The Politcs of Being Deaf
Protests come and go, some with great fervor and fanfare, others get mired in messy outcomes. This recent protest at Gallaudet University which escalated last week by taking over Hall Memorial Building and now recently a campus wide forced shut down affecting both the high school and elementary schools on campus is example of a protest outcome that's looking messier by the minute. President of Gallaudet University I. King Jordan restrained himself from using the D.C. police ever since this May but felt he had no recourse but offer an ultimatum in his letter yesterday on the real possibility of arrest and suspension from school.
And Dr. I. King Jordan does make a point. The latest protest has interferred with high school and elementary school students' education. Parents were forced to make last minute changes who regularly drop off their deaf children at Kendall elementary school. Some parents are even withdrawing their kids from Kendall and MSSD High school on campus because of the protest. Even many of the protesters themselves objected to the forced campus close down with 30% of them saying they objected to the campus close down versus 65% saying in favor while some 5% remain unsure by those who contributed to the poll vote. In looking at the whole picture, almost 65% of the people who participated in this poll said they supported the protest but within those protesters some 30% disapprove the forced campus closing. A teacher sent in a letter explaining why the hijacking of Hall Memorial Building shouldn't have ocurred which resulted in the first "mini-shutdown" on campus.
Gallaudet University is an institution on higher learnng for all deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf people for those who may want to use its valuable resources. And it is home where communication accessibility reigns supreme on the campus of Gallaudet University. Not everybody who go to Gallaudet University is fluent in ASL, sign language or are completely deaf as in stone deaf. In fact, some students left Gallaudet University because they were harassed for not being "deaf enough." Not a surprise there because I did from time to time felt that while at Gallaudet.
For many on the campus of Gallaudet University the politics of being Deaf means that ASL should be the only means of communication on the campus of Gallaudet University for all students, or so perception goes. But that gets sticky when it comes to Federal laws covering communication accessibilty. According to Section 504, and since Gallaudet University is a recipient of federal financial assistance, a post secondary institution has an obligation under Section 504 to be accessible to students with disabilities. This includes communication accessibility.
Services you can request:
* American Sign Language Interpreter
* Signed English Interpreter (SEE-Signing Exact English or PSE-Pidgin Sign English)
* FM Systems and Conference Microphones
* Voice interpreter
* CART
* Remote Captioning
* Cued Speech Transiliterator
* I-Communicator
* Typewell/C-Print
* Professional or Volunteer Notetakers
Even though Gallaudet University supports ASL (and here) . But according to politics of being Deaf on the campus of Gallaudet University many students and faculty members are saying that exclusive ASL use be the "the language of instruction at Gallaudet University" and that "Gallaudet University is the community of Deaf intellectuals, not a training ground for all modes of communication."
That's nice. Only if the educational institution in question was a completely private Deaf educational institution and receive no federal funding then it wouldn't fall under Section 504. However, Gallaudet University receives their federal funding assistance for as long as it has been opened. Section 504 gives the power over to students who may request communication accessibility other than ASL. A choice. A stark reality nonethless but it is a choice even though many would prefer ASL.
I suspect much of the politics seen in this protest at Gallaudet University revolves around the issue of ASL. Dr. Jane K. Fernandes certainly lacks any fluency on ASL but more of a PSE or SimCom that raises the ire of the core protest students who are wholly in favor of ASL-only at Gallaudet University.
Perhaps the issue isn't being "Deaf enough" but about the issue of ASL-usuage. For 18 years President I. King Jordan who was born hearing but lost his hearing in a motorcycle accident at age 21 isn't fluent in ASL but use PSE or Simcom whenever he signs and communicate with the students. It's not saying that students, staff and faculty cannot understand him sign. Just that it's not in pure ASL. The same goes for Dr. Jane K. Fernandes who acquired sign language in her adult life but she was born deaf this time compared to I. King Jordan. The acquisition of a new language, such as ASL, doesn't always come easy. In fact, some may take a long time or none at all to attain perfect fluidity and fluency of ASL. And SimCom is the middle ground when it comes to signing and communicating for many people.
