Deaf News: American Sign Language Version - Open letter to the AG Bell Association from NTID/RIT facutlty and staff.



ROCHESTER, NY -- National Technical Institute for the Deaf and Rochester Institute of Technology facutlty and staff share the American Sign Language video letter to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) - Recently, there is an appalling wave of reaction by the Deaf community in regards to AG Bell's response to Washington Post's "The Reliable Source" who accuses Nyle DiMarco dispelling the myths about deafness.

To the President, CEO, Board, and Members of the AG Bell Association,



We have a wealth of knowledge today from both historical scholarship and the collective, lived experiences of Deaf people about AG Bell. We know that AG Bell was a strong supporter of the eugenics movement. He supported language oppression, leading to a legacy of linguicism in Deaf history. Eugenics began and was practiced here in the United States before being adopted in Nazi Germany. Thus, Bell was part of the development of the notion of a “better stock of human beings” which clearly indicated that Deaf people were unacceptable. Bell’s ideology shows repeated pattern of language oppression, systematic destruction of Deaf people’s culture and way of life. Such systematic ways of destroying any culture needs to be stopped right now.



The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) organization has reported that 70 million Deaf and Deaf Blind people around the globe use sign language. Additionally, WFD has worked closely with the United Nations in developing the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The UNCRPD focuses on the rights of Deaf people including recognition of the human right to sign language as a first language. The CRPD, therefore, recognizes and promotes the sign languages of Deaf people worldwide. A related CRPD principle reaffirms the education of Deaf children through sign language followed by reading and writing skills in the language of their home countries. The recent letter from the AG Bell Association mentions sign language as simply one of many “options.” Thus, the AG Bell Association has blatantly denied Deaf children the human right to sign language that has been asserted by WFD/UN CRPD.



I’ve noticed among Deaf students here at NTID that they tend to communicate most successfully through sign. These students are diverse: many from international countries and from various states; their educational backgrounds include experiencing mainstream schools and Deaf schools. When they all come together and need to communicate effectively in the moment, they all use sign. Speech doesn’t work well because many of the international students do not lipread English nor use spoken English. When they come together, they all can sign and smoothly collaborate. This experience is evidence that it is signing which allows diverse students to be successful communicators.



For many years, AG Bell has reinforced the concept that speech is equated with the ability to learn language which is misleading and erroneous. Focusing on developing literacy is different from speech training. Being able to use speech may be a convenient way to communicate with many people, but it does not lead to literacy--that is, skills such as the ability to think, reason, negotiate, read and write. Research has indicated that in America today there are about 30 million people who use speech fluently, but who cannot read and write. When you give your child language, you need to remember that Deaf children always are bilingual or multilingual. Today in 2016, we have a lot of research that AG Bell’s assumptions have been wrong.



In 2008, the President and CEO of AG Bell Association wrote a letter to the Pepsi Company chastising them for having shown a commercial which included Deaf people signing. It was just one short commercial shown on one day out of a whole year’s worth of commercials. Yet, the President and CEO of AG Bell were so upset that they felt they needed to respond. At NTID/RIT, the students, faculty, staff, community members and members of the Orange and Brown Coalition decided that we must confront you about this injustice. We demanded that you rescind your letter to the Pepsi Company and apologize for offending and misrepresenting Deaf people. At the same time, people at NTID/RIT began to question the integrity of having a building named in honor of AG Bell on our campus. Students began to study Bell’s history and notice his pattern of oppressing Deaf people’s language and culture as well as his destructive impact on the individual lives of Deaf people. Because of this history, they felt NTID/RIT should not show honor much less tolerance for people who represent such actions. After much discussion, the name and plaque honoring AG Bell was finally removed from our campus. That was in 2008.



Now, in 2016, you have again written a letter publically insulting Deaf people, Deaf culture, and ASL. You seem resistant to learning. Your pattern of harassment and insults to our culture and our language is unacceptable and must stop. It is harmful to parents, children, and adults. We have had enough.



NTID/RIT Faculty/Staff members from the Department of Cultural and Creative Studies:

Dr. J.Matt Searls,

Mr. Joseph Hamilton,

Dr. Deirdre A. Schlehofer,

Dr. Aaron Kelsone, and

Ms. Patti Durr

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Cochlear Implant Failures Lawsuits & AG Bell

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Deaf News: American Sign Language Version - Audism Free America Video Letter to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf.



