Miss-Delectable

AG Bell, Tear Down This Wall; Let All Deaf Children Sign; The Deaf Bilingual Coalition Conference--Inspiring and Empowering for All

During the weekend of June 27-30, 2008, the Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC), an 11-month old "David," faced its 118-year-old "Goliath," the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (AG Bell). The DBC Education Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Milwaukee which is situated next to the Midwest Airlines Center where AG Bell held its biennial convention.

The Deaf Bilingual Coalition advocates for the rights of all Deaf babies and children to have access to American Sign Language during the critical, beginning stages of language acquisition. The DBC hosted two noon-time rallies held on Saturday and Sunday, across from the front entrance of the Midwest Airlines Center and challenged AG Bell by displaying a 30-foot-by-4-foot banner on the side of a large trailer which read: "A.G. Bell, Tear Down This Wall! Let All Deaf Children Sign!"

Throughout the DBC conference, many of the 700-plus attendees, which included both Deaf and hearing participants, parents, community members, children, professionals and ASL students, remarked that a gathering like this was long overdue. Because of AG Bell's longstanding promotion of Oralism, which focuses exclusively on speech and hearing training, excluding American Sign Language and devaluing its use in the lives of Deaf babies and children, it's considered to be the "elephant in the room" by many members of the Deaf community.

The DBC Education Conference was inspiring and empowering for all who attended. It provided an opportunity for parents to learn about the benefits of using ASL with their Deaf babies during the critical language-learning period, a practice which enables the effective acquisition of English and literacy skills. The conference also provided an opportunity for Deaf survivors of AG Bell's Oralist philosophy to heal from growing up orally and not learning American Sign Language until later in life.

The opening ceremonies included information about Alexander Graham Bell and his biases against Deaf people and their natural sign languages. His actions to prevent Deaf babies and children from learning sign language resulted in what is called the "dark ages" of Deaf education. Bell, in addition to his promotion of Oralism, served as the honorary president of the Second International Congress of Eugenics, reflecting his early involvement in the eugenics movement. Following the discussion was an emotionally moving Blue Ribbon Ceremony, created by Dr. Paddy Ladd of Bristol, England, to remember Deaf people and their families who suffered and survived the harmful effects of Oralism. The ceremony also celebrated Deaf people and Sign Language.

Throughout the weekend, six renowned Deaf scholars from the fields of bilingualism, early intervention, cultural studies, and literacy, gave presentations that were informative and well received. One of the keynote speakers was Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President of the National Association of the Deaf.

The same weekend, in Rochester, New York, at the 40th anniversary of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, NTID's president, Dr. Alan Hurwitz, announced his decision that Alexander Graham Bell's name should be removed from one of its buildings, stating in his letter that "Bell advocated an exclusive approach to communication that did not support a sense of community of deaf people who use a variety of communication approaches including ASL."

AG Bell has recently accelerated the application of the Oralist approach in schools and early intervention programs by merging with Auditory-Verbal International, whose policies and practices deny Deaf babies access to their natural language, American Sign Language, and also, perversely, prohibit any and all kinds of visual cues and gestures.

With the rapid, market-driven growth of hearing technologies, this extreme and unnatural training, called "Auditory-Verbal Therapy," has taken on a deceptively attractive appearance, especially to hearing parents who may lack sufficient knowledge of the benefits of American Sign Language, as well as knowledge of the benefits of exposure to Deaf mentors in early intervention programs. AG Bell continues to claim to be in favor of parents making "informed choices," but ironically markets an exclusive choice: Auditory-Verbal Therapy.

Historically, AG Bell and its corporate allies have deliberately denigrated Sign Language and exploited Deaf people who use American Sign Language. AG Bell has also taken legal action through its Children's Legal Advocacy (CLA) program, in the attempt to establish legal precedents which would lead to the denial of Deaf children's natural need for visual language.

The DBC will continue to advocate and support the bilingual approach which starts with American Sign Language and English as a second language. Through ASL-English bilingualism, Deaf babies and children are able to develop normal cognitive skills, and experience social and emotional growth by using a language which is fully accessible to them. The inclusion of American Sign Language in the lives of Deaf babies and children guarantees children's success and their ability to grow up to become confident, self-respecting participants in society.

On this July Fourth weekend, the Deaf Bilingual Coalition wishes to extend its sincere greetings to parents of Deaf children, with the invitation to join us in our quest to provide accurate information to enable parents to provide their Deaf children a full range of access to language and education. When parents exercise their freedom of choice and allow their Deaf children to use a natural sign language to progress through all necessary stages of cognitive development, their children will be able to understand the real meaning of freedom through language.

