then dinner break.

7pm: Friday evening will be an important event. There will be a vigil to honor all that Deaf people have been through and to take a mighty stand. This is on Friday at 7pm - the location will be announced soon.

Saturday morning, July 23, 2011-- Rally from 10:30 to 3:30pm - rallying, sharing stories and spirit, some short skits, and DBC representatives will present. AFA will close with a discussion of what actions will be pursed in the future. That evening we will pick a place for a social and celebration of our having taken a stand. That is a rough outline of our schedule. If things pop up and there are changes, we will let you know of them.

For you people who cannot come to the AFA rally - its important that you take a STAND and show your support. We suggest you look in your local area - perhaps see if they have an AG Bell chapter there or an audiology and/or speech center that is strongly pro-oralism, you can provide them with information about audism, sharing materials and giving them cards.

You can also make blogs or vlogs. We encourage people to make vlogs sharing your experiences with Oralism and audism - these kinds of oppressions. Vlog it and get it out there explaining it all. We want a ground swell that spreads. The bricks of their system with its obessive focus on our ears and our mouths (oral / aural ONLYism) will begin to shatter, flake, and shake. We pound away at it as we grow larger and stronger. You know the momentum began in 2007 where people began protesting about our linguistic and cultural rights, initially was very small--but has been growing larger and larger and in this third year since, we see how actively we are growing. We really need you - allies and Deaf community members - to do your best - create something to take a STAND - no matter how small or large it may seem. It is all good because it will contribute to making a big impact for the future. You will see next year as we flow on forward. So people now is the time unite, no matter if you stay home where you can blog or vlog or you come out to the rally - all our efforts will be pooled together as we make this... STAND!

Let Freedom Roll. See You There.
Ruthie Jordan,
AFA

ATTENTION: JULY 2011 AFA Rally in Washington DC

2011-06-18T02:02:00.002-04:00

Check out the Vlog:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AudismFreeAmerica#p/a/u/0/UPDcaYXRRgE

Greetings Everyone, Deaf and Ally Community members across the land, AFA is excited to let you know some news. The AG Bell Association is hosting a conference entitled, Listening and Spoken Symposium. This conference is all about focusing on how to develop things for the ear and the mouth. There will be discussions on how to improve things related to technology, listening and speaking – a variety of topics all focusing on the ears and the mouth (audism). Who will be attending this AG Bell symposium? Audiologists and specialists who focus on a medical approach to our ears and mouths, teachers of the Deaf related to Oralism and speech, others who support AG Bell’s exclusive philosophy of audism. Also, some parents who believe fully in AG Bell’s philosophy of Oralism.

When is this AG Bell symposium taking place? This July 21-23, 2011 – the third week in July.

Where? In Washington, DC. In a very luxurious hotel, the Omni – that is where the AG Bell is hosting their symposium.

AFA is calling upon all Deaf and Ally community members to come on out to this event in Washington, DC. So please mark your calendar for July 21-23. It’s a really important event. So please help spread the news. Its time to stand up! Time for oppression, oppression, oppression to be blown away, away, away so we all may come together and grow tall in our mutual cherishing of sign language.

Why is this important – well, because of all these emerging issues such as Deaf schools being threatened to close, the ISD having pro-Oralism board members join when we know they should have Deaf members who support signing there. Different issues popping up here and there – even on a global level like in Italy where they have tried to degrade LIS to a system of gestures and mime.

Globally – we are global citizens united with our different signed languages, which are BEAUTIFUL. Now it is time to end this constant struggle against oppression – it is time to call us together.

Washington, DC Deaf Community, please come get involved.
Gallaudet community - come. ASL / Deaf Studies majors come too.
NAD CEO Howard – you have been doing a wonderful job taking a stand for Deaf schools and calling on people to get involved. Now I call on you to come join us.
The Deaf community all over from East, MidWest and West coast Bay area – across the U.S. COME. International folks welcome.

If you can not come vlog, keep watch, tap others. Now this is not exclusively for Deaf people only. Hearing allies who cherish and support ASL, you too come. Interpreters come, hearing parents come, Canadians, and other countries – come on down. Cherish, advocate, stand and fight for our beloved protected sign language – Our Deaf culture and our language make up what it means to be a Deaf person. They are our core values.
We will have more vlogs soon giving updates and details. It’s important now for you to mark the dates of July 21-23 so you can make plans to attend - drive, fly, carpool, train - gather to Washingon, DC. See you there. Let freedom roll. Come come come let your spirit grow and be cherished. Just as Veditz envision - we should stand for our ASL. His film showed how we should protect and love our signs. We Deaf people are a GIFT on this Earth.

AFA Letter to Members of the Italian Parliment

2011-05-31T23:45:00.000-04:00

31 May 2011
Greetings,

Audism Free America, a grassroots Deaf Activist organization in the United States, hereby beseeches the Italian government to not be mislead by the sensational and outrageous claims by the FIADDA (Italian Families Association for the Defense of the Rights of Deafness) and to stand by its original decree to formally recognize Italian Sign Language (LIS).
Audism Free America (AFA) advocates for Deaf American rights, cultural resurgence, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Oralism (the belief that teaching children to speak is superior to signing and that natural signed languages should be banned from the life of a child), paternalism, and audism do not contribute to independent and healthy Deaf individuals. In fact many scholars have noted that the denial of a full natural and accessible signed LANGUAGE for Deaf children is a form of cultural and linguistic genocide as well as a crime against humanity.

While AFA is based in the United States, we care deeply about our Deaf brothers and sisters across the globe. We have been watching the news about efforts in Italy to degrade Italian Sign Language (LIS) to LMG (communications in mime and gestures) and we see that the FIADDA has issued a press release filled with errors and misinformation. The decree to formally recognize, respect and value LIS by the Italian government is a just, right and fair decree. LMG undermines all languages and is unjust, wrong, and harmful to Deaf people in Italy, as well as across the globe. If the Italian government is to support or validate LMG then your own spoken language should be changed to be called - a Linguaggio of grunts and utterances. Cool? NO.

The International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) 2010 issued an Accord for the Future that calls upon all the Nations of the World to:
- be in compliance with the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities and the World Federation of the Deaf, which acknowledges the rights and importance of signed languages in Deaf children's education
- include the sign languages of their Deaf citizens as legitimate languages of these nations and treat them as equal to those of the hearing majority,
- facilitate, enhance and embrace their Deaf citizens' participation in governmental decision-making process affecting all aspects of their lives and much more.

If the Italian government chooses to support LMG instead of to valorize LIS, your decision should carry with it the consequence that all government business from now on be conducted in LMG only.

Let Freedom Roll,

Audism Free America

AFA's Letter to the Governor of Indiana

2011-05-28T00:17:00.004-04:00

26 May 2011

Governor Mitch Daniels
200 West Washington Street, #206
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731
mdaniels@gov.in.gov

Dear Governor Daniels,

This letter serves to inform you of our grave concerns related to your recent appointments to the Board of Education at the Indiana School for the Deaf. We, Audism Free America (AFA), recognize that three of these appointments pose a serious threat not only Deaf children in your state, but also to other Deaf schools and the Deaf community across the US.

Audism Free America is a grassroots network of individuals committed to combating audism. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

The recent appointment of three individuals translate into overt and covert actions of audism against the very students you are elected to protect and serve.

In New York State, we have recently protested to ensure that our Deaf schools are safe from budgetary cuts which would lead to school closures. Your appointments reek of a new strategy aimed at closing Deaf schools which are motivated primarily by budgetary concerns and secondarily by language oppression (i.e.,linguicism).

Last summer, the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) passed “A New Era: Deaf Participation and Collaboration” document which:
-Calls upon all Nations to promote and support multilingual education, include sign languages of their Deaf citizens as legitimate languages, involve Deaf citizens in assisting parents of Deaf children, and to facilitate, enhance, and embrace their Deaf citizens’ participation in all government decision-making processes affecting all aspects of their lives…

Clearly, you are in violation of the ICED New Era Accord, we ask that you reconsider, given what you are learning in this process, whether you have faithfully executed this responsibility as governor.

We ask that you recognize Deaf people’s right to self-determination by actively designating more than their mere symbolic representation in institutions, which are established to educate Deaf people to be citizens. Additionally, please note that many state school boards appoint at least one non-voting student representative.

We ask that you assert support for the Bilingual Educational program established at the Indiana School for the Deaf, which ensures the basic human right of a fully natural and accessible language.

Additionally, we write to support the community’s demands of:
1. rescinding the appointments of Scott Rigney, Mary Ann Buhner, and Lucy Witte;

2. restructuring the ISD Board to comprise 51% Deaf Board members;

3. establishing transparent procedures for the selection of new Board members that include the input of school/community stakeholders and seek to appoint qualified persons who are dedicated to the mission, vision, and educational philosophies of ISD.

Let Freedom Roll!

Karen Christie for AFA

CC:
Marvin Miller
president@iadhoosiers.org
Scott Jenkins
Scjenkins@gov.in.gov
Andrew Norris

AFA sent the letter to AG Bell

2011-02-10T12:23:00.003-05:00

Feb 8, 2011

Dear AG Bell,

We, the AFA (Audism Free America) would like to follow up with you since our meeting with your organization. To date, you have not responded back to us as to whether or not you had seen the film, "Audism Unveiled" which we gave to you on April 2, 2009 and we, the AFA would appreciate a response from you, AG Bell.

The AFA is delighted to share with you, AG Bell that our beautiful language, American Sign Language is key for Deaf infants/children, parents, teachers, and professors to learn and share in communicating that encourages and promotes a sense of whole being. This also promotes a sense, healthy communication between families and their Deaf children and strengthen the lies of loving with families. Please look at the following VLOG and share this with our community; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV69iJuXwP4

We want to remind you that AG Bell's mission to advocate that Deaf infants and children to learn how to speak and hear without the use of, and/or excluding the use of American Sign Language is simply a form of AUDISM.

Audism is the attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice- in over and/or covert ways - against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life. ~Audism Free America

Again, we ask that you share with all of our community, the beauty of ASL and its success for all Deaf/Hearing infants/children and their parents, professors, teachers, and that together, the Deaf child will grow and have the positive self-identity and confidence that they so deserve.

Please feel free to contact us,
Let Freedom Roll!
Thank you,

Ruthie Jordan
behalf of Audism Free America

AFA letter to Jubilee Filmmakers

2010-11-14T21:05:00.001-05:00

Greetings Jubilee Filmmakers:

Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots group dedicated to reducing audism*. We would like to commend you for making a short film to support the American Society of Deaf Children (ASDC).

We want to share our disappointment with two things:
1. the casting of a Hearing person to portray a Deaf person. Since many Deaf people see themselves as a cultural and linguistic minority and since there are many skilled Deaf actors, we find it objectionable when Hearing people are used to portray Deaf characters just as Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, Latino Americans etc find it objectionable when Caucasian people are cast to represent them.

2. the last line of the film "You are still beautiful" communicates a message of "despite your being Deaf...."
We are eager to see media the de-stigmatizes what it means to be Deaf and devoid of sexism and lookism. Deaf women are often used in films as a sexual, desirable object. A source of fascination and a damsel in distress.

We are confident that none of your casting or writing choices intended to convey the adverse messages noted above. We know your desires were good.

We ask that you consider doing a re-shoot and casting a Deaf actor in the role of the Deaf character as well as revising the last line in response to "I'm Deaf" to either the written reply of:

"COOL" or "ME TOO."

Please do not hesitate to contact us about this matter or if you desire any input on future project ideas. Again, we thank you and commend you for this undertaking.

Let Freedom Roll,

Patti Durr on behalf of Audism Free America

*Audism = attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

AFA endorses Deaf & Native community

2010-09-19T18:27:00.008-04:00

AFA is concerned and would like to share sad news from Seattle, Washington. A Deaf Native American, John T Williams (see photo)recently passed away. This is what happened: A cop saw him carrying a knife and yelled at John to drop the knife three times. Then, the cop shot him 4 times in the chest. John died instantly from the shooting on the street. We, AFA truly grieve for his brothers, family members, friends, Deaf Native Community members, and our Deaf community. We have also signed the petition protesting this incident and endorsing their call for a rally asking the Seattle Mayor and city officials to investigate this truly horrific tragedy.

(http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38960/sign.html)

This deadly incident never should have happened to John T Williams.The cop could have used other means to confront him such as using a taser, sign language or gestures--but instead they responded making a flawed assumption, shooting a Deaf man 4 times. Imagine: John T. Williams was only about 10 feet away and yet he was shot 4 times. That was a deadly decision that was truly sad. We encourage Deaf community members and all others to sign the petition to support calling for an investigation of that incident. There are a number of good reasons for us to take action to sign this petition. For many years, we, Deaf people have been seen, experienced, and been aware of events such as this one. We know that there have been many incidences and issues of concern with police officers. Sometimes, the police are involved with misunderstandings, some have demonstrated jumping to conclusions, some have made serious errors in decision making, and approached Deaf people in dangerous ways. As a result, Deaf people are at risk for being shot--leading to injuries or death; Deaf people have told stories of being pulled over and needing to deal with miscommunication with the police; police have responded with violent actions when Deaf people have simply been trying to use sign language to communicate; in addition to many other situations where Deaf people's safety is at risk. Its been reported that innocent Deaf people have been killed, injured or arrested by the police. There are also some issues related to AUDISM and police officers demonstrating this attitude. It has occurred repeatedly in our life time and it will continue...as even today in the year 2010, it is still happening...

(Sigh)We (Deaf community members) are very concerned and recommend to tap all of you to wake up, to roll up your sleeves along with us to take action challenging the legal system such as the police to educate them about Deaf people, encourage them to learn sign language and Deaf culture, and learn how to deal with us appropriately. Learning some sign language, the officers could communicate with Deaf people when they are pulled over such as asking for driver's licenses, telling them to slow down, warning them not to use a knife or gun, or anything related to safety and other issues. We also encourage you to contact the mayor of your town to check on how the police are trained to handle Deaf people and other relevant issues. The mayor could change and improve the criminal justice system for our Deaf community including Deaf people with Low vision/Blind and Deaf people of color, and other minority groups.
Because we value the diversity in our Deaf community, we need to work to ensure our safety. Some Deaf people STILL feel paranoid and scared around police officers because they know that police officers could easily decide to take action against an innocent citizen that could result in shooting death or injury. The police do have a job to do and in that job they have the POWER to decide to violate the rights of people which can lead to the loss of life. AFA values you all and encourages you all to take action to cause a ripple effect in the community so that incidents such as what happened to John T. Williams will not happen again in our life times. This must STOP. Deaf people have died in incidents such as this... We value the Deaf community, all of you...

Audism Free America

AFA: End of Milan (130 anniv) and the New Era Beginning

2010-09-13T03:09:00.002-04:00

Greetings:

AFA would like to tell you about a historical event in Deaf history, commonly known as Milan 1880. This was a historical event in Deaf education that removed sign language from the classroom. This event took place from September 6-11 in 1880 – 130 years ago today.

In Milan, Italy there was a convention in which many Hearing educators and 1 Deaf person convened. They discussed and debated and then voted. The vote was in favor of removing and banning natural signed languages in favor of oral / aural methods – Oralism ONLY. This declaration had a profound and far-reaching impact on Deaf children’s education and upbringing. The lights went out on their education in natural signed languages. Their hands were silenced – speech and listening ruled the day.

Families struggled with communication – there was a disconnect and a chasm of understanding even amongst peers. Looking in ward, there was a loss of identity and an absence of feeling centered. One was always off kilter. This has been our enduring experience for the past 130 years. We have lived this through and through for the past 130 years.

FINALLY this past summer at the ICED (International Congress on the Education of the Deaf) people convened and discussed the matter concluding that Milan 1880 was WRONG – the removal and banning of natural signed languages from Deaf education was truly wrong so they issued a proclamation to the world of their sincere regret for that unjust past declaration in favor of Oralism and official removed those past erroneous resolutions. They also declared that hence forth natural signed languages should be included in Deaf education across the globe. When a Deaf child is born they have a natural right to be exposed to a natural signed language in educational, social, family settings and this can take place between Deaf and Hearing people ensuring global citizenship. This will positive influence their lives – their education will soar, their socialization with soar, their center will be found and rooted to be whole and complete as an inalienable right hence forth.

Text quote:

We learn ASL

We learn through ASL

We learn about ASL

“Forbidding Deaf children to learn/acquire sign language is a crime against humanity”

- Lawrence R Fleischer

Now with this new accord for the future in which natural signed language is recognized, we need you Deaf people and members of our community to send out our energy and pull up our sleeves so that our central core is strengthened and grows. We bring it forth to share with Deaf children –via going to schools, Deaf clubs, Deaf social events – meeting Deaf and Hearing parents so they know that natural signed language is truly a language and a beautiful one at that. We need to get this message out and a ripple effect to take place.

We need you, YOU, to do your part. To core being – I am Deaf and I am Human and I am ASL. This will be spread outward and impact a positive CHANGE. We can then come together as a collective community – our international comm-unity – this is a new beginning.

Really I kiss-fist this Deaf artwork behind me here (indicates the artwork behind her). It relates to what we are discussing here – natural signed languages are really a remarkable gift to Hearing and Deaf people – Hearing babies, Deaf babies… All of us.

Why? Envision the world is round and a Deaf and Hearing person go onto an airplane – it takes off and soars – and sky dive. The Deaf person signs, “Wow, whoa – this is so beautiful. Check out the landscape below us – see the sun glistening on the lake and the eagle flying above…” Meanwhile the Hearing person can only gesture “two thumbs up” as the wind and air goes rushing past their face as the plummet downward with a few other basic gestures “clap, clap, disco dance.” They both land on the earth and approach a person at a window. The Deaf skydiver explains about her/his experiences through the window but the Hearing skydiver cannot shout loud enough for the person behind the glass to get the information. They move on to go scuba diving, jumping into the ocean going down under the waves with oxygen tanks and the Deaf person signs, “wow, look at that beautiful puffer fish going by, and that creature, and that and watch out a shark.” S/he looks back and indicates to the Hearing partner – “look out a shark’s coming.” The Hearing person just gives a “thumbs up” and takes out the oxygen tubing to try to speak but then has to put it back and returns to the surface.

