Happy 5th Anniversary AFA!

Happy Anniversary!!!  Happy Anniversary!!! Happy Anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!  Happy Anniversary!!!

Audism Free America (AFA) celebrates 5 years.  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.

5 Year Review:  YEAR ONE 2009

            January                 AFA was founded

            March                   AFA’s mission statement in ASL and English released

http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-afa-and-mission.html

AFA cards can be found at http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/afa-mission-post-card-print-and.html

April                     AFA’s historic meeting with the CEO of the AG Bell Association in the Volta Bureau, Alexander Graham and 4 other representatives of AG Bell Assoc.

 – outcome of the meeting: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2313634.htm

AFA’s 3 Demands to AG Bell and current status

AFA Demand 1:

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.

Good News 1:

AG Bell removed Principle #3 from its Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT ie LSL) guidelines

Principle #3. Guide and coach parents¹ to help their child use hearing as the primary sensory modality in developing spoken language without the use of sign language or emphasis on lipreading.

Bad News 1:

many practioners of AVT / LSL still urge parents not to sign with their Deaf children and AG Bell has not clearly stated that it accepts the use of ASL and English as important parts of a Deaf child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

AFA Demand 2:

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.

Good news 2:

To our knowledge, since 2009 AG Bell Association has not sent out anything to the public or media misrepresenting ASL.

Bad news 2:

AG Bell still has not retracted and apologized for its highly offensive and unjust letter to Pepsi yet.   Times a wasting:   AG Bell – do the right thing and make amends. 

AFA Demand 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.

Good news 3:

AG Bell removed Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas from their Circle Alliance Founding Partners.  Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas are cochlear implant corporations that have had numerous lawsuits, fines, and recalls.  It has also removed any ad banners from its website for Advanced Bionics or House Ear Institute.

Bad news 3:

AG Bell continues to have Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas sponsor their conferences and continues to promote their products for them.  AG Bell’s Volta Review continues to propagate “studies” that are financed by cochlear implant corporations with small Ns (numbers of participants) and selective information.

At the 2009 historic meeting to discuss our demands with AG Bell Association CEO and other representatives, we had a sit-in at the end of the meeting to gain assurance we would get a response.

During this weekend in April 2009, we also had a Blue Ribbon Ceremony at Gallaudet University and a rally and demonstration at the Volta Bureau:  The AG Bell Association Headquarters.

Thank you to all the volunteers, participants, support from afar and more who all made this possible.

AFA Blue Ribbon Ceremony at Gallaudet University 2009

AFA Rally in front of AG Bell Volta Bureau 2009

AFA’s Blue light Vigil at AG Bell’s Volta Bureau 2009

In addition to our April 2009 direct action work,  there were other notable AFA activities in 2009:

AFA videotaped testimonies of Deaf people and Hearing parents’ experiences with audism and lobbied for a clear understanding of the term “audism” and the harms that discrimination against Deaf people causes to our world.

Good news:  Audism – the term became better understood and utilized

Thank you to everyone in the community who has labored hard and long to get the term audism into the dictionary and recognized and understood.

Bad news:  Audism continues to be a pervasive experience of Deaf people.

****************************************

AFA Advocated for the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) to rescind the ICED 1880 Milan Congress resolutions, which ushered in the dark ages of Oralism (oral / aural only – ban on natural sign language in schools and homes across the globe).

Good news:  ICED 2010 Vancouver formally recognized the harms of the Milan 1880 Oral only mandate, expressing remorse and issuing a New Era Accord for the Future.

Thank you to the British Columbia Deaf community and the members of ICED as well as all the other advocates who have worked throughout time to get the ICED Milan 1880 overturned.

Bad news:  Much of the New Era Accord, especially related to Deaf representation and education in all Nations remains to be put into practice.

****************************************

AFA advocated that if Wisconsin Bill 27/16 passed demanding that insurance companies automatically cover cochlear implants ,then they should add to the bill that ASL development and materials be automatically covered by insurance companies.  We also demanded an apology from Senator Cullen for his offensive remarks.

Mixed news: the bill passed to require insurance companies to automatically require coverage for digital hearing aids and cochlear implants but parents reported problems with the system later.  Senator Cullen did apologize for his statement.

Thanks to all who wrote letters and engaged in efforts to challenge the system.

****************************************

AFA releases its petition calling for an independent and impartial investigation into pediatric cochlear implantation.  See http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html

See ASL version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvMW1LXxI78

Good news: during a time when it was taboo to discuss cochlear implants within our community as their was a campaign to sanitize, whitewash, and minimize any problems or concerns with cochlear implants, AFA began to investigate the numerous recalls and fines cochlear implant corporations have had and seen a clear pattern to deceive the public.   Since taken a stand to seek the truth and facts about the impact of cochlear implants on the whole child, the Deaf community has moved out from under the false claim that cochlear implants are just fancy hearing aids and that cochlear implants are no longer controversial. They are.  WE ARE still demanding answers.