For more information on the Deaf Bilingual Coalition, go to www.dbcusa.org - Home

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Boult

see those blogs/vlogs be sure to read the comments left by visitors...
1)
Deaf Tea Time: DBC: Restrategize Counterattack On AGB

2) read in order as listed...
“People of the Eye » Blog Archive » Why the DBC Conference Rocks!
“People of the Eye » Blog Archive » DBC rocks - Chat with AG Bell Parents part I
“People of the Eye » Blog Archive » DBC rocks - Part II chat with parent

3)
DEAF CINEMATIC FILMBLOG: Patti Durr/ DBC/ NAD: STRIVING TOWARD INTEGRITY PLEASE.

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Boult I.T.M.F.A.
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deafdyke

YEAH!!!!! So psyched that there's a new organization! I really do think that if you took away the AG Bad parents with kids who are kind of on the fence about Sign, there would be a very small organization.

Cheri

Thank you, Boult for the link of the blogging. I would have to agree with Linda Boyd because she told nothing but the truth, if you think about it, most hearing parents prefer their deaf children to experience the same culture as the parents, live in their world instead of their own, it the same applies for deaf parents of hearing children, who prefer their hearing children know ASL and be fluently in signs even through I have two hearing sons, I'm nothing like most deaf parents. I let my boys live in their world instead of forcing them in my world and learn my language.

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

jillio

What's wrong with allowing them access to both? That's what bilingual/bicultural is all about.

Cheri

I don't have a problem with that, but there are some deaf parents who has no spoken language, it can influence their hearing children's development of spoken language skills.

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

shel90

In many of my friends' cases with their hearing children, I havent seen that happen cuz my friends dont completely isolate their children whether deaf or hearing from the hearing world.

As long has hearing kids acquire language fully by the time they are 5 whether it is in ASL, spoken English (or any other language), or both, they will be fine.

Despite having a hearing dad and being around hearing people who do not know sign language, my hearing son's spoken language development is behind his ASL skills but as long as he is able to express his thoughts, I am not worried. He has a speech therapist working with him but it seems that he is more comfortable using ASL. The speech teacher said that there was nothing wrong with that as long as he is acquiring language.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Cheri

From what I know from one of my friends who happen to be a deaf mother who does not have any spoken language, only ASL, her two hearing daughters were far behind in spoken language skills, are in speech therapy at their public school.

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

jillio

One would have to completely isolate a hearing child from all forms of spoken language for that to happen. The child could not be exposed to hearing and speaking playmates, relatives, television, people talking in stores, movies, radio, and any other way that spoken language is available peripherally. Quite frankly, that is a myth perpetrated by the oralists.

jillio

Are you talking about articulation or language acquisition? Because those are two very separate issues. And there could be any number of reasons that a child experiences articulation problems. They occur quite frequently in hearing kids from hearing parents.

RedFox

Good that AGB's name is being taken off of TC!

loml

Cheri - There is an early intervention program in my area designed specifically for hearing children of deaf adults, for the specific reason of spoken language delay.

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- Dr. Edward C. Merrill, Jr. past president of Gallaudet

shel90

Sometimes a parents' hearing status has nothing to do with delays in children's spoken language. There are many hearing children from hearing families who have delays with spoken language.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Cheri

Where did I mention hearing status? I'm talking about using use their voices, as you know some deaf people who use their voices may be easy to understand, others may be hard to understand, and some don't even know how to use their voice at all. I don't even know anything about hearing children from hearing parents having delay with spoken language. Do you have anything to back that claim up with?

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

mandy

Agree. All Deaf/HOH kids should have access to SL during critical language period and beyond. Guy I knew as child had reverse situation, he born hearing to Deaf parents but they did not realise he was hearing until he was 2 years old, so they sign to him. His English was weird, but his general language skills were great 'cos he was exposed to sign in critical period. Other girl I know has one Deaf one hearing parent, she is Deaf/HOH. Lucky her, she got best of both 'cos dad sign to her and mother speak. Both her Sign and her english excellent - again, critical period so important! xx Mandy

shel90

Hearing children who have mild cases of Asper's, Austism, or just simply late bloomers.

Back the claim up? Why do u need me to back it up? If u don't believe me, that's fine. However, I can't back it up with Internet resources cuz I am using my pager and kinda hard to open another window but if u google language delays in children I am sure plenty of websites will come up. My son is a perfect example to back my claim up so if nobody wants to believe me, I don't really give a damn. If people want to blame my deafness for his spoken language delays, by all means they can. Again, I don't care.