Look at that – signing is handy and dandy. Three different spheres make up the whole. Signing can be used on three layers of our one earth (underwater, on the surface, and in the air). Signing is phenomenal, champ – it can be part of your educational experience, your work experience, your whole life. Wow, it is so inspiring – take it out and take a good gander at it – its beautiful and precious.

Hence forth we encourage you to roll up your sleeves and when audism come a calling – just blow it away. When lingucism rears its ugly head – don’t suppress your feelings, let it all out. Speak the truth and take a stand. Show the world how to be audism free. Show what being DEAF truly means to you. Thank you very much. Let Freedom Roll.

AFA's Immediate Release re: ICED's Historic Announcement

2010-07-22T21:04:00.003-04:00

http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com

Historic Announcement Rejecting the Exclusion of Sign Language in Deaf Education

On July 19, 2010, the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) made important history by rejecting their resolutions from 1880 that banned the use of Sign Language in education for Deaf children and promoted the exclusive use of speech and residual hearing called Oralism. ICED also apologized for the detrimental effects that Oralism has had on the Deaf population for 130 years.

The infamous resolutions from 1880 have been described by many scholars and historians as an attempt at linguistic and cultural genocide as as well as a systematic effort to institutionalize audism, the belief that to hear and speak is superior to being Deaf.

The Congress organizers in conjunction with the British Columbia Deaf Community released at the opening ceremony, their “A New Era: Deaf Participation and Collaboration” which:

• Rejected all ICED Milan 1880 Congress resolutions passed that denied the inclusion of Sign Language in educational programs for Deaf students
• acknowledged and sincerely regretted the detrimental effects of the ICED Milan Congress,
• and called upon all Nations to ensure that educational programs for the Deaf accept and respect all languages.

According to the ICED 2010 press release, “The audience, both Deaf and hearing, spontaneously responded with an outpouring of emotion and a standing ovation.”

Audism Free America (AFA) joins with the Deaf community world-wide in the celebration of this historic event and will remain vigilant of the rights of Deaf citizens. AFA is grassroots Deaf activist organization which advocates for Deaf American rights, cultural resurgence, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America.

Additionally, in a letter to Audism Free America (AFA), Claire Anderson, ICED 2010 Chair wrote, “The impact and decision of the Milan (1880) Congress to ban Sign Language from schools for the Deaf has clearly had a marked affect on the education and indeed the lives of Deaf students. We can all agree that this decision was, quite simply, wrong. it polarized the field of Deaf Education, introduced a contra-productive dogma and limited free choices of individuals and organizations. More importantly from a human and social/emotional aspect, it has been devastating for many Deaf people, their families and the Deaf Community.”

The timing of the New Era document is particularly auspicious, as scholars and activists have noted the beginnings of another wave of Oralism severely impacting Deaf babies and children. Excessive marketing and mandating of assistive listening devices are often integral components of educational programs serving Deaf students today. The claims of reliability and effectiveness of devices such as cochlear implants are highly questionable. Cochlear implants and digital hearing technologies are often coupled with Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT), which effectively prohibits Sign Language. Governments at various levels have begun to utilize developments in genetic engineering and genetic study to implement the diagnosing, documenting, and tracking of Deaf infants genes and family genealogy in a push to deny Deaf people true equality of condition.

The New Era manifesto from ICED 2010 includes an Accord for the Future, which is signed by representatives of ICED, BC Deaf Community, Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) and World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), calls upon the Nations of the world to right past wrongs, guarantee all Deaf infants and children a right to natural and fully accessible language, and recognize the full human, cultural and linguistic rights of Deaf people. By actively partnering with Deaf people on this document, ICED reaffirmed its new commitment to ensuring equal involvement of Deaf people in their education and issues affecting future generations of Deaf people.

###
If you would like more information about Audism Free America please contact AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com

AFA Letter sent to NTID President Search Committee

2010-07-17T13:16:00.001-04:00

(letter AFA sent to the NTID Search committee via their Co-Chairs - Miller and Kurz)

27 February 2010

Greetings to the NTID Presidential Search Committee,

It is our understanding that one of the responsibilities of the NTID Presidential Search Committee will be to put together the position description. As a grassroots community organization, Audism Free America (AFA* hopes that the Committee will solicit feedback from campus community as well as the Deaf community at large in the process of choosing the next NTID President.

Input from the stakeholders about the job description as well as each candidate has proven to be very important for Gallaudet presidential searches, and should also be important for this search.

We request that the Search Committee members remain mindful of the fact that NTID’s 1992 Strategic Plan was to “recognize, study, and use English and American Sign Language as languages of the educational community..” Given this, it would be of utmost importance for the next NTID President to have bilingual skills in ASL and English. Furthermore, a record of commitment to bilingual education needs to be part of the experience that a viable candidate would bring to the position.

In addition, it is clear that the next President needs to be a person willing to take on the challenges of audism, both inside the Institute and as an ambassador to the outside. Thus, the Committee should actively examine each candidate’s history related to advocating against policies and procedures that have systematically discriminated against Deaf individuals. Many of us who work inside Deaf educational institutions have found---despite appearances to the contrary---that audism and hearing privilege are particularly rampant in these settings.

A summary of qualities that potential candidates for the next President of NTID should possess include:

• The ability to communicate effectively in American Sign Language.

• Demonstration of a cultural view of Deaf people rather than a pathological view.

• A commitment to addressing audism and promoting its recognition in social and educational contexts.

• Experience with Deaf/Hard of Hearing students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, with preference that the individual be a member of a disenfranchised group.

• Record of promoting educational programming which uses/values BOTH ASL and English. Knowledge of Bilingual pedagogical strategies. Fluent use of ASL and English, experience in Deaf and hearing cultural contexts.

• knowledge of educational reform movements and a record as an innovative change agent in educational programs with Deaf/Hard of Hearing students.

• a visionary in terms of what NTID could become, with experience in making significant changes in an educational institution.

• A visible and active member of the Deaf community both nationally and internationally—or demonstrates the potential to become such a presence.

We wish you the best in the process of creating a job description, which will solicit the best candidates to serve NTID, and actively work to fulfill the vision of RIT as an innovative Institution.

Let Freedom Roll,

AFA

*Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots Deaf activist organization in the US, which advocates for Deaf American rights, cultural resurgence, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life. AFA is committed to: 1. human and linguistic rights of Deaf people 2. unmasking audism and media misrepresentation 3. advocating for future generations

ICED's Reply to AFA re: Apology and Our Follow Up Response

2010-07-07T21:47:00.012-04:00

AFA had requested that ICED formally apologize for the ICED 1880 Milan Congress resolutions proclaiming the pure oral method to be superior and the law of the land in Deaf education. ICED's response is below as is AFA's follow up reply.

July 6, 2010

To Claire Anderson and the 2010 ICED Planning Committee,

Thank you for your letter in acknowledging the concerns expressed by Audism Free America (AFA) regarding the lack of apology that appears to be forthcoming from ICED for the 1880 Milan Conference resolutions.

While we appreciate the uniqueness of the organizational structure of ICED, there is clearly a continuous history of the Congress as your website traces the lineage of the current Congress back to 1878. In addition, those of you who take on the organizing of the conference do so under the banner of ICED. The explanation of the ICED organizational structure dangerously veers toward an attempt to deny accountability.

Nevertheless, we hope that you can look positively at other cases in which governments/organizations/individuals have made public apologies. For example in 2008, the Australian Prime Minister formally apologized to the indigenous Aboriginal peoples. This acknowledgement of the pain and suffering was caused by laws and policies enacted centuries ago. This apology is a first step toward healing. There are countless other precedents of apologies made in recent years:

Jewish People:

In 1994 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America apologized for the strong anti-Jewish statements made by Martin Luther and the lasting effects his words had on the church and future generations

In 1998 the Roman Catholic Church apologized for its inaction during the Nazi Holocaust.

Native People:

In 1998 the United Church of Canada issued an apology to former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools in regards to cultural assimilation and child abuse.

African-American People:

In 2008 the American Medical Association issued a formal apology for discriminating against black physicians, which did not end until the 1960s

In 2008 and 2009 the US House of Representatives and the US Senate apologized for slavery and Jim Crow injustices.

Deaf People:

None.

Your awareness of some of the devastating effects of the 1880 ICED Resolutions as “wrong” lends support for a formal apology. Scholars have noted that the concept of regret contains no right or wrong associated with the action. In addition, “regret” communicates that the consequences of the resolutions were unintended or something ICED had little control over.

We believe your intentions in working with the BC Deaf Community are good, but you should do the right thing. Be accountable. We are owed an apology.

Let Freedom Roll,

AFA

Questions for NAD CEO Finalists from AFA

2010-07-05T20:17:00.008-04:00

The National Association of the Deaf has named the following individuals as finalists for the CEO position:

Shane H. Feldman
Howard A. Rosenblum
Darlene Goncz Zangara

During the upcoming NAD Conference, these individuals will have an opportunity to make presentations and answer questions. AFA encourages the finalists to consider addressing the following questions which we feel are of vital importance for those taking on leadership positions:

1. Please share examples of how you have advocated against audism and the strategies you would use as NAD CEO to combat audism.

2. Do you subscribe to a deafness model or a Deafhood model of what it means to be Deaf?

3. Are you aware of the AFA petition calling for an independent and impartial investigation of CI safety? Have you signed it or would you sign it now that you are aware of it?
http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html

4. What is your understanding of the neo-oralism/neo-eugenics movement and how do you feel NAD should respond?

5. Are you aware of the DBC petition promoting bilingualism as the birthright of all Deaf children? Have you signed it or would you sign it now that you are aware of it?
http://www.dbcusa.org/index.php/component/option,com_joomlapetition/Itemid,/catid,1/func,viewcategory/

AFA Vlog: Y E S we can - KUDOS

2010-07-02T10:29:00.005-04:00

AFA wishes to recognize and congratulate some recent positive activism:
1. NAD for requesting the term "audism" be put into the dictionary
2. Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims ASADV and Deaf Abused Woman’s Network DAWN for writing letters opposing Cyberbullying within the Deaf community
3. Cochlear Implant Suits:
- Dept of Justice fines Cochlear Americas for kick backs
- FDA fines Advanced Bionics for faulty cochlear implants
4. AB 2072 activism - rallying and lobbying for positive and just legislation
Its wonderful to witness all of this growth as we all work for an audism free America.
http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/
Big hand waves to all of you for making a difference

AFA: AG Bell 3 Demands Revisited

2010-06-25T20:58:00.004-04:00

Audism Free America would like to remind the AG Bell Association of our past demands and request that they revisit them in light of recent events.

In a July 29, 2009 letter to AFA from the AG Bell Association President Wyant and CEO Graham they stated:
"The AG Bell Board of Directors reviewed AFA's demands and voted unanimously to not meet the demands."

AFA's Three Demands and AG Bell's actions and inactions:
1. the AG Bell Association and Academy cease and desist from denying Deaf infants, children, and their families the right to a natural and fully accessible language.

While AG Bell's board unanimously voted to not meet this demands they did mention the AG Bell Association's Position Statement on American Sign Language which acknowledges that some Deaf people do use ASL.

Notice that this position statement was ratified by their board 2 weeks before the Deaf Bilingual Coalition conference and demonstration in Wisconsin in 2008.

2. the AG Bell Association cease and desist from misinforming the public and the media about ASL Deaf people. The AG Bell Association has not retracted its letter to Pepsi objecting to the commercial featuring ASL in a positive light and continually paints ASL Deaf people as unsuccessful and dependent.

AG Bell has NEVER apologized for this offensive letter to Pepsi. AG Bell must refrain from misrepresenting Deaf folks who use ASL as being dependent, isolated and unsuccessful.

3. the AG Bell Association cease and desist its incestuous relationship with cochlear implant manufacturers and join AFA in calling for an independent and impartial study of the physical, psychological, and social impact of cochlear implants on infants, children and adolescents.

The AG Bell Association continues to have very close ties with numerous cochlear implant companies including companies that have been sued for faulty and harmful products or for unethical actions. AG Bell has had Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas as their Circle Alliance partners for the past several years. Both companies have had to pay heavy penalties for unethical wrongdoings in the manufacturing and/or marketing of their cochlear implants.

A judge in Idaho has ruled that parents must make their Deaf daughter wear her bilateral implants all her waking hours regardless of whether or not they might be malfunctioning or causing her discomfort. Yet there has been no statement of opposition from the AG Bell association to this order.

AG Bell association has yet to sign the AFA petition calling for an independent and impartial investigating of the physical, psychological, and social impact of cochlear implants on infants, children and adolescents.

In addition to these three demands, we'd also like to know what your thought of the film Audism Unveiled, which we donated to you. Secondly, when will we be getting a copy of the CART transcript of the meeting we had with you and thirdly we'd like to to see you participate in the International Day of Sign Language this September since you now have a position statement on ASL.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

AFA's vlog and letter to ICED re: APOLOGY

2010-06-24T11:06:00.004-04:00

Vlog explains AFA's position on the importance of an "apology"
letter to ICED:
Audism Free America (AFA) announces our grave discontent that the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) refuses to apologize for the ICED resolutions of 1880 at their Milan Congress. This infamous resolution erroneously and unjustly declared "the incontestable superiority of speech" to be the rule of the day in Deaf education resulting in decades of abuse (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, educational, and linguistic) and the removal of Deaf people from the classrooms and boardrooms of Deaf schools across the globe,

In declaring our discontent with ICED's refusal to acknowledge and apologize for their role in the ICED Milan 1880 resolutions we heed ML King Jr's words of "We must have the spiritual audacity to assert our somebodyness."

The resolutions were unjust and have never formally been rescinded or apologized for by ICED. We understand that ICED has been in negotiations with the British Columbia ICED Apology Committee and have reached an agreement for a "new beginning" document which does not include an apology. While we were always puzzled as to why the concept of an apology should have ever been a negotiable matter, we were assured numerous times that an apology was in order and would be forth coming. The latest information we have is that no apology will be granted.

In the spirit of asserting our somebodyness, AFA asserts that the apology is owed to us and those who came before us and will come after us. Now is the time for standing - not for yielding.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated "I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights."

We are only requesting that which is right, just, and good - and long overdue - an apology for your ICED MIlan 1880 resolutions.

Let Freedom Roll,
AFA

AFA's letter opposing 2072 to the Senate Health Committee

2010-06-15T08:20:00.005-04:00

Note: to see AFA's letter sent in April to the Assembly Health Committee opposing 2072 go to http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2010/04/afa-opposes-bill-california-ab-2072_20.html

15 June 2010

Greetings Members of the Senate Committee on Health:

Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots Deaf activist group which advocates for our human rights, cultural rights, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.
On the eve of your deliberations, we urge you to vote against AB2072 because the bill violates the human and linguistic rights of Deaf citizens. Our human rights - at its core - value the promotion and protection of our culture and the right to a fully accessible and natural language. It includes all that encompasses safety, social relationships, emotional and spiritual well-being, community engagement, educational attainment and health. We, Deaf people, should be guaranteed the inalienable right to a language we can acquire naturally and equally - this being American Sign Language (ASL) in the US. It is the 3rd most popular language in the US and we assert that all infants who are Deaf and Hearing are entitled to this language.

We urge you to reconsider about the bill requiring parents to get information from audiologists and other related professionals as it leads to disinformation. Those audiologists and professionals lack the knowledge and expertise in our culture and natural language. Their license is specific for repairing the ears and they work closely with manufacturers of Cochlear Implants. Many of them actively discourage sign language and visual acuity and some cochlear implant companies have been sued and fined for kickbacks, inflating costs at the expense of the government, and faulty products that have harmed children. (see Dept of Justice re: Cochlear Americas and FDA re: Advanced Bionics).

This system of the "specialists" advising parents has resulted in a violation our human and linguistic rights. It has prevented full parental decision making and has not demonstrated equality of condition for their children's future.

The bill must be obliterated!

If the bill is passed, it will contribute to a genocide of our culture and language and the Senate Health Committee will have neglected Deaf children's human rights and linguistic rights - equal access as well as for hearing babies to learn sign langauge for the success of their future. It is an act of audism to vote in favor of this bill because the legislation prioritizes audiologists and other professionals as the main contact for the parents. The bill was initiated by a slew of oral / aural only proponents who work with the assumption that being able to hear and speak is superior to being Deaf and is further evident by the neglect of a requirement that parents meet with ASL specialists and Deaf bilingual / bicultural professionals.

We, AFA, urges you to vote NO to AB2072.

Thank you
Let Freedom Roll

Letter to Judge Stow (Case number CV 043266)

2010-05-19T16:53:00.004-04:00

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Honorable Judge Stow.

I have a matter in discussion as it relates to Case number, CV043266. In looking at the case, you have ordered that the plaintiff, (the father) is to force his daughter to wear her cochlear implant devices during all waking hours, despite the minor child's protests and reluctance, expressing her wishes not to wear them. Regardless of this, your ruling states that she must be made to wear them all day, (all waking hours). This is a form of Audism.

The term Audism means the belief that is focused on the attitude that people who hear and speak, or hear and speak better, or have excellent English skills, are superior to others. As it relates to Deaf people and their human rights. This includes the language of American Sign Language, (ASL) and the right to use that language. When a majority group displays attitudes, behaviors, (that are associated with hearing and speaking) approach a minority group, (the Deaf signing community) and takes away their human right as it relates to communication other than speaking, is a form of Audism.

In looking at this as it relates to the ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act), and an individual's human rights as it relates to one's language preference, the father is Deaf, and uses American Sign Language. The minor Deaf child also uses American Sign Language. This is their preferred method of communication and it is their choice that best suits them. You have ordered that the child must wear cochlear implants in order to accommodate the hearing community regardless of the right to her preferred method of communication. This ruling is a violation of the ADA.

This ruling is unjust and displays inequality. It is biased.