WASHINGTON DC -- Audism Free America (AFA) share a video letter to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf (AG Bell) in American Sign Language with all of you. Recently, there is an appalling wave of reaction by the Deaf community in regards to AG Bell's response to Washington Post's "The Reliable Source" who accuses Nyle DiMarco dispelling the myths about deafness.

Dear President Meredith K Sugar,



We, Audism Free America, are writing in response to your response to the Washington Post article regarding Mr. Nyle DiMarco, in which you stated; "It is our hope to dispel the myths about deafness.” It has become apparent that by now you have most likely seen the many letters from members of the Deaf community, and as well as from academic researchers who have revealed the truth about your misinformation showing that Deaf children, from both Deaf and Hearing families, have clearly thrived when exposed to American Sign Language early in life.



This is not the first time that the AG Bell Association has imposed misinformation and worked to assert to the general public reinforcing the attitudes of audism and linguicism. In 2009, we presented to your former President Graham, along with other AG Bell representatives, a list of demands at a sit down face to face meeting. These demands were taken to your Board and rejected. The demands stated that:



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.



2. the AG Bell Association cease and desist from misinforming the public and the media about ASL and 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 Deaf ASL users as unsuccessful and dependent.



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



The second item listed can now be amended to demand that the AG Bell Association, additionally, retract your statements concerning the response to Mr. Nyle DiMarco in the Washington Post.



If you are truly concerned about dispelling myths, you may wish to focus on your founder. A.G. Bell, the man, through publicized reports was an eugenicist, xenophobe, and audist along with recent reports that he was also a thief and plagiarist (see D. Baynton, H. Lane, and S. Shulman, as well as Bell’s own writings).



Your Association should be held accountable for the many Deaf children and their families who have been deprived of an accessible language in their early years which have resulted in negative impacts psychologically, educationally, and economically, (see Humphries, et al., 2012 and Penicaud, et al, 2013).



As a Deaf grassroots organization, we are informing you that your organization, made up of primarily Hearing people, has NO right to misrepresent Deaf people in the media and NO right to actively promote the denial of human and linguistic rights of Deaf children.



We, Deaf community members, our families and allies are proud to have Mr. Nyle DiMarco as a role model and advocate for our future generations of Deaf children. If you need further evidence that there is a thriving Deaf community who will ensure that Deaf children will CONTINUE TO BE DEAF, please see the social media campaigns #whyIsign and #iamdeaf.



Finally, this letter is to inform you that AFA will now host another rally at your annual conference in Denver, Colorado. Please let us know if YOU would like to meet with US prior to the conference in order to retract your letters and issue a formal apology. Please see the attached flyer for more information.



Let Freedom Roll,



Audism Free America

Follow Audism Free America on Social Media:

Subscribe - https://youtube.com/AudismFreeAmerica

Facebook - https://facebook.com/pages/audism-free-america

Twitter - https://twitter.com/endaudism



History of the Deaf Americans - Through Deaf Eyes - Documentary Film



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i Deaf News - ASL Deaf Pride Parade By AFA



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Deaf Student Bullied at the AG Bell School

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Deaf Teachers: Open Letter To AG Bell Association

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VIDEO [CC] - Deaf News: Starkey Hearing Foundation's exploitation becomes boycott from the Deaf community around the globe.





SAN FRANCISCO -- Thousand of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people around the world concerns with Starkey Hearing Foundation issues over exploitation from celebrates and NFL players who does not knowledge in Deaf Culture nor Sign Language, but just "Hears" which a lead under fire in the Deaf community. Here's the story covers about the Starkey Hearing Foundation's exploitation.



The Daily Moth is the most popular Deaf News in the United States, sharing the extremely important message to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community about the Starkey Hearing Foundation issues.



California Association of the Deaf's concerns with Starkey Hearing Foundation - During a pre-Super Bowl 50 event hosted by Starkey Hearing Foundation, over seventy people received free hearing aids. While it was hailed by the media as a good deed, parents of Deaf children felt it was exploitation. In this interview, Alex discusses why they felt that way and how Starkey could better frame Deaf people.





To view California Association of the Deaf's letters. To learn more about ASL and early language acquisition, go to http://www.asl4deafkids.org. Warning: California Association of the Deaf's website may be hacked, claimed by Google. The Deaf community believe it comes from the Starkey Hearing Foundation. What a shame.



There's more about the Starkey Hearing Foundation issues from the United Kingdom "Deaf Culture and the Starkey Hearing Foundation."





