tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44736374466754678142024-02-18T22:27:46.370-05:00AUDISM FREE AMERICATo promote and protect the civil liberties of Deaf people and their linguistic birthrights.AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-58124341699932697582015-01-30T12:34:00.001-05:002015-01-30T12:34:03.492-05:00ADPP FLYER: POST IT!<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>ASL and DEAF PRIDE PARADE FLYER</b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAz9SZ0V7l5RIG8QpaaM-f-m8l8Ss580iiyDND-Yce42jrwiYvTEELJoI9nsnFa4ubSWlljx6Gznpn5QDe5Hsov9cfF6E7VejcKI9NHzX0ib4hx9qIFHC-e8pv5xT_NICwuv9mN2CZyyN/s1600/flyer+ADPP2-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAz9SZ0V7l5RIG8QpaaM-f-m8l8Ss580iiyDND-Yce42jrwiYvTEELJoI9nsnFa4ubSWlljx6Gznpn5QDe5Hsov9cfF6E7VejcKI9NHzX0ib4hx9qIFHC-e8pv5xT_NICwuv9mN2CZyyN/s1600/flyer+ADPP2-2015.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
DESIGNED BY DAVID ENNIS</h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-7607417657062499202015-01-28T12:48:00.000-05:002015-01-28T12:48:04.882-05:00JOIN US FOR 2015 ASL AND DEAF PRIDE PARADE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFKxaOngt1k" target="_blank"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFKxaOngt1k</a></div>
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<b>HOLD THE DATE FOR 2015 ASL AND DEAF PRIDE PARADE </b></div>
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<b>WHEN: APRIL 10TH 2015</b></div>
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<b>WHERE: WASHINGTON DC</b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-49011701219307802942014-08-07T16:20:00.002-04:002014-08-07T16:22:13.355-04:00Pervasive Audism in the Media: AFA's Letter to LA Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7
August 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dear LA
Times and Amina Khan,</span></div>
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<h1 style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your reporting of “L.A. surgeons implant device to help deaf 3-year-old
hear” and “For a 3-year-old boy, a risky operation may mean a chance to hear”(May
7 2014 & July 22, 2014) consist of a repeatedly one-sided view of surgeries
that have been performed on Deaf and hard of Hearing children as well as
communicating approval of these attempts to eradicate a diversity natural to
the human race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This particular story illustrated gross negligence on the part of the
medical profession. While you portray the FDA as “risk adverse,” the history of
the FDA with Deaf children has not substantiated this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 1980s when early cochlear
implants were being done, 12 Deaf children died. The doctors who performed this
surgery knew at the time they did not have medication to cross the blood-brain
barrier if children experienced infections due to the surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, they went ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, the FDA only placed a brief
moratorium on cochlear implant surgery (see Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto describe
these events </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://usdeafhistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final-transcriptforpanelexcerptpetitto1.pdf"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://usdeafhistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final-transcriptforpanelexcerptpetitto1.pdf</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why hasn’t THIS story been
reported in any popular press?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
guess who led that experimental surgery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yep, Dr. House the same folks “helping” Auguste with the new auditory brainstem
implant surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While all are
admitting this brain surgery is “risky,” it communicates that being Deaf is
something one should be willing to risk one’s child’s “perfect health” to
eradicate. In addition, one wonders if the parents were informed of the link
between numerous (more than one) surgeries in early childhood with later
learning problems (see </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003080417.htm"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003080417.htm</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">)</span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To further look at how the medical profession has addressed Deaf
children and cochlear implantation, we refer you to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harms Reduction Journal </i>of April 2012 “Language acquisition for
deaf children: reducing the harms of zero tolerance to the use of alternative
approaches” which states “..the economic motivations behind the cochlear
implant industry compounded by unrealistic optimism regarding the interface
between technology and the human brain might be promoting earlier and broader
use of cochlear implants in deaf children without adequate long term studies to
support these actions…” and describes how the medical profession misinforms and
coerces counter to the welfare of the child and his/her family (see <a href="http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/pdf/1477-7517-9-16.pdf">http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/pdf/1477-7517-9-16.pdf</a>).
This disinformation is not limited to cochlear and brainstem implants but also
includes stem cell experimentation on newborns and infants (see PR web by AFA
objecting to this stem cell experimentation <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9108761.htm">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9108761.htm</a>which
thankfully was stopped by the ethics committee after one year).</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></h1>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How long will the public be exposed to these mythical “miraculous” and
one-sided views of cochlear implants/auditory brainstem surgery? These type of
stories are becoming an incessant bit of medical propaganda where the media is
complicit in promoting medical solutions to being Deaf---as a “cure.” Where are
the cases of disappointed individuals and families that have suffered educationally,
emotionally and economically due to the fact this ‘miracle’ did not happen in
the long run?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is your
examination of the children who have had complications from this surgery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have they truly made the lives of these
individuals better???</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We encourage you to look, not at the experience
of the PARENTS, but at the experience of Deaf adults who have lived through
such “miraculous” surgeries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where is your examination of the cruelty done on animals in the name of
cochlear implant progress?</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We believe
you, as journalists, should offer balanced reporting by showing families who
choose to NOT have surgeries to fix their “perfectly healthy” Deaf child. We request
that you to look at the human rights of a Deaf child and international
documents which support the rights of the child<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-documents-asserting.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-documents-asserting.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">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.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We appeal to
your journalistic integrity, to provide the public with a more complete and
less prejudicial portrayal of Deaf people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe in the power of media---and in the responsibility
of the news-- to promote truth and justice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let Freedom
Roll,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Karen
Christie, Patti Durr, and Ruthie Jordan for Audism Free America</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Audism</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 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.</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-2495187916214529942014-06-12T20:10:00.000-04:002014-06-12T20:10:18.397-04:00A Plea for Clemency: AFA's letter to Gov. Scott to FREE FELIX<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jgQA_pC1mf98dLAI0tz7j7xrdhBI54qryH-fw-7raATIxZuQLqR4cLlCH28HNjoy1iGblKDoGzVxu37WmB1Ar633mugmU0TqzfO3XVua0ukiCLdgkLMtOfSaFlGeD-Wiai5uvygeL44U/s1600/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jgQA_pC1mf98dLAI0tz7j7xrdhBI54qryH-fw-7raATIxZuQLqR4cLlCH28HNjoy1iGblKDoGzVxu37WmB1Ar633mugmU0TqzfO3XVua0ukiCLdgkLMtOfSaFlGeD-Wiai5uvygeL44U/s1600/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">11 June
2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
Rick Scott, Governor, State of Florida <br />
cc:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pam Bondi, Attorney General,
State of Florida; Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner, Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer, Florida Department of Financial
Services </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dear
Governor Scott, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">We are
writing to you once again to request you undo injustice committed in your state
by granting executive clemency/commutation of sentence for Felix Garcia. Mr. Garcia,
a partially Deaf man, has served 32 years in prison for a crime he did not
commit, a crime his Hearing brother recently confessed to committing. Both his
brother and his sister have provided affidavits concerning his innocence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, Mr. Garcia never had full
access to information during his arrest, his trial, and imprisonment due to the
failure to provide him with reasonable communication accommodations. Thus, he
was unable to fully assist with his own defense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Audism Free
America (AFA), as well as others in the Deaf community has a grave concern for
Deaf citizens in Florida, as evidence by the treatment of Felix Garcia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA is a national grassroots advocacy
network working to combat audism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Felix
Garcia has been a victim of audism in being denied his rights to a fair trial
and wrongful imprisonment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
believe you have the opportunity now to look again at his application for
clemency and do the right thing—granting him his freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the growing inmate population in
Florida, you cannot afford to keep innocent individuals imprisoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Please do
not let Felix Garcia be an example of the failure of the Florida justice system
toward innocent Deaf citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let Freedom
Roll,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Karen
Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan on behalf of Audism Free America</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-46372052701082117132014-06-03T14:51:00.000-04:002014-06-03T14:59:41.799-04:00AFA Stands with CI Survivors and Victims<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hqj2C4S-FI4?list=UUcY3go7tTUJuZz6b1ijVLVw" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqj2C4S-FI4&list=UUcY3go7tTUJuZz6b1ijVLVw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqj2C4S-FI4&list=UUcY3go7tTUJuZz6b1ijVLVw</a><br />
<br />
setting: Ruthie Jordan
standing on the sidewalk in front of the Cochlear America building, she
is
wearing a blue AFA shirt, glasses and a black hat. Back of the blue AFA
shirt has a painting of George W. Veditz signing love/cherish with the
sign for STAND as a frame around George and text at top STAND FOR
JUSTICE. The painting of Veditz and the hand stand is by Nancy Rourke.