Imagine if you will, that you have an 8-year-old daughter, and your daughter was born without one arm. You have discovered that there is new technology in which a bionic arm can be attached to an individual. The device can connect to nerve endings, sending messages to the brain electronically thus making the arm move. Unfortunately, you and your partner or spouse have separated, and your spouse's doctor goes forward with the procedure, and attaches the bionic arm. Your daughter repeatedly protests and states that she does not want to wear this device because the electronic connections to her nerves are hurting her causing much discomfort, and she continuously removes the bionic arm.
However, a Judge has ordered you to force your daughter to wear the bionic arm. What would you do in this situation? What are your rights? Where is your protection? Your daughter has continuously expressed to you that she does not wish to wear the bionic arm, yet despite her wishes as presented in court, her rights are oppressed. Imagine if this were your daughter?

The proceedings with this case have demonstrated a violation of the ADA, a violation of human rights, and the right to use whatever language an individual chooses. To show this form of neglect to a child's repeated protests and wishes is a form of child abuse.

We believe that you should remove the argument and ruling of the cochlear implant use in this case, and move forward in understanding our human rights as Deaf people in seeking equality and justice in the court of law.

Thank you.

Ruthie Jordan
On behalf of Audism Free America

Cochlear Implant- Audism

2010-04-26T21:05:00.005-04:00

AFA discusses about a vlog "Missoula Moanings"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJGccnmSjYQ&playnext_from=TL&videos=Tr6bCBuoKYA
and it is AUDISM clearly. We urge you to recognize how this violates a Deaf child's rights - human and linguistic rights. They forced the child to use cochlear implant while it is clear that the Deaf child does not want to use it. She kept saying " NO NO NO" however they neglected her message and forced her. It shows their actions are, "RAPING OUR SOUL" to get what they wanted. We emphasize that we do not blame parents/grandparents for this because it is from medical system. Sign the petiton to get the answers about CI safety http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html

resources on audism and linguicism

2010-04-20T18:57:00.005-04:00

AFA Opposes the bill California AB 2072

2010-04-20T09:49:00.003-04:00

AUDISM FREE AMERICA (AFA) OPPOSES THE BILL CALIFORNIA AB 2072

April 16, 2010

Dear Members of the Assembly Health Committee:

Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots Deaf activist group which advocates for our human rights, cultural rights, and seeks primarily to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and
Deaf people of all walks of life.

AB 2072 violates the human and linguistic rights of Deaf citizens. We, the Deaf community, urge you to reconsider support of this bill. Our human rights at its core, value the promotion and protection of our culture and the right to a fully accessible and natural language. We, Deaf people, should be guaranteed the inalienable right to a language we can acquire naturally and equally - this being American Sign Language (ASL) in the US. It is the 3rd most popular language in the US and we assert that all infants who are Deaf and Hearing are entitled to this language.

However, the AB 2072 bill promotes disinformation which will be shared with parents, educators, and specialists under the guise of "communication options." These communication options are provided by medical professionals and specialists often operating under audist principles. The specialists are audiologists, Audio/Verbal Therapists, Doctors, Cochlear Implant surgeons, Speech therapists, and Hearing professors/researchers and all promote methods, technology, and services that approach the Deaf child as broken and unfit. Many of them actively EXCLUDE American Sign Language as part of the “options” of services they offer. In addition, entrusting "specialists" who have vested monitory interest in pushing for the use of invasive technology to be the agents that instruct the parents on their options is reckless and biased.

All communication programs for Deaf and hard of hearing children should be required to provide BOTH ASL and English. We, Deaf people are automatically "People of the Eye" and our acquisition of language, information and equality comes via having a fully natural and accessible language. ASL has proven to be successful for communication and
language development of BOTH Hearing and Deaf babies. AB 2072 bill is not written in a way that shows mutual respect for ASL—it is written with respect for the multitude of other “communication options” which are all English-based and often actively prohibit the use of ASL. As the bill is currently written, it clearly promotes Audism and Linguicism
(the belief that one language is superior to another - in the bill's case
English over ASL).

If this bill is to pass then you will be sanctioning crimes against humanity by endorsing and institutionalizing severe language deprivation via the Oral / Aural only AVT "options" that actively exclude lipreading, gestures and sign language (see AVT guideline #3 via the AG Bell Academy which certifies "specialists" in this exclusionary practice.) We, AFA, urge you to respect our human rights and understand that the bill is an example of AUDISM. We urge you to decline the bill to prevent the genocide of our culture and language.

Let Freedom Roll,
AFA

AFA Urges NAD Wake Up Action!

2010-04-09T21:55:00.002-04:00

Greetings NAD,

We, AFA, urge you (NAD) to wake up to the results of your actions. Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

(VP Light Flash blinks)

The reason we are vying for your attention to our concerns is that we, as members of the Deaf Community, are disappointed in the weakness of your actions as they pertain to supporting ASL and the human rights of Deaf people.

I would like to begin by reminding you of the history of NAD and the roots upon which it was founded. Long ago, in 1880, during a conference in Milan Italy there was a vote to ban the use of sign language in Deaf education and to reject sign as the natural language of the Deaf. Since that time, for the last 130 years, NAD has been fighting to preserve and to protect our human rights and our right to communicate using sign language. NAD has been fighting for not only our rights, but our value as human beings and our linguistic culture. We have noticed that the size and power of the NAD has diminished and this mission has shifted. NAD has been focusing on the fight for captioning and other disability issues as if this were the purpose of the organization.

What has happened to you, NAD?!? What NAD has become has lost sight of the values that we need from you. Is that NAD's mission? The AG Bell Association states that they have been working with NAD closely. Closely!?! NAD is well-aware that the AG Bell group is a strong A-U-D-I-S-T organization. In fact, AG Bell completely rejects the use of sign language in the Deaf Community; they validate only oral methods of communication. How is it possible that NAD has a close relationship?! NAD allows AG Bell to disregard sign language; they allow them to attempt to eliminate ASL completely. This relationship is in direct contradiction to the founding principles of NAD.
AG Bell has a measly, single sheet position paper that recognized ASL and that was acceptable to NAD? AG Bell has not committed to endorse ASL with their actions in any way! We have noticed that NAD has been meeting with AG Bell on a regular basis, working hard on concessions and as a result, devaluing the rights and language that is supposed to be NAD's mission. All of their support is focused on English, captioning, etc. Do you realize that "support" is a mutual, two way process? A sharing of endorsement and support would require AG Bell to embrace ASL, to join in our celebration, to work to expand the linguistic and cultural right to use ASL. The relationship between AG Bell and NAD is not a sharing of values, there is nothing in this relationship that endorses the core mission of NAD- NOTHING!

THIS IS NOT THE VISION THAT NAD REPRESENTS!

We are very disappointed with you NAD! NAD touts that it values ASL as a language and as the center of our Community and Culture; that being DEAF is in fact a human right. NAD, your actions contradict everything you are supposed to support.

NAD has announced that the group supports the elimination of Audism. In fact, since 2006, NAD has made public their campaign to add the word "Audism" to the dictionary, and to give recognition to the oppression that it represents. However, it is now 2010, when will you act? When will Audism be included into the dictionary and given recognition??

NAD has stated that they have a committee to investigate the impact of Cochlear Implants and to publish the pros and cons of their use; including, the psychological, social, educational, family and medical ramifications. When will see ACTION on this commitment? Audism Free America (AFA) has many supporters, including, leaders, professors, authors, researchers, parents, friends, Deaf Community members and a variety of others that have signed almost 1,000 petition lines to endorse this investigation of Cochlear Implants. We did this to show NAD that they have our support, and yet, NAD does not supported us in return??

We as community are READY to give you all the evidence needed to call the FDA to action to formally investigate Cochlear Implants. Cochlear Implants are well-known not to be 100% successful; many deaf people that have tried them have removed them because they fail. Where are the rights of Deaf children, where are their rights to remove or not to use cochlear implants? They have no one to stand up for their rights and are being deeply oppressed. The core of who they are and the natural expression of that core is being held hostage. When will this be addressed?!

NAD, please WAKE UP and CHANGE YOUR ACTIONS related to the core of our Deaf Values, our human and linguistic rights. These rights include the endorsement of the education of our Deaf children. AFA has been getting e-mails from hearing parents who are struggling against the school system for not allowing their children to have ASL interpreters. They are looking for support at the Federal Level, support that NAD is supposed to provide! There are many issues like the ones I mentioned that have created this level of frustration with NAD's current activities. Where is NAD? Where is NAD?? Where???.....

We are very disappointed that NAD has chosen to focus on issues that do not support the identity of who we are as a Deaf Community and what we need from our organization. Don't you realize that if you neglect your roots, they die? The choices you have made to endorse AG Bell, for example, have grown the organization in finances, membership and power. AG Bell has only been around for 100 years, NAD was working to support ASL and Deaf Schools long before AG Bell even existed. And yet, their conference is attended by anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people. Where is the push for NAD? We feel like we are standing outside of a glass window looking in and waiting for NAD to take action; thus far NAD has refused to even let us in the room.

We, Deaf people, are READY to stand up and change for NAD and our Deaf Community; READY to stand up so that America includes ASL in education and recognizes our rights. With the current technological advances providing equal visual access to the phone, the use of Vlogs, blogs, video online, instant messaging, text messaging, etc. we have access to the hearing community and they have access to us. We do not need to be FIXED!

NAD, your organization has been asleep and we are distressed that this downward spiral has been going on too long! It is time to change this trend; it is TIME TO WAKE UP!!!!

We, AFA, urge NAD TO WAKE UP!!!

(VP Light flash blinks!)

AFA's message to Joey McIntyre's Family re: their Deaf infant

2010-03-31T11:27:00.001-04:00

To the McIntyre Family:

Congratulations on the birth of your Deaf son Rhys and welcome to the Deaf community. While some people see being deaf as an affliction, many see it as a blessing - an opportunity to be bilingual and bicultural. Please do contact us if we can be of any support or assistance to you in your family's journey of discovering ASL, Deaf culture, bilingualism and biculturalism. Best wishes and again congratulations. Griffin and Rhys are both delightful boys.

Let Freedom Roll,
Audism Free America
audismfreeamerica(at)gmail.com

AFA message to ICED and BC Deaf Community re: apology

2010-03-19T16:57:00.003-04:00

click link to see the video message in ASL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iktItsNOs

Transcript of video message re: ICED
[AFA Logo]

Audism Free America (AFA) would like to let you know about the ICED (International Congress on the Education of the Deaf) historical event that took place back in 1880 in Milan, Italy that is where people debated which method was better for the future of Deaf education – speech or signing. The outcome was a vote to forbid sign language and to focus exclusively on oral / aural methods resulting in the destruction of our language rights via sign language and the eradication of our D E A F center for over 130 years.

So we along with the British Columbia (BC) Deaf grassroots people confront ICED and demand the overdue apology owed to us for the past injustices caused by the ICED 1880 Milan Congress. Today we make this demand.

We applaud and are impressed by the BC Deaf grassroots group and their efforts. Two thumbs up. In this group’s recent vlog they explained that when they presented the current ICED with their proposed resolutions for an apology, the ICED modified the resolutions to read as an “acknowledgement” only. Shall we yield to this – N O. N O. We Deaf people, including the BC Deaf community, must remain firm. We are owed an apology. Their thinking they can so easily alter this shows that they continue to believe they are superior and adopt a patronizing attitude to us by modifying the document to simply be an “acknowledgement.” No way. We the Deaf community are ready to take a stand on this and demand the apology that is owed to us and that the oralism (oral / aural only) mandate be rescinded.

The BC Deaf Community as you move forward, we do not have any desire to push you out of the way. We value you and thank you. We aim to join along side you for a collective push forward so that ICED will see how Deaf people have experienced oral / aural only methods (Oralism) throughout the years, 130 years to be exact. The result – has Oralism been a success? No.

Now you see the trees in the background here? What do these trees represent? Deaf people who also have their own root systems and depth, which allows them to find their center, grow tall and strong, and form unity and bonds that are universally D E A F. No matter where you may be – in America, Canada, Europe, here or there, you have experienced Oralism. We come together to move forward only to be told to wait. Our spirits will not be dampened. We are ready to continue to push forward to end Oralism.

We are ready to face ICED with you BC Deaf people. AFA is rolling up her sleeves ready to support you BC Deaf people. It’s time for this change. You know for the past 130 years NAD presidents, teachers, leaders, etc have politely approached different dominant groups and individuals like AG Bell, ICED committee, doctors and specialists etc. carefully and gently explaining why oral / aural only approaches have not worked and the value of ASL only to be told, “oh we see. Sorry you feel that way.” And that is all that is said as they continue to take over again and again and swell larger and larger. Meanwhile we are complacent and accepting. The time is DONE for that kind of conduct. Finish. They are WRONG. Oralism must be removed and natural signed languages must be returned to their rightful place in Deaf education.

We Deaf people are ready to take a stand and push, push, push forward to ensure that ICED wakes up and rescinds ICED 1880 Milan resolution. You owe us Deaf people from across the land an apology, an admission of your past error and commitment to removing the oral/aural only mandate. Presently the majority of people on ICED are Hearing. This needs to be rectified so that Deaf people are in the lead and the Hearing and Deaf members can work together recognize and advocate for Deaf people’s language rights and human rights, which includes developing their center just as these trees behind me are rooted and aid us in pushing forward.

It’s time to change things for our future for Deaf children – to allow signing back in the classroom now and forever. Again, to the BC Deaf community we want to confirm we have no desire to push you to the side – we want to affirm your work and express our gratitude and support your efforts. Stay firm as we confront them to demand change. Do not allow them to manipulate or control us. I know you are tough and have courage. You are right. It took courage to confront them and now they must find the courage to apologize and rescind the ICED 1880 Milan Congress resolutions of Oralism. We, AFA, believe in this change.

VA Deaf Education Report Card

2010-03-11T13:53:00.002-05:00

Is Deaf Education Failing Deaf Students in VA?

http://www.hamptonschoolfacts.com/Hearing_Impairments.html

Notes Summarizing AFAs Meeting with Nancy Bloch (NAD)

2010-02-27T13:16:00.002-05:00

AFA and NAD

In July 2009, AFA representatives met via VP with outgoing NAD CEO Nancy Bloch. The following information is a summary from the minutes of this meeting.

I. Related to AFA mission’s of human and linguistic rights:
A. INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE DAY
We had ask the role that NAD would play in the upcoming International Sign Language Day (ISLD) in September (2009). At the time of our meeting in July, NAD had not yet made any plans for this celebration but was thinking of reviving their “ASL Awesome.” We are unaware of any activity on the part of NAD related to ISLD.
B. AFA’S COCHLEAR IMPLANTS SAFETY PETITION AND NAD’S COCHLEAR IMPLANTS INVESTIGATION:
NAD has called for investigation of CI’s in terms of risks and outcomes. This basically calls for public disclosure by manufacturers and makers of CIs. NAD was described as approaching the CI investigation as a ‘legal issue’ whereas they saw AFA’s activities as addressing it as a human rights issue.
Nancy Bloch stated she could not sign AFA’s CI petition either as a representative of NAD nor as an individual. She says as a figurehead of NAD she can never sign a petition. Whether figureheads of various agencies/civil rights groups can sign petitions was a source of contention during the meeting.

II. Related to AFA’s mission of unmasking audism and media misrepresentation
A. AUDISM IN THE DICTIONARY
Getting ‘audism’ in the dictionary was mentioned as one of NAD’s priorities, and it was noted that this should be accomplished within the year. AFA asked if there were any way that we could work with NAD to support this effort, but were told it needed to be taken care of by NAD alone.
B. NAD and AGBell ASSOCIATION
Nancy Bloch outlined NAD’s history of working with AG Bell: They meet every six weeks with the DHHA: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance coalition of which AG Bell is a member. In dealing with AG Bell Association, NAD/Nancy considers the role of NAD as ‘watch dogs’ rather than complicit in working with AG Bell. She cites IDEA as a ‘success’ of this collaboration. There was some discussion as to the wisdom of sitting down at the table with an audist organization such as AG Bell.

Media misrepresentation is still an important area in which NAD wishes to be active.

III. OTHER NOTES
NAD has requested a new Commission on the Education of the Deaf study from Congress and asked for support.

Nancy Bloch corrected statements that “NAD recognizes and endorses AFA” as being “recognizes.” NAD “cannot” endorse AFA nor can they publically make any statements regarding ‘working with” AFA.

AFA: Clarke on Recent Name Change

2010-02-23T16:10:00.004-05:00

Greetings our community & allies,

This is very important alert about AUDISM happening on Feburary 22, 2010 from president; Bill Corwin at Clarke School for the Deaf / Oral Education in Northampton, Mass. The president response to Clarke alumni and friends about Clarke on recent name change.

Here's a letter he response:

February 22, 2010

Dear Clarke Alumni and Friends,

As many of you may know, Clarke recently changed its name from Clarke School for
the Deaf / Center for Oral Education to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.
I appreciate the passion and deep feelings so many of you have for Clarke and I
am writing to address concerns that have been raised by some of you about the
name change, and to share with you some of the reasoning behind the change.

To begin with, I want to state in the strongest possible terms that Clarke is
not seeking to deny anyone's deafness. As the proud parent of two deaf children,
I believe that it is very important for my daughters and all deaf children to
take pride in their identity. I also have the utmost respect for each and every
alumnus of Clarke, regardless of the philosophy of deaf education they each
embrace, and regardless of which communication mode(s) each person chooses for
him/herself.

At the same time, there have been tremendous changes in deaf education in recent
years, and the change in our name reflects this. The children who participate in
the programs at Clarke's five campuses are benefiting from advances in
technology that allow them to use either hearing aids or cochlear implants to
develop listening and spoken language skills. The development of those skills is
at the heart of our mission, and the new name reflects that mission.

We are a very different organization than we were just a decade or so ago. We
are now five campuses, and the majority of the children we serve are under seven
years old and located outside of Northampton. Their families are interested in
Clarke because they want their children to learn to listen and speak, using the
best technology and teaching methods available. In the extensive research we did
about our name and our identity over a two-year period, the message of listening
and speaking was one that was embraced very strongly by a wide range of people,
including alumni and alumni parents.

