NEWS RELEASE FROM DAVID EBERWEIN
Dear friend,
Tomorrow morning I fly out to Washington, DC, to join John Egbert’s campaign to have ALL Deaf babies sign. We will be campaigning in front of the Alexander Graham Bell Association convention in Arlington, VA.
Thursday, July 26th- the Deaf Bilingual Coalition gathers at Gallaudet.
Friday & Saturday, July 27th & July 28th- we will be at the AGB convention, with media attention, etc.
We want all Deaf babies to be proficient in both ASL and English. We are puzzled at the irony of the wildly popular “Baby Signs” where hearing babies are taught to sign before they speak. However, with the AVT (Audio Verbal Therapy, where signing and any visual cues are strongly discouraged), Deaf babies are not signing. If it’s good for hearing babies (increased IQ scores, reading readiness, confidence, etc.- check Amy Cohen Efron’s “The Greatest Irony” vlogs for more information on this), then it should be good for Deaf babies.
I am asking your help with the following;
-forward this e-mail
-spread awareness of our campaign
-hold discussions on this special event (increase our consciousness)
-watch blogs & vlogs closely the next 3 days and afterwards
-respond rapidly to e-discussions (we will be extremely busy with the campaign.. to busy to rapidly respond)
-donate to The Deaf Bilingual Coalition to cover expenses (possibly to cover interpreting fees, Xeroxing pamphlets, and any other overheads)- you can donate through http://www.cad1906.org (California Association of the Deaf)- go there and click on the left side (Support for the Deaf Bilingual Coalition). Even $5 will help us a lot.
For further information, go to John Egbert’s site- <http://blog.deafread.com/egbertpress/2007/07/22/deaf-bilingual-coalition/>
I will try my best to keep you posted over the weekend. If you are interested, page me at dme@tmail.com and I’ll inform Colin of your interest. (He’ll be the contact person while I’m gone this weekend).
For our Deaf children. For their success and happiness.
David Eberwein
Posted on July 25th, 2007 by egbertpress
Filed under: Uncategorized
AVT should not be used as a comparison with ASL. AVT is just an approach used during speech therapy with oral and CI kids.
The campaign should be focused on ASL for all deaf babies while encouraging AVT and other approaches for development of spoken language and listening skills for implantees. My son has a CI and AVT has helped ihm SO MUCH and he uses ASL in the classroom.
AVT and ASL can be a part of a child’s educational plan.
Anna,
Yes, AVT can be used as a comparsion with ASL. We are going to reverse your statement or belief.
ASL first.
AVT last.
AgBAD is gonna lose.
I began to understand what DBC is all about after I saw the peaceful demonstration at that hotel in VA. that changed my thought about DBC last weekend. i realized that DBC could become very political force for first time in our history of our Deaf Community. SInce I am so thrilled to have that kind of watchdog and I feel that DBC moves good start since DBC did great job on that after DBC protestors just passed out the flyers as a peaceful demonstration. THe more public will see more of DBC in the future not just focus on Baby SIgns but will target AGBELL and AVT also. DBC only can target the identitification of donors to AGBELL can stop the flow of the money. or hotel for hosting AGBELL. DBC has a great potential if DBC stays on their course, then DBC will win the public support and need to develop with media not just Deaf Community but general public in oder to educate about what benefit and harmful to our Deaf Community include Deaf children’s future!!! DBC must step the clear purpose of social awareness that will disaband the AGBELL, because what I see in DBC just describes the crusader for TRUTH! The public will find more facts then they will support DBC! Think about a picture of DBC will be! DBC would be respected from the public. Now I support DBC after all I took thought about the future all of us need that proactive! Politics that is only way to change the whole things about AG Bell and AVT!
David (and Barbara),
Thank you for your wonderful presentation last Friday. Go, go and do not give up.
Count me in. Last year I decided to dedicate my resources (while I can) to Deaf Language Rights.
I was the only hearing person at the World Federation of the Deaf’s Conference on Human Rights and International Law. That convinced me that I had a job to do (unpaying so far : > )) ) - I will never see and sign as well as a Deaf person, but I can yell at hearing people’s ears!!! I can tell them how much better Deaf people see and how much Deaf people can teach hearing people. Currently, I am getting speaking gigs at universities and attempting to get on radio, TV and in newspapers. Tell me how to be of service to DBC - use me.
Yours for language rights,
susan schaller, author of A Man Without Words (Alingualism can happen - NO Language - if a visual baby is not exposed to a visual language - a terrible human rights violation)