Message to DBC
Amy Cohen Efron sends a message to Deaf Bilingual Coalition about her disappointment after reading the most recent blog entry published by DBC in this morning. The blog entry is titled, “Gearing Up”.
Amy explains about the importance of having first impression on the first day of the conference. Amy suggests by emphasizing a very positive slogan, “Sign from the Start… Success for a Lifetime” should be presented on the blog at the first day of the conference.
(2:37 minutes)
June 27th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Amy,
Thanks for the constructive criticism and the valid points that you make.
Thanks for your input.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Wow Amy!
I agree with you 100% about first impressions and having read the blog myself like you I am truly disappointed but its the first day so lets see what happens throughout the weekend.
I agree we should celebrate rather than projecting a hostile war on AGB. This saga with ABG vs the Deaf Community has gone on for many years, the war will continue between both sides. Its human nature to engage in hostilities but perhaps with your vblog this will teach them to do the opposite…a desired effect a true psychological breakthrough. I sure hope for that!
Brenda
June 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
We must give our impression that we LOATHE and NEVER will work with AGBell! Good job, DBC!
June 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Not good enough Brian. U need to explain why you wrote it like that. People expect updates from the conference.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I hate to say it but I’m not surprised this is happening because I began to notice the increasing rancor against AGBell in the last few vlogs by Jack’s Eyes which made me wonder what was really astir in the preceding weeks leading up to today. I hope the leaders are now scrambling to make things right as we speak. Thanks, Amy….I just can’t get over such short-sightedness as it relates to strategizing on the part of DBC or the Milwaukee people. Hope your vlog was on time to undo some of this.
DT
June 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
ASL Power,
Try to put aside the strong feelings against AG Bell (as a person and an organization) and focus the positive part of DBC conference. Lots, and lots of people are watching them. The conflict is already inherent, and there is no need to emphasize the conflict since it is already there.
Let us use positive energy to the benefits of using American Sign Language to deaf babies! That is what we need to do, MARKET ASL! Market bilingualism!
Amy COhen Efron
June 27th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Your vlog was very clearly signed (along with some lipreading) and I had no trouble understanding your disappointment with Brian Riley’s statement on DBC’s site.
When I read Riley’s statement, I was, like, banging my head on my desk, and saying to myself, “What were they thinking?” That negative rhetoric is more than enough to drive away hearing parents of deaf babies consulting the site during the conferences, *sigh*.
DBC’s negative criticism of AGBell, oralism, and CI’s will manifest in negative perceptions of ASL, Deaf culture and DBC.
Folks, please find it in your hearts to put aside the anger towards the past and AGBell and work to put out a positive message of ASL’s benefits for future generations.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Amy, watched your video about an hour ago then went on to see that new post from DBC….I could see easily what you meant by that and saw that DBC blog author’s comment here.
Now I’m back online and looked up “Gearing Up” post again and apparently it hasn’t been re-constructed? I guess the blog author is sticking to it.
Your vlog was very clear.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hi! High Five from your huge Laurent Clerc fans and friends, our lucky deaf doctors and good ASL educators !!!!! Yours respectfully, Sam Dorsey
June 27th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Brian, you could have written better than that. “Gearing Up” blog is a disappointment.
I know that DBC conference serves as a beacon for the Deaf children and this weekend will shine through.
I hope to see your writing reflects that too.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Positive, poignant and powerful message! Thank you Amy, for your foresight, clarification and support!
~ LaRonda
June 27th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I agree with Amy.
http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.com/2008/06/ball-and-chain.html
June 27th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I don’t feel the post was constructive. Do not start by attacking oralism, a method the hearing parents chose for their deaf children. This approach will make parents unreceptive to any message coming from DBC.
We need to encourage the hearing parents about exploring a new option ASL. This is done with a positive attitude and explaining how the ASL helps with linguistic development. Adding this option can expand the child’s potential.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Go see AGBell’s June 27th, press release. Do a search on “Earth Times” and “Alexander Graham Bell”. Then click on the link.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I find it deeply disturbing that AG Bells’ press release today, talks about independence through listening and talking???? Where is the right to LANGUAGE?!? My deaf son who was educated in a bilingual school, is fully independent, graduated Gallaudet and now attends grad school at GWU. He also talks, why not advocate for both; Sign language supports speaking, because first you must have A LANGUAGE…my thoughts…
June 27th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I love Brian…I am tired of seeing us being sweet and dandy…no signs…ok AGB….no more Deaf teachers and leaders…ok AGB….No more Deaf schools…ok AGB…read lips Deaf children…ok AGB…use mickey and minnie mouse ear phones…ok AGB….use hearings aides kids…ok AGB…say cupcake…airplane…ice cream…ok AGB…say it right to get stickers…ok AGB…kids get in the hospital to get CI…ok AGB…Drs and audiologists taking thrill rides to experiement on kids with CI…ok AGB…AGB in Wisconsin…DBC…behave yoursevles…show smiling faces…ok AGB…No no!!! No more okay and no more licking lollipops…we roar now with messages on blogs…we roar now on streets…we roar now to media etc. No more okay and sweet dandy postive talks…no more making AGB smiling at us. No more. We love you, Brian…Do change anything you write. I am serious.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I mean do not change anything…Perfect blog you wrote!!! More of them, please.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
While I can agree with Amy and some of commenters above that it is critical to have positive approach in any movement, may I offer a perspective from other side?
I have wondered about this lately: Should we really need to be nice to AGB after what AGB have done to many Deaf children for years and years? AGB manipulated, lied, and denied ASL to many Deaf children. No need to elaborate more on this.
Lately I have noticed some b/vloggers criticized ASL users/supporters for their inappropriate behavior and yet they did NOT criticize AGB for their behavior. What is the difference? It is like that Deaf people is always wrong.
We also need to understand the anger some of b/vloggers have toward AGB becuase they lied and betrayed them. Jack Barr is one of them and I can completely understand his anger toward AGB because what he have gone through when he was little boy.
And I have seen some blogs/vlogs scolding them for their anger. Why can’t we allow them express their anger toward them?
As for Brian’s “Gearing Up” blog, I am glad he responded and accepted your feedback but at the same time, I probably can understand where they come from. We need to remember ALL of DBC rallies they held in the past WERE peaceful and yet AGB continue to paint us as negative protestors. From that perspective, enough is enough and the media needs to know what AGB have done to us.
In closing, I am all for positive approach but I think sometimes we need to be aggressive in exposing the truth. We have been TOO NICE and we have been taught not to speak up too long. And being too nice doesn’t always work in any movement historically anyway.
Overall, I am really impressed with DBC on how they have done in past year. DBC really earned more and more people’s respect especially from NAD!! NAD resisted DBC in first place but they ended up sending BBS to be one of keynote speakers. This is loud enough!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:52 am
I don’t have any problems with that article. It’s spot on.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Hi Amy!
Indeed we need to show our good role model to other who don’t know about ASL.
-Gary Brooks
June 28th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Absolutely agree 100%
Joey, we know what AGBell has done… but that is not what the parents need to hear when they seek information and assistance FOR their children.
It’s much easier for AGBell to reach parents and harder for us… that means alot more work for us.
Anyway, I absolutely agree with you, Amy.
To be honest, I am surprised that Brian wrote that… he, of all people, should know how critical it is to have good image in public. And first impression.
He didn’t leave good impression with many in the past. So why him on the first day? *shrugs*
I wont say much…don’t have time to get in heated debates.
I do hope things go very well.
Take care.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:23 am
I believe in taking the high road, we get more results. If we go the low road, it will only back fire on the cause we are creating (2 step backwards or more ..). Remember 90 to 95 % deaf children, babies, and adults are born to hearing parents. We know something on how hearing parents will react to Brian s first blog. It is something most new hearing parents of Deaf babies will never comprehend. Anger is a tiresome waste of energy most people will not be interested, want to walk away and will think we have a chip on our shoulders. The parents wants to see HOPE.
We need to think like the hearing parents who wants their babies hearing period. As most of us are parents, we want what is best for our children. If there is a different norm in our children, what do we do? Suppose your child was born blind or have severe heart condition, or may have autism.. what are our first reactions? What kind of information do we look for? What kind of people do we want to assist us through the journey in providing the best journey for our children lives? Do we want to deal with angry and agressive people telling us what is the best way to raise our children? I would think NOT. We would have enough to deal with our emotions than dealing with people who may be cyncial due to bad experience. We need to think of ways to show ASL is the way to go to demonstrate positive and productive results. There is a time and place where Deaf people can express their anger among within ourselves, support eachother, and move on but not at AGBell or DBC conventions. It is not AGBell we are trying to reach but the GIANTS .. who are the GIANTS??? The PARENTS are (Hearing and Deaf as I have several friends who are sending their Deaf kids to AGBell s causes). Remember most of these PARENTS are in greiving process and any negative approach will drive them further away. It is educating the PARENTS the grand opportunities ASL/Bilingualism and nultilingualism provide for Deaf and Hard of Hearing babies and children.