We debated at great length the removal of the word "Deaf" from the Clarke name.
Among the reasons for doing so was the fact that schools with the words "School
for the Deaf" in their names are increasingly associated with programs that
emphasize signing. Based on the former name of Clarke School for the Deaf,
many people have wrongly assumed that our approach emphasizes signing.

To best attract families of deaf and hard of hearing children who have the
ability to learn to listen and speak, we needed to convey Clarke’s area of
emphasis including the work we do and the approach we use. The primary focus of
the name change was to appeal to the needs of potential and current Clarke
children and their families, now and into the future.

Research we conducted showed that Clarke has been perceived by some as being a
bit behind the times, perhaps because we were viewed as being slower than others
to embrace the idea that cochlear implants would revolutionize deaf education.
Our old name did not help to counter that perception, but we believe that the
new name does.

During our research we noted that several other schools serving deaf and hard of
hearing children have also adopted names with a similar theme. AG Bell has also
recently adopted a major accreditation program focused on Listening and Spoken
Language.

We are deeply sorry to anyone who has been offended by the recent name change at
Clarke. It was the furthest thing from our intention. I understand that some
alumni feel that they were not sufficiently included in the process, and I would
like to address that here.

We do have alumni representation on the Clarke Board of Trustees, and as I
mentioned, alumni and alumni parents and many other stakeholders participated in
the research that ultimately led to the name change. However, at the end of that
process, we were wrong in not apprising Clarke’s Alumni Council of the name
change. The Council should have been notified, and they should not be held
responsible in any way for this misstep in the process. I very much regret this
mistake on our part, and plan to work with the Council at their meeting in March
so that we can learn from this experience and move forward together.

One of the recent alumni comments on the CSAC site stated that it seems that
Clarke is no longer the school that most alums grew up in. Similarly, at
Homecoming last fall, during a question and answer session, one of the alumni
asked if I thought that Clarke was going to survive. I responded with a strong
yes, but said that we are likely to look very different from the Clarke that
many alumni have known.

These are times of great change and promise for Clarke and for oral deaf
education in general. They are also times of great economic challenge for
nonprofits everywhere. Clarke must broaden its appeal so that we can serve more
families and strengthen ourselves programmatically and financially. Clarke is
not one campus with four satellite locations; we are an organization with five
equally important campus locations. Northampton is the only campus with school
programs for children beyond a first/second grade level.

We believe that our evolving programs best meet the changing needs of families
who want their children to learn to listen and speak using the latest
technology. In addition to our greater focus on younger children, we are also
now directly serving more children in mainstream settings than ever before.

In closing, I know that many of you think of Clarke as a family. I do as well.
Before joining the Clarke staff, it was clear to me that my daughters'
experiences at Clarke made us part of a very special and unique community. That
community is something that my children, wife and I cherish about Clarke, and
want to help preserve. Each one of you is part of this special community, and
your dedication to and support of Clarke are very important to me and to the
organization.

Again, I am heartened by the fact that many of you feel passionately about
Clarke, and I truly appreciate your comments. I hope that we can continue to
dialogue about this and other issues affecting Clarke as the organization moves
forward.

Bill Corwin
President
Clarke Schools
-----------------

His letter is not acceptable and disinformation about our Deaf people. It is AUDISM!

Please share with others.
Update and VLOG coming soon!!

Let Freedom Roll!!
AFA

AFA: Happy New Year 2010!

2010-01-03T21:13:00.002-05:00

CAD Request Official ICED Apology and links

2009-11-15T13:54:00.005-05:00

The Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) has requested an official International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) apology for the ICED Milan Congress 1880

see this link http://www.cad.ca/en/news/details.asp?newsID=65

link to the community group's proposed resolution calling for an apology from ICED - go to http://deafbc.ca/archives/2741 click ICED 2010 document

Language bigotry Milan Congress (info from Mask of Benevolence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgGLFs0J75E

Facts on Milan Congress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJtryBZ5tRM

AFA - Time to Undo Milan Congress of 1880

2009-11-10T13:29:00.024-05:00

Greetings everyone,

AFA wants to share the proposed Vancouver 2010 Resolution: A New Era of Deaf Participation and Collaboration (click this to access the ICED 2010 proposed resolutions document)

Please help spread the word

This resolution is calling for ICED (International Congress on the Education of the Deaf) to apologize for the Milan Congress 1880 declaration that Oralism (oral/aural only) was the superior method of educating Deaf children, which led to the banishment of natural sign languages in Deaf schools and programs across the globe.

For more information see these vlogs below and the proposed resolutions (resolutions can be downloaded at Deaf British Columbia website http://deafbc.ca/archives/2741

Let Freedom Roll

AFA
---------------

Why Do We Ask for An Apology from the ICED? Part I in International Sign Language
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hTNxx5iZBs

Why Do We Ask for An Apology from the ICED PART two in International Sign Language
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICv6_8Ha9mM

Why Deaf Citizens of the World Should Come to Vancouver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX5H6IG8rOE

Together we can - Getting an Apology is possible and just VLOG:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z45MgoSlkEw

The Vancouver 2010 Resolution: A New Era of Deaf Participation and Collaboration
NOTE - we are having trouble uploading/linking the PDF so we have copied and pasted here but the formatting is off. As soon as we can get the PDF linked we will post that here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vancouver 2010 Resolution:
A New Era of Deaf Participation and Collaboration

Preamble
Many Deaf citizens around the world encounter a perception that being Deaf is considered a disability from nondisabled persons on a daily basis. The perception of being Deaf as a disability will prevail so long as it is treated as such by people throughout in many nations. This mindset also contributes directly and indirectly towards the exclusion and devaluation of all citizens who are “different” including Deaf citizens. However, in the view of a vast majority of Deaf citizens throughout the world, it is an inalienable belief and right to be a linguistic and cultural entity to be cherished by all. The Deaf culture is essentially a component of any society which enhances and embraces diversity, creativity and contributions to its economy, politics, arts and literature, and all other aspects that defines a society. Many Deaf citizens desire and thrive to contribute immeasurably to their nations, but the only way this will happen is if being Deaf and having Deaf cultures are respected. Nations are asked to involve their Deaf citizens in planning for a benevolent society.

The resolutions of the 1880 Milan Congress:
 Effectively removed the use of sign languages from schools for the Deaf around the world;
 Contributed detrimentally to the lives of Deaf citizens around the world;
 Led to the exclusion of Deaf citizens in educational policy and planning in most jurisdictions of the world;
 Prevented Deaf citizens from participation in governmental planning, decision-making, and funding in areas of employment training, retraining and other aspects of career planning;
 Hindered the abilities of Deaf citizens to succeed in various careers and have prevented many of them from following their own aspirations; and
 Prevented the opportunity for Deaf citizens to demonstrate their cultural and artistic contributions to the diversity of each Nation.
Let it be resolved that the international educators of the deaf in convention at the International Congress of Education of the Deaf in the City of Vancouver in July 2010:
 reject all resolutions passed at the Milan Congress in 1880;
 acknowledge the detrimental effects of the Milan resolutions and express their remorse for not having rejected them in the past;
 endorse the resolution adopted by the World Federation of the Deaf at its 15th Congress in Madrid in 2007;
 call upon the Nations of the world to ratify and adhere to the Principles of the United Nations, specifically those outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
 call upon the Nations to include the sign languages of their Deaf citizens as official languages of these Nations and to treat them as equal languages as those of the hearing majority;
 call upon the Nations to cease repression of the Deaf citizens and to facilitate and enhance and embrace their participation in all governmental decision-making processes affecting all aspects of their lives;
 call upon the Nations to involve their Deaf citizens to assist parents of Deaf babies and children in the appreciation of the Deaf culture and sign languages instead of solely focussing upon the medical and audistic aspects of being Deaf;
 call upon the Nations to make every effort to ensure that their Deaf citizens obtain information about their human rights; and
 Call upon the Nations of the world to recognize and allow Deaf citizens to be proud, confident, productive, creative and enabling citizens in their respective Nations.

This Expression of Apology is accompanied by the following clarifying explanations and definitions:
1. Our Perception
1.1. Deaf children are inherently and unavoidably bilingual. The innate bilingual characteristics of the Deaf children must be nurtured in order to succeed in education and in society. Furthermore, curricular programmes for Deaf children need to be identical to those for nondisabled children.
1.2. Professionals and parents of Deaf children do not have any choice as to what communication methods are the best for them. Deaf children have a right to the full use of two languages: one being the language of the nondisabled majority and the other being a sign language. Deaf children should be permitted to experiment and experience and use whichever languages they choose to try as they progress to their adulthood.
1.3. Nondisabled persons have no rights that are superior to those with disabilities.
1.4. Although it is perceived as a disability, being Deaf is a cultural asset and must be cherished and nurtured. Deaf children have a right to be exposed to Deaf history and culture curricular programmes in their schools. The “disability” status needs to be substantially minimized for purposes of educational enhancement and advancement.
1.5. “The removal of barriers for Deaf ... people to enjoy full participation in society”, as urged by the New Zealand Human Rights Commissioner, needs to be done.
1.6. The 1880 Milan resolutions have created a mindset of the public which has had very dire consequences for the Deaf in terms of education, employment, culture, et cetera. Removal of these resolutions will enable the change of the mindset that will greatly enhance understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism around the world.
1.7. Deaf participation in governmental policy-making and decision processes will enhance employability of the Deaf, improve educational quality, and increase the quality of lives of Deaf citizens and decrease their Nations’ financial burdens.

2. Selected excerpts from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see one of the UN’s links to the New Zealand Sign Language version, http://www.odi.govt.nz/nzsl-video/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html):
2.1. Article 17: Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others.
2.2. Article 19: States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community, including by ensuring that:
2.2.1. Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community;
2.2.2. Community services and facilities for the general population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs.
2.3. Article 24: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to:
2.3.1. The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;
2.3.2. The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential;
2.3.3. Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.
2.4. Article 24: States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including:
2.4.1. Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
2.4.2. Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development.
2.5. Article 27: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work, including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps, including through legislation, to, inter alia:
2.5.1. Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions;
2.5.2. Protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from harassment, and the redress of grievances;
2.5.3. Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour and trade union rights on an equal basis with others;
2.5.4. Enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational and continuing training;
2.5.5. Promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and returning to employment;
2.5.6. Promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting one's own business;
2.5.7. Employ persons with disabilities in the public sector;
2.5.8. Promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative action programmes, incentives and other measures;
2.5.9. Ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities in the workplace;
2.5.10. Promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work experience in the open labour market;
2.5.11. Promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities.

3. Resolution of the 15th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf
CONGRESS RESOLUTION
15TH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF 16-22 July 2007, Madrid, Spain
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), its Members and the participants at the 15th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Madrid, Spain, 16-22 July 2007,
Reaffirming that deaf people are entitled to the same human rights as all social groups and that diversity is an intrinsic factor in the Deaf Community,
Recognising the importance of children and youth; deafblind; deaf with disabilities; immigrants; Indigenous peoples; Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders and Bisexuals; people in rural areas; religious minorities; senior citizens; and all deaf people as citizens of society with the same rights and obligations as other citizens,
Emphasising that by adopting positive actions, equality among all will be accelerated,
Emphasising that sign language is a human right for all members of the Deaf Community, including those who use assistive devices and implants,
Reaffirming that multi-lingual education in sign language gives deaf and hard of hearing people the best opportunity to achieve full citizenship and enjoyment of all human rights,
Have agreed that WFD and its Members:
 Have an obligation to work together to promote government ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities thus assuring deaf people full attainment of all human rights on an equal basis with other citizens.
 Must work together as a collective group, and those from developed countries must work in close partnership with those from developing countries.
 Must adopt measures to educate and to sensitise the Deaf Community about the diverse variety of peoples and cultures within the larger Deaf culture.
 Must promote gender-equality programmes and policies to ensure the full development and empowerment of women, and adopt measures that combat violence and abuse against deaf women.
 Have responsibility to preserve, promote and protect sign languages and cultural heritages; and to formulate language policies to empower sign language, including indigenous sign languages.
 Have obligation to co-operate closely with schools and educational authorities to promote deaf children’s right to receive a multi-lingual/multi-cultural education and to implement training programmes to develop healthy identities for all deaf children, their families and CODA children.
 Should also protect the rights of children with cochlear implants and other sensory modification technologies to an education in sign language.
 Are responsible to sanction the employment of Deaf professionals in all fields that have an impact on the lives of Deaf people.
 Must promote the development of appropriate training programmes and qualifications for sign language interpreters, and follow WFD principles of co-operation with interpreters.
 Must incorporate the principles of consistent application of universal design with technological innovations of new products and services.
 Must formulate a statement of Deaf bioethics concerns and priorities, and quality medical and surgical care for deaf people, based on human rights principles.
 Have obligation to establish mentorship and positive leadership programmes for deaf youth, and involve them actively in political decision-making and implementation.
 Have responsibility to promote employment and self-sufficiency through Deaf economic empowerment.
 Are responsible to promote equal access to mental health services for all deaf people.

Programmes and actions developed by WFD and its OMs must take account of all deaf people. Special attention should be given to education in both developed and developing countries in order to eliminate any further disadvantage, which brings as a consequence unemployment, poverty, poor health and the lack of self-determination.
Education for deaf people, especially in developing countries, must be an initiative of Deaf persons from that country in order to include and impart their native sign language(s) and culture.
The linguistic and cultural rights of deaf immigrants must be respected as well as assistance provided in learning the language and culture of their new country.
Sign language interpreters are a fundamental resource in achieving human rights and full access. The term sign language interpreter is a concept inclusive not only of hearing sign language interpreters but also Deaf sign language interpreters and interpreter guides for deafblind people.
Technology and e-learning offer access to information are vital for structured and informal learning and promote independency. The principles of universal design will ensure full communication access and fulfilment of deaf persons´ human rights.
Equal and appropriate access to mental health services, through sign language and Deaf culture and by the provisioning of Deaf professional staff, is a basic human right of deaf people.
In reference to the growing demographic of an aging population, attention must be given to programmes and services for deaf senior citizens.
Sign languages serve as vital instruments to transmit culture and knowledge. The status and recognition of sign languages around the world will be strengthened through language policies, research and the preservation of and the teaching of sign languages. Sign languages should be a part of all national curricula.
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), its Members and the participants at the 15th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf agree to promote and implement this Congress Resolution to all governments and authorities, demanding respect for the realisation of HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH SIGN LANGUAGES .

4. Some Effects of the Milan Decisions:
4.1. Reduction in number of Deaf professionals instructing at schools for the deaf and at university teacher-training programs around the world;
4.2. Suppression of sign language use in many school settings;
4.3. An emphasis on speech production at the expense of education;
4.4. Acceptance of deafness as a “disability” and that of a mindset that views deafness as an incapacity to be cured, instead of cherishing the Deaf cultures around the world;
4.5. Exclusion of Deaf people from full functional participation in the broader society as citizens, including, to identify a few existing or past instances,
4.5.1. Denial of driver’s licences to deaf people in the 20th century;
4.5.2. Denial of adoption of babies and children by deaf adults in numerous countries;
4.5.3. Refusal to provide interpreters in a school setting and in numerous other settings;
4.5.4. Non-issuance of life insurance policies to the Deaf; and
4.5.5. Widespread incidence of “undereducation” of the Deaf around the world;
4.5.6. Denial of human rights and equality of the Deaf;
4.5.7. Continued high rate of unemployment and underemployment of Deaf citizens;
4.5.8. Exclusion of Deaf citizens from governmental bodies that develop policies impacting Deaf children and citizens;
4.5.9. Nearly non-existing public awareness of Deaf abilities;
4.5.10. Actual decline in quality of education for the deaf;
4.5.11. Loss of Deaf contributions to the economies around the world;
4.5.12. Loss of creativity in teaching deaf children;
4.5.13. Mismanagement of early identification/intervention of deaf babies.

5. Milan Resolutions (see http://www.milan1880.com/milan1880congress/eightresolutions.html):
5.1. Resolution 1: Considering the incontestable superiority of speech over signs in restoring the deaf-mute to society, and in giving him a more perfect knowledge of language, Declares – That the Oral method ought to be preferred that of signs for the education and instruction of the deaf and dumb.
5.2. Resolution 2: Considering that the simultaneous use of speech and signs has the disadvantage of injuring speech, lip-reading and precision of ideas, Declares – That the Pure Oral method ought to be preferred.
5.3. Resolution 3: Considering that a great number of the deaf and dumb are not receiving the benefit of instruction, and that this condition is owing to the "impotence" (impotenza) of families and of institutions, Recommends –That Governments should take the necessary steps that all the deaf and dumb may be educated.
5.4. Resolution 4: Considering that the teaching of the speaking deaf by the Pure Oral method should resemble as much as possible that of those who hear and speak, Declares –
5.4.1. That the most natural and effectual means by which the speaking deaf may acquire the knowledge of language is the "intuitive" method, viz., that which consists in setting forth, first by speech, and then by writing the objects and the facts which are placed before the eyes of the pupils.
5.4.2. That in the first, or maternal, period the deaf-mute ought to be led to the observation of grammatical forms by means of examples and of practical exercises, and that in the second period he ought to be assisted to deduce from these examples the grammatical rules, expressed with the utmost simplicity and clearness.
5.4.3. That books, written with words and in forms of language known to the pupil, can be put into his hands at any time.
5.5. Resolution 5: Considering the want of books sufficiently elementary to help the gradual and progressive development of language, Recommends – That the teachers of the Oral system should apply themselves to the publication of special works on the subject.
5.6. Resolution 6: Considering the results obtained by the numerous inquiries made concerning the deaf and dumb of every age and every condition long after they had quitted school, who, when interrogated upon various subjects, have answered correctly, with sufficient clearness of articulation, and read the lips of their questioners with the greatest facility, Declares –
5.6.1. That the deaf and dumb taught by the Pure Oral method do not forget after leaving school the knowledge which they have acquired there, but develop it still further by conversation and reading, when have been made so easy for them.
5.6.2. That in their conversation with speaking persons they make use exclusively of speech.
5.6.3. That speech and lip-reading so far from being lost, are developed by practice.
5.7. Resolution 7: Considering that the education of the deaf and dumb by speech has peculiar requirements; considering also that the experienced of teachers of deaf-mutes is almost unanimous, Declares –
5.7.1. That the most favourable age for admitting a deaf child into school is from eight to ten years.
5.7.2. That the school term ought to be seven years at least; but eight years would be preferable.
5.7.3. That no teacher can effectually teach a class of more than ten children on the Pure Oral method.
5.8. Resolution 8: Considering that the application of the Pure Oral method in institutions where it is not yet in active operation, should be – to avoid the certainty of failure – prudent, gradual, progressive, Recommends –
5.8.1. That the pupils newly received into the schools should form a class by themselves, where instruction could be given by speech.
5.8.2. That these pupils should be absolutely separated from others too far advanced to be instructed by speech, and whose education will be completed by signs.
5.8.3. That each year a new speaking class be established, with all the old pupils taught by signs have completed their education.

