Need Proof of AG Bell Letter? Download It.
Just in case AG Bell takes down the PDF as a result of all the reaction in the deaf community, I have saved a copy of the PDF to my hard drive and I can re-post it here at About.com if necessary. I have to admit that I, too, was in some disbelief when I first heard about this letter. It really helps to be able to see the actual letter, on AG Bell letterhead stationery.
As Elizabeth points out - what about those of us who use sign language and voice? Using my voice and lipreading skills to communicate does not make me an oralist. Using sign language does not make me a deaf activist. Oral and sign skills help me to communicate, depending on whom I am communicating with. If I am at work, I need my oral skills to communicate - up to a point. I can't hear people talking, so having the ability to talk means little if I can't understand people! Likewise, although I am very oral in my communication, I need sign language to communicate and understand people. I depend heavily on writing back and forth on notepad at work when an interpreter is not available. At home, my boyfriend is both oral and sign, so I use both. My deaf children are ASL sign only, so with them it is only sign and no voice, although I find myself using voice too out of habit (and they often laugh at my attempts to sign certain things).
So what does all that make me? An oral deaf person? A signing deaf person? If this letter is any indication, people like me and Elizabeth probably would not be welcome as members of AG Bell, because we communicate both ways. The answer to the question "what does all that make me?" is neither -- I am just Jamie Berke, a deaf/Deaf person.
Comments
It’s so cool to get to know you! Thanks for sharing.
AGBell Association welcomed me when I was an oralist. However, when I learned sign language, I was ostracized by AGBell Assc and oral members, even though I continued to speak orally, too. Same with another friend who was a member of Oral Deaf Adult Section of AGB.
I was told that the attitude nowadays is a little better. AGBell Association did provide ASL interpreters in its workshops. However, one member commented that she meet disapproving looks when she used ASL talking with others there. So… I don’t know.
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for letting us know about AGBAD letter that we can download.
AGBAD executives just opened the can of worms.
Obviously, the AGBAD is an extremist organization that promotes hate literature against Sign Languages and their D/deaf communities.
Its time for us to promote Sign Languages to parents and professionals rather than attack other methods of communication. If parents want ASL alone or both of ASL and AVT, that is fine. If parents decide not to choose sign language, that is their decision. We just want to make sure that they (decide no ASL) are always welcome back if they reconsider.
Deafchip
Thank you Jamie, I appreciate this.
I’m sure your blog is read by many people, perhaps thousands? It’s good blogging practice to provide links to sources to back up whatever it is you’re trying to tell your readers.
Otherwise the blogging world would be nothing more than an electronic rumor mill. We get enough of that in the real world, don’t we?
Cheers Jamie and thanks again.
My Deaf friend showed up at AGB conference in Denver last year as a member of AGB and was immediately kicked out for signing. Demonstration against “no signing for 7/24″ was going on outside peacefully. Apparently that person who kicked him out assumed that my friend was one of demonstrators. Whatever this person still has no business to assume.
Later on this person showed up in the Deaf Ed Reform meeting for the state and she was the first person walking into the room with the director of state Deaf and Hoh ed. I happen to be second person arriving quickly enough to notice this person carrying bags of bagels, spreads, etc from Bros Einstein..
Alright, I helped out with foods on the table and found a small bag of sugar packets and creamer, I started propping up the bag. Suddenly this person snatched it from my both hands. I quickly clenched it firmly then looked up to see who was it. It was her flinching, being taken aback at herself for how so obviously detrimental she really is.
During the Deaf Ed reform meeting..this person stated something like (from my own best recollection through interpreters translation) “..we all are here to make decisions whatever in the child’s best interest..” My friend (kicked out of the AGB conference) sitting next to me stood up and blasted out at her that she is lying and told everyone in the room that she kicked him out of the conference because his hands were distracting her. Silence was so deafening the room.
I was not 100% sure of AGB for years because I did know that AGB has mellowed a bit and have Deaf friends who attended AGB conferences, wear CI etc..but lately I no longer believe in what AGB is saying anymore.
Off the topic but I want to share you something what I explained to ASL students at my university about d/D.
(pasted from my powerpoint)
When to use “D” for this term, deaf?
Ethnicity - similar as Black, Hispanics group. He is Deaf, all my family is Deaf. Deaf people are diverse as any other ethnic groups.
Title - Deaf Community, Deaf Ed, Association of Deaf, study of Deaf child’s dual language usage: ASL and spoken English
I use small term “d” usually for medical condition, she is deaf in both ears, in a title like, “A longitudinal study in onset of deafness and use of digital hearing aids made after year 2000″
Anne Marie
Want to hear the irony?
Here is it: Darren Therriault, the guy who plays the passenger in the commercial, uses a cochlear implant. He attended Clarke school as a youngster, an oral education school where American Sign Language or any visual language is not used. Deaf Commercial Kicks up a Storm - DeafMom
@Mishkazena
Ironic, indeed!
Too bad he didn’t wear a t-shirt in the commercial that reads, “Former AGB poster child: I broke free from the chains”.
Ha ha (hands clapping lol!!)
excellent entry and comments - we need to continue and expose the truth of AGBell to the world!
Haha Slackin Penquin! That is a slackin hilarious remark you made that I actually chuckled!
On a serious note, it looks like that the AG Bell is showing its true colors making us more aware what it is all about. Actions speak louder than words, heh?
I had to come back since I couldn’t take my mind off about what Anne Marie had shared her (and her friend’s) experience leaving me more disgusted. Please vlog or blog about it. It is time for the truth to be told about AG Bell’s members.
Barb, I agree.
Anne Marie, do you feel like vlogging about your friend’s experience? I bet many people don’t know that professional people aren’t neutral at all. It’s actually more common than people realize: /
Having an aided hearing impaired son, I read the letter from AG Bell. I did not see anything in the letter than implies AG Bell is afraid of anything. Too much is being made of this. It’s okay to do sign and not speak and it’s okay to be oral, aided, speaking, etc., if that’s the path one chooses. AG Bell is merely saying there are MANY ways deaf/hard-of-hearing can communicate. Signing is one. I do think the public needs to know that there are all kinds of options deaf/hard-of-hearing people can use to communicate, and hearing aids/cochlear implants are another alternative. I think this will cause Pepsi to do other things within the deaf community, and show other ways deaf/hard-of-hearing people communicate. This division within the community about signing versus using technological advances/oral really must stop. I see no benefit in it to anyone.
there is petition about AGB!!
WANT to REMOVE his Plague and REname the dorm, Alexander Graham Bell Hall AT NTID/RIT??? then SIGN THIS!!!!
KEEP THIS IN OUR MIND, AG BELL IS HILTER TO DEAF COMMUNITY!!!!!
http://www.petitiononline.com/RMAGBELL/petition.html
sign this!!!