T-shirts courtesy of Shawn Elfink)<br />
<br />
<div class="im">
Today is Memorial Day, the day we honor those who fought and
still fight to ensure our Human Rights.
We remember all who suffered physical, emotional and mental trauma and
others who paid the ultimate price. In
conjunction with honoring our military, AFA has come to stand, honor, and
remember our Deaf children and their parents who have been lied to and taken
advantage of by the medical system and cochlear implant companies. We honor these Deaf children who have been
robbed of their human rights, their identity, language, culture, and
education. We remember those who have
struggled through the frustrations of educational systems that continually
focus on speech and listening while oppressing, denying and isolating them.
<br />
The biggest offender in the spider web of systems is the cochlear
implant (CI) industry who continues to profit from Deaf children. Lately, there has been much discussion about
the 12 Deaf children who died from cochlear implant surgeries in the 1980’s. (see interview with Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto,
Cognitive Neuroscientist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gU7a1EH2jo&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=7gU7a1EH2jo&feature=youtu.be</a><wbr></wbr>). The facts of these deaths were swept under
the rug and ignored by cochlear implant companies who continued encouraging the
medical community to implant children and the surgeries have become an
epidemic. </div>
On this day, many are communing with family, BBQ’ing,
sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company while their<span lang="DA"> Deaf </span>family members are left out of
conversations, forced to focus on the lips of others and try to follow what is
happening around them. We are asking all members of our Community (Deaf,
hearing, hard-of-hearing, parents, cochlear implant survivors, interpreters…)
to STAND with us and return the rights of identity, language, culture and
education to our Deaf children. Stop
Audism.<br />
AFA wants to emphasize, we in no way blame or demean parents of
Deaf children for choosing a CI for their child, we recognize the enormity of
the medical system and that it is saturated with audism. We hold the cochlear implant companies
(Advanced Bionics, Cochlear America, and Med-El) accountable for the damage
they cause by incentivizing their products and disseminating false, prejudicial,
and disparaging information. Together,
let us reclaim our roots by working to return ASL, culture, identity and education to our Deaf
children, they are our future. LET
FREEDOM ROLL!<br />
<div class="im">
(description: camera is panning around the Cochlear America
building showing how large it is)<br />
Cochlear America is just one of the companies earning millions
from the bodies of Deaf children, they were founded in 1982 and their annual
revenue is $500-999 million.
</div>
Description: Ruthie is
dressed in a black long sleeve shirt that says “STOP AUDISM”<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span>on
the sleeves and a black hat standing next to Heather, who is also wearing a
long sleeve shirt that says “STOP AUDISM”<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span>on
the sleeves. Heather is holding 2 rolled
up banners and some papers.
<br />
<div class="im">
Ruthie signing: <br />
Tonight we are standing against audism and challenging the
Cochlear Implant industry to stop robbing Deaf children of ASL, Deaf Culture
and identity. We want Advanced Bionics,
Cochlear America and Med-El to acknowledge the cognitive damage cochlear
implants cause, expose the facts regarding the deaths of Deaf children from
cochlear implant surgeries, and stop taking advantage of Deaf children and
their parents.
Description: Heather and Ruthie walk to the front door of
Cochlear America where they use blue painters tape on the windows, lean AFA
cards on the front door, and lay out the AFA STOP AUDISM banner. There are 12 candles surrounding the AFA logo
and Heather is sitting on the ground near them.
Ruthie is standing in the foreground signing and then moves and sits on
the ground next to the banner and 12 candles.<br />
Ruthie signing: Tonight we hold a vigil to honor the12 Deaf
children who died from CI surgery that the Cochlear Implant industry refuses to
recognize. </div>
Earlier, I mentioned research that has recently come to light that showed in the 1980’s CI surgery caused the deaths of 12
Deaf children and a panel of experts called for the end of cochlear implant
surgeries in children. Sadly, the CI industry
ignored the panel’s recommendations and continue making
billions of dollars off Deaf children and their families while disregarding the
health of the whole child. Now, we honor
those 12 Deaf children who were taken from us along with honoring all CI
survivors.<br />
<br />
<div class="im adL">
Description:<span> </span>Ruthie kneels
down to light the 12 candles that are in a circle around the AFA logo.<br />
Ruthie signing: These 12 candles represent the 12 Deaf children
taken from us, as we light these candles I imagine the experience of their
parents as the doctors and audiologist came into their hospital rooms and said,
<span>“</span>I<span>’</span>m so sorry your child is deaf, but we
will send the audiologist in to explain a surgery that will cure them<span>”…</span>just
like that, the child<span>’</span>s light was extinguished before they
had a chance to shine.<span> </span>Tonight, we
reignite their flames, so they may shine once again and know they are valued,
honored and remembered. We also light these flames in honor of our future Deaf
children, those who will carry our legacy, language, culture.<span> </span>WE stand for them and for all.<span> </span>LET FREEDOM ROLL!<span> </span>Feel your spirits rumble and stand up, stop
audism, tell the cochlear implants companies NO MORE!<span> </span>When we free our minds, colonialism has no
power and we can inspire Deaf children to be healthy, happy and whole.<span> </span><br />
Heather signing: Bless the 12 Deaf children and carry them with
us.<br />
Description:<span> </span>Ruthie and
Heather standing while Heather is holding a lit candle.<span> </span><br />
Ruthie signing:<span> </span>Seeing the
lit candle is inspiring and makes me laugh at the propaganda cochlear implant
companies spread.<span> </span>Cochlear America<span>’</span>s
slogan is <span>“</span>Hear now. And always<span>”</span>, they try to convince people that the
only value Deaf people have is their ears and mouth.<span> </span>Little do they know, ASL is CHAMP<span>…</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span>Here
now. And Always!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-91848534182492522132014-04-09T19:49:00.000-04:002014-04-09T19:49:23.090-04:00AFA Looks Back to 2010<style>
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<b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Audism Free America </span></i></b></h2>
<h2>
reflects back on the past 5 years</h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
<h2>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Here
is a look back at 2010</b></a></h2>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span>
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<b>AFA began in 2009 – to see that year in review go to: <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-5th-anniversary-afa.html">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-5th-anniversary-afa.html</a></b><br />
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AFA alerted the community about Clarke school removing the
Deaf in its name – </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clarke School for the Deaf changed to
the Center for Oral Education to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We shared information on our video
meeting with Nancy Bloch NAD CEO and we issued a Wake Up Call to the NAD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See </span><a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2010/04/afa-urges-nad-wake-up-action.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2010/04/afa-urges-nad-wake-up-action.html</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
and later we put forth five questions about audism to each of the finalists for
NAD CEO.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We actively opposed AB 2072 – a bill in
California that later was vetoed by the Governor.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We provided a list of resources on
audism and linguicism.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We shared our concerns with the
community and wrote a letter to the Judge about a Deaf father being
court-ordered to force his Deaf daughter to wear her cochlear implants all her
waking hours even if they were causing her discomfort or she wanted to have
them off or a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We revisited our 3 demands to AG Bell
Association – which are still valid and need to be addressed by AGBAD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We informed the community about fines
and lawsuits against Cochlear Americas and Advanced Bionics.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We sent a letter to NTID President
Search Committee identifying the qualities desired for the next president of
NTID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We expressed our grave concerns about
the unjust killing of Native-American Deaf woodcarver, John T. Williams by a
Seattle police officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were involved in advocating for the
ICED to rescind the ICED Milan 1880 resolutions and we received a response from
the ICED 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">excerpt from letter – to see full
letter go to </span><a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2010/07/iceds-reply-to-afa-re-apology-and-our.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2010/07/iceds-reply-to-afa-re-apology-and-our.html</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We issued a PR web on the Historic
Announcement Rejecting the Exclusion of Sign Language in Deaf Education </span><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/07/prweb4295374.htm"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/07/prweb4295374.htm</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-83808829773830237392014-04-04T11:55:00.000-04:002014-04-04T12:06:27.553-04:00FREE FELIX NOW !!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Greetings
All…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As
you may be aware<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Felix Garcia, an
innocent Deaf man who has spent the past 32 years in prison, is up for clemency
hearing in September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
Facebook page and petition that goes to the Florida Governor (the state where
Felix is being held).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Florida Governor agrees to grant clemency to Felix, he will finally be free. YOUR support
is NEEDED NOW by signing the petition, joining the Facebook page, and using #FREEFELIX. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sign the
petition here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/FreeFelix"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://bit.ly/FreeFelix</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Visit
the Facebook page here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/championsforjusticeforfelixgarcia"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/championsforjusticeforfelixgarcia</span></a>. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In 2012, AFA wrote a letter to Governor Scott on behalf of Felix (see </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/afas-free-felix-letter-to-fla-governor.html">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/afas-free-felix-letter-to-fla-governor.html</a>). Below
is more information we received concerning recent articles published, a tv spot, an op-ed written by Felix Garcia's pro-bono attorney, and other links.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Felix's freedom is in your hands!!</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDkKJwLlbiXvz_IpJqDu7-MHDPWPbqkRfSQh8kkiIU88Ukpb-Spv25YRuyvkXcn-CQjW_CIa6jmsSq3Z5mfssbRBk4xXPyXRQ0ntEHb5NJqYQ8lWcSO-QpL2K0OvCDEaIQOSU2D6Fs5qf/s3200/453783-1348837687-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDkKJwLlbiXvz_IpJqDu7-MHDPWPbqkRfSQh8kkiIU88Ukpb-Spv25YRuyvkXcn-CQjW_CIa6jmsSq3Z5mfssbRBk4xXPyXRQ0ntEHb5NJqYQ8lWcSO-QpL2K0OvCDEaIQOSU2D6Fs5qf/s3200/453783-1348837687-main.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Let Freedom Roll </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">for Felix too!</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">AFA</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">SaintPetersBlog</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gov. Scott and Cabinet have a chance to do the right thing
for Felix Garcia</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">March 27, 2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By Peter Schorsch</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Click here to
see the article:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.saintpetersblog.com/gov-scott-and-cabinet-have-a-chance-to-do-the-right-thing-for-felix-garcia"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.saintpetersblog.com/gov-scott-and-cabinet-have-a-chance-to-do-the-right-thing-for-felix-garcia</span></a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tallahassee Democrat</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Reggie Garcia: Help deaf people be heard</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">April 1, 2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By Reggie Garcia</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Click here to
see the rest of the article:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140402/OPINION05/304020001/Reggie-Garcia-Help-deaf-people-heard?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140402/OPINION05/304020001/Reggie-Garcia-Help-deaf-people-heard?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>WFLA-TB (NBC)</u> - Tampa Bay, FL</b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">News Ch8 Today</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">March 26, 2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Click here to