6. Definitions
6.1. Audistic derived from audism: “The notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears.” – Tom Humphries. It is a form of discrimination.
6.2. Bilingual: using or able to use two languages especially with equal fluency (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bilingual. ) According to Dr. Susan Gregory of the University of Birmingham, “Bilingual education is an approach to the education of deaf children which uses both the sign language of the deaf community and the written/spoken language of the hearing community.” (See http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000306.htm.)
6.3. Deaf culture: the social movement that holds deafness to be a difference in human experience rather than a disability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_culture)
6.4. Institutions (see 5.3 under Milan Resolutions above): public schools
6.5. Mindset: a fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mindset); a mental attitude or inclination (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindset)

Awesome tools: Deaf Studies Digital Journal

2009-11-06T19:22:00.001-05:00

Greetings everyone,

AFA is thrilled to share the news about a powerful tool for our community (Educational, Political, Social, and Cultural) - it is the Deaf Studies Digital Journal from the ASL and Deaf Studies program at Gallaudet University. It has good resources to educate the world about Deaf culture and natural sign languages as well as advocating for linguistic, cultural and human rights.

http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/

Let Freedom Roll!!

AFA..

Dr/DVTV ADM: AFA Boycotting...

2009-10-28T21:55:00.008-04:00

Greetings everyone,

Audism Free America is committed to confronting audism peacefully and directly. Since DeafRead and DeafVideo.TV (DVTV) administration have sided with individual rights to engage in audism and linguicism (as well as other adverse ”-isms”) and because it refuses to add a prohibition against audism / linguicism in its guidelines. We AFA are boycotting DeafRead and DVTV effective today October 28, 2009 and we encourage others to join us in taking a stand against audism.

Audism: Attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life. (http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/) This term was originated by Dr. Tom Humphries as “the notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears.”

Linguicism: Ideologies, structures, and practices which are used to legitimate, effectuate, regulate, and reproduce an unequal division of power and resources (both material and immaterial) between groups which are defined on the basis of language (Skutnabb-Kangas 1988). (http://www.terralingua.org/2/Definitions/DLinguicism.htm)

Dysconscious audism: a form of audism, that manifests itself in Deaf peoples actions or lack of actions that communicates an acceptance and support for dominant culture’s norms, values and privileges. See Dr. Genie Gertz article in Open Your Eyes: Deaf Studies Talking. “We cannot ignore actions by our own community members that would be called audism and intolerable if done by those of the dominant culture. Our goal is to decry audism anywhere and we wish to have a healthy Deaf community including an online community that is free of audism.”

AFA opposes audism and lingucism as well as racism, sexism, heterosexualism, ageism, antisemitism, extremism, exclusivism, etc

AFA supports the recognition and protection of human diversity on this planet.

AFA looks forward to when DeafRead and DVTV add audism and linguicism to their guidelines.

If you want to leave comments, please go to youtube or send an email to AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com

Please feel free to subscribe to our videos and blogspot at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AudismFreeAmerica
http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/

Let Freedom Roll
AFA

AFA: International Day of Sign Language Celebration 2009

2009-09-25T01:02:00.010-04:00

*International Day of Sign Language Celebration*

Greetings, AFA thrilled to share with all of you about IDSL- The International Day of Sign Language Celebration. Some states in USA are hosting events to celebrate IDSL to demonstrate how much we cherish our sign languages. In California, there are different local events being planned in celebration of IDSL. . CAD- California Association of the Deaf just made a vlog about IDSL/ASL and you can look at it on YOUTUBE. All of the IDSL events celebrate all that is awesome and inspiring about ASL!

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International Day of Signed Languages! How to celebrate? Start with this video below....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgBcuRoM3U

o if you participate in a coffee shop gathering or Deaf
Professional Happy Hour, take some time to discuss ASL
o wear black shirt and/or a blue ribbon
o host a Blue Ribbon Ceremony with others. Text for the ceremony can be found at
the back of Ladd's book, Understanding Deaf Culture: In search of Deafhood
o share ASL poems or stories--live or on film
o Twitter and post in your Facebook notes to remind everybody to take
a pause and appreciate, smell, see, feel, love our glorious
language(s) and the people who created them.

Share this with folks you know.

CAD board 2009-2011
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In California, the California Department of Education (CDE) in Sacramento is hosting Deaf Awareness Week by State Superintendent of Public Instruction- Jack O'Connell. DAW will educate and expose people to information about ASL as a language and Deaf culture.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/re/et/

The Deaf Awareness Week activities are being coordinated by Andrew Laufer, an Education Administrator with CDE’s Special Services and Support Branch that houses the State Special Schools and Services Division. The free activities this week at CDE include a poster contest, lobby displays, a student skit developed by Deaf students, panel discussions, and a film about Deaf culture.

For more information on the Deaf Awareness Week activities, please contact the Communications Division at 916-319-0818 or visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/re/et/. For more information on the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, please visit http://csdr-cde.ca.gov/ or for the California School for the Deaf, Fremont, please visit http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/
--------------

Also, in San Diego, California- Jon Lenois, who has interviewed with Bruno Moncelle about his vision of International Day of Sign Language (IDSL) celebration, is involved with DAW (Deaf Awareness Week) in San Diego to spread information about ASL, Deaf culture, and to gather to celebrate Deaf unity. There is his vlog you can watch--

Bruno Moncelle being interviewed by Jon Lenois can be viewed at:- http://www.deafvideo.tv/56955

Jon Lenois shared about DAW event- http://www.deafvideo.tv/60051

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

There is another local event in the east--specifically, here in Rochester, New York. We will have IDSL celebration this coming Saturday, September 26th. It will be at NTID's Panara theatre on the NTID/RIT campus and people are invited to come to join us in celebrating ASL. We will also have guests speakers--- some discussing differnt International Sign Languages, ASL performances, ASL poetry, and Deaf folklore. It will start at 3pm and last until 7pm. This will include a celebratory march beginning at 5pm. We will walk together in deep thought--about the preciousness of ASL, about how we cherish our eyes, hands, signs-- through vision, smell, feelings.... We also need to express our thanks and gratefulness to our Deaf ancestors who have passed down to us our glorious language.

IDSL is to inspire people to stand up and to appreciate our treasure of language--our glorious gems...that can ripple out to all people and ensure that our sign languages will be protected for future generations...

Let freedom Roll!!

PS Let me show you something that expresses how I really cherish ASL and wish to spread this passion for the IDSL celebration--

"LOVE in our ASL hands"

AFA's Letter to Gallaudet BofT and PSAC

2009-09-16T21:20:00.003-04:00

15 September 2009

Greetings to the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University and the Presidential Search Advisory Committee,

Congratulations on naming the four final candidates for the position of President of Gallaudet University. As a grassroots community organization, Audism Free America (AFA) was encouraged by the fact that feedback from the campus community as well as the Deaf community at large has been solicited. Input from the stakeholders about each finalist has proven to be very important for the past two Gallaudet presidential searches. Hopefully, the input you receive will not be dismissed or ignored nor will there be attempts to stifle free speech and freedom of assembly prior to the final selection. No matter how qualified the person selected may be, s/he will not be able to govern the University effectively with out the support of the students, faculty, staff and alumni.

We request that Board Members remain mindful of the fact that Gallaudet University's Mission and Vision Statements include a commitment to an ASL/English bilingual educational environment. Given this, it would be of utmost importance for the Board to consider the record of commitment each candidate has made to bilingual education in her/his career, and choose the candidate who would best represent and uphold that commitment.

In addition, it is clear that the next President of Gallaudet University needs to be a person willing to take on the challenges of audism, both inside the University and as an ambassador to the outside. Thus, the Board should actively examine each candidate's history related to advocating against policies and procedures which have systematically discriminated against Deaf individuals. Many of us who work inside Deaf educational institutions have found--despite appearances to the contrary--that audism and hearing privilege are particularly rampant in these settings.

We wish you the best in selecting the finalist who will best fulfill the University's mission...and bring about real CHANGE at Gallaudet University.

Let Freedom Roll,
AFA

International Day of Sign Language

2009-09-14T14:35:00.003-04:00

International Day of Sign Language

Rochester, NY

September 26, 2009

3 pm to 7 pm

Blue Ribbon Ceremony and Celebratory March

Panara Theatre, NTID

NOTE: tentative schedule

Questions? Contact coordinator Pam Conley at prcnge @ rit.edu

--------

If you have plans for IDSL in your area and would like us to announce - send the information to audismfreeamerica @ gmail.com

Celebrate IDSL !

2009-09-01T22:56:00.001-04:00

Hello. AFA wishes to make a special announcement to all. One of AFA’s values is to cherish Deaf people and our language—ASL—which shows we are truly ‘People of the Eye.’

We are thrilled to notify everyone about an important event next month, in September. It is the IDSL celebration!

A French Deaf man named Bruno (opps!) Moncelle invented the idea that Deaf people from all over the world should come together celebrate sign language—IDSL, International Day of Sign Languages. Over the years, folks in Europe have gathered together on the International Day of Sign Languages, holding rallies and marches. This celebration has only recently made its way to America. Over these past few years, there have been IDSL celebrations in a number of places in America: California, Rochester, NY, and Michigan. People who have joined these celebrations have been Deaf, hearing, hearing parents of Deaf children, teachers and a diversity of people have gathered to collectively celebrate: our precious sign language, our history, the literary arts inspired by our language (poetry, storytelling, ABC stories, folklore, humor, jokes, plays, etc.).

Really ASL is awe-inspiring and beautiful! These feelings of appreciation for our language need to be spread throughout the land. We will not let these feelings die away.

We encourage you in your communities to take up a local celebration of some kind—big or small—on September 26th the last Saturday of September. One suggestion of how to celebrate: Friday night organize a ‘Blue Ribbon Ceremony” (see information about this ceremony in the back of Paddy Ladd’s Understanding Deaf Culture book or see http://www.joeybaer.com/?p=142). The purpose of the Blue Ribbon Ceremony is to praise Deaf people of the past who have struggled through the dark ages of oralism, a rejection of sign language, and the oppression caused by audism. The Blue Ribbon Ceremony can end with an evening candlelight vigil to remember these dark times. As the day dawns on Saturday, it is time to celebrate the light and the warmth that ASL/the sign languages of other countries and the freedom to sign has brought into our lives---spreading festive feelings in our own communities, our country, and throughout the Deaf World. Saturday, September 26th you are encouraged to take up an event, which will serve to continue the growth of this tradition of celebration.

Next year, the year 2010 we can dream --of a huge march blocks long, with an enormous group of people--held on International Day of Sign Languages. Hearing people will take notice and recognize Deaf people on Earth as their equals—humans with their own unique language---sign!

AFA wishes to thank the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) for promoting the vision and idea of IDSL. AFA values all People of the Eye.

AFA supports IDSL celebration

2009-09-01T16:49:00.008-04:00

AFA supports IDSL celebration: (For Text go to http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/09/celebrate-idsl.html)

AFA UPDATES: INTERNAT DAY OF SL, AG BELL SAYS "NO" CI PETITION

2009-08-30T12:10:00.009-04:00

Audism Free America Update:

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES
mark your calendar – international day of sign languages (IDSL) Sept 25 weekend – let us know if you have anything planned in your area that we can help promote
Suggestions:
Fri Black shirts in memory of past suffering / blue ribbon ceremony
Sat Celebration of ASL

Links of interest:
Jon's interview with Bruno of France re: IDSL
International Vlog announcing IDSL 2007
Ella's vlog encouraging IDSL activities 2007
WFD blue ribbon ceremony at Joey Baer's site
DBC Blue ribbon ceremony at the Deaf Bilingual Coalition site

2. AG BELL ASSOCIATION WILL NOT MEET ANY OF AFA'S DEMANDS
AFA received a letter from AG Bell board saying that it rejects all of our demands

Demands: stop excluding ASL from Deaf children's education and lives, stop misrepresenting ASL and Deaf people in the media, stop promoting cochlear implant industry and join us in calling for an impartial and independent investigation of CI

3. CI ARE NOT CONSISTENTLY EFFECTIVE
The keynote presenter, Dr. David Pisoni, at AG Bell conference in St. Louis expressed the need for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to look into the effectiveness of Cochlear Implants.
In his address he explained: Efficacy means “Does the CI work” (run or operate) Answer is yes. Effectiveness means “Does the CI effectively work for everyone” Answer is NO.

FDA needs to measure effectiveness not just efficacy

SIMULATED SOUNDS VIA CI
Link to sampling of simulated sound input via cochlear implants. (sorry this is not accessible to Deaf folks but you can play it for a Hearing friend or family member and see their reaction)
House Ear Institute http://www.hei.org/research/aip/increase_channels.mp3 samples increase from 4 to 8 to32 channels ending with the original sentence being played (what hearing folks hear)

4. AFA PETITION TO THE FDA FOR AN IMPARTIAL AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF CI
AFA petition for the FDA - if you have already signed BIG thanks – pls send to others. If you have not yet, pls do so if you too want all the answers. We owe it to the infants, children, parents and adults who have gotten or are considering CI to have all the information possible.
700+ signatures so far – big thanks ALL

Western New York- DAS/Press Advisory

2009-08-03T00:43:00.002-04:00

Buffalo Deaf Community

Emily Glenn-Smith
Video Relay: 866-757-5624
Email: emilyglennsmith@tmail.com

PRESS ADVISORY
Monday, August 3, 2009

Deaf Adult Services New Hire Proves Destructive
Deaf Adult Services should be utilized to facilitate access to the deaf community in the public arena.
How can this be possible if DAS is not accessible itself?

Deaf Community to DAS Board “Do the Right Thing!”

Mission of DAS--Deaf Adult Services is committed to creating a bridge between the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing Communities through advocacy, education, case management, counseling and interpreting services that GOVERN EQUAL ACCESS, symbolizing the accords of CULTURALLY AFFIRMATIVE principles in championing the rights of the Deaf.

The Board of Directors of Deaf Adult Services will sponsor a Community Forum to address following demands made by the Deaf Community at their last Board Meeting:

1. An EXTENSIVE search opened for a QUALIFIED executive director to lead the only Deaf agency in Western New York.

2. Equal access to communication in the office for staff members and community members that walk through the agency doors.

3. In the event that no candidates meet your liking, we request at minimum to have someone with knowledge and experience with the Deaf Community and fluency in ASL hired to work as equal counterpart to Mr. Burns.

4. We also request that the current executive director and the Board of Directors go through extensive cultural training to understand the importance of a qualified leader in the Deaf Community.

WHAT: Community Forum regarding the decision of the DAS board’s decision to hire an Executive
Director that is not fluent in American Sign Language or Deaf Culture

WHO: Buffalo Deaf Adult Services and Board, the Buffalo Deaf Club, the Buffalo Deaf, Hard of
Hearing and Hearing Community

WHEN: Monday, August 3, 2009, 7:00PM

WHERE: 2275 Clinton St. Buffalo NY 14206, Buffalo Club of the Deaf

VISUALS: Over 100 members of the Deaf Community in an intense Forum demanding equal access!

Members of the Deaf Community will be available for interviews after the press conference

DAS Rally

2009-07-25T05:15:00.009-04:00

Many individuals in the Deaf community of Buffalo and Western New York showed up during the Deaf Adult Services (DAS) Board emergency meeting last Wednesday, July 22 in the late afternoon. Pam Rhoring, the Deaf vice president of DAS Board, wouldn't allow Deaf people to go into the meeting and speak up and share their concerns. The Deaf community made a request to be able to "sign out" their grievances and finally they let them in. DAS Board will make an announcement by this Monday, July 27th by noon through VLOG about the results. Please show your support by signing the petition - for more information on this situation go to:

http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/07/attention-deaf-community-western-new.html

ATTENTION: Deaf Community & Western New York

2009-07-24T12:57:00.010-04:00

AFA supports Buffalo and Western New York Deaf community & Allies advocacy efforts to have a qualified executive director lead DAS (Deaf Adult Service). DAS' board just hired a new Executive Director, Tom Burns, who is hearing and had never meet a Deaf person before, and had no knowledge of Deaf issues, Deaf culture, and American Sign Language. These skill sets were stated requirements for the job. The DAS board ignored these requirements and hired an unqualified individual who is supposed to supervise Deaf and hearing staff and oversee a program designed directly to REMOVE access barriers and to EMPOWER Deaf adults. The board of Deaf Adult Services has violated their own mission in this hiring decision.

The valuation of someone who can hear and speak and does not know ASL someone who meets the job requirements is an example of audism.

Many members of the Western NY Deaf community need your support. Please sign the petition below:
Petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/WNYDAS/petition.html

For more information on the situation - view this vlog:
ASL VLOG & Texts:
http://eyepoetically.blogspot.com/2009/07/attention-buffalowestern-ny-deaf.html

Latest press release:
PRESS RELEASE:

On Wednesday, July 22nd, members of the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Community stood protest in the Tri-Main office of WNY Deaf Adult Services (or DAS). The reason: Community outrage over the decision to hire an executive director for the agency that directly serves this population who has no experience working with the Deaf or the ability to communicate through American Sign Language (ASL).