Taking the high road have results, a good example is the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King, did he preach about the how cruel the Confederates are? Did he preach about being agressive to the whites? Did he preach about the historic slavery periods? NO.
What did the honorable Dr Martin Luther King do? He said do not fight back with anger or with being agressive. Instead he asked his followers to take the high road, be peaceful, hold your head up high, and be proud of who you are. Look at today’s events, the honorable Senator Obama Barrack is running for President of the United States and ha may be our next President of the United States.
Yes, DBC, we do have our work cut out for us meaning, we need to get into the political field, to create laws Deaf babies and children’s rights to LANGUAGE using American Sign Language that will promote literacy, writing, speaking, and lead productive lives as a bilingual or multilingual. It is up to us to take this lead by taking the high road. Then we can pat each other backs and say we are moving in the right direction for the sake of our Deaf and Hard of Hearing babies and children.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Neither do I have any problem with Brian’s article. Amy, not to worry about DBC approach. Please read the article by the previous article by the DBC coalition, “AG Bell ‘Warns’Its Members” and you would more likely be confident of the proper DBC approach. http://www.dbcusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=19
I love the way how Brian describes the rise and fall of the Oralist Movement as one of the great historic epic about to happen at the scene of this weekend’s “Battle of the Conferences,” in Brian’s words. He merely gives a summary of the battle being fought by the both sides.
Dean
June 28th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Thanks for the beautiful impression! I believe in DBC
June 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Amy,
Thanks for sharing your inner thoughts what the DBC’s recent posting.
I was kinda surprised and perplexed why the DBC update(s) had been written that way.
Many of us are not at the DBC and AGBell conference now. How do we know and experience the pysche of being there (conference).
You are absolutely right about more positive outlooks with options for deaf youngsters instead of resorting to mindless bashings of AGBell.
Joey Baer is correct in many ways how cunning and sinister (my word description of AGBell) have been toward parents of deaf youngsters and ruin many deaf lives in name of ideology and so-called human perfection.
MLK was no saint himself anyway. The FBI and the Kennedy and Johnson adminstration and congressional leaders knew about MLK’s unangelic ploys. MLK committed endless sexual trysts with white women during his civil right activities.
Yes, many people responded to Barack Obama’s positive-theme campaign slogans, BUT we will eventually find Obama’s messages to be empty ones in timely manner.
I hope that the DBC press and communication people will be more “sounding board” to BR before he post any DBC updates. BR is really a great person, sometimes could be overboarding from time to time.
We could learn from our mistakes. Your vlog presentation surely get the DBC’s attention. BR is no communication or PR major. We really need more PR and communication majors. BR have such an extensive knowledge of deaf history and other things. I hope that BR could be still the part of collabarative group to make contributions to the DR.
Admitting the regretful note on the DBC is the first step to show parents of deaf youngsters that we will admit our mistakes and much willing to be pragmatic for the sake of the future of deaf youngsters’ right to visual language acquistion and exposure, etc.
I done the blog postings on Mabel Hubbard Bell and AGB to show the real hyprocrisy of both historical figures and the AGBEll positions on visual language acquisition and other things. I do not regret at all.
Why many people flocked to see blockbuster films like “Lord of the Ring” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” because they displayed the battle scenes between evil and good. Of course, both films reflect our concerns and desires with the necessity of WAR.
DeafChip and other deaf bloggers and vloggers already reminded us the real importance of positive approaches.
RLM
June 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am
See Brian and the DBC taking the high road! (((hands waving)))
Friday Evening Opening Ceremony
I love John Egbert’s quotation “The MIND is necessarily more important than the ability to speak, and how we develop the mind is through language.”, this is the best thing I ever have seen. It reminds me of that book by Harlan Lane, “When the Mind Hears”.
Anne Marie
June 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Beautiful, Suzi Guimond McGeath!
As much as we know about AGBell and how they look down on culturally deaf and ASL, their services are still very useful for some people so it does not make sense when DE said “AGBell must go!” because there are parents and people who still need their services. And they do find them beneficial.
I am very aware of the damages they have done and their most recent activity is very revealing - such as their reaction to the Pepsi commercial.
DBC has a lot of potentials, too…but I don’t agree with how they are approaching this. However, I do wish them good luck and if they can connect with the hearing parents of deaf/hard of hearing, then they have succeed.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Hi,
You’re right, first impressions do count in many ways. Like I mentioned in PSST AGBell is angry in DVTV under Cynthia Butt’s Vlog/blog, DBC should focus on winning parents’ hearts and confidence. I also mentioned that maybe DBC should start conversations and make some connections with Cochlear Implant corporations, see if they would sponsor DBC, and create equal leverage. This way, if CI corporations sponsor DBC, parents are much more likely to listen to us. I believe in order to make a deaf child a well-balanced person is to instill ASL, help them learn to speak well and to have excellent writing/reading skills. This will make any parent happy.
We need to get in there and help parents feel that they are doing the right thing for their children, we need to be good role models, something that parents want to see their children in this kind of image, and to function independently in the hearing world. I have met some hearing parents while working, I can see what they are looking for and they can easily get turned off by an angry deaf person.
The point is that we need to win parents’ hearts!!! Then they will graviate toward ASL in this way.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I am going to be brave here and say this…. I sure wish DBC core committee members would invest their time finding a lobbyist to work with the Congress to fund more dollars for ASL/Deaf Babies research instead of barking at AGBell for being so mean to deaf people. Nothing is going to change AgBell. Do you think its time that we use our energy/efforts to educate the Congress to get dollars for ASL funding?
June 28th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
deafmommie (#28) - Do you happen to know any Cochlear Implant corporation(s) that promote and supports ASL? I have not seen any. anyone else?
Advocate4ASL (#29) - You bet! It is already on their list. It is my guess that Financial contributions is probably number one priority for DBC. They need money to start and hire few staff members. Those staff members can start research and find ways to educate Congress people.
We need to work together collectively, discuss ideas, and talk POSTIIVELY in public. If you have concerns, share it with DBC privately not on internet where AGB is watching us. But hey, we are getting smarter here, aren’t we?
I continue to be amazed with some who continue to look at smaller picture and SMALLEST part of body, 3 little bones in our ears. We have souls and emotions that we are supposed to focus on. DBC have done an EXCEPTIONAL job. They are still learning on how to win hearing parents’ hearts. They have won many so far and it is growing!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Yes I agree about investing more time to get Congress to recognize the human right of having full language communication by being bilingual for children with hearing loss. ASL will always surpass what children get with artificial listening devices, the problem is lack of awareness and funding we need to bolster ASL resources for Deaf and Hoh children.
We definitely need a legal status on this. Bring the Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights to Congress to make it a national law. One thing I should mention here, one of founders of this bill told me that the original draft was constantly revised into a weak law so that at least it can put its foot in the door or it won’t pass.
Now about parents having full right to choices (for some parents) even going above the human right of their child having full language communication, parents should not drop on the idea of bilingualism because they worry about not becoming fluent in ASL. No. While doing their best, it is Deaf and Hoh Ed programs’ main responsibility to providing ASL model language and resources. Deaf Ed programs and Deaf communities need to collaborate and work together to serve a foundation of ASL language.
If DBC is more into dodging AGBell, let them. NAD’s next big agenda will be on this.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Hi Advocate4ASL,
You do have a great merit about educating the Congress, but that’s not the only thing that DBC can do about it.
We deaf people DO need to get together and be as much visible to the public about our rights to have ASL for all babies as possible, especially those parents who have never heard of another choice than the misinformation propagandized by AGBell. We need to let those parents know so that their children would benefit hugely should the parents welcome ASL. So that’s not about barking at AGBell across the street.
I am not sure if we do need research on merits of ASL, it would take many, many years of research before the results becomes more evident. It is very urgent that future babies don’t miss the window of opportunity to develop their great traits absolutely necessary to survive and enjoy life in this world. So it is vital that their parents be informed early on and not get lost in the whirlwind of AGBell propaganda.
I really love the idea for us to get together at a DBC conference for a rally and to support each other. And I am disappointed that I could not make it at Milwaukee this weekend. Gotta go the next time!
My best wishes to all attendees!!
Dean
June 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Everyone,
Thank you so much for taking your time to make these comments. I am very inspired by your passion because it shows through your words!
This is the most productive dialogue we ever have on this blog, and lots of wonderful suggestions and ideas are shared here.
Here is the link where you can contact to the DBC Core Team with your suggestions, concerns, questions and support.
Go there: Contact DBC Core Team
Thank you so much for writing your thoughts on my blog.