watch this video segment:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=50f4c42b-7e98-4a8e-98d3-1b3bdfd4ede3"><span style="color: blue;">http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=50f4c42b-7e98-4a8e-98d3-1b3bdfd4ede3</span></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">See also:</span></div>
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<a href="http://deafinprison.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">http://deafinprison.wordpress.com/</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://behearddc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:facts&catid=34:facts&Itemid=2" target="_blank">http://behearddc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:facts&catid=34:facts&Itemid=2 </a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-85898805797692517422014-04-03T12:48:00.001-04:002014-04-03T12:48:20.563-04:00AFA's Letter Concerning Iowa School for the Deaf Supt Search<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ms. Rose Vasquez, </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Search Committee
Chair </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And Ms. Marcia
Brunson, </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Policy and
Operations Officer</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Board of Regents</span></div>
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<a href="mailto:mbruns@iastate.edu"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">mbruns@iastate.edu</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">To Ms. Brunson and
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It has come to our
attention that the education of Deaf children in Iowa is endangered and as a
national grassroots network of Deaf activists, dedicated to combating audism*,
we feel compelled to respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is clear to us that the recent actions of the Board of Regents translates into
a systematic effort to ensure that the education of Deaf children in your state
is moving toward the closure of Iowa School for the Deaf and resulting forced
assimilation of Deaf students in your state.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Is it intentional that
you have not included on your search committee for Superintendent significant
Deaf representatives nor representatives from vital stakeholders such as ISD alumni
and Deaf Community members</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Is it intentional
that you have not sought a QUALIFIED individual for the Superintendent position
who has an advanced degree in the areas related to the education of Deaf
individuals? </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Is it intentional
that it is not a priority that the Superintendent of a Deaf school can
communicate directly with the stakeholders and students she/he is expected to
serve and protect?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Is it intentional
that you are not actively working with the Deaf Coalition of Iowa to build a
stronger relationship between the Deaf community and the Iowa School for the
Deaf?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately, these
efforts will leave the future generation of Iowa Deaf students academically at
risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is this unjust, there
are international documents which your actions violate in principle:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) in 2010 noted that,
many Deaf citizens are being prevented from “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">equal access to decision making,
employment opportunities and quality education” and therefore urged all nations
to “facilitate, enhance and embrace their Deaf citizens’ participation in all governmental
decision making processes affecting all aspects of their lives.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">From the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Deaf children have the human right to accessible
learning which “facilitate(s) their full and equal participation in education
and as members of the community.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point in time what is needed is a visionary Superintendent
who is dedicated to improving the education of Deaf children in Iowa by putting
into practice an innovative challenging educational program at Iowa School for
the Deaf that will prepare Deaf students as global citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">elying heavily on
a search committee that has minimal knowledge of Deaf culture, ASL, and
community accountability within the Deaf-World does not bode well in leading to
an Audism-free new Superintendent.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
passion of the members of the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Deaf
Coalition of Iowa </span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">shows a great investment in the importance of the future of the Iowa
School for the Deaf and the education of all Deaf children in Iowa. This
investment the Board and future Superintendent cannot afford to loose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Let Freedom Roll,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Karen Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For AFA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*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. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cc:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert
Vizzini, Deaf Coalition of Iowa, <a href="mailto:deafcoalitionofiowa@gmail.com">deafcoalitionofiowa@gmail.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick Clancy, Superintendent
of Iowa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022mailto\:pclancy\@iowaschoolforthedeaf\.org\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022";"><span class="MsoHyperlink">pclancy@iowaschoolforthedeaf.org</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-27802376015994598432014-03-19T10:08:00.001-04:002014-03-19T10:08:18.896-04:00AFA's Letter to RSD Board: Representation in Search for Superintendent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" />
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</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
17 March 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rochester School for the Deaf Board Members</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rochester School for the Deaf<br />
1545 St. Paul Street<br />
Rochester, NY 14621<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the Board Members of the Rochester School for the Deaf,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A great responsibility is upon you in the choice of the next
Superintendent of the Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a time when Deaf schools face
constant threats of closing and cuts, a strong visionary leader is certainly
needed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This adds further
importance to specifying the qualities of such a leader and the process by
which this individual is chosen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Audism Free America (AFA) is dedicated to combating discrimination against Deaf
people. Relying heavily on an outside agency that has no knowledge
of Deaf culture, ASL, and community accountability within the Deaf-World
does not bode well in leading to an audism-free new superintendent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AFA joins with the Rochester School for the Deaf alumni
Association and the Advocacy Committee for Fair Search Process as well as other
community organizations to support the call for more inclusive representation
on the Search Committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members
of the community have clearly stated that the Committee should include:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an RSDAA representative, an RSD faculty
Representative, an RSD staff representative and one RSD parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including such key stakeholders on the
Search Committee is appropriate and will build greater trust in the search
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
RSD’s Educational Vision (see <a href="http://www.rsdeaf/">www.rsdeaf</a>
“About RSD”) begins “The faculty, staff, Board, families, alumni, and
volunteers of RSD are dedicated and committed to…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, faculty, staff, families and volunteers (many
of who are alumni) are identified as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“vital resources.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AFA calls upon the Rochester School for the Deaf Board to
take actions, which will utilize and honor all of these vital resources, which
are needed to carry out RSD’s educational vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call upon you to unify the school, the community
and the stakeholders by including the above representatives on the search
committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do believe that the
Board can creatively combine the hiring of an external firm with having an
inclusive Search Committee.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The passion of the members of the RSD alumni, the Rochester
Deaf Community and its allies shows a great investment in the importance of the
future of RSD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This investment the Board and future
superintendent of RSD cannot afford to loose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Let Freedom Roll,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Karen Christie, Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For AFA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s3200/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-65816886857699191382014-02-18T01:26:00.000-05:002014-02-18T01:32:58.620-05:00Happy 5th Anniversary AFA!<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s1600/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s1600/AFABlue.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy
Anniversary!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy
Anniversary!!! Happy Anniversary!!!</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy
Anniversary!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy
Anniversary!!!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Audism Free America (AFA) celebrates 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5 Year Review:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>YEAR ONE 2009</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> January <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AFA
was founded</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> March <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>AFA’s
mission statement in ASL and English released</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-afa-and-mission.html">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-afa-and-mission.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AFA cards can be found at <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/afa-mission-post-card-print-and.html">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/afa-mission-post-card-print-and.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
April <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>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.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– outcome of
the meeting: <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2313634.htm">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2313634.htm</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
AFA’s 3 Demands to AG
Bell and current status</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-pattern: gray-5 auto; mso-shading: windowtext;">
<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA Demand 1</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good News 1:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AG Bell removed Principle #3 from its Auditory-Verbal
Therapy (AVT ie LSL) guidelines</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principle #3. Guide and coach parents¹ to help their child
use hearing as the primary sensory modality in developing spoken language <span style="color: red;">without the use of sign language or emphasis on lipreading</span>.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad News 1:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA Demand 2</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good news 2:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To our knowledge, since 2009 AG Bell Association has not
sent out anything to the public or media misrepresenting ASL. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad news 2</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AG Bell still has not retracted and apologized for its
highly offensive and unjust letter to Pepsi yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times a wasting:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AG Bell – do the right
thing and make amends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<u>AFA Demand 3</u>: </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good news 3</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AG Bell removed Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas from
their Circle Alliance Founding Partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas are cochlear implant corporations
that have had numerous lawsuits, fines, and recalls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has also removed any ad banners from its website for
Advanced Bionics or House Ear Institute. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Bad news 3:</span></i></b></div>
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AG Bell continues to have Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas
sponsor their conferences and continues to promote their products for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.