“How can someone who has never served the Deaf community, who purports to never having met a Deaf person, be given the charge to run an agency dedicated to breaking down barriers and advocating for us?” stated Dean DeRusso, the Deaf Systems Advocate at Regional Center for Independent Living. a Deaf member of the 35 Western New Yorkers present at a silent protest during an emergency board meeting at DAS.

“There is no disputing his qualifications as an administrator, but that is only 50% of his job, his hire and lack of understanding around Deaf issues and Culture is an affront to our community and we’re here to demand a reopening of the hiring process,” stated Emily Glenn-Smith.

Carrying black, white and red signs with a stark and simple message – “DAS ≠ ACCESS” – both the Deaf community and their hearing allies were present during the officially closed executive section to request:

 Reopening the search for a qualified director to the region’s only Deaf agency

 Equal access to communication in the office for Deaf staff members and Deaf community members that rely on DAS for services, including employment, housing, translation and legal assistance

 Finally, in the event that no candidates meet DAS’s qualifications as dictated by its mission that a director be hired, minimally, with knowledge of and extensive interactions with the Deaf community, as well as fluency in ASL

Some cynics from both the Hearing and Deaf communities might call this initial confrontation with the DAS board premature or unfounded, claiming that professional qualifications outweigh personal identity politics when it comes to running an organization of this kind. Deaf and Hard of Hearing recipients of these services, however, stand to lose the quality of service and vital opportunities for full acceptance among the hearing majority in key quality of life considerations, such as equal access to interpreting services and employment opportunities. For a community that routinely struggles to be understood, DAS is the last place where a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person would expect more of the same.

Deaf Adult Services is committed to creating a bridge between the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing Communities through advocacy, education, case management, counseling and interpreting services. The agency’s guiding principle is equal access. For protestors, the agency’s decision to hire not only a hearing candidate, but one that has no working knowledge of Deaf culture stands in complete opposition to this mission.

Let Freedom Roll!
AFA

NAD's 1991 position statement on Cochlear Implants

2009-06-29T16:45:00.005-04:00

For historical purposes - AFA is sharing the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) 1991 public position statement on Cochlear Implants
To see their current position statement on CI (approved in 2000) go to: http://www.nad.org/ciposition

to see and sign AFA's petition to the FDA for an impartial and independent investigation into the long term physical, psychological, social, and cultural impacts of CI on infants and youths - go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html
petition in ASL

Cochlear Implants in Children
A Position Paper of the National Association of the Deaf (1991)

Background. On June 27, 1990, the Food and Drug Administration approved the marketing of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear prosthesis for surgical implantation in children aged two through seventeen. (Commercial distribution for postlingually-deafened adults was authorized in 1985; investigational trials began in adolescents, age ten to seventeen, the same year and in young children, age two through nine, in November 1986.) This recent FDA approval of marketing childhood implants, recommended by its Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Panel, was based on a submission by the manufacturer, the Cochlear Corporation, which reported on a total of 200 implanted children, ages two through seventeen, who had bilateral, profound sensorineural deafness.

The position of the National Association of the Deaf. The NAD deplores the decision of the Food and Drug Administration which was unsound scientifically, procedurally, and ethically.

Scientific errors. Implantation of cochlear prostheses in early-deafened children remains highly experimental. There is no evidence of material benefit from the device in this population and there has been no evaluation of the long-term risks. There is no evidence that the speech perception of these children is materially enhanced and there is evidence that many profoundly deaf children would have better, however limited, speech perception with conventional hearing aids than with implants. There is no evidence that early-implanted children will do better at acquiring English than they would with noninvasive aids or with no aids whatever. There is no evidence that early-implanted children will have greater educational success, and reason to doubt that they will since children with severe hearing losses do scarcely better in school than those with profound losses. The FDA Panel has required the device packaging to include the warning that congenitally deaf children may derive no benefit from the device but the evidence for that conclusion is also strong for children deafened below the age of three and possibly age five or later.

Current programs of research on cochlear implant with children are conducted without regard to the quality of life that the child will experience as a deaf adult implant user. It is presently unknown whether the implant, and the profound commitment of parent and child to aural/oral training that is generally required, will delay the parents' and the child's acceptance of the child's deafness and their acquisition of sign communication; and the costs associated with these likely delays have not been assessed. The impact of the implant and the associated aural/oral training on the integration of the child as an adolescent and adult into the deaf community, on the child's social, intellectual and emotional development and mental health have not been assessed. This failure alone to consider the impact of the implant on the child's future quality of life qualifies the implant programs as highly experimental -- just what the World Federation of the Deaf deplored when it resolved, "[Implant developments are] encouraging for persons deafened after some years of hearing [but] experimentation with young deaf children is definitely not encouraged."

Procedural errors. The FDA erred in failing to consult formally with organizations of deaf Americans and with deaf leaders and scholars knowledgeable about the acquisition and use of sign communication and English in deaf children, the psycho-social development and education of deaf children, and the social organization and culture of the American Deaf community. The research evidence makes abundantly clear that early-deafened implanted children will rely on sign communication in school and in much of their lives; many, perhaps most of these children will become or already are members of the American Deaf Community. Otologists, speech and hearing scientists, manufacturers, parents and members of the FDA staff were all consulted formally by the FDA in arriving at its decision; its failure to consult deaf spokespersons represents, if an oversight, gross ignorance concerning growing up deaf in America, or, if willful, an offense against fundamental American values.

Ethical errors. Experimentation on children is ethically offensive particularly in these circumstances: new and high technology that entails invasive surgery and tissue destruction is used not for life saving but for putative life enhancement; adults such as these children will become, when given the option of such prostheses, overwhelmingly decline them; the parents who make the decision for the child are often poorly informed about the deaf community, deaf heritage and culture, and communication modes available to deaf people and their families. Finally, the decision to surgically implant a young deaf child is ethically unsound for a more fundamental reason. There is now abundant scientific evidence that, as the deaf community has long contended, it comprises a linguistic and cultural minority. Many Americans, perhaps most, would agree that as a society we should not seek the scientific tools nor use them, if available, to change a child biologically so he or she will belong to the majority rather than the minority -- even if we believe that this biological engineering might reduce the burdens the child will bear as a member of a minority.

The National Association of the Deaf advocates the following course of action: (1) The Food and Drug administration should withdraw marketing approval and revise the procedures employed for evaluating proposals for authorization of cochlear implants in children. (2) The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders should fund research on the present population of implanted children which will allow a comprehensive assessment of risks and benefits for the child that include social adjustment, mental health and quality of life issues. Pending the outcome of those studies, the Institute should not fund any additional implanting of early-deafened children unless an overriding need for that experimentation on children can be shown and conducted on a small number under highly controlled circumstances with comprehensive evaluation. In all research concerning deaf children, the Institute should require for new or continued funding that research programs involve deaf leaders and experts on the cultural aspects of deafness. Research programs that implant children with cochlear prostheses should include measures of material enhancement of speech reception and production, such as open-set recognition of ordinary conversation in moderately noisy environments, with and without lipreading support. The Institute should further convene meetings of medical ethicists, otologists, audiologists, deaf leaders and scholars of the cultural aspects of deafness to examine the ethical issues underlying research and practice in childhood cochlear implant, and it should fund research on these ethical issues. (3) Implant teams at hospitals around the United States should refuse to surgically implant early-deafened children and should provide a copy of this position statement to parents requesting such implantation for their children. Parents should also be provided with printed information concerning organizations of deaf persons in their community and other sources of information about the deaf community, its culture and its language and heritage.

Prepared by the Task Force on Cochlear Implants in Children Dr. Harlan Lane, Chair; Dr. Barbara Brauer, Dr. Larry Fleischer, Joyce Groode, Nathie Marbury, and Michael Schwartz, Esq. Submitted 12/23/90; approved by the NAD Board of Directors, 2/2/91.

AFA petition to the FDA for an investigation of Cochlear Implants

2009-06-25T16:10:00.004-04:00

view at youtube if video not playing here

To sign the petition

To: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Dear Commissioner Hamburg,

Audism Free America (AFA) requests that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establish an independent and impartial investigation into the long term physical, psychological, social and cultural impact of the surgical insertion of cochlear implants (unilateral and bilateral) into the bodies of infants, children and youth.

The current research related to cochlear implant surgery has focused on medical issues and auditory functioning and has been undertaken by doctors. Yet, even medical risks associated with the surgery do not appear to be fully reported. The psychological and linguistic development of Deaf children is not solely a medical matter; there are issues of language acquisition, socialization, and psychological well-being; these have received very little attention. Thus, it is essential that the FDA-formed group conducting this impartial investigation must include Deaf and other individuals who are knowledgeable about Deaf culture, American Sign Language, human rights, audism* and linguicism (language based form of audism) since these are presently absent from the current research. There must be full transparency, full disclosure and an assurance of no built-in bias.

*Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice‹in overt or covert ways‹against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Many scholars have referred to the recent proliferation of cochlear implant surgeries coupled with the oral / aural only movement (prohibiting of signing and over-emphasis on auditory technology) as a form of eugenics that may lead to cultural and linguistic genocide of Deaf Americans. Because these infants and children are unable to give informed consent and are being denied a fully natural and accessible language, cochlear implant surgeries have also been identified as being a violation of human and linguistic rights. Clearly, the FDA needs a more in depth consideration of the moral and ethical issues associated with cochlear implants.

Given that the FDA is responsible to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these devices and protect the rights of citizens:

We, the undersigned, call for Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately initiate an impartial and independent investigation into the physical, psychological, social and cultural impact of cochlear implants on Deaf infants, children and youth.

Sincerely,

Sign petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html

AFA shares excerpt of Dr. Humphries dissertation re: audism

2009-06-20T01:10:00.006-04:00

Excerpt from Tom Humphries’ dissertation:
Communicating across cultures (deaf-hearing) and language learning (pp. 7-10)

Reprinted here with permission from the author - many thanks to Dr. Humphries for coining the term Audism and for examining the unexamined.

"I grew up in a hearing environment and had all the values, behavior and mannerisms of a hearing person. I was especially proud of my success as a deaf hearing person. For all the wrong reasons. Every time I “passed” for hearing, I was extremely proud. In my isolation from other deaf people, I thought of myself as the only one of my kind. I disdained sign language. I was extremely proud of my English, my speech and my ability to communicate with hearing people where other deaf people could not. Needless to say, I felt superior to other deaf people. This was based on my ignorance of what other deaf people were like. From what I could see they were limited, uneducated people and it embarrassed me greatly to be identified with them. I delighted when hearing people compared me to other deaf people and labeled me successful and exceptional. I actively participated in putting down those people who signed, could not use English fluently, could not speak, and could not pass for hearing.

If I were asked, I might say I was hard-of-hearing even though I am profoundly deaf. If asked, I would recommend my experience, social and educational, for every deaf person. Those deaf people who were not as “successful” as I simply were not trying hard enough or were not gifted enough. Most of my life, I spent walking around in public places pretending to be hearing, trying to hide my difference. It is a lonely existence because you can speak to no one lest your difference be exposed. I managed to be happy most of the time by suppressing many, many feelings. I think it’s called “overcoming your handicap.” Why I thought that hiding it was “overcoming” it I do not know, except that this seemed to be the thinking of our society.

And society reinforced all of these ideas and attitudes of mine. Society demanded that I pass or be isolated completely. Society demanded that I conform and shamed me if I did not. Society talked of rehabilitation, institutionalization and charity for the handicapped. Society was perfectly willing to banish me to that twilight zone of invisibility for secondary members of society such as blacks, women, American Indians, and the blind. Society was willing to help me hide my difference if I wanted to go this route by teaching me to ignore and suppress my difference rather than acknowledge and accept it.

It was not until long after I had met other deaf people and lived with them for years that I began to acknowledge and accept this difference in me as something desirable. My education about myself and other deaf people began at seventeen. It took many years before I could actually think about deafness without suppressing how I felt about myself. For many of these years I continued to actively oppress other deaf people in many ways. I set myself up as an example of what a deaf person should be because it was a power trip. It was a power trip to compete with other deaf people for the rewards offered by the hearing society (good grades, jobs, scholarships, praise, inclusion, etc.) and win easily because I could speak, behave and think as a hearing person.

Where did I get disillusioned with these rewards? When did I begin to see what I had done to myself? When did I begin to recognize audist behavior? When did I begin to want to change? There are no dates, no events that I can isolate as being the beginning of change. I know only that I grew dissatisfied with the promises that society had held up for me. The promise of acceptance into society [sic]. It never happened. The promise of happiness as a full participant [sic]. It never happened. In a very real sense, the promise that my deafness should and would go away eventually because I would “conquer” it [sic]. It never happened. From this dissatisfaction came the questioning. It became very personal. The examination of my inner self to see what I really felt [sic]. Did I really like what I had become? Did I really accept being deaf? Did it matter if I were? Did I really know anything about myself? Was I in touch with my feelings? Was my attitude about deaf people the result of my own ignorance of my deafness? Was I as a person in the middle of dealing with other -isms really dealing with my audism? Was I as a person doing anything about my own needs? For that matter, did I know what I really needed?

Then the hard answers and the anger hurt. And the almost daily insights and learning about myself and my environment [sic]. Most of it painful too [sic]. Just how much I had bought into this system was painful to discover. I don’t think this is any different from the awareness that many women have suddenly found themselves with. I cannot emphasize too strongly that what happened to me was not any different from what happens to other people in other groups. The process of dissatisfaction, self-examination and striving for awareness and real change is something that is happening to many people. I am no exception.

I tried to relate feelings that I was having about what I viewed as oppression, discrimination and audism towards myself and other deaf people to what had and was happening to other minority groups. I found many similarities and this reinforced my desire to be aware of these things as they occur in my own environment. I began to wonder why I had let them slide by me in the first place. I was determined not to let them go by unquestioned anymore. I was determined to acknowledge them and call others' [sic] attention to them. It required that I eliminate these behaviors from myself. It required some confrontation with other people. It was a long time before I could feel good about being deaf, about other deaf people, about ASL and a deaf culture, about being different and a member of a minority group."

Reference:

Humphries, Thomas. 1977. Communicating across cultures (deaf-hearing) and language learning, Ph.D. dissertation, Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, Ohio.

AFA: links to editorial and article - Deaf Folks in the Press

2009-06-08T12:40:00.007-04:00

The mid-west is giving some much needed press space to Deaf people and the Deaf experience.

Editorial by John Lee Clark in the Star Tribune (Minn. paper) examining the importance of human diversity from a Deaf and Deaf-Blind perspective
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/47071087.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Article in the Wausau Daily Herald about the Wisc. law mandating insurance companies cover Cochlear Implants and AFA's petition

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20090607/WDH06/906070321

AFA: Audism in the hospital and workplace

2009-06-07T11:09:00.003-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4mM6x1ouvw

Short vlog featuring a Deaf couple explaining how hearing son was told by a nurse to interpret for his parents while he himself was recovering from an appendicitis. Also comment about being passed over for promotion amongst hearing co-workers and then having hours cut while others remained full-time.

AFA: Audism in the workplace and not giving up testimony

2009-06-07T10:28:00.003-04:00

if video is not playing above - go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmqVkjFRyk

Short video of a Deaf woman explaining her experience at a small company where she was passed over for promotion and not allowed to get training by an engineer because she was Deaf. Instead of accepting this lot, she applied for work at Kodak and was hired there. When she gave her boss her 2 weeks notice he thought she should stay as did her co-workers to which she replied, "Do you really think I should stay here with no prospects of being promoted?" They realized it was a good move she was making. Overtime the small company she had worked at closed and her former co-workers joined her at Kodak, surprised and happy to see her doing so well. One day she was to get some updated training and saw that the same engineer that had discriminated against her in the past was to do the training. She left the area crying and when her boss, who valued her as a very good worker and person, found out the reason, he got the engineer to accept writing as a form of communication for the training. Years later when she retired the engineer approached her and congratulated her on all her years of good and hard work.

AFA Vlog - AG Bell's Integrity????

2009-05-31T19:52:00.007-04:00

If video not playing properly, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccDZO8nSfzc

This is a vlog covering the post addressed in our previous posting

http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/05/ag-bells-integrity.html

AG Bell's Integrity

2009-05-31T09:57:00.004-04:00

AFA has questions about AG Bell Association's integrity:
1. Will AG Bell Association honor its written word (hand written and email text - see below) that it would present AFA's demand statements to its board

2. AG Bell Associtation had a CART transcript made of the AFA and AG Bell Association meeting. AG Bell Association had insisted that AFA not videotape or audio record the meeting. When AFA requested a copy of this transcript - our request fell on deaf ears.

3. AG Bell Association has a position statement saying they recognize American Sign Language (ASL) and accept it yet:
a. the AG Bell academy endorses the AVT guidelines #3 excluding sign language
b. the AG Bell Association offers a scholarship for students to attend a mainstream college / university stating:
Spoken communication must be the student’s primary mode of communication.
c. AG Bell members complained to AG Bell Association president, Jay Wyant, for using sign language in a short video clip at the AG Bell association conference in WI. last summer (See latest issues of AG Bell's Voices)
d. Board member of the PA AG Bell association wrote a harsh editorial criticizing Luke Adams for using ASL and not using his CI in the Amazing Race tv program

AFA's questions for AG Bell Association:
1. will you honor your word and present our demands to your board and give us their decision?

2. will you provide us with a copy of the CART transcript of our meeting?

3. if ASL is accepted and recognized, why haven't you retracted your Pepsi letter (which many of your own members objected to), allow your scholarship award to go to students who use ASL equally, encourage your members to realize that many AG Bell members (Deaf and Hearing) use ASL, communicate to Board members of AG Bell chapters that AG Bell has a position statement in support of ASL and it is inappropriate for them to be publishing letters chastizing Deaf people who use ASL or no longer use their CI

On April 2, 2009 Audism Free America (AFA) met with five members of the AG Bell Association in their Volta Bureau AG Bell Headquarters.

AG Bell Association Executive Director, Alexander Graham, had communications director, Catherine Murphy put in writing that AG Bell Association would be bringing AFA's demand statements to the AG Board. (see above photograph of the written agreement and an email confirming the agreement)

EMAIL from AG Bell Assoc. re: agreement
On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 5:18 PM,
Catherine Murphy wrote:
Yes, we are planning to present your three demands statements to the AG Bell Board of Directors.