Amy Cohen Efron
June 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
For Joey #30,
Congress has a Hearing Health Committee of which AGBell is the most influential member. The well-known senators, Hillary Clinton, Tom Harkin, and Daniel Inohyune serve on this committee. They support AGBell who urges that the USA be the most powerful and most influential nation about the devices for those with hearing loss. I have a long list of names of senators and representatives besides the aforementioned senators (vide supra).
Also:
AGB has played a large role in Congress’s other committee, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Committee. I shall check out for the names of the senators and representatives.
For Advocate4ASL #29,
The National Institute of Health (NIH) at Bethesda has repeatedly proven since 1990 that exposing sign language to deaf babies — be they hearing or deaf — is the best approach for the development of linguistics as well as of intelligence, besides the natural intelligence. A number of studies conducted by the NIH’s hired researchers was widely circulated in various printed matters, including LIFE Magaqzine (1990 and 2000) as well as in TV networks. Perhaps Congress has not read the findings, so both the DBC and the NAD should send the references to Congress.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Hi Joey,
You asked a very good question, I don’t know if CI corporations support ASL. I would think they don’t care as long as their products are being used. If DBC could make some connections with CI corporations and work with them, they may be more likely to pass the information to doctors who are contracted to use CI to give information to new parents of deaf babies. As many parents tend to look for advice through their doctors, if DBC could work with CI corporations, make pamphlets, send a PR person, or whatever and the CI corporations could make good use of them and have them work with new parents. I’m not sure if this will work out or not. Also putting a bill in the House is a great idea! We’re getting there a little bit…..
June 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Successful? Not quite. Media and the public did not seem to take off as DBC was hoping they would. Look no further than Milwaukee’s very own Journal. They published an article, which in my view generated negative publicity for DBC and ASL. Simply put, DBC got off on the wrong foot when it choose to butt heads with AG Bell. Why? Because AGB represent Oralism and Cochlear Implant movements. For DBC to butt head with AG Bell and say that we are only here to empower and advocate ASL without regards to Oralism and Cochlear Implant is playing naive and stupid because AGB represents Oralism and Cochlear Implant movement. It is little wonder why Milwaukee Journal compared AGB’s movement for technology versus DBC’s movement for ASL. Don’t want the comparision? Don’t butt heads with organization that represent Oralism & CI. If DBC had any brains at all they would begin an independent movement based on its own merits without picking a fight with the giant. It is sad how DBC choose to butt heads with AGB as if our metits could not stand on its own. Go figure. DBC recruited ASL powerhouses, who by nature hated Oralism & Cochlear Implants, therefore the decision to butt heads with AGB is not surprising. What we all thought was going to be a historic and break through movement evolved into a docile and fruitless movement due to lack for political and strategic plans. It’s a sad time for our Deaf Children.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I agree with Joey Baer’s comment. My husband and I growl at AGBell.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I agree with Amy and all others who agreed with her. First thing first. Brian Riley didn’t produce an ideal First Impression. For a guy who claim to be an expert in media literacy he flunked big time. For a while he managed to wiggle his way into making us believe that he had the Media savviness. Unfortunately his First Impression letter told us all we needed to know about him. The closer we get to a person the more dents we will see. And now we’re seeing Brian’s dents and will continue to see more of his weakness and faults. I hope that we’ll wake up before he does damages to our movement. He made a mistake when he tries to be somebody that he isn’t. A lesson learned.
What happened? What went wrong here? Well, for your information, John Egbert and DBC started off with the right idea however they made a severe mistake when they recruited ASL Powerhouses from northern California, who injected an influx of ASL Movements. The influx sidelined bilingual movement, bringing us back to much of the same old information everybody’s heard before. AG Bell is very pleased with itself today, sitting atop of the world, because we are a group of cynical minority wanting to talk about ASL movement rather than the movement for bilingualism. AG Bell was “worried sick” for a while because DBC spelled Deaf Bilingual Coalition however come crunch time in Milwaukee DBC spelled Deaf ASL Coalition. The messages during the conference was primarily about ASL. They did not discuss importance of English language, that of reading and writing, leading to excellence in literacy. No. The infiltration of ASL powerhouses within DBC didn’t want to emphasize bilingualism, emphasizing importance of English language for the fear that it would somewhat devalue ASL. This is a myth and they don’t know it yet because they are too deeply entrenched within ASL powerhouses.
After the conference in Milwaukee we hope that DBC will head back home with their heads down so that they will learn from their mistakes. It would be a mistake for them to head home with their heads up high, giving everybody a false sense for security. The hope is not lost by any means. They need to realize what is important here. The hearing parents who ultimately decides the fate of Deaf children. AG Bell does not decide so I am not sure why DBC decided to butt heads with them. As with any battles, a war has never solved anything. It always lead to losses, disappointments, some more anger and more battles. It is the game of the uncivilized. The civilized knows better than to wage a war. They communicate their points in an effective way and reaches across the table through diplomats who knows how to communicate. That is where real education begins. Let’s hope DBC is capable of listening and learning. It might depend on ASL powerhouses that has infiltrated DBC and robbed it of an important opportunity.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Dr. Hocokan, are you kidding me? I happen to know the people you call “ASL powerhouses from Northern California” quite well, and you are creating a very misleading impression of these people. Yes, they’re strong. Yes, they advocate for ASL. But they have never once denied the importance of bilingualism. In fact, they value and pride their English literacy skills… and here’s the kicker. They WANT and advocate for all Deaf children to have ASL/English bilingual literacy with strength in BOTH languages.
You need to retract your words because they are false.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Very interesting - different opinions and perspectives Wow. I agree with your opinion about first impression at the conference is important but I agree 100% with Penny #16, Joey Baer and some few others who support Brian and DBC. Did you see President NAD Bobbie Scoggins mentioned about how disgusted she was of AGB because they were against deaf actors using sign language during the SuperBowl commerical on TV? We need to do something to educate AGB and Congress about ASL and deaf’s rights. Should our ASL and rights continue to be denied by AGB? Why can’t AGB respect deaf people’s rights to communicate by using their hands with face expression in American sign language in public to show how many smart deaf people are out there and speaking does not make them smart?
June 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Jenny, I know these individuals as well. In fact I worked with them. I was one of DBC’s core group member when they whined in face of bilingualism and complained about literacy. I do not expect you to mark my words. I have hard copies (tons of email) that were circulated between myself and DBC’s ASL powerhouse while I served the movement. I resigned when DBC’s ASL Powerhouse ordered me to refain from discussing DBC business matters via email among Core Group simply because this leader says she is unable to process her thoughts through literacy. She wanted to restrict our conversations to ASL via VP and VLOGs only. Furthermore she ordered me to refrain from communicating via email except to set up Video Phone appointments. True spirit of bilingualism? Sorry to disappoint you Jenny but it’s not practiced on the inside. These people are from Deafhood (ASL powerhouse). They found the courage to wear bilingualism umbrella with hidden agendas to promote Deafhood and pro-ASL movement. Naturally AG Bell is smiling big time today. They want us to be this same old cynical ASL machine who can’t think and function beyond ASL.
June 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Dr. Hocokan-
I read your comments. I would like to ask you some questions here. Where did you find that DBC has changed name to DAC (Deaf ASL Coalition)? I could not find anywhere or did you make up this name yourself? Where did you get the information that ASL powerhouse as you called them are against anyone to learn English and Writing? I have never heard anyone mentioned about it. ASL powerhouse people have very good English and literacy skills…way far better than mine (darn! It is because they developed language much earlier than mine). I am surprised that you find offensive if someone prefers to discuss with you on VP because this is my first preference to use for communication. I love to write and read but I prefer to use VP because I can see read facial expression, body language and it helps not to have misunderstandings or misinterpretations. I had experienced where a Deaf friend who preferred not to talk on VP but through frequent e-mails only. I found it very odd. I believe that the person did not want to be honest or to be true to herself/himself. It sounds like you are an intelligent person (you are a Dr. after all) and I am extremely surprised that you found offensive when the person preferred to talk to you through VP. What is wrong with using VP? We use English and writing at work and public places every single day. Hear me? Every single day! May we use VP so we can be free and use our ASL for communication without worrying too about English grammar like I am worried right now from typing this message? I hope you can answer my questions here. Thank you.
June 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Sorry…not “can see read”… I mean read facial expressions. English…my my my…but I am trying!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Penny,
I understand your English fine, not to worry. I wonder if VP messages can be recorded and stored, much like emails can be printed as memo’s and kept for the record. It is often helpful to have stored or printed communications so that there are no misunderstandings within an organization. Many companies and non-profits rely heavily on stored or printed documentation of official communications.
In DBC’s case, the core members are far-flung across the country and email communications should be easy enough to do, since as you mentioned, the
ASL powerhouses you know have “very good English and literacy skills”.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hi Penny,
Thank you for sharing your insights with us.
Let us all remember the point of this discussions. Let’s not lose our focus here. We’re talking about First Impressions.