</div>
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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.</div>
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<br /></div>
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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:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The AG Bell Association Headquarters.</div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: green;">Thank you to all the volunteers,
participants, support from afar and more who all made this possible. </span></div>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Ov-DH9MIzsFMx0kOfD4UZ1EAY-O4sM0rVGknsICXBgz4zAko9kwTW5NqrGI5ohfG_5aJbvnsJtcgD0wi_RjxK-1iHhm-QqjUpwsmVrQJ7fY2XiSSEgKWqSNWy70BwXpWaQedufk51-E/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Ov-DH9MIzsFMx0kOfD4UZ1EAY-O4sM0rVGknsICXBgz4zAko9kwTW5NqrGI5ohfG_5aJbvnsJtcgD0wi_RjxK-1iHhm-QqjUpwsmVrQJ7fY2XiSSEgKWqSNWy70BwXpWaQedufk51-E/s1600/image001.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">AFA Blue Ribbon Ceremony at Gallaudet University 2009</span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04dQgHv0B6ksaBdaelfuW-_iuDz5bYWSHc_het55eB3U2OfSOgQ_7TvLxH2ajpEPhx0uzt6DN2vSB2KzUgm2fnFkiaConbjBLgt_V6EpNJmtoBR2VoaUdx6OcJcHyl93pFiczdWGNtY0R/s1600/image003.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04dQgHv0B6ksaBdaelfuW-_iuDz5bYWSHc_het55eB3U2OfSOgQ_7TvLxH2ajpEPhx0uzt6DN2vSB2KzUgm2fnFkiaConbjBLgt_V6EpNJmtoBR2VoaUdx6OcJcHyl93pFiczdWGNtY0R/s1600/image003.png" height="168" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">AFA Rally in front of AG Bell Volta Bureau 2009</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclOsWiA512d05tz9hqGVY1VZeezuc4j96pb_aZepMJjQkpH9oZtm-cNTL7lJrkNG8SKDIZRcPJtiKiGLzjHCESDNbARmSmlc9YBF-2EWm4ZBYFT1wB0B88ExqB-LdHlrOeeyrMwJDtvvd/s1600/image006.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclOsWiA512d05tz9hqGVY1VZeezuc4j96pb_aZepMJjQkpH9oZtm-cNTL7lJrkNG8SKDIZRcPJtiKiGLzjHCESDNbARmSmlc9YBF-2EWm4ZBYFT1wB0B88ExqB-LdHlrOeeyrMwJDtvvd/s1600/image006.png" height="134" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">AFA’s Blue light Vigil at AG Bell’s Volta Bureau 2009</span></span></td></tr>
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In addition to our April 2009 direct action work, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there were other notable AFA activities
in 2009:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AFA videotaped
testimonies of Deaf people and Hearing parents’ experiences with audism</b> and
lobbied for a clear understanding of the term “audism” and the harms that
discrimination against Deaf people causes to our world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #660066;">Good news</span>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Audism – the term became better
understood and utilized</div>
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<span style="color: green;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Bad news:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Audism continues to be a pervasive experience of Deaf
people.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AFA Advocated for the
International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) to rescind the ICED
1880 Milan Congress resolutions,</b> which ushered in the dark ages of Oralism
(oral / aural only – ban on natural sign language in schools and homes across
the globe).</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066;">Good news</span></i></b><span style="color: #660066;">:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.</div>
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<span style="color: green;">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.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Bad news</span></i></b><span style="color: red;">:</span><span style="color: green;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Much
of the New Era Accord, especially related to Deaf representation and education
in all Nations remains to be put into practice.<br />
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">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</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also demanded an apology from
Senator Cullen for his offensive remarks.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #943634; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mixed news:</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Senator Cullen did apologize for his statement.</span></div>
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<span style="color: green; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks to all who wrote
letters and engaged in efforts to challenge the system.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA
releases its petition calling for an independent and impartial investigation
into pediatric cochlear implantation</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See </span><a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.petitiononline.com/AFA62509/petition.html</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See ASL version at </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvMW1LXxI78"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvMW1LXxI78</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good news</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WE ARE still demanding answers. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad news:</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA
participated in rallies against the selection of an unqualified Hearing
director for Deaf Adult Services (DAS) in Buffalo, NY</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660066; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good News</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Later the director stepped down and a Deaf director was hired.</span></div>
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<span style="color: green; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks to all those brave
Buffalo folks who stood tall with their demands.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad news:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unqualified Hearing individuals
continue to apply for and be hired in positions where suitable Deaf candidates
are turned away.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">OTHER ACTIVITIES:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA promoted and participated in
International Day of Sign Language rally and march.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA wrote a letter to Gallaudet Board
of Trustees and PSAC on their 2009 search for a new president of Gallaudet
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See </span><a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/09/afas-letter-to-gallaudet-boft-and-psac.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/09/afas-letter-to-gallaudet-boft-and-psac.html</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFA boycotts Deafread and DVTV due to
their refusal to recognize Deaf people as a cultural and linguistic group in
their guidelines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4473637446675467814" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Announces the launch of the Deaf
Studies Digital Journal </span><a href="http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://dsdj.gallaudet.edu/</span></a>
which includes <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">scholarly papers in ASL in addition to
videos, visual art, and commentaries about the Deaf experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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A Summary of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA’s Year Two (2010) will follow in
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-19400171131504012562014-01-30T14:27:00.000-05:002014-01-30T14:27:34.556-05:00Letter to Georgia Department of Corrections: Unjust treatment of Deaf Inmates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29 January 2014</div>
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Commissioner Brian Owens</div>
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Georgia Department of Corrections</div>
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300 Patrol Road</div>
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Forsyth, GA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Dear Commissioner Owens,</div>
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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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, we believe
you are denying one particular Deaf prisoner, Ricardo L. Harris the right to a
speedy trial.</div>
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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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lack access to
information and programs within the prisons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. </div>
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This also means that the Georgia Department of Corrections
is guilty of audism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We, Audism Free America (AFA), are a grassroots advocacy
network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such injustices are NOT acceptable.</div>
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We urge you, Commissioner Owens to be accountable for these
inmates and their treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
urge you to follow your Department of Corrections core value of integrity
-–doing what is right legally and morally.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Let Freedom Roll,</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Karen Christie,
Patti Durr and Ruthie Jordan </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">on behalf of Audism Free
America</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-62875343518772481622014-01-18T16:11:00.001-05:002014-01-18T16:11:23.238-05:00Indiana EHDI Director - Master's in Audiology only. AFA letter objecting<b>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: <a href="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&">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&</a></b><br />
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AFA's letter sent Jan 17, 2014<br />
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Julie R. Schulte, MA, CCC-A<br />Interim EHDI Program Director<br />Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program<br />Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education<br />Indiana State Department of Health<br /><br />Greetings Ms. Schulte:<br /><br />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" <br />shows a discriminatory hiring practice favoring only speaking applicants over signing ones.<br /><br />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. <br />
<ul>
<li>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; </li>
<li>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; </li>
<li>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; </li>
<li>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</li>
</ul>
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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Once the degree requirement has been justly expanded to include these other appropriate areas, we will gladly help promote this position and search.<br /><br />Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.<br /><br />Let Freedom Roll,<br /><br />Patti Durr, Karen Chrisite, and Ruthie Jordan on Behalf of Audism Free America <div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-55126516320347876922014-01-16T09:16:00.000-05:002014-01-16T09:16:16.757-05:00AFA letter to Co. Newborn Hearing Screening Program <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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<b>AFA has sent a letter to the Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment about their biased brochure for </b><b>Newborn Hearing Screening</b><b>. 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. </b></div>
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15 January 2014</div>
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Dear Sir or Madame:</div>
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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. </div>
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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. </div>
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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. </div>
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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. </div>
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Let Freedom Roll,</div>
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Audism Free America</div>
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CC: Colorado Hands and Voices and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing </div>
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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. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-50904289785933563342013-10-31T21:43:00.000-04:002013-10-31T21:47:24.503-04:00Response 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<br />
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(to see AFA's letter go to <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/21-september-2013-dr.html" target="_blank">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/21-september-2013-dr.html </a>or scroll down below Dr. Hurwitz's letter) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmAj6FEXLwFiS7WZZoQhZEbUrIGyCUPjumk90T6ABhtCCVwPVnRMF0NiOhvUSqNIimyG3k3K9jLuxEB2C9ZC04G2GG9itALxVJ92-0Eh_6be5pCe_c-QHtLWZH950QE4L9p7Ns0Nrhjih/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-10-31+at+9.28.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmAj6FEXLwFiS7WZZoQhZEbUrIGyCUPjumk90T6ABhtCCVwPVnRMF0NiOhvUSqNIimyG3k3K9jLuxEB2C9ZC04G2GG9itALxVJ92-0Eh_6be5pCe_c-QHtLWZH950QE4L9p7Ns0Nrhjih/s400/Screen+shot+2013-10-31+at+9.28.21+PM.png" width="381" /></a></div>