Catherine Murphy

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

Just after 24 hours elapsed AG Bell Association sent out an announcement denouncing Deaf people's right to free speech and assembly. (scroll down for AG Bell's 'immediate release')

AFA has sent emails to AG Bell Association asking if we could have a copy of the CART transcript of our meeting and when they would be presenting our demands to the AG Bell board. We have not received any replies to our email and our certified letter was rejected by AG Bell Association.

Finally AFA sent the below email

fromAudism Free America
toCatherine Murphy
ccAlexander Graham

dateTue, Apr 28, 2009 at 4:40 PM
subjectRe: April 2 Meeting

Greetings:

We have not received any replies to our emails and our certified letter to you was rejected. If we do not receive any email from you by Friday we will interpret these actions to mean:
1. that you are not honoring your word to present our three demand statements to the board (the written agreement and email message below (dated April 2, 2009))

2. that you will not be providing AFA with a copy of the CART transcription from the April 2, 2009 meeting

We look forward to receiving a reply from you.

AFA

---------
One month has passed since this email was sent - no reply has been made.
----------

to see emails AFA sent to AG Bell Association re: CART and Board go to:
http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/04/afas-2nd-follow-up-email-to-ag-bell.html

AFA: Update of Gov Doyle sign Wis Bill #27/#16

2009-05-22T03:34:00.006-04:00

Rep. Cullen apologizes for the quote + AFA Thanks emailers

2009-05-20T23:12:00.002-04:00

AFA thanks everyone who contacted Rep. Cullen’s office about the offensive statement.

Thank you to everyone who has been signing the petition to Gov. Doyle also

Excerpt from Rep. Cullen’s office printed here with permission:

Monday, May 18, 2009, 8:20 AM

Representative Cullen is fully aware that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are very valuable members of our society, fully capable of getting jobs, going to school, and accomplishing whatever they wish in life. He understands this very well and apologizes for the quote that was in the Associated Press story on the bill’s passage. The quote was a one sentence quote from a 3 – 4 minute speech on the importance of the bill and, as such, was certainly not taken in context. While his word choice during the speech was poor, the quote in no way serves as an indicator of his feelings, motivations, or character.
Ritch Williams Clerk, Committee on Insurance Office of Rep. David Cullen

Response to email below – printed here with permission:

Sunday, May 17, 2009 2:58 AM
Representative Cullen:

My boyfriend, Andrew Taylor, is Deaf and has a wonderful job, a family, including our daughter, and had a fantastic education at California School for the Deaf. I’m thankful to his mother for not making the decision to implant him. Implanted kids don’t tend to be allowed to sign: education is so focused on speech that they miss the education that you and I had! In addition, if you were to do some real research, just by walking into your local deaf educational programs, you may find that those cochlear implants don’t make children hearing. Many kids have had serious health problems and have died due to the surgery you are advocating for, a surgery for a disability that Deaf people find as a small inconvenience at most! Apologize for your statement that kids need cochlear implants to keep jobs, etc. Get educated!!!

Sincerely,

Patty Killough

Cullen's staff sends a reply to AFA re: our letter for an apology

2009-05-15T18:16:00.009-04:00

Greetings all:

Ritch Williams of Rep. Cullen's office sent AFA the reply below in response to AFA's letter requesting an apology from Rep. Cullen for his offensive statement in the media

NOTES:
1. Rep. Cullen has not replied directly to AFA or composed a statement himself to be sent to AFA by his office

2. It appears that Rep. Cullen's office is misinformed about what early intervention means. It seems that they equate early intervention to mean cochlear implants and auxillary listening devices and aids

3. Rep. Cullen's office equates the reading level and unemployment rate to be caused by the lack of early intervention (i.e. hearing aids and CI and therapy) to make Deaf infants and children HEAR and not a result of discrimination and the failure of Oralism (oral / aural only education) and simultaneous-communication methods that have been rampant in the U.S. for the past century

4. it is unclear as to why Rep. Cullen's Deaf sister would not be allowed to keep her job if she did not have a cochlear implant. If she risked being fired because she is Deaf, we would have hoped that her bother would have worked for legislation that helped ensure that Deaf people did not experience discrimination in the work place instead of working for legislation mandating insurance coverage of cochlear implants

5. Mr. Williams states that Rep. Cullen drafted the bill at the request of parents of Deaf children and based on his own personal experience

6. Seems that Mr. Williams is not aware that the word hearing impairment is not cool with most Deaf people.

7. At no point did AFA call Rep. Cullen an audist. We do not appreciate Mr. Williams and inturn Rep. Cullen's office misquoting us. We, AFA, said that Mr. Cullen's comments were offensive and an example of audism. Even within the context of responding to low scores and employment, the statement is still a form of audism. To say if Deaf folks can get hearing aids and cochlear implants as babies they will be more productive members of society and be able to keep jobs etc - aims to fix the individual and not the problem of discrimination and audism in our society.

Deaf people who have had hearing aids and cochlear implants since a young age and have undergone intensive therapy still experience difficulties in school and in group settings because of ignorance and insensitivity.

8. The hysteria may be with the rampant thrust to implant infants at a younger and younger age and to keep them away from any Deaf adults or Deaf environments - all in the name of making them members of society.

We have - been there - done that for the past 100 years.

9. Why hasn't Rep. Cullen included in the bill or pushed for another bill that insurance companies would be mandated to cover the removal of CI and coverage of ASL materials, mentors, and therapy?

10. It is interesting to note that Rep. Cullen's office sent out no press release clarifying their statement and position after the quote ran on April 23, 2009. It seems that they did not care if they were quoted out of content and did not have any concerns about offending Deaf people. By Rep. Cullen's lack of reply and Mr. Williams reply on his behalf, it seems clear that they still do not care if their position, sentiment, and way of thinking is offensive to Deaf people.

This leads us to wonder that since other disenfranchised groups often have lower reading and writing scores and higher unemployment, will Rep. Cullen be advocating for the passage of legislation for insurance companies to cover new early intervening medicine or technology to change these people also?

let us know what you think of Rep. Cullen's staff member's reply - email us at audismfreeamerica@gmail.com

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

Williams, Ritch
to Audism Free America
date Fri, May 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM

hide details 12:26 PM (5 hours ago)

Reply

Follow up message

The comment you are referring to was certainly not reported 100% accurately and we understand the vast array of misgivings after it was included in the AP article. It was never his intention to offend anyone and the quote was not in context. As we heard during the legislative committee process, statistics point out that deaf and hard of hearing children that do not receive early intervention graduate from high school with about a 4th grade reading level and then 76% of those are unemployed following graduation. Representative Cullen cited those statistics before what he was quoted in the article as saying…the reporter even left out “…more productive…” before the “members of society” part of the quote.

Again, those comments came after his citation of the statistics on reading level and employment for children who do not receive the benefits of early intervention – whether via hearing aids or cochlear implant. We received those statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, a paper from Karl R. White of Utah State University, and information we gathered from the Gallaudet Research Institute website. Again, they are in reference to children who do not receive intervention in one way or another.

The legislative committee process on this bill consisted of a public hearing in which we heard from over 100 individuals – children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their parents made up about 95% of those speakers. Representative Cullen drafted this bill at their request, but also because of his personal experiences.

As the brother of two siblings that had/have hearing impairments, Representative Cullen is fully aware that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are members of society, members of our workforce, and successful students in our schools. While his hard of hearing brother has passed away, his sister was one of the first recipients of a cochlear implant in Wisconsin and the procedure has allowed her to continue her work as a public school teacher in the 10 years since she received it. It is because of their experiences that Representative Cullen was the main author of this legislation and worked to get it enacted into law after a few years of languishing in the legislature. To claim that he is an “audist” or somehow lacks the knowledge that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are valuable members of society is a complete stretch, but I suppose that can happen if one decides to use a one sentence quote – and an incomplete one at that – to completely characterize an individual and their motivations, interests, and feelings.

Finally, there has been a great deal of hysteria by some that mistakenly think the bill requires parents to get hearing aids or cochlear implants for their child. That is NOT the case. We took into account the testimony we heard last session from some parents who choose not to utilize early intervention – or any intervention – for their deaf or hard of hearing child. The only thing the bill actually does is tell insurance companies that if a parent chooses to get hearing aids and/or cochlear implants for their child, then the insurance company of the parent must pay for the costs. We are assuming that parents of deaf or hard of hearing children will make fully informed decisions and do what they feel is best for their own child.

Ritch Williams
Clerk, Committee on Insurance
Office of Rep. David Cullen
216 North, State Capitol
(608) 267-9836

AFA: Petition - Prevent Senate Bill #27/Assembly bill #16 from becoming law

2009-05-15T16:06:00.006-04:00

Sign the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA51309/petition.html
------------------

Governor Doyle
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702

To Governor Doyle:

We, the undersigned, request that you do not sign senate bill #27/assembly bill #16 mandating that insurance companies cover the exorbitantly expensive and invasive implanting of children with cochlear implants since their effectiveness is inconsistent and because cochlear implants are often used in conjunction with denying an infant and children the right to a fully accessible natural language.

The notion that being Deaf is an affliction and an abomination which alienates one from society and leaves them dependent and isolated is a myth and rooted in audism.

Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

Not only is there a danger that some infants and children can be harmed by cochlear implants, there is also the potential danger that people interpret this bill to mean that they must have their child implanted.

When any government participates in the attempt to create a perfect race of people and to prevent a natural language from flourishing, it is known as eugenics. We do not wish for your state to be mislabeled as promoting eugenics and linguistic and cultural genocide.

If this bill is to be signed into law it should be amended to state that insurance companies should also cover the cost cochlear implant removals for people who no longer wish to have these devices in their heads. Furthermore, it should mandate that insurance companies cover American Sign Language materials, therapy, and support services for families, infants, and children as research has shown that giving a Deaf infant and child a fully accessible, visual language ensures linguistic, cognitive, social and emotional success.

Senate Bill 27: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB27hst.html
Assembly Bill 16: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB16hst.html

Sincerely,
-----------

Let Freedom Roll!
Ruthie on behalf of AFA

Yes Cullen said those words - awaiting a reply from him

2009-05-15T12:00:00.004-04:00

Hi all

An update - some folks have said that Cullen was misquoted in the media saying:

“This bill is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job.”

AFA understands that it is easy to be misquoted or taken out of context. The statement was made on April 23 and carried by the Associated press in radio, TV and print outlets.

Cullen's office never made any public attempt to retract the statement or clarify the context in which it was stated. AFA sent Rep. Cullen a letter Thursday at 12:05 am asking for an apology for this statement and inviting him to learn more about audism.

We received no reply. We called his office today to:
1. confirm that Rep. Cullen made this statement - the answer was YES he said those words.

2. ask for a reply to AFA's letter. The staff member said they did not receive any email from AFA. AFA checked that our email address for them was correct and yes it was. We also confirmed that our email was sent out of our gmail account successful with no bounce back or notification that it failed to deliver.

3. AFA has re-sent our letter to Cullen's office and also invited, Cullen to reply with an apology for the statement and clarification that we could post on our public website.

4. AFA also took the opportunity to make sure Rep. Cullen's office was familiar with the word Audism and the response was yes they were. AFA still took the opportunity to explain that while Rep. Cullen may have been quoted out of context - he did make that offensive statement, which indicates the believe that to hear and speak is superior to being Deaf and that is audism.

We look forward to a reply from Rep. Cullen

Contact Cullen for an apology for audist statement AFA sample email

2009-05-14T09:56:00.004-04:00

AFA is committed to combating audism and misrepresentation of Deaf people in the media. AFA has sent a letter to Rep. Cullen (see previous posting in this site) and AFA encourages Deaf and Hearing folks to send an email, fax, or give a call to Wisc. Rep. Cullen - feel free to use the text below as you see fit.

Representative David Cullen website and contact information below:

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/W3ASP/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Assembly&district=13

Room 216 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708

Telephone
(608) 267-9836 Or
(888) 534-0013

District Telephone
(414) 774-4115

Fax
(608) 282-3613

Email
Rep.Cullen@legis.wisconsin.gov

-----------
SAMPLE LETTER:
AFA has already sent representative Cullen an letter explaining the term audism so he is familiar with the concept. If you prefer to use a different word in the sample letter below - discrimination, oppression, prejudice - etc. Please feel free to put in the word you feel best fits.

If you want to keep the word audism but want to add a short definition (the notion that to hear and speak is superior to being Deaf) please do.

Thanks for contacting Cullen.
______________

Greetings Rep. Cullen:

You have been quoted by the associated press in several media outlets on April 23, 2009 saying:

“This bill is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job.”

I find your remarks about Deaf people who do not have hearing aids or cochlear implants to be offensive and a form of audism.

We look forward to an apology from you and evidence that you fully understand the pros and cons of cochlear implantation and its impact on infants and children.

A voting and tax paying member of society,

AFA to Rep Cullen - Deaf Folks ARE Members of Society

2009-05-14T09:49:00.004-04:00

Below is a letter that AFA wrote to Wisc. Rep. Cullen.

We have sent it to:
Rep. Cullen
media outlets which carried Cullen’s quote
National Association of the Deaf
Deaf Bilingual Coalition
Deaf Youth USA

In our next posting we will have a sample letter that you can send to Rep. Cullen and next is a petition to Governor Doyle asking him not to sign the bill into law that would mandate insurance co. to cover cochlear implants.

Senate Bill 27: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB27hst.html
Assembly Bill 16: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB16hst.html

On a side note - thank you all who have been showing your faith, support, and hope by taking a stand for justice and against audism.

Let Freedom Roll

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

May 15, 2009

Representative Cullen:

You have been quoted in the media as saying that the bill to have insurance companies cover very expensive cochlear implants “is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job.” Associated Press, April 23, 2009 – see link below

We would like you to know that your statement is a blatant example of audism. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

We would like you to know that your statement exemplifies great ignorance and is very insulting. We would like you to know that –
1. Cochlear implants do not allow children to KEEP their hearing. The children are Deaf.

2. Deaf people are members of society and pay taxes, vote, work, live, and raise families fine with or without hearing aids and cochlear implants.

3. Deaf people have been going to school in the U.S. since 1817 and are able to keep a job.

We realize that you may have never met a Deaf person who uses ASL and loves Deaf culture. We realize that you may view being Deaf as an affliction and something that needs to be fixed.

We wish that you would do your homework when advocating for legislation that directly impacts a people, culture, and language of which you know nothing about.

Cochlear implants do not restore full hearing, they are incredibly expensive especially with the current push for two because one is inadequate. Even with two the results are iffy and the risks are several. Furthermore, implants require years of intensive costly auditory verbal therapy, which bans lipreading and American Sign Language. Many individuals who have cochlear implants still utilize access services of oral or cued speech interpreters AND/or computer aided real time transcription.

While many view cochlear implants an expensive “start up” cost to prevent other auxillary aid expenses (such as interpreters and CARTS) later in life, this has not proven to be the case.

We invite you to issue a formal apology for your accidental audism and we welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss audism and this bill more indepth.

Let Freedom Roll,

Audism Free America

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/23/cochlear_implants/

Response to Wisc. Bill and Cullen's statement

2009-05-11T13:54:00.003-04:00

Congrats and thanks to Tim Riker for writing this response and getting it published

www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/print/chi-0511vplettersbriefs2may11,0,1555936.story
chicagotribune.com
Success for deaf community
May 11, 2009
This is in response to “Wisconsin could be first to require cochlear implants” (News, April 23). Sometimes the worst things in history have been done with the best intentions.

Lawmakers tend to simplify an issue and say if more children have access to cochlear implants then they would be able to close down the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. The reality is, they are ignoring some critical aspects.

Babies, whether they are hearing or deaf, can acquire language skills through American Sign Language before they can speak. The benefits of early language development from sign language is more consistently successful than relying on an invasive surgery that could cause death or other serious side effects. Sure there are success stories, but what about those children who still cannot understand speech even after years of extensive speech training?

The formula for success of any deaf child must include positive deaf role models and a positive self-identity. This means that schools must have deaf teachers and administrators who can empathize and communicate effortlessly with them. It’s understandable that parents would want their children to remain close to them and to hear and speak like them, but it is dangerous to cling to the false hope that cochlear implants or intensive speech therapy will make their children “whole” again. That puts the child at a tremendous disadvantage and puts him or her through unnecessary risk.

As a Democrat and deaf person myself, Rep. David Cullen (D-Milwaukee) does the deaf community a great disservice when he says, “This bill is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job.”That is an insult to me and many in the deaf community because it tells society that unless deaf people can hear and speak, they are unequal, uneducated and unemployed. That is fallacious and his comments only encourage discrimination on the basis of a person’s ability to hear and speak.

I am living proof of a successful deaf person without cochlear implants; I have a degree from Georgetown University, work at an investment bank and am certainly an equal member of society.

—Timothy Riker, Chicago

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

Letter AFA has sent to Senator Cullen

2009-05-07T19:57:00.014-04:00

Below is a letter that AFA wrote to Wisc. Rep. Cullen.

We have sent it to:
Rep. Cullen
media outlets which carried Cullen’s quote
National Association of the Deaf
Deaf Bilingual Coalition
Deaf Youth USA

In our next posting we will have a sample letter that you can send to Rep. Cullen and next is a petition to Governor Doyle asking him not to sign mandating of insurance co. covering of cochlear implants and hearing aids the bill into law.

Senate Bill 27: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB27hst.html
Assembly Bill 16: http://legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB16hst.html

On a side note - thank you all who have been showing your faith, support, and hope by taking a stand for justice and against audism.

Let Freedom Roll

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

May 15, 2009

Representative Cullen:

You have been quoted in the media as saying that the bill to have insurance companies cover very expensive cochlear implants “is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job.” Associated Press, April 23, 2009 – see link below

We would like you to know that your statement is a blatant example of audism. Audism is attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is desired and best. It produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice—in overt or covert ways—against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

We would like you to know that your statement exemplifies great ignorance and is very insulting. We would like you to know that –
1. Cochlear implants do not allow children to KEEP their hearing. The children are Deaf.