Thank you in advance for the opportunity to clarify some of my points.
1) I did not say that DBC changed its’ name to DAC. I only stated that come crunch
spelled ASL louder than English language. For your information Bilingual means exactly that, two languages. Both languages deserve equal air time and respect. Neither language is more important than the other. By nature, ASL is the first desired and natural language for us. No question about it. But understand this, ASL is no more important than English language. Both languages deserve equal air time and equal respect because AG Bell and Hearing parents are more interested in English language. If we are going to ever convince them of our cause we will need to treat English language with respect and promote it as ASL’s equal partner. Once we are able to do that then we will be viewed as true Bilingual movement. Otherwise, to promote ASL every where with little or no regards for English language will only appear ‘biased’ in public’s eye. Remember we are talking about First Impression here and how DBC is going to be perceived by the general public. We are not referring to Deaf people’s First Impressions. We are referring to general public’s first impression when and if they were up in Milwaukee today. ASL is the superior language is what they will see in Milwaukee. That first impression worked for Deaf people but it won’t work for public’s eye.
time in front of AG Bell, DBC’s underlying messages (slogans, rallying signs, t-shirts, talking points and such
2) This brings me to importance of understanding marketing. Every audience (targets) requires different marketing approaches. One size fits all approach simply does not work. Marketing men’s pants require completely different approaches than marketing women’s pants. Details are lesser in advertisement when targeting men. Details are greater when advertisement targets women. The same is true when we market an idea to Deaf people versus hearing parents. Different audience sees things differently therefore they require different kind of marketing approaches. And again, we are talking about First Impressions here. This is important because ultimately it is the hearing parents who decide the fates of Deaf children, not us. Understanding the art of marketing is very important here. It’s easy to arrange a rally or a protest movement but marketing is a completely different game with different set of rules.
2) Not only should we preach bilingualism but we should practice it. Why? First impression is very important. We should stand prepared for the day when a hearing parent comes across the bridge and enters into Deaf world. They will approach us and test the water, so to speak. It is only natural for them to feel the need to test the water to see if the world on our side is stable and safe before they will agree to entrust us with their children’s education. In order to advertise bilingualism we are supposed to perform accordingly. Otherwise we will be viewed as the party that does not practice what we preach. Nasty stuff happens when and if we don’t practice what we preach. Understand this again, the science of first impressions. When hearing people hears about our bilingual approach they will expect us to treat both languages as equal partners, containing English language as well as ASL. To advertise ASL with little or no reference to English language is not bilingual in their view. It is as if we do not pay equal respect for English language and do not advocate accordingly. Regardless of what we (Deaf people) think, hearing people believes that English language deserves equal position and value when we make reference to Bilingual. Why? Because they represent English language. We represent ASL. Bilingual is the BRIDGE that represents BOTH languages therefore both languages deserves equal respect and air time. Unfortunately, DBC’s underlying messages in Milwaukee spelled ASL every where with little or no regards for English language as its’ equal. Equal air time? Not happening. Bilingualism? Unfortunately no. These two languages are supposed to work together for the betterment of our Deaf children’s education. Neither language should be superior to the other. This is what Hearing parents want to hear. Otherwise we will lose them to AG Bell who continue to thrive for as long as we choose to tout ASL louder than its’ equal partner, that of English language.
3) The point is why place ourselves in the position of having to choose between ASL and Bilingual since ASL is natural part of Bilingual. Why not promote Bilingual as whole and include English language as ASL’s equal partner, as in marriage? Nothing pleases AG Bell greater than to hear ASL rallies coming out of us because they know that it will work in their favor and it has for so many years.
4) Where did I get the information that ASL powerhouse are against anyone to learn English and Writing? You are putting words in my mouth. I never said that they were against anybody learning English and writing (literacy). I am saying that they whined in face of Bilingualism while I served in DBC’s core group. They whined about emails that were circulated (done in literacy) and began to forbid literacy simply because their leader could not process their thoughts through literacy. I did not learn this fact from other sources. It was communicated directly to me by the leaders of DBC while I served. And that was only two weeks ago. They told me to refrain from using email except to set VP appointments. Whatever happened to true spirit of bilingualism? Remember importance of first impression here. If they approached AG Bell or any hearing parents the same way you can imagine their first impression. Their first impression would be the same as mine. Was it done in bilingual fashion?
5) You said you were surprised that I found it offensive if someone prefers to discuss things on VP if it were their first preference. You are putting words in my mouth again. I did not say that I am offended whenever someone prefers to communicate via VP. I use VP every day on daily basis to communicate with different people. The problem is we do not carry VP with us where ever we go. In many instances my meetings with DBC core group occurred everyday. Many times we try to communicate when we travel therefore we had to use email. VP were just not readily available for everybody so I relied on email to keep in touch with everybody to make sure that everything were coordinated and happening. I felt obligated to help DBC to take where the movement needed to go. When they took that away from me it reminded me of classic example of oppressions. As a Deaf person I grew up under that environment, having no TTY and no relay service. They didn’t invent internet and email yet. The feel for oppression felt like the scars on my back from many years of whip lashes (oppressions). And when they finally invented internet and email, I thrived and promised myself I’d never be without liberty again. Come DBC and its’ movement. I jumped with joy and jumped onboard. I worked tirelessly and poured everything I had into the movement only to witness oppression coming from within, that of Deafhood who asked me to refrain from communicating via email. You can imagine what my first impression was. Bilingualism? But I thought DBC spelled bilingual? As soon as I stood my ground and tried to protect my rights to use email they banned me from Seeworks (a program DBC use to coordinate everything including message boards and write boards). I was cut off, completely. Everybody from DBC except for one individual had cold shoulders for the fear that I’d spill the beans. Bilingualism? Who, of all people, should know about oppressions than we, Deaf people? And yet they oppressed their own. It was a mind boggling experience for me. Regardless, the overall point is we (Deaf people) have rights to literacy (English language) via email as much as we have the rights to ASL. A severe mistake was made on that day when they asked me not to discuss anything through email except to make VP appointments. Perhaps it is the next Greatest Irony?
6) We all are intelligent in our own ways. Intelligence is not necessarily always reflected in our literacy skill. Intelligence is reflected based on how resourceful we choose to be an dhow we utilize ASL as a tool to get us where we want to go. Simple answer. Nothing is wrong with ASL. Nothing is wrong with VP. But don’t take away the other half, that of English language and access to email which are dear to many of us. We should not worry about English grammars for it is only there to help us, not negate us. Unfortunately many of us were raised into believing the greatest myth. Our schools taught us to believe that weak or bad grammar will only degrade us or negate us. This is simply untrue. It only degrades or negates us when we are afraid to use it. Remove that fear and it will no longer degrade or negate us.
I hope that I’ve answered your questions. If not, blog up and I’ll try again.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
As a former core member of DBC for almost two months last year, I can confirm what Dr. Hocokan is saying here about certain people within DBC demanding to VP or do vlogs, instead of using emails. That is one of the many reasons why I resigned from DBC.
Dr. Hocokan is telling the complete truth here.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Dr. Hocokan,
Your comments are worthy of a blog post of its own - have you considered blogging this?
I’m reading your comments and nodding my head emphatically. That is almost exactly what I experienced within DBC. You have hit the nail on the head, and this deserves more attention. If you need to borrow someone’s blog - feel free to contact me (Amy knows how to contact me). You can write a guest blog on mine if you wish. And I am sure others would be happy to let you write a guest blog as well.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Fortunately Yes. Plans are currently in place for my own blog postings as well as vloggings. September 15th is our launch date for new web site including blogging and vlogging privileges. I would be interested in learning more from you and others on where to post blogs and how to develop new blogs. Even though I am an avid internet user and web developer I was never interested in blogging or vlogging until I crossed paths with DBC and felt inspired to contribute something back to the cause, that of bilingualism for Deaf children. URL address for the upcoming web site will be announced shortly.
Thank you for your support and encouragement.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Additionally, I tried blogging at deafread several times but each time I tried the moderator deleted them. Yesterday I visited deafread to read about the so-called wall that AG Bell built between two hotel facilities. I made a decision to participate as a blogger for the first time and stated that the wall was only an illusion in our heads but really didn’t exist. I went on to say that we were not as dumb as herd of cattle staring at the wall. I mean, we’re intelligent human beings and we know there are many different ways around this wall. There are many different to enter both hotel facilities. Apparently the moderator didn’t like it because he or she wanted us (Deaf) people to believe that the wall is actually there to prevent DBC from doing its’ job and from being heard. I thought we are smarter than a herd of cattle and I thought DBC should treat us accordingly and quit orchestraing illusions in our head. Then I blogged once more and asked if the wall was actually here, from within. That comment got thrown out too. It is the brain washing business that has to end. It is not very empowering when they try to instilling illusions and fear factors into our heads.
