AFA's Letter to Indiana Legislators Opposing HB 1367

23 January 2012

Indiana State Legislators

200 West Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731

Dear Legislator,

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

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

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

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

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

Let Freedom Roll!

Patti Durr, Karen Christie and Ruthie Jordan 

on behalf of AFA

AFA's Letter to Indiana Gov. Opposing HB 1367

23 January 2012

Governor Mitch Daniels

200 West Washington Street, #206

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2731

Dear Governor Daniels,

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

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

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

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

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

---Paulo Freire

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

Let Freedom Roll!

Ruthie Jordan, Patti Durr, and Karen Christie

on behalf of AFA

AFA's Letter to the Governor of Indiana

26 May 2011

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

Dear Governor Daniels,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let Freedom Roll!


Karen Christie for AFA


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