2. Deaf people are members of society and pay taxes, vote, work, live, and raise families fine with or without hearing aids and cochlear implants.

3. Deaf people have been going to school in the U.S. since 1817 and are able to keep a job.

We realize that you may have never met a Deaf person who uses ASL and loves Deaf culture. We realize that you may view being Deaf as an affliction and something that needs to be fixed.

We wish that you would do your homework when advocating for legislation that directly impacts a people, culture, and language of which you know nothing about.

Cochlear implants do not restore full hearing, they are incredibly expensive especially with the current push for two because one is inadequate. Even with two the results are iffy and the risks are several. Furthermore, implants require years of intensive costly auditory verbal therapy, which bans lipreading and American Sign Language. Many individuals who have cochlear implants still utilize access services of oral or cued speech interpreters AND/or computer aided real time transcription.

While many view cochlear implants an expensive “start up” cost to prevent other auxillary aid expenses (such as interpreters and CARTS) later in life, this has not proven to be the case.

We invite you to issue a formal apology for your accidental audism and we welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss audism and this bill more indepth.

Let Freedom Roll,

Audism Free America

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/23/cochlear_implants/

AFA: People Testimonies

2009-04-29T00:23:00.004-04:00

Ruthie Jordan:

Hello!

Wow.. the support of AFA Raly April 3, 2009 was so inspiring. We want to thank all of the people who came to AGBell's main office at the Volta Bureau in Washing ton DC to participate in the rally.

Thank you for coming to show your big heart and how much you care for this AFA’s cause to change the future when it comes to Audism.

We want to thank you. It means a lot. You made the cause visible – people from all over saw how much you care and want to end audism. Many of you spent your hard earned dollars investing in AFA by flying or driving to the rally. Many folks came from all over, staying the whole day and evening on Friday. Those who could not attend still participated by making and wearing blue ribbons sharing them at schools and in the workplace. Some communities hosted events like Blue Ribbon Ceremonies in solidarity with AFA. California and other local areas around the nation hosted events. Again we want to thank you for rolling up your sleeves and being involved.

This shows we can build this movement and work together. Just as the Blue Ribbon is a source of inspiration, we are inspired by your peaceful activism. This exchange brings about mutual support and collectivism, which is wonderful to see. For those of you who were not sure about AFA and decided to come see for yourself by coming and meeting AFA, we thank you! Some people talked about coming but unfortunately didn’t make it. Hopefully, next time, they can make it when we come together for our next event.

Some people have been approaching us and emailing us to share their experiences with issues AFA is combating under the different spheres of audism We collected some videos during the rally of people sharing their experiences of audism related to Deaf babies rights to language, employment, families, and the oppression of Deaf people.

Again, as a whole – AFA is very inspired by your activism and would like to thank you for all your support and belief in moving forward and plowing a new path to change our future.

Let Freedom Roll.

Paddy Ladd:

Hello I am thrilled to see AFA building this momentum – the meeting, protest, proceeding forward, and supporting each other. I hope you continue to move forward with this cause. I am proud of you.

Shannon and Starr:

Shannon: Recently a Deaf teacher in a mainstreamed school in our area was to be fired due to budget cuts. A little boy named Jasper, his grandmother and parents brought this to our attention. They cherished this Deaf teacher who used a fully accessible language with the boy. For her to be gotten rid of just like that!

Star: Let me explain more….the school had four teachers of the Deaf, three were oral and the other one was Deaf and used ASL. Well guess who they decided to cut?...yes, the signing teacher. We said NO – the Deaf child must have options in education. To only provide an oral ONLY education – that is not an option.

Several of us from our organization went to the school board meeting. The school board of course discussed the economy and the reasons for the cuts. They said they wanted to preserve the most qualified teachers. We found this interesting because of the four teachers of the Deaf, the one they fired had TWO teachers licenses. They contradicted themselves and we called them on it. That is discrimination! We had the opportunity to speak and tell our concerns. We know that the board is ignorant about the needs and rights of Deaf children so e had to educate them.

Shannon shared her experiences going through school with an interpreter and teachers who only talked.

Shannon: Yes, we needed to expose them to this. Yes, then it was my turn and I explained my experiences. My struggles. Nothing changes – it’s the same as when I was in school.

Star: After our presentation the board was speechless. Recently, they just voted – on Wednesday?

Shannon: Just recently

Star: Wednesday – they VOTED TO REINSTATE the teacher who signs

Shannon: big hand wave!

Star: – A signing teacher for Deaf children who demand a visual language – it’s a must-have as well as having a Deaf role model. It’s a “must-have.”

Shannon: This happened because we decided to roll up our sleeves and stand up and speak out. We did this through respectful dialogue and educating the board on issues they are unfamiliar with. It’s important.

Star: The point is if we stay silent….nothing happens,

Shannon: FINISHED!

Star: but we stand up and speak out, we can make a difference.

Star and Shannon: EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE

Star: Advocate for Deaf children. If you speak out we can make a difference. Will you get in trouble? No, instead people thank you for taking a stand and it hits the media.

Shannon: V O I C E. Empowerment (2x)
Star: we have the support of the community for that. You can use your voice and speak out. There is nothing wrong with that.

Sallie Mae:

I am Sallie Mae Pauley from VA. I’ve been to Gallaudet. I’ve been through racism. I grew up in Black schools and white schools and experienced mainstreaming. Later I went to Gallaudet 1975 left and came back in 2005.

Today I just went to the Audism Free AFA rally. I had a revelation. It really hit me hard being at this rally. I support this protest and this cause YES. At the same time my concern is why are people of color not more visible? Yes there were some diversity there but not in leadership roles.

It reminded me of my experiences within Black Deaf schools and White Deaf schools. I feel a calling to be a leader. The same today – I felt a calling to be a leader promoting diversity. I am so happy I went for it and am so inspired now.

AG Bell Association’s oppression of Deaf folks made me look back at how White folks have been oppressing Blacks. We encounter the same issue of oppression. Even though for Blacks we see some improvements for the better recently. Oppression by AG Bell parallels the Black experience.

It’s my hope that when folks see me representing them, they can say
“if she CAN, then I CAN do the same.” We have this bond and innate understanding. Rather than having all the leaders be White and thus making us feel like we can’t join or are not welcome. Doesn’t matter if it is just a few people of color at the start. Just by having one Black person there, it can mean a great deal to the Deaf community.

I hope one day you will see that we mean business and work to STOP THE CYCLE period!

When I first saw the plan was to have five White people go up the stairs – when I saw them discussing this with the police – I thought to myself “No way. Not one Black person. In the vlogs, no Black people will be shown. Then people will think, why should I help and contribute?” So I decided to be assertive and step forward.

I asked where is the Black representation or people of diverse races? Their response was “oh, we did not think of this.” Ella said, “Do it!” Swap with someone (right now I can’t remember who I traded with). So I joined and I felt PROUD and GOOD. I felt… I can’t explain it – NO WORDS can describe this! It was more of a feeling of empowerment – Deaf power. United, going up the stairs together, wow!
History P R E V A I L S. History has prevailed!

AFA: Hearing Mother of Deaf child speaks out!

2009-04-21T23:31:00.005-04:00

Beth speaks out at International Day of Deaf people and Sign Language in
Norfolk, VA. September 29, 2007
(Voice of Beth's speech)

Hello my name is Beth and I am the proud hearing Mom to Lily age 2 years, 7 months and Deaf. I was living in Ocean City, Maryland at the time that Lily was diagnosed as having moderate to severe hearing loss. I am thankful Lily was diagnosed in MD because the first Audiologist she encountered encouraged me to learn sign. He told me that was the most important thing I could do for my child is to give her a visual language. He told me no matter what technology is here today that Deaf children need ASL as a first language. I am so thankful he was referred to me first. The Maryland School for the Deaf would drive 2 ½ hours each week to do home visits. My life would be different today if I was exposed to Audio Verbal Therapy and oral training. Although that is not the case in Hampton Roads!

I moved to Suffolk for family support in May of 2006 and hoping I could find more resources for my daughter. I have been climbing an uphill battle since I have moved here. Lily is being raised with ASL as her first language and English as a second language. I also want Lily to know about Deaf Culture and history. I want my daughter to be proud of what other Deaf have done so that her life is better today than their’s was. I want her to know that being Deaf is a part of who she is and she can be proud to be Deaf. I also want her to know that she comes from a hearing family that is loving and ready to make a commitment to her by learning American Sign Language. We hearing folk aren’t so bad but give us a chance We hearing parents, are too, learning.

I am reaching out to all Deaf in Hampton Roads because we need a change. My support has been given to me through the Deaf community. Most of my networking resources have been passed to me through Deaf individuals. Please keep it up but we have a lot of work to do!

Little has been given to me through early intervention programs,,, this just proves how dire our need is!

In a perfect world when you are told your child is Deaf you would get to meet Deaf adults to understand their perspective. Parents are pushed by the doctors but yet many hearing parents with a Deaf child have never met a Deaf adult. That is very sad and we need to change that current situation. I knew very little until I met a Deaf adult.I was very blessed to have my daughter diagnosed in MD Because of this knowledge of what a hearing parent needs to know…. I needed to know that that most important thing you can give a child… any child…is the gift of language…a language both she and I understand… a visual language and that is American Sign Language…

But you must understand what hearing parents go through….

Hearing Mom, don’t teach your Deaf child sign “they will never be normal” or “AVT will only make your Deaf child normal” I have heard this from several doctors in the area. Also, because I have made the decision to NOT implant Lily with a Cochlear Implant, The doctors have made me feel like I am committing child abuse. They have told me so,I am abusing my child because I opted NOT to have her implanted with a cochlear implant. I am happy to say we don’t see those doctors anymore.

Here is my issue with the Cochlear Implants and Lily. She is responding at 30 dbs with her hearing aides she is maximizing on her residual hearing but yet they want to implant her. Lily has a medical condition that will one day make her profoundly Deaf so they want to implant her now under that assumption. They are so eager to implant her… yet I resist this major brain operation…. This intrusive, invasive, brain surgery… I cherish my child as a whole being… I chose ASL instead. My daughter is bright, she’s brilliant, she’s capable of so much…. But those who don’t recognize ASL while never know.

The big issue is the education of Deaf and HOH kids. The state of Deaf education in Hampton Roads is unacceptable. I have fought and fought only to be turned down in spite of IDEA laws…I dream of a Charter School,,, a central school for all the Deaf and HOH kids, so they could all be together in Hampton Roads. I fully support Residential Schools but we need some other options in VA but I, like many parents, wont sed my child away….. I want these benefits here, now, for my deaf child.. Lily is a brilliant Deaf child and she deserves to be able to have access to everything a hearing child has. She will, one day, be leading this county to a brighter, more beautiful, equitable future.

***Pause***

Yes I want to hear my daughter speak and that is the natural inclination of all hearing parents.. English is my first language, I want it to be hers, too. We all want sameness and hearing parents are frightened by differences in language. I have come to accept that my child is different and she is a child of visual learning… she will always be a “child of the eye” – her natural access to language is through her eyes, thus she learns through American Sign Language.

Hearing Lily speak is not the issue The issue is literacy. Lily’s speech might never be perfect but she needs to be able to read and write at an age appropriate level. That is my goal! But a school system that graduates a deaf child at a 4th grade reading level is one that has not only fail deaf children before Lily, but is already set up to fail my daughter.

Now here I stand and this is the battle I face for Lily and all the Deaf and HOH kids out there. I am desperately trying to make a change but this is a difficult battle and we need YOUR HELP.

“No children left behind” is an oxymoron………….All Deaf children are being left behind and will be continued to be left behind. I am determined to make sure that Lily will not be one of those children. She will not be left behind!!!!!

Thank you...
----------------------
E-mail: AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com
© Beth/SVSD/AFA

The Octopus Theory

2009-04-20T16:35:00.002-04:00

AFA press release about Historic Meeting and Rally

2009-04-13T21:40:00.001-04:00

link to PR web http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2313634.htm

Audism Free America: Outcomes of the Historic Meeting and Rally at the AG Bell Association Headquarters

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 13, 2009 -- Audism Free America is a grassroots movement made up of Deaf and hearing people from across the United States and Canada who are bringing about awareness of Audism - defined as attitudes and practices based on the assumption that behaving in the ways of those who speak and hear is superior, desired and best. AFA maintains that Audism produces a system of privilege, thus resulting in stigma, bias, discrimination, and prejudice--in overt or covert ways--against Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and Deaf people of all walks of life.

On Thursday April 2, 2009 Audism Free America (AFA) met with the AG Bell Association at their Volta Bureau headquarters to discuss AFA's three demands that were presented to AG Bell Association one month prior to the meeting. The AG Bell Association is an organization devoted to strict oralism (oral / aural instruction only)…listening and speaking. While the AG Bell Associations states they do not discriminate against sign language or work to ban sign language, their organization does not include sign language as part of a Deaf child's language and literacy acquisition. AG Bell is made up of hearing professionals, specialists, and parents with only a small minority of Deaf adults as members or staff members.

AFA presented its three demands to the AG Bell Association which address audism:

"AFA's demands call for: (1) AGBell Association to stop excluding a natural and fully accessible language (American Sign Language - ASL) from Deaf children, (2) stop misinforming the public and the media about Deaf people, and (3) to join AFA in calling for an impartial and independent investigation of the physical, psychological and social impact of cochlear implants on Deaf children and adolescents."

At the meeting, three Deaf members of AFA (Ruthie Jordan, Patti Durr, and Karen Christie) staged a peaceful sit-in to achieve some tangible commitment from AG Bell Association that these demands would be addressed. The Washington, D.C. police were called to the Volta Bureau. After some discussion, the AG Bell Executive Director, Alex Graham instructed the Communications Director to put in writing that AFA's demands would be brought before the AG Bell Association Board and that AFA would be contacted as to the results.

The following day, Friday April 3, 2009, AFA held its peaceful rally outside of the AG Bell Headquarters. In addition to security hired by the AG Bell Association, two Washington, DC policewomen were stationed in front of the Volta Bureau (AG Bell headquarters) all day. The protesters were peaceful and non-violent in exercising their first amendment rights of free speech and assembly. Over 200 people participated in the rally and vigil while hundreds of people hosted simultaneous events in their hometowns in support of AFA and the fight to end audism.

A press release issued on April 3, 2009 by the AG Bell Association, "AG Bell Denounces Demonstrations," went out only one and a half hours after the peaceful AFA rally had begun despite the promise to bring the AFA demands to the board the day before. "AG Bell's press release stated AG Bell has a long history and tradition of supporting civil rights for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing by working in cooperation with other national organizations to ensure that our legal, health care and education systems, entertainment industry, and places of employment are free of discrimination. (Alex Graham, Executive Director of AG Bell Association, April 3, 2009)"

AFA maintains that civil rights include the right to be born, the right to pick a marriage partner, the right to pursue a livelihood, the right to appear on the stage, TV or screen, and a right to a fully accessible, natural and humane educational experience. AFA points out that "Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, the organization's founder, worked to prevent Deaf children from being born, worked to stop Deaf people from marrying each other, and worked to stop Deaf people from becoming teachers." According to AFA, the organization bearing AG Bell's name has worked to prevent ASL and Deaf culture from being seen on the stage, TV or screen, and worked to exclude ASL from the classroom and the dining rooms of America in order to promote oralism exclusively (oral / aural only instruction and lifestyle).

Dr. Bell's legacy continues with the AG Bell Association's Children's Legal Advocacy program, which provides funds to families suing public school districts that use ASL-based instruction, and through the principles of its Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) programs, one of which states that "…families should be coached to not use sign language…"

On January 31, 2008, AG Bell Association wrote to PepsiCo admonishing Pepsi for airing a commercial showing ASL Deaf people. AG Bell Association claimed that the commercial created a "misleading stereotype" and stated that speaking Deaf people are "positive role models who have met the challenges of this condition." The National Association of the Deaf, the American Society for Deaf Children, and the Deaf Bilingual Coalition as well as many of AG Bell Association members objected to AG Bell's letter to Pepsi yet the AG Bell Association refused to issue an apology or retract their letter.

During the April 2nd meeting, AFA asked for a retraction of the Pepsi letter. The AG Bell Association's Director of Communications, Catherine Murphy, countered with a request that the AFA rally scheduled for the next day be cancelled if the AG Bell Association retracted the Pepsi letter. The AFA responded that the rally would be a celebration in recognition that one portion of one AFA's demands had been met. As of this date, the AG Bell letter to PepsiCo has not been retracted nor has an apology been issued.

In regards public awareness campaigns, AFA states, "We are committed to peaceful engagement and believe that the parents of Deaf children have the right to being fully informed about ASL and English, to be informed how Deaf people are misrepresented in the media, and the great potential that lies within each Deaf child."

Throughout the April 3rd rally and vigil, attendees from all over the U.S. as well as Canada, Columbia, and England, shared their own personal testimonies about how audism has tragically affected their lives. During the candlelight vigil, five AFA members, (with DC police permission due to AG Bell's authorization of DC Police to arrest any AFA trespassers), took a historic walk up AG Bell Association's staircase leading to the entrance of the Volta Bureau thus symbolizing the call to AG Bell and their organization to end audism. AFA calls for unity in order to create the best opportunities for those who are Deaf including the human right to visual language which includes ASL, literacy, and livelihood.

AG Bell's immediate press release denouncing AFA has not hindered AFA's resolve. AFA states that it is exercising good-faith that AG Bell's Executive Director Graham will honor their promise to bring AFA's three demands to their board and eagerly awaits their response.

AFA states "We cannot be united with the AG Bell Association organization if it is untrustworthy and portrays any group that advocates for the civil liberties and linguistic rights of Deaf people as unconscionable. It is critical that AG Bell Association members, parents, oral Deaf children and adults understand that AFA values them and welcomes them to join with AFA in its mission to end audism and to see that Deaf people are valued as equal in language, culture, employment, and equally represented in all walks of life by those who are Deaf themselves.