I also tried blogging on Joey Baer’s site but the result was the same. Simply unfortunate.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hi Doctor-
You wrote a very long comment here. I felt like I was reading a textbook. Smile. I apologized for putting words in your mouth. It looked like I had misinterpreted some of what you said so I am glad you took the time to clarify on some topics.
I understand what you mean by “first impression” because I wanted to do that with students and professors when I attended one year program at the community college. I am still not sure what first impression you wanted DBC to show at the convention this weekend. My wish for first impression at school was to inform students and professors that I use ASL for communication and learning. I expected them to involve me 100% in classrooms (yes with interpreters). They showed respect because I demanded it and I also showed my respect to them too. It takes two to respect each other. I am still not clear on how you would want DBC attendees to behave at the convention. I am not at DBC convention however I got the impression that we are asking and begging our country to recognize ASL and respect ASL as a language. There are some interpreters to help facilitate the convention so this shows that we want to include hearing people and hearing parents of deaf children. I do not see DBC are circled only with ASL people. We want to spread the message that Deaf babies and children need to rely on ASL to develop language. There were protests in D.C. Colorado, Indiana, and in Milpitas, California and I learned that DBC was well received by staff, public and police officers. DBC received thumb ups and there were many cars horn blasting. Police officers also told DBC group that they enjoyed working with them immensely. This tells me that DBC has always been giving excellent first impression.
I never got the impression that DBC powerhouse as you called them that they did not want to treat English and ASL as equal partner. John Egbert always inform news on his blog instead of vlog. I wanted him to do vlogs but I realized that he might feel more comfortable to express in writing…that is his preference…I know Ella Lentz had written several blogs and did some vlogs and others preferred to do vlogs only. I see bilingualism practice in our community. When I have chance to hang around with ASL educated people…believe me they use fancy words and sometime I had to look up in the dictionary when I come home. True!
It is hard for me to see what you are seeing. I am not saying you are lying or making it up. I am saddened that you are not impressed with DBC. I am baffled that this group of people from powerhouse demanded you to communicate via vp. I would love to ask Ella about this one day. She is one of the easiest, warm and friendly person and I am comfortable to ask her about this.
You raised excellent points about marketing. My idea of marketing for DBC is to tell the truth…to get the truth out regardless if they don’t like it or not as long we tell the truth about ASL and AGB oppression for centuries and how they use stocks and shares on Deaf children today. My “marketing” idea is simply to tell the truth. If it does not work then we have to keep fighting and get some new ideas until Deaf children have rights to ASL. What are your ideas for marketing? We want to tell the world that we need to use ASL to teach Deaf children English. This is bilingual approach. What kind of approach or ideas (please give lists of examples) that you want DBC to present at the convention?
June 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
It was at this link, http://blog.deafread.com/agbellxinfo/2008/06/25/agbell-builds-another-wall-at-milwaukee/ where several of my comments regarding the walls as illusions were rejected. If I understood correctly the moderator behind this blog is John Egbert, founder of DBC. If this is true then I certainly can understand why my comments were rejected. DBC wanted Deaf people to believe that the wall is actually there in order to build the momentum they needed. This is a classic example of marketing effort gone awry. For a while we were told that we were going to Milwaukee to communicate our messages to AG Bell and hearing parents. But now we know differently. They went to Milwaukee to market DBC ideas to Deaf people and their communities. They did not coordinate the conference with plans to market DBC’s idea towards hearing parents and AG Bell. This so-called WALL, an illusion in our head, is a marketing niche designed to enrage Deaf people with hope to motivate them to attend the conference. End result? It worked. Deaf people flocked angrily but yet peaceful as they stood in awe of a gigantic figure, John Egbert. It worked. My hat is off to John and DBC. It is their first but important lesson in marketing. They will eventually learn that this sales pitch is not going to work for hearing parents and AG Bell. Hopefully they will come to their senses and put something refreshing together, a different marketing approaches when they are actually ready to target and connect with hearing parents. They will also need a different set of marketing messages for the Media such as newspaper, television news and talk shows because these people communicate in media languages and codes. Medical professionals use medical terms, languages and codes when they discuss medical issues among themselves. Business people also use business language and codes when they discuss business details among themselves. The same is true for the Media sources. According to what I’ve seen during my tenure with DBC they labored long and hard during the past few weeks with hope to recruit media giants (Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC and such) for the conference in Milwaukee. As head of Media Department for one short week none of my inputs were considered by Brian Riley who prepared letters to every imaginable media sources. It was not until later when Brian realized that I was in charge of DBC’s public media department. Regardless, the leaders went ahead and submitted letters to the medias without including a single input from me. To date none of these media people came with exception for Milwaukee Journal who published an article, seen here at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=766249 wheras they shedded negative outlooks for DBC.
This is a classic example of “one size fits all” approach. IT does NOT work. The so-called WALL illusion may have worked for best interest of Germany, old Soviet and United States. It may have worked for the DBC and Deaf people but unfortunately it will not work for the Media. It will not ring true for hearing parents and AG Bell. The reason is simple. They don’t see the WALL that DBC claim to see therefore they know that it’s only an illusion in our heads, a sorry STATE to be in. Whose fault is it? Ours. We’re our own worse enemy. The crime has been commited at the expenses of Deaf children because these ASL powerhouse who want to instill initimdations and fear factors into our heads. See the WALL? Sorry I looked and looked hard, again and again every where around me but I don’t see it. It’s just not there. Do I know what the wall looks like? You bet. I grew up as DEAF as I can possibly be. I grew up among these WALLS because I believed that it was there. That was until I learned the meaning of illusions. As soon as I learned the power of illusions these WALLS DISAPPEARED. Do I remember these WALLS? You bet I do. I remember it because it is a part of my childhood. I remember it so that I’ll know it’s only an illusion when I see it again.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Penny,
Text book? I apologize for the length of my comments. This is my first day here in this blog so evidently I’m fuming away because as Deaf person I’ve seen the lack for it. Smile.
My best to you and your quest during one year program at a community college. I am sure you will do very well. You are bright in your own right.
The First Impression is not something we should confuse ourselves with. It is not as simple as deciding what first impression we want versus what first impression you want. It is based on how others view things and how we help them view messages under positive lights. People fail marketing miserably when they begin to assume something incorrectly. For example, I see a little girl in front of me and I’ll assume she’s going to want a pink shirt because common sense tells me that girls and pink color goes together. But in reality this little girl may not feel connected to pink. She may be more interested in contents or imprinted messages rather than the color of short. Understanding the mindset of this girl beforehand will help us with our marketing efforts. It is based on factual findings, that of what ticks and what does not with certain group of people. They key here is to help others feel connected with whatever it is that we are trying to sell.
I agree with you. Telling the truth is very important. But you will also understand that different people have different perspectives on the truth. What seem like the truth to you may not ring true for others simply because we all grow up differently. We all have different perspectives therefore the truth as we know it are not always the same when we compare our facts together. This brings us to importance of HOLISM. Holism is a theory that incorporates WHOLE rather than PARTS. Understand HOLISM and you will begin to visualize the bridge necessary to bridge our differences. It will enable us to connect with others so that we’re able to understand their TRUTHS and help them understand ours as well. First impression? We want to demonstrate ourselves as WHOLE so that the hearing parents will embrace us enough to try and learn how we became whole. By demonstrating ourselves less than whole will only shift hearing parents, who don’t now any better, attention towards other WHOLE solutions. This is why AG Bell demonstrated itself as WHOLE by defining Deaf child as Whole Child. This is how they gain parental’s vote of confidence. We are very capable of accomplishing the same task through Bilingualism.
I am not here to tell anybody how to behave. I am not here to tell DBC how to behave. I do not have that kind of power. I am powerless as far as how others choose to behave. I’m only responsible for my own actions and choice of words. I represent myself, the whole self. Understand this because it will serve you well down the road. It does not take an organization of million people to make a decent point. A point can be made loudly and decently by one single individual. It is a matter of utilizing resources and using them as ‘leverages’ to accomplish exactly the same tasks with lesser energy and resources. Creativity is the name of the game. We’ve just shifted from industrial age to information age. What used to transpire through the power of ships are now transpired through the power of a click of a mouse. Things changed. The old mindset for costly and time consuming rallies is no longer effective. DBC spent well over $35,000 for this conference and to think they missed the target with hearing parents should make the rest of us sick to the stomach. I know it does for me because these money would be better spent on new leverages that are available. It would have been enough for a full blown public relations machine that had ways to connect with hearing parents, lobbysts, public media and general public.
You are right. The impression you have on DBC is correct. They are asking and begging our country to recognize ASL and respect ASL as a language. But understand this. To ask or beg for something is an indication of something we lack or don’t have or wish to gain. This, I do not understand. We do not have to beg or ask for ASL recognization nor do we need to beg for respect. It is already there. It will always be part of us. ASL is ours to keep. It is not endangered as some would like us to believe. We all know ASL works. We all know the miracles it represent. It’s a beautiful language. But when DBC went to Milwaukee and asked the world to recognize ASL and respect our language they are indicating to AG Bell that their approach is working. This message will only incite AG Bell to remain steadfast with their approach. If DBC had any sense they would cease from asking or begging. They will begin to use reversal psychology.