A Deaf vlogger Genki Steph from the United Kingdom sharing the video in British Sign Language discussion topic regarding the Starkey Hearing Foundation and the open letter sent by Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales.



Nice to see the patriachy alive and thriving! Open letter from the United Kingdom: Letter Here.



Related Post: #Starkey Hearing Foundation

VIDEO: Deaf News - New Mexico School for the Deaf and Deaf community opposes HM 21. A big win-win for the community in the state of New Mexico.



Today the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) and Deaf community came together to oppose HM 21, a controversial proposal to change the campus to a four-year college program. The motion was withdrew. NMSD Alumni Mark Ramirez fills us in what happened. Here's video in American Sign Language.





To view HM 21: http://bit.ly/1Sedgy0.



Transcript -- Hello, I’m at the Roundhouse, it’s an government building in Santa Fe, New Mexico.



There was just a proposal and a discussion. Check out the people here. See the NMSD community. Teachers, staff, students, and alumni came in big numbers to be supportive. Family, friends, and parents also came. It’s very inspiring. There’s more people around the corner.



What happened? One representative proposed HM 21, and in the language, it proposed NMSD be changed to a four-year college program, to offer more collegiate options other than Gallaudet.



Naturally, this change would negatively impact NMSD’s K-12 program, early intervention, outreach, and other services. Those services reach a multitude of students and people.



After the representative proposed it to the committee, the committee asked who was opposed to it. Many parents, student, alumni, students, staff, and faculty shared touching stories of their experiences and the importance of Deaf community, culture, and language - and the outreach services.



After this touching display, the committee asked who was in favor of HM 21. Nobody showed support for it. Some was neutral. In the end, the committee, including the representatives and the chair - discussed amongst themselves and asked HM 21 to be withdrawn. They said they might re-evaluate this later. They told the representative to work with the NMSD/Deaf community, to not work without them. This was a big win for us.



The final result: the representative withdrew HM 21. It’s over. But, we’re looking at the possibility that it might happen again in the future. We will stay vigilant. -- with Mark Ramirez. Source.



Read the comments on Facebook - NMSD Deaf Community Opposes HM 21

VIDEO [CC] - Deaf News: Exclusive interview with Deaf teachers of Iowa School For The Deaf face firing: NBC report.





COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- WOWT: Teachers with a combined 40 years’ experience have been suspended and could be fired at the Iowa School for the Deaf. The teachers are shocked and question the motive and timing of the personnel action.



Despite a bad report card on their teaching techniques, Tina Murdoch and Tricia Tighe say they never failed their Deaf students.





"Both of us put our heart and our soul into that school. We both were there on Sunday nights," said Murdoch. Though Iowa School for the Deaf Renewed their contracts last summer, both teachers received termination notices about four months later.



Tighe said, 'I'm really upset. They gave me a contract I don't know why they're firing me.”



Tighe taught four special education students and Murdoch had a class of Deaf fifth graders both teachers received similar letters recommending termination.



The letters contain a laundry list of at least two dozen reasons why administrators feel the teachers have short comings in the classroom; among the reasons school administrators cited failure to use methods to monitor student learning, failure to demonstrate competence in content and failure to enhance academic performance.



"After 25 years they're saying I'm not meeting teaching standards that I was meeting before. It does not make any sense," said Murdoch.



Tighe’s mid semester suspension also caused elementary aged special education students to be moved into the high school. That concerns the 7-year-old’s grandmother Kitty Eisenhauer.



"She has a new teacher, a new building a new environment and she's in the with high schoolers, I don't really care for that," said Eisenhauer.



A regents spokesman tells Six On Your Side the second grade class is in the high school, but they’re in their own room with no high school students except for a well supervised 45 minute period.



They are constantly supervised and safety is of primary concern, but Kitty says moving class after removing the teacher affects a special needs seven year old. She said, "Yes I have questions about why. Were there problems because I felt they were both great teachers."



The regents who oversee Iowa School for the Deaf won't comment on personnel matters. But two teachers can't suspend their feelings and say the recommend firings are a bad sign for the Deaf students they taught. Source



Related Post: @Deaf Schools

VIDEO: Deaf News: DeafNation CEO Joel Barish is being acquired by Lisa Wrench, the CEO of Language People is hearing woman who proclaimed the self-stamp "Deaf-Friendly Certified" company.





