The panel shall be composed of 13 members, as follows:
(A) An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses auditory-oral language, appointed by the Governor.
(B) An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing, and who uses visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL, appointed by the Governor.
(C) An educator of the deaf in an auditory-oral educational setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(D) An educator of the deaf in a visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL education setting, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(E) A parent representative of a child who primarily uses auditory-oral communication methods, appointed by the Governor.
(F) A parent representative of a child who primarily uses visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL, appointed by the Governor.
(G) A representative of a nonprofit organization that services primarily auditory-oral learners, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(H) A representative of a nonprofit organization that services primarily visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL learners, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(I) A researcher engaged in the study of auditory-oral communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, appointed by the Governor.
(J) A researcher engaged in the study of visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL, and communication modalities for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, appointed by the Governor.
(K) An audiologist who specializes in evaluating and treating infants, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(L) A physician who specializes in pediatric otolaryngology, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(M) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or his or her designee, who shall be an ex officio member."
Thursday, August 19, 2010
AB2072 bill - more potential ASL support than thought.
In the most recent amended AB2072 bill as of August 17, 2010, in the panel members designation section starting on page 3, the bill recommends in setting up a panel that consists of 13 members of which possibly up to 5 members with ASL (i.e. visual language instead of "visual communication") background or experiences could be appointed to the panel. That's more than a fair share in seeing that ASL gets represented fairly on the panel (see the bolded words below) where the panel is to help produce an unbiased informational pamphlet. Even with the fact that 3 of the 5 could be appointed by the Governor. So, please, let's not get into what's fair or not fair here or other "wild-eyed" conspiracy claims that this bill tilts favorably to the medical establishment. It clearly does not.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
It's amazing they just don't get it - speaking of yellow shirts and protesters in Sacramento, also the opposition of ab2072.
Barry made a vlog few months ago saying "ab2072 is an opportunity". It's perfectly clear how things evolved on it's own.
Russell
I been told they're calendaring the bill off and will bring the bill up when they feel it's safe to do so because of the onslaught of the opponents. Technically the opponents are hijacking the bill now because of added misconceptions of the bill.
I agree this version of the bill is more than fair.
The wording is odd. "uses visual language, including, but not limited to, ASL."
This could allow people who have only a smattering of ASL and proficient knowledge of Cued Speech, SEE, etc. to get in.
The Governor or any other uninvolved group would not be able to knowingly evaluate this.
Of the thirteen, only five would be those knowing a "visual" language. This is a minority that can concievably be overruled by business interests.
Although this is limited to producing an "informational pamphlet" the language does allow for introduction of bias simply by the numbers. Money talks.
In a state where the powerful John Tracy Clinic has dominated the field and the politicians for decades, one should be careful to proceed.
Dianrez,
Visual language could also include Cantonese, Spanish, and Vietnamese sign languages since the pamphlet will be written in Cantonese/Chinese, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese languages. Are you saying that ASL is the only visual language (ie. on the language part and not just signing) and leave out other native signed languages like SSL, VSL or CSL that would be more apt and natural to use their own language within their own ethnic group? Also, I think that Cued Speech qualifies as a visual communication modality and does not per se fall under as a "visual language."
Mike, now that is stretching the definition of visual language.
Dianrez is correct to caution us about the wording. The loophole provided hole is so large a jumbo jet could fly through it.
In the eyes of those who do not understand the difference between language and communication methods. To them, the two are interchangeable. It would be so easy for them to appoint Deaf with any communication methods (I refuse to call them visual languages since they are all intended to teach ENGLISH in schools) and exclude ASL people, or only keep ONE ASL person as a token. Only 5 Deaf people with various communication modes? while the majority would be Hearing with special interest groups behind them? With two medical people who were trained to view Deafness as something that ought to be cured, or at least ameliorated?
To them (politicians and others not in the know) visual language (and I use the term language loosely) means Cued Speech, SEE 1, SEE 2, SimCom, and all the others that are used to "access" English and precludes ASL. ASL is a genuine language, but to many it's just a set of hand signals.
They don't view Vietnamese, Chinese, etc as visual language... but as languages with spoken and printed forms. Hardly visual.
I notice they all mentioned pamphlets in printed forms of all spoken languages, but left out one important language... ASL... video pamphlet... where? (vlog pamphlet?) Nowhere do I see that. This is quite telling. That shows they don't see ASL as a language, but merely a mode of communication, under what they term "visual language".
I think you need to look deeper than the face value of the language here and dig... truly dig.
Shel
As for SSL, VSL or CSL... I assume you mean Swedish Sign Language, Vietnamese and Chinese Sign Languages... It would be nice if they provided video pamphlets in those languages as well as ASL, but as no mention has been made re: video pamphlets, we can assume that those won't be made.
I agree that Cued Speech, SEE, etc, are NOT languages, but communication modes in the visual modality, but again, as I commented previously, so many people confuse language with communication, and that is the one of the biggest issues I have with AB2072.
Shel
I'd be really curious how the Governator will go about selecting people for the panel, especially those who use "visual languages." I'm sure he has people to advise him about it - but how will they know who to pick? Wonder if he will get names from the heads of state departments, such as the Depts. of Education or Social Services. In California, the 9 or so nonprofit organizations serving the deaf get the bulk of their money from DSS. Will Ah-nold and his advisors understand that it is politically correct to choose from the spectrum of d/D/hh people, and to include some who use ASL exclusively? I'm predicting that because "D"eaf activists do not have close or collaborative relationships with their legislators, that not enough of them will be selected to comprise a majority on the panel.
I was raised using SEE and I applaud the bill for not restricting it to ASL which robs the child of literacy.
My take on the wording: Including but not limited to ASL is another legally binding word to indicate signed language in general. Signed language includes but are not limited to: PSE, TC, SEE, CASE, etc. Throw in foreign signed language, that fits too. The bottom line here is the majority of deaf americans who use signed language do not utilize this "pure ASL" approach, many use PSE. We will be seeing more ASL from the younger generation due to Bi Bi approach in deaf education. That's my take, based on my observation within the deaf culture I have been a part of. Mainstreamed kids typically do not use ASL. So...I'd say that is where that wording comes into play.
Go to any deaf events, NSAD, DeafNation, Coffee Chats, deaf clubs, deaf picnics, etc. Watch and observe. ASL isn't used most. TC and PSE tend to the be most used signed language. The wording is fair.
PSE, SEE, CASE?, Cued Speech are not LANGUAGES - they are signed systems representing spoken ENGLISH - they are part of the auditory-oral approach as the supplement spoken English
http://handeyes.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/red-flag-ab-2072-stakeholder-panel/
peace
patti
Check out the leginfo.ca.gov website and click on AB 2072's 8-20-10 amended version. Wording has changed.
Ann_C
Post a Comment