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AFA's original letter to Dr. Hurwitz:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21 September 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, President</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gallaudet University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">800 Florida Ave NE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washington, DC 20002</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Dr. Hurwitz,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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…” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When AG Bell addressed the Literary Society at the college he said, “…<i>I am sure there is no one among the deaf who desires to have his affliction handed down to his children.” </i>These words of such an influential person certainly impacted how Deaf college students and organizations viewed their own future and community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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<b> </b>sends the wrong message—both to your students and people beyond Gallaudet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">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. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Let freedom roll!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ruthie Jordan, Patti Durr and Karen Christie for Audism Free America</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cc:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genie Gertz, PhD, Dean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">College of Arts and Sciences</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catherine Murphy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:public.relations@gallaudet.edu" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">public.relations@gallaudet.edu</a><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stephanie Johnston</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">via <u><a href="mailto:sbg@gallaudet.edu?subject=Contact%20Information" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="color20">sbg@gallaudet.edu</span></a><span class="color20"> </span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span class="color20"><br /></span></u></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-65423926577474401052013-10-03T07:03:00.001-04:002013-10-03T07:04:18.342-04:00AFA Source lists on AG BellAFA's Source list on the truths about AG Bell. Scroll down for Facts of AG Bell Card<br />
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Sources:<br />
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Baynton, Douglas C. Forbidden Signs: American Culture and the Campaign Against Sign Language. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.<br />
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Baynton, Douglas, Jack Gannon, and Jean Lindquist Bergey. Through Deaf Eyes: A Photogrpahic History of an American Community. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2007.<br />
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Bell, Alexander Graham Memoir upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race. 1883.<br />
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Black, Edwin. War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign to Create a Master Race. NY: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2003.<br />
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Branson, Jan and Don Miller. Damned for Their Difference: The Cultural Construction of Deaf People as Disabled. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2002.<br />
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Edward, RAR, “Chasing Aleck: The Story of a Dorm”, The Public Historian, Vol. 29, Nov 3, pp. 87-107, Summer 2007.<br />
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Gallaudet, Edward Miner. Some Incidents in the Progress of Deaf-Mute Education in America - 1890 - 1895 address at tje Fourteenth Convention of the American Instructors for the Deaf, 1895. http://handeyes.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/em-gallaudets-full-address-at-caid-re-ag-bell/<br />
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Lang, Harry. A Phone of Our Own. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2000.<br />
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Lane, Harlan. When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf. New York: Random House, 1984.<br />
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Lane, Harlan L. The Mask of Benevolence: Disabling the Deaf Community. New York: Knopf, 1992.<br />
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Schulman, Seth. The Telephone Gambit: Chasing Alexander Bell’s Secret. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008<br />
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Van Cleve, John V. and Barry A. Crouch. A Place of Their Own: Creating the Deaf Community in America. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 1989.<br />
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Veditz, George, De Moruis Nil Nisi Bonum, Obituary for AG Bell, The Jewish Deaf, October 1922, pp. 13-15.<br />
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Veditz, George, Dec. 29, 1909 letter to AG Bell, retrieved 5/18/08 http://memory.loc.gov/mss/magbell/169/16910210/0001.jpg<br />
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Veditz, George, February 15, 1915 letter to AG Bell, retrieved 5/18/08 http://memory.loc.gov/mss/magbell/169/16910212/0001i.jpg<br />
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Winefield, Richard. Never the Twain Shall Meet: Bell, Gallaudet and the Communication Debate. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 1987.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-67847645169102671672013-09-26T13:22:00.001-04:002013-10-31T21:46:43.925-04:00National Geographic Response: Evolving???<style>
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National Geographic's Response to AFA's letter about BELL! play (to see our letter go to this link or scroll down<a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/18-september-2013-john-m.html" target="_blank"> http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/18-september-2013-john-m.html</a>)<br />
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Dear Karen
Christie, Ruthie Jordan and Patti Durr<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 8.0pt;">:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank
you for contacting the National Geographic Society regarding last week’s
performance of Jim Lehrer’s “Bell.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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National
Geographic is fully aware of the fact that many members of the Deaf community do
not hold Bell in high regard. Instead of avoiding this issue, we chose to
address it in the play, and also during a post-performance panel. Dr. Brian
Greenwald of Gallaudet University, an expert on deaf culture and history, who
is also completing a biography about Bell and the deaf community was a member
of the panel. He mentioned Bell's evolving views on this issue. Whatever
Alexander Graham Bell's early views on deafness, please know that National
Geographic fully appreciates a supports a culturally diverse world. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank
you for sharing your thoughts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sincerely
yours,</div>
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Julie
Crain</div>
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National
Geographic Society</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">rescor@ngs.org</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">AFA's original letter to the National Geographic Society</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">18 September 2013 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This letter serves to express serious concerns related to how your organization “reflects the world” through the National Geographic Live: BELL! play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The world of the play BELL! ignores the 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 is acknowledged that AG Bell was the Chief architect and advocate of the oral/aural only method of educating Deaf students in the United States, and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-worked to ban the use of ASL in the classroom</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-worked to deny Deaf people the right to be educators</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-worked to stop Deaf people from socializing with</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and marrying other Deaf people</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-worked to abolish Deaf publications, organizations, schools and conventions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, we know that pure oralism--the denial of a fully accessible visual language—leads to language and cognitive deprivation as well as lags in social-emotional and identity development. In practice, many oral/aural only programs have resorted to physical and emotional abuse to stop Deaf children from using sign language or gestures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In his ‘love for the Deaf,” AG Bell consistently refused to work with our organizations when they reached out to him. As ex-President of the National Association of the Deaf, George Veditz wrote in AG Bell’s obituary (1922):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"> It was not so much the education of the deaf, per se that Dr. Bell was interested in as the oral method…The deaf as a class have had little cause to love him because of the nature of his interference in their affairs… Dr. Bell’s influence upon the American deaf has been negative. They would have welcomed him with open arms and gloried in his interest in them had this interest been expressed in a manner they could approve. He did not choose this last.‘Tis true, ’tis pity; Pity ’tis, ’tis true.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">As a grassroots Deaf social justice network, Audism Free America (AFA) works to challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America---foundations that were put into place by Alexander Graham Bell. <span style="color: #320032;">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.</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>Sadly, one of the legacies of AG Bell, which still “shapes the world we live in today,” is audism.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Furthermore, it is appalling to learn the Deaf people today are still 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! The efforts on the part of your organization to promote the play to Gallaudet University students is 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. Are the students to forget that in 1891 during a congressional committee hearing concerning appropriation for the college, AG Bell criticized the training Deaf teachers as “detrimental?” Are they to forget he said when addressing Gallaudet students in the past, “…<i>I am sure there is no one among the deaf who desires to have his affliction handed down to his children?”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Your organization professes to “promote the conservation of the world's cultural, historical, and natural resources” and to “care about the planet.” Does the National Geographic Society today, unlike its second president, care about and appreciate the natural human biodiversity represented by Deaf individuals globally? We call on you to celebrate your 125 years by making a public statement to Gallaudet students as well as Deaf people worldwide that the National Geographic Society acknowledges the harmful history of AG Bell and today embraces the human, linguistic, economic and civil rights of all peoples—including Deaf people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Let freedom roll!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">Karen Christie, Ruthie Jordan and Patti Durr for Audism Free America</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gary E. Knell, next President/CEO</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="mailto:gknell@ngs.org">gknell@ngs.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Meg Calnan</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="mailto:mcalnan@ngs.org">mcalnan@ngs.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mary Jeanne Jacobsen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <a href="mailto:mjacobse@ngs.org">mjacobse@ngs.org</a></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-28313360255187027582013-09-21T17:19:00.000-04:002013-09-21T17:22:59.317-04:00AFA Letter to Dr. Hurwitz of Gallaudet: Promoting BELL!<style>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">21 September 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, President</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gallaudet University</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">800 Florida Ave NE</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dear Dr. Hurwitz,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 1891 during a Congressional
committee hearing concerning appropriation for a request to establish a teacher
training program at your college, AG Bell said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“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…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When AG Bell addressed the
Literary Society at the college he said, “…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
am sure there is no one among the deaf who desires to have his affliction
handed down to his children.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>These
words of such an influential person certainly impacted how Deaf college
students and organizations viewed their own future and community.<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The world of the play BELL! ignores these and other grave injustices
that Alexander Graham Bell has fostered upon Deaf people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ignores his systematic attempts to
deny Deaf children sign language and efforts to “teach” Deaf people “to forget
they are Deaf.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ignores his
work to abolish Deaf publications, organizations, conventions and schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">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!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>sends the wrong message—both to your students and people beyond
Gallaudet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Let freedom
roll!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ruthie
Jordan, Patti Durr and Karen Christie for Audism Free America</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cc:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Genie Gertz, PhD, Dean</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">College of Arts and Sciences</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Catherine Murphy</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:public.relations@gallaudet.edu">public.relations@gallaudet.edu</a><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Stephanie Johnston</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">via </span><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="mailto:sbg@gallaudet.edu?subject=Contact%20Information"><span class="color20">sbg@gallaudet.edu</span></a><span class="color20"> </span></span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-41872998609912372512013-09-19T14:23:00.000-04:002013-09-19T22:41:52.763-04:00AFA letter to National Geographic Society about BELL<style>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span>18 September 2013 </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">John M. Fahey, Jr.,</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">President/ CEO</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">National Geographic Society</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">1145 17<sup>th</sup> Street N.W.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Washington DC 20036-4688</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dear Mr. Fahey,</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This letter serves to express serious concerns related to how your
organization “reflects the world” through the National Geographic Live: BELL!