MURRIETA, CA -- DeafNation, a company based in Austin, Texas, has been bought out by Language People, according to the Justia Trademark website trademark filing.



Don Cullen who is known as Deaf blogger writes about current deaf-related issues at doncullen.net/blog posted and shared an article "DeafNation Acquired by Language People" the coverage on Joel Barish and Lisa Wrench dealt within the Deaf community responses has reacted across the United States.



Deaf Nation: Deafaccountality? What's wrong to give a Deaf Enterpretur a chance to strive the growth, hope and business-alike visions? Boycott!





DeafNation World Expo is set to happen next year (July 5-8, 2016) at Las Vegas. The acquistion has no impact on the event. It is unclear at this time whether Language People will make an appearance at the event, or if Lisa Wrench, CEO of Language People, will be speaking or making an appearance at the event.





Joel Barish, CEO of DeafNation for the last 18 years, announced the acquisition. Joel will continue to manage DeafNation as a division of Language People, according to the Language People website.

As you know DeafNation has increased awareness of issues facing the Deaf community for over 12 years. And because of you, we created the spark that lit the fire of change in schools, businesses, and local governments everywhere. We now have a new vision, a bigger vision that will allow the Deaf Community to connect and communicate better than ever. To connect the Deaf community with all those around us. To improve the communication of ideas and knowledge. To create better awareness of the rights and needs of the Deaf. In connecting and communicating we will create a template for social change. To set this example and lead the way, we are proud to announce that DeafNation was recently acquired by Language People, a leader in the field of Deaf services, as part of a bigger plan of determined focus and commitment to shape a brighter future. Language People has developed a vision that fits with DeafNation’s vision for empowering the Deaf. Working together in the same company we will set the example for positive change. DeafNation will only get better. Our reach will be wider, our influence stronger. This joint effort will add more opportunity and services, influence social change, improve health care, government services, and increase social awareness. Join us as we connect, communicate, and create a world of endless possibilities for the Deaf community.

Joel Barish:



Language People - Founded in 1988, Language People (formerly Bay Area Translations, Inc.) provides interpreting (including American Sign Language) and translation services in California and across the United States.



Language People provides 24/7 interpreting services to hospitals, courts, and many private companies. Along with in-person interpretation, Language People is also a VRI provider.



The Deaf Community is the 3rd largest cultural linguistic group in the United States.



Deaf consumers comprise an estimated 10 million individuals. For each Deaf person, there are approximately 3-5 people who are strongly influenced based on how their Deaf friends, family, and associates are treated, making a potential reach to 50 million consumers in the U.S. Deaf consumers also are members of every other demographic (i.e., language, race, socioeconomic status, geographical location, education etc.). These same marketing factors of influence exist internationally.





However, the Deaf community citing prior concerns raised in the past about Language People’s activities in “certifying businesses as ‘DeafFriendly' by a smaller competitor, DeafFriendly:

“LP Connect, also known as the Language People, used the privilege to certify businesses as ‘Deaf-Friendly’ without our knowledge. DeafFriendly recently presented an open vlog letter to LP Connect to cease their certification program used to certify local businesses as ‘Deaf-Friendly’.” - Jessica M. Lang.

LP Connect’s response on this issue can be seen here, along with DeafFriendly’s counter-response.



It is clear that Language People has some convincing to do when it comes to the deaf and hard of hearing community. However, Lisa (Language People CEO) appears undaunted by the challenge in front of her based on a quote by her addressing the DeafNation acquisition: “Together we can all make America equal opportunity for the deaf this is the only the start of many wonderful things at the destination.



Lisa Wrench, the CEO of Language People has been responsed on"DeafNation Acquired by Language People"...Read The Full Article.



DVTV responses has reacted to a video showing on deafvideo.tv/#comments.



Related Post: @DeafNation

My experience with people telling me there is a "cure" for Deafness.





I Don't Need Your Cure Song in American Sign Language.



Cochlear Implants Are A Form Of Child Abuse



On the surface, cochlear implants sound like a promising medical solution to the problems surrounding hearing loss or total deafness. A cochlear implant uses existing nerves and electronic signals to override damaged auditory nerves, thus restoring a sense of hearing to the recipient. However, this technology has also caused serious divisions within the Deaf community concerning the hearing society's position on deafness in general. A number of members of the Deaf community choose to view their Deaf status as a subculture of society, in the same sense as a Hispanic person would embrace his or her Hispanic culture.