Every time I read blogs or website one of the most common thing that keeps popping up on the issue with Gallaudet University, the president and future president in this protest is the screaming on their use of "SimCom" over "ASL". They have mocked and made fun of IKJ, JKF and anybody else who dares to sign using SimCom. In fact, one of the very first complaint/mockery on IKJ use of SimCom was on Joey Baer's vlogsite back in May when the protest started but that has since been taken off in favor of "Unity for Gallaudet" saying that everybody has a right and choice on how one prefers to communicate, even if it's using one's voice. How ironic on what we're seeing today over SimCom and IKJ and JKF's use of it. More mixed messages by them seen here and here.
Now, signing comes in many forms such as SEE, SEEII, PSE, SimCom, manual alphabet, Rochester method, and so on rather than just a "a pure language" like ASL here in the United States. Section 504 which is a Federal law guarantees communication access for any and all students with a hearing loss at colleges and universities that get Federal funding. And that not all students with a hearing loss knows signing but make beneficial use of their hearing with their hearing aids or cochlear implants. So, it's no surprise than most universities and colleges do get a certain amount of money from the Federal government. Which is why many deaf and hard of hearing students go to other colleges and universities rather than at Gallaudet because universities and colleges are required to make sure that students have communication access in their classrooms and on campus. Hence, one of the reason for the decline in numbers at Gallaudet University over the past 15 years.
Some protesters will deny that this is not the case in advocating an ASL -only on campus but about Dr. Jane K. Fernandes "lack" of leadership qualities. And what would that "quality" be?
This.
And who is that guy signing in that video?
Well, Ryan Commerson who is one of the protest leaders at Gallaudet University.
Sure sounds like they want an ASL-only form of communication on the campus of Galluadet University while at the same time ignore or reject students' basic right on the choice of communication access on campus. The same as with any other colleges or universities.
Now, the real issue is beginning to come forth loud and clear. Sure sounds pretty darn close on the "not Deaf enough" issue. Maybe the protesters ought to chip in and buy out Gallaudet University from the Federal government so they can have a "Deaf-only" private university?
Isn't that what these protesters want?
“So far we have avoided confrontation. However, the dissenters keep escalating their outrageous behavior: vandalizing College Hall, taking over Hall Memorial Building keeping students and faculty from classes, labs and mid-term exams. And now they have shut down campus – a campus that is home to college, high school and elementary school students. They have broken many laws.
And Dr. I. King Jordan does make a point. The latest protest has interferred with high school and elementary school students' education. Parents were forced to make last minute changes who regularly drop off their deaf children at Kendall elementary school. Some parents are even withdrawing their kids from Kendall and MSSD High school on campus because of the protest. Even many of the protesters themselves objected to the forced campus close down with 30% of them saying they objected to the campus close down versus 65% saying in favor while some 5% remain unsure by those who contributed to the poll vote. In looking at the whole picture, almost 65% of the people who participated in this poll said they supported the protest but within those protesters some 30% disapprove the forced campus closing. A teacher sent in a letter explaining why the hijacking of Hall Memorial Building shouldn't have ocurred which resulted in the first "mini-shutdown" on campus.
Gallaudet University is an institution on higher learnng for all deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf people for those who may want to use its valuable resources. And it is home where communication accessibility reigns supreme on the campus of Gallaudet University. Not everybody who go to Gallaudet University is fluent in ASL, sign language or are completely deaf as in stone deaf. In fact, some students left Gallaudet University because they were harassed for not being "deaf enough." Not a surprise there because I did from time to time felt that while at Gallaudet.
For many on the campus of Gallaudet University the politics of being Deaf means that ASL should be the only means of communication on the campus of Gallaudet University for all students, or so perception goes. But that gets sticky when it comes to Federal laws covering communication accessibilty. According to Section 504, and since Gallaudet University is a recipient of federal financial assistance, a post secondary institution has an obligation under Section 504 to be accessible to students with disabilities. This includes communication accessibility.