Bad news:   In addition to needing to continue to push this investigation, the naïve public is continually exposed only to those “miraculous moments” when implants are first activated.

****************************************

AFA participated in rallies against the selection of an unqualified Hearing director for Deaf Adult Services (DAS) in Buffalo, NY.

Good News: Later the director stepped down and a Deaf director was hired.

Thanks to all those brave Buffalo folks who stood tall with their demands.

Bad news:  Unqualified Hearing individuals continue to apply for and be hired in positions where suitable Deaf candidates are turned away.

****************************************

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

·      AFA promoted and participated in International Day of Sign Language rally and march.

·      AFA wrote a letter to Gallaudet Board of Trustees and PSAC on their 2009 search for a new president of Gallaudet University.  See http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/09/afas-letter-to-gallaudet-boft-and-psac.html

·      AFA boycotts Deafread and DVTV due to their refusal to recognize Deaf people as a cultural and linguistic group in their guidelines. 

·      Announces the launch of the Deaf Studies Digital Journal http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/ which includes scholarly papers in ASL in addition to videos, visual art, and commentaries about the Deaf experience. 

************************

A Summary of  AFA’s Year Two (2010) will follow in the next post.

Letter to Georgia Department of Corrections: Unjust treatment of Deaf Inmates

 29 January 2014

Commissioner Brian Owens

Georgia Department of Corrections

300 Patrol Road

Forsyth, GA  31029

Dear Commissioner Owens,

This letter calls upon you, Commissioner Owens, to take action in regards to the discriminatory practices that are taking place under the Georgia Department of Corrections with regards to Deaf and Hard of Hearing inmates.  In addition, we believe you are denying one particular Deaf prisoner, Ricardo L. Harris the right to a speedy trial.

Having one’s case brought to trial in an expedient manner is a constitutional guarantee and yet Mr. Harris has been imprisoned for over a year. The Americans with Disability Act title II covers the judicial system and prison facilities.  Reasonable accommodations to ensure effective communication are a right that Deaf and Hard of Hearing inmates in Georgia been denied.  These inmates have limited or no interaction with other prisoners and guards.  They lack access to information and programs within the prisons.  Your prisons do not provide avenues for these individuals to communicate with their families. Such unequal treatment results in your effectively sentencing these inmates to solidarity confinement.

This also means that the Georgia Department of Corrections is guilty 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, Audism Free America (AFA), are a grassroots advocacy network.  AFA, the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA), Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf (HEARD), other members of the national Deaf community and Hearing allies are aware of the injustices that are being experienced by Deaf and Hard of Hearing inmates in the Georgia Department of Corrections.  Such injustices are NOT acceptable.

We urge you, Commissioner Owens to be accountable for these inmates and their treatment.  We urge you to follow your Department of Corrections core value of integrity -–doing what is right legally and morally.

Let Freedom Roll,

Karen Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan

on behalf of Audism Free America

Indiana EHDI Director - Master's in Audiology only. AFA letter objecting

AFA's Letter to the Indiana Interim EHDI Program Director about the requirement for the director position being a MS in audiology - with no other options for qualifications.  To see the job description and requirements go to: https://hr85.gmis.in.gov/psc/hr91prd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=587546&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1&

AFA's letter sent Jan 17, 2014

Julie R. Schulte, MA, CCC-A
Interim EHDI Program Director
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program
Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education
Indiana State Department of Health

Greetings Ms. Schulte:

It has come to our attention that Indiana is seeking an EHDI Program Director yet requires applicants hold a Masters in audiology.  Based on the job responsibilities - there is no reason for that specialization to be the only acceptable degree for the post.  Since only a handful of Deaf people have pursued degrees in audiology, your agency is in effect disqualifying Deaf applicants.  Furthermore, the statement of "effective verbal and written communication skills are required for this position"
shows a discriminatory hiring practice favoring only speaking applicants over signing ones.

The International Congress on the Education of the Deaf 2010 Accord for the  Future has several resolutions that call for the involvement of Deaf people in key decision-making positions about services for Deaf infants and children. 

• Call upon all Nations to facilitate, enhance and embrace their Deaf citizens’ participation in all governmental decision making process affecting all aspects of their lives;
• Call upon all Nations to involve their Deaf citizens to assist parents of Deaf infants, children and youth in the appreciation of the Deaf culture and sign languages;
• Call upon all Nations to support a child-centred approach in  educational programs  and a family-centred approach in all 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

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the World Federation of the Deaf also recognize the importance of having Deaf people be actively involved in early intervention and government decision making in matters that affect Deaf lives and their families.

Given the fact that the "EHDI programming is aligned with grantee expectations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which are the primary funding sources for the EHDI program" and there at stipulations in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 503 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II that prohibit discrimination against Deaf people and also endorse encouraging Deaf applicants for certain government related positions, the restriction of the audiology degree is unneeded, unwarranted, and unjust for this job. 