Reversal psychology….. ideal first impression? I see a movement that says we are thriving! Our language is thriving! It’s ours to keep and treasure. Do it with big smiles and hugs. Demonstrate ourselves as happy and content people. We shout with joy and dance accordingly. Such happiness is CONTAGIOUS! The hearing parents will come and wonder what it’s all about… the happiness. And we’ll tell them how we did it. Bilingualism! Equal marriage between ASL and English language. Respect for both languages. Equal air time between ASL and English language. End result? We’re happy and content people.
Look no further than David Reynold’s speech on DBC’s latest VLOG and you will see him making statements about high percentage of failures among Deaf people because something is wrong with the system. Words are like mirrors, a reflection of self. He was, in fact referring to himself and his peers, that of ASL Powerhouse. My first thought to his statement was, hey, speak for yourself because I’d like to speak for myself. Don’t sterotype me.
Surely, DBC has demonstrated peaceful rallies. I never claimed otherwise. I am sure the police departments are pleased with them here and there. No question about it and I’m darn proud of them. However the point is we’re not reaching out and connecting with hearing parents, people who ultimately decides the fate of Deaf children. As I states earlier no matter how many people you bring to the rally, the point is not getting across the table where hearing parents are.
By all means, do ask Ella about the day when she decided to exercise opression and asked me to refrain from using email because she could not process her thoughts via literacy. I have hard copy of her email if she choose to lie about it. I’d be very interested in her response. I have several other individuals who plan to approach her and ask her the same. There is no better time for her to learn that she is not any more important or greater than others. She is my equal as I am her equal therefore if I was cut off from DBC she should also cut herself off.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Dr. Hocokan,
Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts regarding DBC and the ASL powerhouses, as you have called them. You confirm what some of us have suspected for quite some time. You also have defined bilingualism in an interesting way, from the point of view of a hearing parent of a deaf child. I agree with you that bilingualism must take English as an equal partner with ASL, not one over the other.
Your posts here have been eye-openers. Hope you blog soon.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:58 am
This is just too much. You conspiracy theorists have got to stop nursing rejection wounds and stop making it into “us vs them,” “the Deaf against the rest of them.” Dr. Hocokan, have you asked them why they wanted to VP instead of email? Did you talk this through before getting all pissy? And as for Deaf Pundit, I heard that she chose to interpret a few events a particular way, even though she skewed others’ intentions big-time, and got all upset last year. Conspiracy theorists, you crack me up. Lets sit down and talk things through instead of flying up in the boughs… if you really want unity, talk with them, don’t assume. (Walking away laughing)
June 30th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Dr. Hocokan-
Oh no, You wrote another textbook again. Now can you understand why Ella said, Doctor, VP please! Smile. I am just trying to be funny here.
Thanks for your nice comment about my one year program. In fact, I have completed the program last week so that is why I have more time to write comments on blogs. Now I can annoy everyone. Just kidding.
From reading your comments…it appears to me that your ideas and vision do not match with DBC ideas and vision. I personally am pleased with DBC vision and ideas. I always consider Mr. Egbert, my walking God. DBC protestors have been showing smiling faces and full cooperation but AGB was the one who refused to show appreciation or respect. AGB sent a lady from Marriott hotel in D.C. to grab flyers from young Deaf girl and adults and torn them into pieces. AGB reported to the police that Deaf ASL people were acting inappropriately which was not true at all. I personally believe that John Egbert had tried many times to develop rapport with AGB but they closed door on him and other Deaf people too. AGB requested to have tons of police officers to show up in Milpitas because they felt threatened by Deaf protestors. They were wrong again. Many deaf children were playing freely…painting on the car and making posters. Protestors showed smiling faces too. Now again…AGB blocked inside walkway and made it looked like Deaf people were going to do something awful to the hotel where AGB was having convention. I think we have been too nice…too polite…too trying so now it is time for us to make noises. It can be negative…I agree with you but if that is where it takes us to get attention then we have to do it. Maybe not this year but we will eventually one day. We just can’t give up.
Your ideas and vision…I am not going to say you are wrong…you are bad…you are outcast from our community or anything. It is just that your ideas and vision do not match with most DBC members. I do not have same ideas or vision with two organization in my home state. The community do not see anything wrong to elect leaders who use cochlear implants. I almost fainted when I learned two leaders with cochlear implants were elected and even one of the leaders was re elected recently. The community believed that those candidates are good role models for us and to many “lost” Deaf children. Their ideas and vision do not match with mine. I am trying not to be bitter about it but to stay very far away from those organizations until changes are made.
Yes, ASL is already here but they are not here for all Deaf children yet. More and more Deaf children are sending to hospitals to be forced to get cochlear implants…to be forced to attend AVT…to be forced to listen words without seeing mouth movements…facial expression or using their hands…more and more Deaf children are being forced to avoid interacting with other Deaf children or to have access to classrooms with ASL teachers. ASL is here but is not fully accepted for all Deaf children.
Again, I feel that DBC’s vision and ideas will work if we steadfast and fight all the way. We are not angry at hearing parents…we are angry at AGB…their system for manipulating millions of innocent hearing parents and deaf children. There are Deaf “kapos” in AGB who believe that Deaf children need to be deprived from using ASL. I feel that we have been too nice for more than 100 years and it is time for us to be mean. If you do not believe this will work then that is okay. You are still ENTITLED to think what it works best.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:28 am
sorry…not what it works best…I mean what works best for you.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Observer,
You don’t know what I saw within DBC. I still have some of the emails, like Dr. Hokocan has. I assure you, I did not reinterpret anything. The only reason I have not blogged these emails is because several individuals who were booted out soon after I resigned, pleaded with me not to publish them.
That may change now though. We will see.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Oh boy.
I am glad that Dr. Hocokan spoke up. What he said makes a lot of sense… place an equal emphasis on BOTH languages. I understand the need to expose any visual/signed language to the deaf babies… but after that it is up to the parents to make the decisions.
John Egbert is NOT a god… I did get personal emails from him inquiring about Paotie last year. When I made it clear to him that I had nothing against Paotie, in fact, I enjoyed his blog, JE quickly labeled me in the group of deficit thinkers, etc. He is just a human being who does not fully understand everyone as he appears to claim. Plus, despite I did attend Deafhood workshop, I do not subscribe to Americanized Deafhood’s philosophy.
Penny… go to CAEBER, etc… and you’d have a better understanding of what Bi Bi means, and then you’d understand where Dr. Hocokak is coming from. I have not gone to CAEBER, but I have communicated with Dr. Nover, read his works, and ISD generously loaned me the white binders (volume 1 and 2) on AEBPD (ASL/English Bilingual Professional Development.)
What DBC NEEDS to do is to focus only on its mission… not discuss and whine negatively about AGBell. It immediately sets a negative tone for hearing parents who knows nothing about ASL and Deaf Culture. DBC’s mission statement DOES NOT SAY anything about AGBell. In fact, my son is going to AGBell’s sponsored Youth Leadership Camp again this year and it quickly offered me an option to have an interpreter for my son if my son desired (it also offered that last year and my son refused the option, opting for speaking and listening.)
June 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Penny,
Naturally we all can agree to disagree but you are talking oranges and I’m talking apples. I don’t completely disagree with your comments above. In fact it’s an ideal argument and opinion for Deaf people but unfortunately it won’t fly for hearing parents who ultimately decides the fates of Deaf children. It is them, not Deaf people, who we need to convince. You keep trying to talk about what’s ideal for us, Deaf people as if we’re the ones that decides the fates of Deaf children. Unfortunately we don’t, which is why I kept talking about the mindsets and perspectives of hearing parents who have the ultimate and final say on this matter.
Unfortunately, your inability to understand as well as ASL powerhouse within DBC’s inability to understand have given hearing parents more reasons to work with AG Bell than to work with bilingual approaches. Remember I am talking about hearing parents’ first impressions. I’m not talking about Deaf people’s first impressions.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Hi Observer. Likewise, I’m an observer so that makes the two of us. Too much you say? Naturally I agree. Conspiracy theorists? Naturally I disagree. There are all sort of names for everybody so there’s no sense in starting a name-calling battle. We’re intelligent human beings so let us act like it.
I did not say it was “us vs them” so don’t put these words in my mouth. I am saying that the hearing parents’ mindset and perspective on issues are not the same as ours. They see things differently than we do. It has nothing to do with us vs them as you put it.
Did I ask them why they wanted to VP instead of email? Naturally yes! Answer given to me was the leader could not process her thoughts through literacy. I said this again and again in my previous comments.