Deafness is not a handicap per se, but a shared experience which gives the Deaf community its unique cultural identity. To members of this Deaf subculture, cochlear implants are considered disrespectful and insulting, since the medical community views deafness as a handicap which must be treated or corrected: http://www.cochlearwar.com/myths_and_facts.html.



Certain factions of the Deaf community also believe a Deaf person's ability to live a full and meaningful life is not compromised by his or her deafness, so the suggestion that cochlear implants provide advantages over a Deaf lifestyle is shortsighted and insensitive.



Many Deaf people cope very well with their deafness, learning sign language and lip reading and adapting their work and home environments to accommodate their loss of hearing. Perhaps the cochlear implant is only for the MONEY as the dirty business? Cochlear Business Is Dirty Business! with captions.



Another controversy surrounding cochlear implants and the Deaf community is the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Cochlear implantation involves major surgery in an area of the body filled with delicate nerves which control facial movements. One mistake during surgery could cause long-term facial paralysis, also and it is might be a risk to cochlear implant users where the thunderstorms approaching, Cochlear Implant User Struck By Lightning.



Cochlear implants can also destroy any remaining healthy auditory nerves, which means a Deaf person could lose all remnants of natural hearing which may have helped them adjust to a Deaf lifestyle. Cochlear implants require the recipient to undergo significant fine-tuning sessions, and success can vary widely from recipient to recipient. The controversy over cochlear implants often pits hearing parents against Deaf parents when it comes to raising their Deaf children in a hearing world. Many Deaf parents would prefer to raise their Deaf child in a Deaf culture, including the use of sign language and lip reading. Hearing parents who are not familiar with the Deaf community may opt for the cochlear implant surgery to correct their Deaf child's perceived handicap, Cochlear Implant Cruelty.



The result may be a Deaf child who can partially hear, or a hearing child with a Deaf cultural heritage. Either way, the child may face social ostracism from both communities if the parents do not consider the long-term effects of cochlear implant surgery. Not all members of Deaf community view cochlear implants as an unnecessary procedure, but hearing parents facing a difficult decision concerning a Deaf child may want to research both sides of the controversy before committing to cochlear implant surgery. Hearing impairment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_impairment



What Is the Leading Cause of Child Abandonment?



History of Abandonment/Abuse - History tends to repeat itself and this is especially true of abuse and neglect patterns. Parents who experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment at the hands of someone when they were a child are more likely to repeat the pattern and abuse, neglect or abandon their own children. UNICEF estimates that 13 million children worldwide have been abandoned by both parents for various reasons, abuse and neglect among them. Watch the video in behavioral problems for not learning in sign language and oppression: Alone In A Hearing World.



Handicap/Illness of Child - A child born with a handicap, birth defect or chronic illness has a higher chance of being abandoned by their parents. Since infants and children are needy to begin with, parents living with a child with a chronic condition may not be able to cope with the increased demands of their child. Like parents who live in poverty, these parents believe their child will be better off without them and abandon these child to the foster care system or to live with other relatives.



Behavioral Problems - All children experience behavior problems as they grow and learn about the world around them. For some parents, their child's misbehavior is a source of extreme stress they are unable to handle. Other parents have children with extreme, even criminal, behavior that they are unable or unwilling to control. These children are at an increased risk of being removed from their parent's care or having their parents find alternative placement situations for them: Alone In A Hearing World.



STOP to abusive the childrens from the quacks from the profits!



Cochlear Implants Failure... Lawsuits...Call Lawyer... Cochlear Implant Lawyer for Advanced Bionics and Clarion Devices. Get a free lawsuit review for Advanced Bionics cochlear implants and earlier Clarion models by completing the form on this page. A Deaf attorney is available to review your information and can discuss it by videophone (VP). The lawyers of Weitz and, Luxenberg P.C. have expanded litigation against Advanced Bionics related to defective Advanced bionics cochlear implants implanted in young children and adults. http://www.cochlear-implant-lawyer.com



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Interview With Hearing Parents Of A Deaf Son

Educate Hearing Parents of Deaf Children

Early Language Acquisition of Deaf Babies

Deaf Awareness: One Deaf Child

American Sign Language For Babies & Toddlers

Cochlear Implants Is NOT A Cure !

Why Is It Important To Learn Sign At Birth For Deaf Child ?

Educating Hearing People About The Deaf World



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Deaf Culture - Have We Cured Deafness ?

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