We, Audism Free America, request that you expand the job requirement to accept applicants who hold Masters degrees in Deaf education, communication studies, bilingualism and other related fields.  These degrees often include studies about early intervention, assistive listening devices, audiology and speech, American Sign Language, Deaf culture, bilingualism, cognitive development, language acquisition and development and more.

Once the degree requirement has been justly expanded to include these other appropriate areas, we will gladly help promote this position and search.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.  Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let Freedom Roll,

Patti Durr, Karen Chrisite, and Ruthie Jordan on Behalf of Audism Free America 

AFA letter to Co. Newborn Hearing Screening Program

AFA has sent a letter to the Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment about their biased brochure for Newborn Hearing Screening.  We have CCed our letter to Co. Hands and Voices and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  Brochure can be seen at bottom of this entry.  

15 January 2014

Dear Sir or Madame:

It has come to our attention that the Colorado Newborn Hearing Screening Program brochure is devoid of any information on American Sign Language, visual acuity, and an Early Healthy Deaf Identity.  Instead the brochure emphasizes a pathological view of being deaf and fails the newborn before they even leave the hospital.  

This material is biased towards medical and audiological specialists over multilingual-multicultural specialists.  It stigmatizes being Deaf and casts a shadow over the birth of a new child - be they Deaf or Hearing.  

We have CCed Hands and Voices since Hands and Voices is listed on your brochure.  The organization bills itself as being committed to fostering and respecting access and outcomes without a bias towards any particular mode or method; yet, it allows itself to be listed on your brochure that omits any recognition of the benefits and milestones of sign language and cognitive development.  The Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has also been included in the CC as they should be aware of the bias presented in your Newborn Hearing Screening brochure. 

We request that you, the Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment, revise your brochure & program to show cultural competency and respect of Deaf culture and American Sign Language.  

Let Freedom Roll,

Audism Free America

CC: Colorado Hands and Voices and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

----------------- 

Audism Free America (AFA) is a grassroots Deaf activist network in the US, which advocates for Deaf American rights.  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.  

Response from Gallaudet Pres. to AFA about BELL! play

Gallaudet President Hurwitz's reply to Audism Free America's letter about the BELL! play being promoted to Gallaudet students

(to see AFA's letter go to http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/21-september-2013-dr.html or scroll down below Dr. Hurwitz's letter) 

AFA's original letter to Dr. Hurwitz:

21 September 2013

Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, President

Gallaudet University

800 Florida Ave NE

Washington, DC 20002

Dear Dr. Hurwitz,

We are contacting you because it has come to our attention that the National Geographic Society’s play, BELL! has been promoted by Gallaudet University and students have been informed of discounted tickets for this event. Perhaps in celebrating Gallaudet’s sesquicentennial there has been a lapse in institutional memory.

In 1891 during a Congressional committee hearing concerning appropriation for a request to establish a teacher training program at your college, AG Bell said: “The employment of deaf teachers is absolutely detrimental to oral instruction, and the training school proposed by President Gallaudet should therefore not be supported by the United States….we cannot trust it to train teachers…” 

When AG Bell addressed the Literary Society at the college he said, “…I am sure there is no one among the deaf who desires to have his affliction handed down to his children.”  These words of such an influential person certainly impacted how Deaf college students and organizations viewed their own future and community.

The world of the play BELL! ignores these and other grave injustices that Alexander Graham Bell has fostered upon Deaf people.  It ignores his systematic attempts to deny Deaf children sign language and efforts to “teach” Deaf people “to forget they are Deaf.”  It ignores his work to abolish Deaf publications, organizations, conventions and schools.   It is a tragic legacy of the father of audism which still “shapes the world we live in today” and which many of your students still experience.

It is appalling to imagine that Deaf college students today are expected to passively accept the sanitized version of “AG Bell the genius inventor” (and what of the plagiarism and forgery charges?) celebrated by the play, BELL!  This appears to be a shameless attempt to eradicate the true history of AG Bell and to minimize the detrimental role he has played in the education of Deaf people.

As an educational institution of higher learning, it is your responsibility to educate your students. Promoting the play without first hosting a forum to educate students about AG Bell sends the wrong message—both to your students and people beyond Gallaudet. 

Unfortunately, the deadlock between your venerable President of 50 years, Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet and AG Bell did not end with their fight over the establishment of a teacher-training program.  It simply went national, and reverberates even today as your students sit and watch BELL! ignorant of how this man impacted their college, their history, and their lives. 

Let freedom roll!

Ruthie Jordan, Patti Durr and Karen Christie for Audism Free America

Cc:

Genie Gertz, PhD, Dean

College of Arts and Sciences

Catherine Murphy

public.relations@gallaudet.edu

Stephanie Johnston

via sbg@gallaudet.edu