Pissy? Not my choice of words. It’s yours so you can keep it. My choice of word would be ‘open communication’ as in ‘candor’. Don’t like it? That’s okay. We can agree to disagree like a group of civilized and intelligent human beings.
Absorbists, you crack me up as well because you assumed I didn’t ask but yet you lectured against assuming in the same breath. Classic example of people who don’t practice what they preach. Go figure.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Read this article published yesterday and see why DBC’s First Impression in Milwaukee did not connect with hearing parents. Precisely my point. And what did AG Bell says to the press? We are not against sign language but for choices. DBC blew its’ $35,000 message in Milwaukee.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=767314
June 30th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Additionally, it says here in Milwaukee Journal, “Inside, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was holding its 48th biennial convention, sponsored by groups including Gallaudet University and the National Institutes of Health”.
Knowing many DBC leaders and protestors are proud graduates from Gallaudet University, what is the first impression for hearing parents? Conflicting messages. DBC’s leaders and protestors went to the same University that is sponsoring AG Bell convention. Get the picture yet?
June 30th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Dr. Hocokan,
I am not here to bash DBC simply because I do not agree with how they are marketing their ideas, but your line of thinking echoes mine.
A Deaf Pundit also echoes my sentimental on your blogging/vlogging. Until you get your website going, please do consider being a guest blogger.
You have impressed with me on how you chose your words and how you demonstrated your respect towards others who disagreed with you and carried on a discussion without creating an hostile environment or holding grudges.
You also have made others comfortable in responding when they weren’t feeling confident with their grammar and I loved this line of yours:
“We all are intelligent in our own ways. Intelligence is not necessarily always reflected in our literacy skill.”
It never ceases to amaze me how some devalue themselves when there are plenty of hearing folks who can’t write their thoughts well. I admit I do occasionally feel that way but we all have our own insecurities.
Thank you, Dr. Hokocan! And thank you, Amy, for allowing him to write.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Yes, Amy, echoing iammine, thank you for letting Dr. Hokocan commenting. It is always good to hear different opinions from the professionals, right or wrong, but we all know that each child has his/her different needs and that all parents need to be exposed to OPTIONS and when they make the decisions, they are entitled to having support systems in order to make the decisions work.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
#52: Dr. Hocokan Says: June 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
“DBC spent well over $35,000 for this conference and to think they missed the target with hearing parents should make the rest of us sick to the stomach.”
You have piqued my curiosity. Who gave the DBC $35,000? Was $35,000 used solely to pay for renting a conference room only? Please tell us more about that.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I know, Dr. Hocokan! I have echoed what you said in this blog! I applaud you for your bravery.
My arm is on your shoulder, my man!
Amy, thanks for allowing him to make an entitlement on your vlog.
I also echoed with Iammine on #63.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Dr. Hocokan-
It is obvious that we are thinking differently here. Before I close this discussion, I want to say that I understand what you mean about hearing parents’ first impression. Blogs and Vlogs have paved the way for us to share our experience, ideas, and vision. We find a large group of people who have similiar ideas and vision to support DBC. DBC is a new organization and it is the first time we can get together to share our experience, dream, goals, and testimonies. Who knows over the time we will improve with some ideas and present better approach like many of other organizations do today. DBC is still new and baby. It would be cool if you do not rant but to give full support to DBC and who knows over the time some may like your ideas and use your approach later.
I re read your comments. I wonder if you think it is personal for you to share with viewers in public that the leader of DBC preferred to talk with you via VP? I got the impression that the leader has replied many of your e-mails. Do you think you should go half way to give her a VP call? Does it bother you so much that the leader preferred to chat on VP and also confided in you that it is difficult for her to process her thoughts in literacy? I personally can’t dare to disclose viewers about my blog/vlog friends who had confided me in e-mails about their struggles, opinions, ideas or desires. When someone told you that he/she is not comfortable with literacy then I do not feel it is appropriate for you to share to the public. Perhaps you would say the leader support Bi Bi and has conflicted with her statement. Yes all of us want to develop BiBi for Deaf children today and in the future so they will not have to struggle with two languages like many of us do today.
Thanks!
June 30th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Amen to Karen’s comment (#64). Just thinking of your kids, their preference of communication means you’ve accept and respect their decision makes both your child and family Happy. This is what it should be.
OPTIONS is the key as well as Acceptance, Respect..
The more choices we have the better off in the society.
AMY, you are awesome, I always love your mind, very unique and positive. keep it up AMY!!! I always looking for your Vlogs always..
June 30th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
oopps I forgot to mention, I echoed with Dr. Hocokan
June 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Please blog (#57) and explain to us why some members were booted out after you resigned. We need to know the truth.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Dr. Hocokan,
Amazing message. DBC has two mixed messages. Is it targeting culturally Deaf people and rallying against AG Bell, or is it targeting hearing parents with the message that ASL and English can coexist?
There is no question that AG Bell has caused a great deal of pain to many Deaf people. But telling hearing parents how bad AG Bell has been, and that kids don’t need hearing is not what those parents want to hear. A rally like that may make Deaf people feel better and that they are being heard, but it does nothing for getting parents to buy into the idea that ASL is a good choice for their kids.
You were on the right track. Too bad you weren’t able to continue with your vision.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:40 am
Amy,
Why not ask the presenters at DBC Milwaukee for their opinion about Brian Riley’s article?…
MJ Beinvenu
Marlon Kuntze
Genie Gertz
Patrick Boudreault
Barbara Kannapell
…Dr. Hocohan is an Anonymous person from Arizona hiding his identity that once want to help Deaf babies but seems his bipolar personality changed ever now and then which should be ignored.
“Dr. Hocokan”…please focus on the Big Picture….Deaf Babies’ needs to have a cognitive development skills…not “your” personal self interest ego.
And thank you for leaving DBC.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Hi Dr. CDC,
I am not anonymous. I am a human being. And yes I’m from Arizona but it makes no difference where I’m from. Makes no difference what my real name is. Your realname makes no difference either. Our opinions are not based on which States we live in. I have many homes in different parts of the world. I just happened to be consuming air in Arizona these days.
I do not see why we should ask MJ Beinvenu, Marlon Kuntze, Genie Gertz, Patrick Boudreault, or Barbara Kannapell for their opinion on Brian Riley. They are not GODS. We’re not GODS either so we’re not waiting for them to ask us for our opinion. An opinion means exactly that, an individual’s rights to different views. We can agree to disagree, something DBC has yet to learn.
For your information, Hocokan is not a name. It’s a term with a definition therefore anonymous does not apply here. Hocokan is a Lakota term for a complete circle, medicine wheel and wholeness. DR is not anonymous either. It is actually my middle name, given to me as birth right from my dear parents. Not kidding you here. It’s even on my birth certificate. You may have gone to school to earn your doctorate degree but it was a birth right gift to me from two special people who mattered the most, my Deaf parents who believed in me from day one enough to call me DR. They didn’t know if I was deaf yet but it didn’t matter. They glanced their eyes upon me on day one and knew I was worthy of the initial. They gave me the name, DR, because they believed in me. There is no greater gift than that. They did it to teach me the importance of knowledge, which is not merited on a piece of paper decorated on the wall but based on actual life applications and accomplishments. Today I am pleased to say that numerous doctors from different fields are my friends. They seek my advice on different subjects ranging from education to mental health to finances. Even you among DBC core group thrived in midst of multiple advices I’ve given during my four months tenure with DBC until I realized you were in fact wearing Bilingual umbrella with hidden agendas to promote Deafhood and pro-ASL movement. As soon as I saw that ASL powerhouse took DBC hostage I wanted no part of it. I left DBC because it lacked integrity.
However I did not leave my role as advocate for Deaf children. You can not take that away from me. It’s who I am. Live with it. You will also learn that it is not the organization that makes us. It is us that make the organization. DBC, in itself is only a name, an illusion in our heads. It’ll remain that way until you learn how to bridge yourselves towards wholeness, that of Whole Child, not just limited to Deaf child and ASL. Without the bridge to wholeness, DBC, which spells bilingual will be meritless, which will be just another name in world’s view, an empty jar with fancy label name. A name does not make the movement. It’s the contents that does.
Having said that, who is going to stop me or anybody else from starting a new bilingual movement with a different name. Remember, we have the contents and we understand the contents. It won’t be difficult for us to discredit DBC based on evidences we’ve gathered to date, especially numerous documents showing moments when DBC’s core group whined in face of literacy and bilingualism. This is not a threat. This is to remind ASL powerhouses to practice what they preach. Otherwise it’ll be just another empty jar with fancy labels. Emptiness. No contents. It’s the simple truth.