play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The world of the play BELL! ignores the grave injustices that Alexander
Graham Bell has fostered upon Deaf people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ignores his systematic attempts to deny Deaf children
sign language and efforts to “teach” Deaf people “to forget they are
Deaf.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is acknowledged that AG
Bell was the Chief architect and advocate of the oral/aural only method of
educating Deaf students in the United States, and</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-worked to ban the use of ASL in the
classroom</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-worked to deny Deaf people the right to be
educators</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-worked to stop Deaf people from socializing
with </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and marrying other Deaf people</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-worked to abolish Deaf publications,
organizations, schools and</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> conventions</span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today, we know that pure oralism--the denial of a fully accessible
visual language—leads to language and cognitive deprivation as well as lags in
social-emotional and identity development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In practice, many oral/aural only programs have resorted to
physical and emotional abuse to stop Deaf children from using sign language or
gestures. </span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In his ‘love for the Deaf,” AG Bell consistently refused to work with
our organizations when they reached out to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As ex-President of the National Association of the Deaf,
George Veditz wrote in AG Bell’s obituary (1922):</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> It was not
so much the education of the deaf, per se that Dr. Bell was interested in as
the oral method…The deaf as a class have had little cause to love him because
of the nature of his interference in their affairs… Dr. Bell’s influence upon
the American deaf has been negative. They would have welcomed him with open
arms and gloried in his interest in them had this interest been expressed in a
manner they could approve. He did not choose this last.‘Tis true, ’tis pity;
Pity ’tis, ’tis true.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
a grassroots Deaf social justice network, Audism Free America (AFA) works to
challenge the ideological foundations of audism in America---foundations that
were put into place by Alexander Graham Bell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #320032;">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.</span><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Sadly,
one of the legacies of AG Bell, which still “shapes the world we live in
today,” is audism.<span style="color: red;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Furthermore,
it is appalling to learn the Deaf people today are still 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!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The efforts on the part of your
organization to promote the play to Gallaudet University students is 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are the students to forget that in 1891
during a congressional committee hearing concerning appropriation for the
college, AG Bell criticized the training Deaf teachers as “detrimental?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they to forget he said when
addressing Gallaudet students in the past, “…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am sure there is no one among the deaf who desires to have his
affliction handed down to his children?”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Your organization professes to “promote the conservation of the world's
cultural, historical, and natural resources” and to “care about the
planet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the National
Geographic Society today, unlike its second president, care about and
appreciate the natural human biodiversity represented by Deaf individuals
globally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call on you to celebrate
your 125 years by making a public statement to Gallaudet students as well as
Deaf people worldwide that the National Geographic Society acknowledges the
harmful history of AG Bell and today embraces the human, linguistic, economic
and civil rights of all peoples—including Deaf people.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let freedom
roll!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Karen
Christie, Ruthie Jordan and Patti Durr for Audism Free America</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cc:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Gary E. Knell, next President/CEO</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:gknell@ngs.org"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">gknell@ngs.org</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Meg Calnan</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:mcalnan@ngs.org"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">mcalnan@ngs.org</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mary Jeanne Jacobsen</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:mjacobse@ngs.org"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">mjacobse@ngs.org</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-84339041600341528182013-08-31T10:07:00.000-04:002013-08-31T21:28:37.213-04:00When Taking a Stand...<style>
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<h2>
<b>When Taking a Stand... </b></h2>
AFA has been hosting events beginning with the 2009 AG Bell
Volta Rally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would like to
share with the community responses to our advocacy. The most inspiring
experiences, of course, have been the folks who have shown up with really pure
hearts to take a stand for Deaf children’s rights and take a stand against the
continued suppression of the language and culture of Deaf people via various
institutions/organizations and systems such as AG Bell and EHDI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These individuals have been amazingly
courageous---they have stood on the grounds of their previous oral only schools
and institutions in their hometowns and said ‘enough!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have rallied at AG Bell
conferences in a 100+ degree heat wave; they have marched and celebrated ASL
and Deaf pride at our nation’s capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These folks have shared their own experiences at
vigils and we all have worked together to move ahead as survivors of an audist
society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We celebrate you and you
have kept our spirits on the right path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you for standing.</div>
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At the same time, we feel we need to share with all of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>you other responses to our activism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response to the on line article in
the Atlantic (<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/understanding-deafness-not-everyone-wants-to-be-fixed/278527/">http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/understanding-deafness-not-everyone-wants-to-be-fixed/278527/</a>),
the AG Bell representative accused protestors of <span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">having
“made bomb threats at a convention center, stormed into conferences, defaced
historical property, and harassed parents of children.” </span></div>
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For the record, since AFA is made up of truth seekers - <br />
1. We have never made any bomb threat at any convention center - it would not
be in alignment with our principles of peaceful nonviolent resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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2. We have never stormed into any AG Bell conferences – we did walk into one AG
Bell 2011 conference session on Cultural Competency and engage in a peaceful
sit-in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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3. We have not defaced historic property – we did apply a bit
of blue painters tape on the AG Bell Volta Bureau’s bronze plaque while a
patrol car drove by and a civil rights lawyer was present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing was desecrated or defaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just AG Bell’s true face being shown
and that is what they are objecting to.</div>
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4. We have not harassed parents – We have stood on sidewalks with signs of
truth and flashing “I-LOVE-YOU” waves and we have engaged in honest dialogue
with parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We are making the invisible visible and that has resulted in
AG Bell Association, a leader in the EHDI movement, and other groups and
individuals to categorize us as extremists and lop outrageous and false
accusations against us in an effort to discredit and distract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AG Bell’s defensive reply to the
Atlantic article and other attacks against us are indication that we are
getting the truth out there. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">But though I was initially
disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think
about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label.
And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make
a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation
cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . .
." So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of
extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be
extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">~ Martin Luther King, Jr
“Letter From Birmingham Jail” April 16, 1963</span></i></div>
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Criticism leveled at AFA also happens from Deaf people in
the blogspere in response to our events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have been criticized for exercising our first amendment rights of
freedom of speech and assembly and to petition the Government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been attacked and slandered
over standing for justice and equality for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest attacker is criticizing AFA for not welcoming abusers
into our activism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA stands with
survivors of oppression such as racism, sexism, heterosexism – not just audism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is flabbergasting and disappointing to
see Deaf individuals and organizations invest more courage in unjustly
criticizing AFA while protecting or ignoring the true oppressors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, we take these defensive
reactions as indicators that we are making positive impacts.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA recognizes
that some people and/or organizations are not comfortable with soul force,
truth force or think it should only be applied selectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AFA understands that not everyone is comfortable with peaceful direct confrontation. We call upon those who are not able to abide by peaceful civil disobedience and truth force, to not become
obstructionists or detractors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
In looking back to 50 years ago this month and the civil rights march on Washington,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martin Luther King Jr. said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“In the process of gaining our rightful
place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, AFA, have been striving truthfully to follow this
principle and we express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have stood
with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-1291082096677673552013-07-19T13:21:00.000-04:002013-07-19T13:21:19.663-04:00AFA Rally Part 1Ruthie Jordan shares the events that took place on July 18, 2013 at the Omni and the AFA rallies at the AG Bell Symposium. Text summary below the video box. To see schedule of events to July 19 and 20 go to <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/07/afa-la-rallies-schedule-tentative.html" target="_blank">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/07/afa-la-rallies-schedule-tentative.html</a><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/h29osWi8bbc?list=UUcY3go7tTUJuZz6b1ijVLVw" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AudismFreeAmerica?feature=watch">http://www.youtube.com/user/AudismFreeAmerica?feature=watch</a><br />
<br />
Ruthie Jordan explains that in walking through Omni hotel to find the restaurant & bar, Judy Harrison, AG Bell Program director, called Omni hotel security on her. Security and Judy Harrison proceeded to follow and surveillance Ruthie as she sat peacefully having a drink in the Omni cafe. Security spoke at Ruthie without any attempt to make their words accessible until Ruthie requested they get an interpreter or write. They returned with Judy H. and an interpreter. Security questioned her numerous times if she had a room in the Omni. Each time Ruthie assured them she did and was just waiting for the 3 pm check in time. (Note: Ruthie had already asked the Cafe server if non-Omni hotel guests could patron the Cafe which is situated as part of the Omni hotel and the Plaza space and the Cafe rep. said yes.) Finally security, Judy H and the interpreter left Ruthie to enjoy her drink in peace. She checked into her room at 3 pm and then met Deaf rally folks with open arms and hugs before the 5 pm Rally.<br /><br />Ruthie reports that the rally went beautifully with some KODAs signing ASL IS A GIFT, Jon Savage sharing a poem, John Maucere performing and leading a chant, Guy Wonder giving a wonderful message and more. People created signs and posters. There police cars had arrived and Ruthie checked in with them ensuring that AFA was aware of the rules in using the public sidewalks - no obstructing of traffic and being peaceful. <br /><br />At one point the hotel manager had come out and even sent out staff to try to block AFA ralliers away from people exiting the hotel. The managers behavior was reminiscent of the Marriot Hotel manager at the first AG Bell protest in VA hosted by DBC in 2009. At one point the hotel security came out with Judy Harrison, AG Bell Program director, and she proceeded to try to interpret for the security. Ruthie made it clear that there were ASL certified and qualified interpreters at the rally and at no point should the security or police utilize AG Bell staff members as interpreters. The peaceful protest is a direct confrontation to illuminate the truths of AG Bell's conduct and practices and for security or the police to use an uncertified staff member of AG Bell Association to interpreter what Deaf ASL people are signing to the police or security opens things up for the Deaf peaceful protestors words to be twisted or misunderstood. Ruthie explained to Judy Harrison that it is not right for her to take up this role of being "interpreter." Ruthie also explained to the hotel manager and security that their treatment of Deaf ASL people - speaking at them or pulling at them - is not acceptable as we are not animals and should be treated as humans. They simply either need to get an ASL interpreter or write. She asked what they would do to insure no further mishaps take place the next day and they said they would be posting notes of what areas are restricted to AG Bell conference registrants only and will not be physical but rather write or get an interpreter if needed. <br /><br />As the hotel manager and security walked away the police asked the hotel manager why she was behaving in the manner that she was - sending out staff to control people's movement out on the sidewalk and approaching the protestors outside etc. She evasively said she was just doing her job and wasnt in favor of AG Bell or anything but just doing her job. The police officer explained that it is THEIR - the Police - job to make sure traffic is not obstructed on the side walk and everything is in order at the rally - it is NOT the hotel or security's job. <br />
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Ruthie gives her heartfelt appreciation to all the people who attended the rally, performed, made signs, stood and for all the members of our community who took pictures signing STAND or other artwork and posted them online in solidarity. Ruthie explains AFA's commitment to PEACE and Justice and that is the strongest thing in the world. She explains todays schedule of morning rally at Advanced bionic, afternoon at House Ear Institute, and evening vigil at John Tracy Clinic where candles will be lit for all the survivors of Oralism and cochlear implants. We will also light a candle for John T. Williams, Native American Deaf woodcarver who was killed by a cop and for Trayvon Martin in solidarity with all injustice. <br /><br />Ruthie concludes with a message of gratitude, inspiration, peace and love as we STAND against audism.<br /><br />Let Freedom Roll<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-12204178224262843332013-07-16T23:22:00.000-04:002013-07-16T23:22:01.600-04:00AFA Announcements AFA Announcements<br />
<br />
Audism Free America, AFA, wishes to express our heartfelt upset, dismay, and shock at the George Zimmerman verdict of not guilty for the murder of Trayvon Martin. We call upon members of our community to stand in unity with the Martin family against this injustice. Hood up. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLm0B6AS3iuqVpoUGpqBODLrDfGyuxYM6hw221qzSSqx1phJ5rXKeSZWwmuzT9oPrJ_J22n79fJ9v8CpCnpSsUtIr7ClTxVutRf2bvBEz1xPcm0gTsnxL7ElLW8ujo4rA3F7n-Y7eE8ZR/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-07-16+at+5.30.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLm0B6AS3iuqVpoUGpqBODLrDfGyuxYM6hw221qzSSqx1phJ5rXKeSZWwmuzT9oPrJ_J22n79fJ9v8CpCnpSsUtIr7ClTxVutRf2bvBEz1xPcm0gTsnxL7ElLW8ujo4rA3F7n-Y7eE8ZR/s200/Screen+shot+2013-07-16+at+5.30.32+PM.png" width="178" /></a></div>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">July 20th, 2013 - 12:00 PM "Justice for Trayvon" National Day of Action Vigils in 100 Cities (including Los Angeles) Federal Court Buildings Nationwide</span>. <br />
<br />
At the July 19th vigil - AFA will light candles in memory of Trayvon Martin and John T. Williams (Native American Deaf woodcarver who was killed by a cop)and others.<br />
<br />
For the AFA L.A. rallies and events - pls wear black, yellow or blue.<br />
Black is for mourning the suffering and loss of members of our community and represents strengths<br />
Yellow is for caution against the Bermuda Triangle of Oralism and also a sign of hope in resistance<br />
Blue is for Deafhood (Deafhood is about challenging audism and celebrating Deaf gain) <br />
<h3 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">URGENT:
The A-Deaf Team van was in an accident and is totaled. The A-Deaf team members are
OK but unsure if they can get to LA. Pls make posters and banners to bring
to the L.A. rallies - the A-Dream Team van was carrying banners, posters and flags for the rallies. Also pls keep your thoughs on
the A-Deaf Team members - that no serious injuries pop up later.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Join the </span></span><span class="entity _586o" data-fulltext="AFA L.A. CA rallies at AGBAD LSL Symposium" data-group="all" data-icon="null" data-select="group" data-si="true" data-text="AFA L.A. CA rallies at AGBAD LSL Symposium" data-type="ent:event" data-uid="498019840271640">AFA L.A. CA rallies at AGBAD LSL Symposium facebook page for more info as it comes in at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/498019840271640">https://www.facebook.com/events/498019840271640</a>/ or follow AFA on twitter @endaudism</span></h3>
<h3 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> L.A. Rallies schedule: <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/07/afa-la-rallies-schedule-tentative.html" target="_blank"><u>http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2013/07/afa-la-rallies-schedule-tentative.html </u></a></span></span></h3>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><u> </u></span></span></h5>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-53070411747406005912013-07-12T16:27:00.000-04:002013-07-12T16:27:12.450-04:00AFA L.A. Rallies Schedule - Tentative<br />
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<b><i>“I hope that we all will love and guard our beautiful sign language as the noblest gift God has given to deaf people.” </i></b></div>
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<b><i>~ George W. Veditz (1913)</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Note - schedule is subject to change</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b>July 18, 2013 Thursday 5pm - 9 pm </b></div>
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<b>AG Bell LSL Symposium</b></div>
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<b></b>Omni Hotel 251 South Olive street, Los Angeles, CA </div>
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Peaceful protest of the AG Bell LSL (language and spoken communication) which mandates Deaf children be denied visual acuity and American Sign Language</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>July 19, 2013 Friday 10:00 am to 12 pm </b></div>
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<b>Advanced Bionics </b></div>
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28515 Westinghouse Place, Valencia, CA </div>
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Peaceful protest against Advanced Bionics – a cochlear implant company which has been find by the Food & Drug Administration, sued by parents for $7.25 million dollars for shocking their Deaf daughter due to a leak in the seal of the internal part and had numerous recalls of past devices (one of which has a positioner for the internal part near the brain and lead to infections and deaths)</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>2:30pm to 430pm </b></div>