Services you can request:
* American Sign Language Interpreter
* Signed English Interpreter (SEE-Signing Exact English or PSE-Pidgin Sign English)
* FM Systems and Conference Microphones
* Voice interpreter
* CART
* Remote Captioning
* Cued Speech Transiliterator
* I-Communicator
* Typewell/C-Print
* Professional or Volunteer Notetakers
Even though Gallaudet University supports ASL (and here) . But according to politics of being Deaf on the campus of Gallaudet University many students and faculty members are saying that exclusive ASL use be the "the language of instruction at Gallaudet University" and that "Gallaudet University is the community of Deaf intellectuals, not a training ground for all modes of communication."
That's nice. Only if the educational institution in question was a completely private Deaf educational institution and receive no federal funding then it wouldn't fall under Section 504. However, Gallaudet University receives their federal funding assistance for as long as it has been opened. Section 504 gives the power over to students who may request communication accessibility other than ASL. A choice. A stark reality nonethless but it is a choice even though many would prefer ASL.
I suspect much of the politics seen in this protest at Gallaudet University revolves around the issue of ASL. Dr. Jane K. Fernandes certainly lacks any fluency on ASL but more of a PSE or SimCom that raises the ire of the core protest students who are wholly in favor of ASL-only at Gallaudet University.
Perhaps the issue isn't being "Deaf enough" but about the issue of ASL-usuage. For 18 years President I. King Jordan who was born hearing but lost his hearing in a motorcycle accident at age 21 isn't fluent in ASL but use PSE or Simcom whenever he signs and communicate with the students. It's not saying that students, staff and faculty cannot understand him sign. Just that it's not in pure ASL. The same goes for Dr. Jane K. Fernandes who acquired sign language in her adult life but she was born deaf this time compared to I. King Jordan. The acquisition of a new language, such as ASL, doesn't always come easy. In fact, some may take a long time or none at all to attain perfect fluidity and fluency of ASL. And SimCom is the middle ground when it comes to signing and communicating for many people.
Every time I read blogs or website one of the most common thing that keeps popping up on the issue with Gallaudet University, the president and future president in this protest is the screaming on their use of "SimCom" over "ASL". They have mocked and made fun of IKJ, JKF and anybody else who dares to sign using SimCom. In fact, one of the very first complaint/mockery on IKJ use of SimCom was on Joey Baer's vlogsite back in May when the protest started but that has since been taken off in favor of "Unity for Gallaudet" saying that everybody has a right and choice on how one prefers to communicate, even if it's using one's voice. How ironic on what we're seeing today over SimCom and IKJ and JKF's use of it. More mixed messages by them seen here and here.
Now, signing comes in many forms such as SEE, SEEII, PSE, SimCom, manual alphabet, Rochester method, and so on rather than just a "a pure language" like ASL here in the United States. Section 504 which is a Federal law guarantees communication access for any and all students with a hearing loss at colleges and universities that get Federal funding. And that not all students with a hearing loss knows signing but make beneficial use of their hearing with their hearing aids or cochlear implants. So, it's no surprise than most universities and colleges do get a certain amount of money from the Federal government. Which is why many deaf and hard of hearing students go to other colleges and universities rather than at Gallaudet because universities and colleges are required to make sure that students have communication access in their classrooms and on campus. Hence, one of the reason for the decline in numbers at Gallaudet University over the past 15 years.
Some protesters will deny that this is not the case in advocating an ASL -only on campus but about Dr. Jane K. Fernandes "lack" of leadership qualities. And what would that "quality" be?
This.
Erroneous Definition of ASL at Gallaudet. Gallaudet University's Faculty Guidelines has the wrong definition on what American Sign Language entails...Dr. Jane Fernandes was the University Provost for 6 years, what has she done to address this?
And who is that guy signing in that video?
Well, Ryan Commerson who is one of the protest leaders at Gallaudet University.
Sure sounds like they want an ASL-only form of communication on the campus of Galluadet University while at the same time ignore or reject students' basic right on the choice of communication access on campus. The same as with any other colleges or universities.
Now, the real issue is beginning to come forth loud and clear. Sure sounds pretty darn close on the "not Deaf enough" issue. Maybe the protesters ought to chip in and buy out Gallaudet University from the Federal government so they can have a "Deaf-only" private university?
Isn't that what these protesters want?
posted by . | 8:27 AM
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