Bipolar personality? Fortunately for me I’ve not been diagnosed with bipolar personality. However I found your degradatory comment rather interesting. You stated that bipolar personalities should be ignored. It’s a sad comment coming from a Deaf person, who of all people knows the danger of mockery and isolation. Your comment works against holistic approaches, that of holistic medicine. Visit http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/?p=333 and become educated on this subject. I’m sharing this with you with hope that you will refrain from making such degradatory comment for those who were actually diagnosed with bipolar personality. It’s a serious medical condition. It’s not something we make a mockery of. It should frighten us knowing that you are capable of degradatory comments and serving DBC at the same time.
And yes, I have my focus on the big picture. My choice of term, Hocokan, speaks for itself. It means exactly that, a complete circle and wholeness. Smile. It’s simply unfortunate for you to only notice my issues as ‘personal self interest ego’. Remember, words are like mirror, a reflection of self. Evidently there is room for improvement.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Hello everybody. I went absent yesterday and I apologize for that. Had to take my daughter to a camp program and come back home in time to meet Sorenson Installer. Received our upgrade yesterday. VP 200 is a wonderful tool compared to VP-100. We’re excited about the upgrade. VP anybody? Ha ha.
Thank you everybody for responsive comments. Both negatives and positives represent the whole so we should embrace each one of them and seek dialogue to connect one way or another.
#65 - Deaf Advocate, yes. I was part of DBC’s core group until I resigned, approximately one week before DBC conference. I know for a fact that there were donations for that amount, $35,000 and the conference was going to cost that much as well. We had a meeting regarding budget right before I resigned. They were going to spend it all with hope to reimburse leaders’ accomodation expenses. I among few others suggested that we try and maintain between $5,000 to $8,000 to carry DBC through post conference weekend. It remained unclear on whether they were able to accomplish that.
Two points here.
One, $35,000 is a lot of money to burn in a single weekend, which could have been better spent else where. Even worse, John and DBC led us to believe that they were going to Milwaukee with a simple messages. Deaf baby and language development. They led us to believe that they were not going to rally against oralism and CI. It was a publicity nightmare for me when I tried to help this group understand what they were going to encounter, due to lack for politic and strategy plans. I knew that standing up to AG Bell in media’s view would produce conflicting messages. This much was assured as soon as Milwaukee Journal published the story and quoted it as the clash between signers and oralism / CI. Mission accomplished with $35,000 budget? Unfortunately no. The whole world, media especially see DBC as AG Bell’s opponent. They now see DBC as a movement against Oralism and CI. It is not the message we wanted in the first place. It went against what John Egbert wanted and what he led us to believe.
Read the news article from Milwaukee Journal and you will understand why Amy Cohen Efron talked about first impression. DBC produced the wrong first impression. End result? The $35,000 went up in flames, producing undesired negative publicity simply because these ASL powerhouse emphasized ASL as the superior language, above English language. Indeed, it’s a sad time for bilingualism but lessons are learned. Mistakes made are lessons learned. The hope is not lost. DBC may have severed our cause and shot itself in the foot but worry not. They did not have the right contents to begin with. The contents left due to lack of integrity on part of ASL powerhouse, that of Deafhood. The challenge is to have them restore the dignity of bilingualism. It’s been said… it takes a lifetime to build a reputation but only few minutes to destroy it. DBC, in one short weekend destroyed bilingualism. We now have a lifetime to repair it. Where there is a will there is a way. Don’t know about the rest of you but I’m onboard. I’m standing up today because these ASL powerhouse robbed bilingualism of an unique opportunity to define the medium before AG Bell does it for us.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hi Penny,
It’s perfectly okay for us to think differently. We all see things differently too. I’m glad we’re continuing our conversation here, the first impression.
I agree with you. DBC is a baby organization. It’s brand new. But understand this. We’d be doing Deaf children a great disservice if we (everybody) stood aside and said nothing to correct ASL Powerhouse who want ASL to dominate the issue, placing lesser emphasis for English language. We are doing a great service for Deaf children by being here to debate contents that are not only suitable for Deaf adults but for hearing parents who ultimately decides the fate of Deaf children. They (hearing parents) are our important strategic partner.
You asked if I thought it was too personal for me to share DBC leaders’ comments and views regarding literacy and bilingualism during my four months tenure with them. If it were a personal issue then yes, I would not discuss them. However we’re not talking about personal issues here. We’re talking about the fate of Deaf children! I, of all people, will always stand for the rights of Deaf children. I feel for hearing parents who just happened to have deaf children. I understand their perspective on deafness. I understand ASL powerhouse’s perspective on Deafhood. Anybody that makes this matter a personal issue in order to poilsh their names should step aside. It is not about you and me. It’s not about me or them (ASL Powerhouse). It has nothing to do with our names or our professions or interests. It is about Deaf children and hearing parents who have the greatest burden to make decisions.
And because ASL powerhouse has taken DBC hostage with hidden agenda to promote pro-ASL movement it becomes necessary, unfortunately, for us bilingual people to stand up and defend what’s rightfully ours. Deafhood, of all people should understand because they’re doing the same for themselves, defending ASL and defending what’s rightfully theirs. What they failed to understand is bilingualism contains both language on equal basis. Both languages deserves equal recognization and equal air time. Naturally ASL comes first for deaf children but these ASL powerhouses are Deaf adults who by now should practice bilingualism. They (deaf adults), of all people should know by now how important English language is enough to give it equal footings.
This is nothing personal. ASL powerhouse has no business wearing bilingual umbrella with hidden agendas to promote pro-ASL movement with lesser emphasis for Engish language.
If we don’t demand equal footings between ASL and English language then these people (ASL powerhouse) will surely give ASL 95% of air time as is evident to public’s eye in Milwaukee. They only saw ASL versus Oralism / CI. Why did it happen? How did it happen? Read Brian Riley’s letter. We drew the line and challenged AG Bell to a battle. And what did AG Bell say? We are not against sign language. We are for choices. DBC went home, dumbfounded, wondering how the message got lost. AG Bell went home laughing because they knew DBC was without bilingual contents. Need I say more?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:04 am
*whistle*… an objective comment, a well-balanced view of DBC if there is one.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Dr. Hocokan –
I think you are truly a whistleblower.
Hearing (and deaf) parents of deaf children are truly important strategic. That’s the main key.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Dr H,
Thank you for jumping in as a Deaf person in support of true bilingualism. There are many of Deaf people who think like you and me. There are several of us who think-same here and on Candy’s blog.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
ASL Powerhouse? I just love that term. I think its a nicer of a term over ASL militants.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I just hope that the DBC invites individuals with similar backgrounds of the DBC founder, John Egbert to serve on the core committee. No offense to the Deaf of Deaf in ASL powerhouse but… its time to let Deaf of Hearing parents speak up! It is how “Eye See it!”
Because of my name, I certainly hope you do not think of me as “ASL Power”
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Advocate4ASL, I agree. I totally agree. We have to bring in everybody from every areas that supports bilingualism… regardless of race, sex, age, hearing or deaf. The more bilingualism support we bring in the more hearing parents will see us under a different light. At the moment DBC is the host of angry and confrontal Deaf people.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
Guess what folks… John is evidently shaken up. He and his so-called Texas friend went right to work and tried to dig up what little dirt they could find on me via internet and posted a new blog here under his AG Bell page. But they could not find dirt on me. He only found articles on my legal battle with neighbor who trespassed on our private property and built and illegal road across my ranch in northern Nevada, in which we won the legal battle. The Sheriff sent me a letter acknowledging their mistake because after all the road was private, not open to public. End result? The community became outraged by this Sheriff and tried to recall him through new election. That was about all John could pull on me but yet it was inappropriate and slanderous. Perhaps he was trying to frighten me so that I won’t spill the full truth about what went on inside DBC when they whined in face of literacy and bilingualism. Well, he just gave me the extra incentive to do it.
Speaking of more opressions, he is quite a character.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Amy Cohen Efron here:
Comments are closed for this blog entry.
Thank you for your contribution by leaving comments on my blog entry, “Message to DBC.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
I’ve been in the business for a long time and my advice to DBC is not to make AG Bell an enemy but welcome them. I’m a big supporter of DBC concept of teaching babies ASL then english later. If DBC is in an attacking mode with AG Bell, then I’ll leave DBC. I’ve spoken with Jack (Jack Eyes) and warned him not to get cocky with AG Bell. AG Bell has done wonderful things by improving hearing aids, etc. but we need to educate the importance of using ASL on many kids, period.
As a business owner, I don’t make enemies with my competitors…we help each other to grow and succeed. It’s a win win situation. DBC can behave the same method of business model, then they will succeed as much as AG Bell does. They will eventually accept ASL if its proven successful.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I just read this whole dialogue, I agree with Joey Baer, RLM and few others.
Simply put…
We shall never forget how hard the NAD had been trying to work out with AGBad….
to the point of nothing works out at all between the NAD and the AGBad, the NAD out of respect stepped out politely.
Until the DBC was formed to take care of it.