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<b>House Research Institute</b></div>
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2100 W. 3rd Street LA, CA Peaceful protest of this institute which advocates for eradicating Deaf people and promotes a “medical cure” over language and cultural opportunities and rights.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>530pm to 9pm </b></div>
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<b>John Tracy Clinic</b></div>
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806 West Adams Blvd Los Angeles, CA </div>
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Vigil in memory of Deaf children who have suffered under the John Tracy Clinic’s method which denies sign language and visual acuity.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>July 20, 2013 Saturday 10:30 am to 3 pm </b></div>
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<b>AG Bell LSL Symposium </b></div>
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Omni Hotel 251 South Olive street, Los Angeles, CA </div>
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Peaceful protest of the AG Bell LSL (language and spoken communication) which mandates Deaf children be denied visual acuity and American Sign Language</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>July 20, 2013 Saturday </b><b>7pm to 10pm</b></div>
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<b>Deaf Victories Forum </b></div>
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UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095</div>
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DODD Building – Room #170 </div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font: 12.0px Arial;">(</span><span style="color: #053df5;">http://maps.ucla.edu/campus/</span>) and type "DODD BUILDING" and you will see the building on the map.</div>
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Presentations and closing of the L.A. Events</div>
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---------</div>
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<b>Audism Free America’s Three Demands:</b></div>
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<span style="font: 12.0px Symbol;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>AGBell Association, John Tracy Clinic, House Research Institute, and Advance Bionics stop excluding a natural and fully accessible language (American Sign Language - ASL) from Deaf children, and</b></div>
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<span style="font: 12.0px Symbol;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>Stop misinforming the public and the media about Deaf people, and </b></div>
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<span style="font: 12.0px Symbol;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>Stop the incestuous relationship with cochlear implant manufacturers and</b></div>
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<b>LSL programs.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b></b></div>
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<b><b>Resources:</b></b></div>
<b>
<div style="color: #053df5; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: black;">-the ASL petition to the White House officially recognize ASL as a community language and language of instruction in schools (see </span>https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/officially-recognize-american-sign-language- community-language-and-language-instruction-schools/CRPw2JLk<span style="color: black;">)</span></div>
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-the movement toward ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities which would ensure justice and equality for Deaf infants, youth and adults in areas of expression, access, education, and employment (see: <span style="color: #053df5;">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2012/07/urge-ur-us-senators-to-ratify-un- crpd.html</span>).</div>
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-the 2010 International Congress on the Education of the Deaf’s historical announcement rejecting an 1880 resolution banning sign language in the education of the Deaf people. In addition, the Congress expressed regrets concerning the 130 years of detrimental effects of this resolution and called upon all nations to ensure a new era of respecting all languages and promoting collaboration with Deaf citizens (see: <span style="color: #053df5;">http://deafbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/ICED-Document.pdf</span>)</div>
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The linguistic, cultural and human rights of Deaf children have been asserted by a number of International bodies including the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization/World Bank (WHO), the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and the International Convention on the Education of the Deaf (ICED). (see <span style="color: #053df5;">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-12-30T17:45:00- 05:00&max-results=5&start=5&by-date=false</span></div>
</b><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-19505762986623458912013-07-05T17:10:00.001-04:002013-07-05T17:10:26.169-04:00AFA video explaining mission of rallies at LSL Symposium in LA<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ta0z9rI-zR0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Rallies in LA July 18-20, 2013<br />
follow AFA on twitter at @endaudism and<br />
via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/498019840271640/?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/events/498019840271640/?fref=ts</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-40115501258957438372013-07-05T16:42:00.001-04:002013-07-05T16:43:52.357-04:00AFA letter of support for the Deaf Studies Programme at Bristol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s1600/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s200/AFABlue.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
5 July 2013<br />
<br />
Greetings,<br />
<br />
This letter serves to communicate our support for the Deaf Studies Programme at the University of Bristol. The reputation of this programme is both respected and valued in international Deaf communities. The development of this bilingual (BSL/English) university-level program, which has disseminated quality scholarship and nurtured Deaf leaders and educators, is without peer. The programme has also worked with the British Deaf community promoting activism and creative works. We believe this programme has made a significant impact on the way that Deaf people, educators and laypeople view Deaf people worldwide. Do not consign the programme to the annals of history prematurely. There is still much, much work to do and we need this programme to continue as a guiding force.<br />
<br />
As an organization committed to social justice, it is our hope that your institution
is also committed to the human, linguistic, economic and civil rights of all peoples. One way you can ACT upon this commitment is to continue to support the value of Deaf Cultural Studies at the University of Bristol.<br />
<br />
Let Freedom Roll!<br />
<br />
Patti Durr, Ruthie Jordan and Karen Christie for Audism Free America<br />
<br />
Audism Free America 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. For more information see: <a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/">audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com</a> or contact us via AudismFreeAmerica@gmail.com<br />
<br />
Letter sent to:
Professor Eric Thomas, Vice Chancellor
Univeristy of Bristol
Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
England
BS8 1TH UK
via
Jami.west@bristol.ac.uk
Mr. denis Burn,Chair of Council
Denis.burn@bristol.ac.uk
Hugh.martin@bristol.ac.uk
savebristolcds@gmail.com
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4473637446675467814.post-88217766378942927922013-07-04T21:16:00.000-04:002013-07-04T21:26:19.024-04:00Open Letter to Deaf Education ProgramsIn response to several concerns Audism Free America (AFA) has received from Deaf and Hearing students in Deaf Education teacher training programs about the pathological nature of the curriculum, AFA has created this open letter.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s1226/AFABlue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcvuTux8YxHPQQU2srTGstivbBqidIHi0ekrrUPPrBcMXxw4qnrfVZQxKg3pWU8elJgYST1BFQ9FBynil1J5YFK5nAODomMPuXLdmWFMRvk-Ya8jz0mBVoabtG3SZDQeYYsEKGOxHu8xk/s200/AFABlue.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
To Whom it May Concern:<br />
<br />
It has come to our attention that many of the teacher training programs in the field of Deaf education continue to approach the Deaf child as if s/he is abnormal and inadequate. Many of these programs are designed with a heavy emphasis on the spoken language acquisition and English language development of hearing children and how Deaf children are delayed and/or deficient in comparison. There is also an abundance of course work addressing speech pathology and audiology when the stated goal of the programs and of the students in these programs is to become certified to teach elementary school level or a specific subject matter. The course of studies in these programs have a bias towards clinical services in the speech and hearing over methods of teaching, curriculum development, and the discipline areas these teachers will need to teach.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, while many teacher training programs aim to prepare their graduates for working with ‘diverse’ communication preferences and approaches, coursework and teacher expectations clearly value and reward speaking and listening approaches. A whole child approach as well as bilingual/multilingual educational strategies is absent from most of these programs. Students in these programs may bring in information from researchers such as Petitto, Emmory, Mayberry, Nover and Padden on the value and importance of bilingualism for the Deaf child’s linguistic and cognitive development as well as their feelings of contentment and self worth. Routinely, their professors undermine these studies as limiting and guide them back to utilizing research focusing on to speech, audition, cued speech and/or simultaneous communication.<br />
<br />
Given that four international documents (see excerpts below) have declared the importance and justness of ensuring that Deaf children have access to a fully natural signed language in their educational environments and in light of the article by Humphries et al. concerning the harms of Cochlear Implants especially in terms of language deprivation<br />
( <a href="http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/9/1/16">http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/9/1/16</a>), we call upon Deaf education teacher programs to give proper, correct, and accurate information in bilingual-bicultural (ASL & English) teaching methodology, research, curriculum, and materials.<br />
<br />
Additionally, Deaf students in Deaf education teacher training programs, having experienced Deaf educational systems first hand, have much to teach us. Would that we would listen.<br />
<br />
Students training to become educators of Deaf learners today should not have to face systematic barriers to access to information about ASL, Bilingualism, and quality educational methodology rather than clinical services. We thank you in advance for re-examining your Deaf education program and routing out any bias or injustice that may exist.<br />
<br />
Let Freedom Roll,<br />
<br />
Audism Free America<br />
<br />
See four international documents asserting the rights of the Deaf child to have a fully natural accessible language and the right to Deaf people to have a say in the way they are educated.
<a href="http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-documents-asserting.html">http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-documents-asserting.html</a>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Audism Free America</div>AudismFreeAmericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12249248801467564008noreply@blogger.com