We don't know why he is delayed in spoken language..sometimes kids r just late bloomers and catch up later. My whole point is that in some cases, it doesn't matter if the parents r deaf with no oral skills or hearing with perfect spoken English, the hearing children end up with spoken language delays regardless due to other factors.. Important that the parents catch it early.

Because my son is building a strong language base with ASL, Iam not worried about his language development being delayed. His spoken language will catch up. If not by the age of 5, then I will have to take him to get evaulated to see if he has other conditions preventing his spoken language development. I know that I am doing something about it hence the speech therapist's home visits.

At the end, I know it is not because of my deafness that affected his spoken language development.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Cheri

Yea, Shel-- I am aware of hearing children who have disabilities, I thought you were speaking of hearing children in generally, that's why I asked for more information, it's not that I don't believe you, it just I haven't heard in my knowledge.

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

shel90

Ok Cheri..no problem.

Just I am a little senstive about the subject of hearing children's delayed spoken language due to the parents' deafness. In the past year, I have had people (not on AD) tell me that my son's spoken language is delayed cuz I am deaf and that I shud not be signing to him and shud be using my voice only. They don't even bother to ask if I use only ASL with him or not. Whatever happened to asking first before making assumptions. LOL.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Cheri

Oh, I understand. I'm sorry to hear that, I wasn't aware that it had happened to you and I've had some deaf people telling me I should have teach my sons sign language, and how I'm not even accepting my deafness when it's really isn't about me, it's about my sons who happen to be hearing.

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

Secretblend

We just can't win! If we go one way, they blame us. If we go other way, we get blamed also. Go figure!

shel90

Can u understand your son most of the time via spoken language? If u can, that's great!

I wish I had signed more with my daughter cuz I am always asking her to repeat herself leading to the disruption of the flow of communication with us. Makes it frustrating sometimes for both of us and that's my huge regret. That's why I expose my son to both languages. Also, in the future, by being fluent in more languages, it gives people an edge in the competion for better jobs. Just like with European kids growing up bi or even tri-lingual.

However u r not the only deaf person not to use sign language with their kids. I have met many but it makes it hard for me and other deaf people to communicate with their children because we keep misunderstanding them via spoken language.

I know one deaf guy whose 21 year old hearing son just landed a good paying job with VRS. He makes more money than I do cuz he is fluent in both ASL and English. Lucky dude! Must be nice.

My goal is to get my daughter fluent in 3 languages..ASL, English, and Spanish (she is half Mexican). Boy, she wud have a huge advantage in the job market.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Cheri

Sometimes they intend to forget that I'm deaf, and there are times I would have to remind them. Even my brother whispered in my ear once, and I'm like hello?? did you forget I'm deaf?

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God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

deafdyke

In addition kids with learning disabilites, cerebal palsy etc etc.

Byrdie714

It is?! So, what is the new name going to be?

Tousi

Tousi

Something about that DBC banner bothers me. To prevent misunderstanding, I think the word, "This" should be replaced with "The".

The whole line is "AGBell, Tear Down This Wall". I think that is the exact wording as I'm doing this from memory. Saw it last week somewhere....

web730

Yes, right! Check: www.dbcusa.org - July 6, 2008: Official DBC Press Release

Good eye-catching, Tousi!

jillio

You are quite correct. Some children are simply delayed in specific areas. It is not really considered a disability, but simply atypical development. Verbal delays are one of the most common. And it is not dependent upon the parent's hearing status.

dreama

I am very glad that there are organisations like the Deaf Bilingual Colition out there. I was only mildly deaf so it was never really considered neccessary to teach me sign. It makes me wish I was born deafer as I don't think that my parents would have delibrately excluded me from language if I had been profoundly deaf. At least I hope not. Although they might have gone for a CI if they had been around at the time.

Anyway I think that all deaf and hard of hearing babies should be introduced to sign language as soon as possible. I think Hard of hearing kids that grow up with both good speach and signing have a real edge over those only using oral. As they can fit into both worlds. As for oralism for the profoundly deaf. It amazes me that anyone would think a profoundly deaf person could manage without sign. It does a lot more damage then good. One would hope it would have died a slow death by now.

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jillio

I agree, dreama. Sometimes, falling into that hoh category audiologically can be a mixed blessing. You hear more, but most also consider that to be justification for an oral only environment. For some reason, hearing people seem to equate "hearing a little more" with "hearing everything."

I don't think that oralism will ever die a natural death. The denial and wishful thinking of hearing parents is simply too overpowering. Looks like we're going to have to come up with a murder plot for oralism.