ASL Community Journal

A Comedy Film Rave Review!
ASL Community Journal DANGERS OF CI: A COMEDY FILM A strong thumb up! The cast in DANGERS OF CI: A COMEDY FILM made comedy deceptively effortless!  They did not try hard to be funny.  It is hilarious!  A true belly laugh and tears streaming!  Jack Barr is a true comedian!  A must see! Hey, Jack Barr, it'd be nice if you could include the full film credits like, who are the actors?  [...]
Sat, Aug 11 2007

Kudos to Deaf Bilingual Coalition!
ASL Community Journal The DBC finally launches a new website!  HAND WAVING It's very important for you all to realize that Auditory-Verbal International, Inc. (AVI) and AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language (the Academy) have been partnership in corporation since November 2005.  As we speak, AVI and the Academy have raised 1.2-million dollars; their target goal is [...]
Fri, Aug 10 2007

I've been asked why...
ASL Community Journal ...I named my website and my blog "ASL Community Journal" (ASLCJ).  If there were a way I could charge every time they ask me this question, I'd be a millionaire by now.  (ah-haha) Anyhow, whenever they asked me this question two things come across my mind: the domain name is way too long, I know, and whether I'm a deaf militant. Whether [...]
Wed, Aug 08 2007

Deaf Kids Outperforming Hearing Kids
ASL Community Journal On a cognitive development study in France shows that deaf children of deaf parents were outperforming hearing kids of hearing parents.  The link to Courtin's article is included, so are the graphs, stats, etc.  Quoting Courtin, the goal of this study was to analyze the effect of early exposure to a linguistic system, focusing on how children grasp the [...]
Mon, Aug 06 2007

How Did Deaf Swedes Accomplish Bilingual Education?
ASL Community Journal The fact-finding mission on bilingual education for deaf children resulted from a team effort of Berke, Riley, Professor Yerke Andersson, Patti Durr, and myself.  Jamie Berke in her Berke Outspoken, "Responding to Patti Raswant and Others" first introduced us to the article, `Role of Sign Language in Sweden' written by Karina Chupina.  Brian Riley [...]
Sat, Aug 04 2007

Stunned, Bawled, and Heartbroken
ASL Community Journal After watching Aida Mack's video clips from the "Journey to Sound," I was tossing and turning all night, dreaming the terrible images of those stunned and tormented deaf babies with cochlear implants in the Auditory-Verbal Therapy program.  They have no language, none whatsoever.  Reacted humanely, their sensory ordered their tiny hands to take the [...]
Thu, Aug 02 2007

"... Communication Strategies of Deaf Parents Should Be...
ASL Community Journal Some of you want to see some sources of evidence showing that Auditory-Verbal Therapy program is not working well for the majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies.  Below you will find an article on several studies showing similar results.  I am going to excerpt only three paragraphs from the article written by Gerrit Loots, Isabel Devise and Wolfgang Jacquet; and [...]
Wed, Aug 01 2007

Jamie Berke Responds to the Challenge
ASL Community Journal First of all, Jamie, in case you are not aware that this acronym, AGBAD, stands for Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, as announced on their website. It is NOT AG Bell.  It is the Parents.  (click here for a link to Berke Outspoken) So when you protest AG Bell, you are actually protesting the parents' choices.  Is that going to make the parents more [...]
Tue, Jul 31 2007

A Challenge for Jamie Berke
ASL Community Journal You kept telling the members of Deaf Bilingual Coalition in your blog: there were other alternatives to the demonstration at Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf Conference for Auditory-Verbal Therapists–Talk for a Lifetime Summer Conference–on July 27 and 28 at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.  May I present a challenge? Look, Jamie, [...]
Mon, Jul 30 2007

The Invitation Still Stands by Patti Durr
ASL Community Journal The Invitation Still Stands: Making Room for the Presence Peace and Justice by Patti Durr On April 12, 2007 I invited Dr. I King Jordan to give a public apology at the 150 years on Kendall Green conference during the question and answer period of his keynote address "DPN and the Evolution of the Gallaudet Presidency". Dr. Jordan had just been invited to Saudi Arabia [...]
Sun, May 13 2007

FOR REAL, AGB SIGNED FLUENTLY
ASL Community Journal Know what, I finally learned how to use the Logitech webcam but I still struggled with the grainy result and was not sure how to post it on the blog, ack!  (It would be nice if Amy Efron could come up here and help me, eh!)   Still, I haven't gotten around to look at the original series of the 1913 NAD Film [...]
Sun, Mar 18 2007

YES, VEDITZ SIGNED DEAF-CLOSE
ASL Community Journal Since I had other priorities then, I was not able to participate in the DEAF-CLOSE discussion.  And now that I'm on my short spring break I have the luxury of sharing with you a source of evidence on the sign of DEAF-CLOSE. From my past intensive analysis on the historical linguistics of signed languages, the original [...]
Thu, Mar 15 2007

Hallelujah!
ASL Community Journal Just a short and sweet message to let you know how relieved I was to understand that my speculation about James Lee Sorenson could be wrong.   (See Bob's vlog!)  I, for one, am eternally grateful that the Davila Administration was able to calm down the recent furor over the SLCC, assuring us that it still represents both ASL and audiology.  That's the kind of [...]
Sun, Mar 04 2007

Hey, Amy, We Must Ask Why
ASL Community Journal Like you, Amy Cohen-Efron, I was furious last Wednesday when I received a card from Gallaudet University Development Office asking me to donate money toward Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC), devoting to audiology and speech language pathology.  I exploded.  But I knew I usually made things worse when I lost my mind; so I [...]
Sun, Feb 25 2007

Desecrate MSA, Resign!
ASL Community Journal Those of you as trustees who voted to legally terminate the two contracts with Jane Fernandes, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. On the other hand, ye who opposed to dissolve the pact with Jane Fernandes, you must relinquish your statuses as trustees of Gallaudet University. According to the letter from the MSA, you have [...]
Wed, Feb 21 2007

I Found Berke?s Response tied up in Moderation
ASL Community Journal First of all, I want to apologize for assuming that Berke has not responded.  Since Berke included several links, it was tied up in moderation.  Here it is. Comment by Jamie Berke February 16, 2007 @ 8:29 pm Thanks for your efforts, Patti. Your information gave me the clue I needed: Bill 118. I went googling, and found: Bill 118 [...]
Sat, Feb 17 2007

Clarification on Part 2 ALERT!
ASL Community Journal While I do respect the rights of others to ask for a proof of evidence, Jamie Berke asked for it in a subjective way.  Regardless of her bias attitude, I maintained a courteous approach in accepting her challenge but a few bloggers did not appreciate how she asked for evidence.  Here was why. Jamie Berke wrote [...]
Sat, Feb 17 2007

Part 2 - ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
ASL Community Journal I've accepted the challenge from Jamie Berke.  She wants to see a concrete source of evidence showing that Ontarian children with cochlear implants are prohibited from using ASL. Here it is! Ontario Association of the Deaf has a surprising ally from The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) of Toronto, Ontario.  CHS performed the Awareness Survey of 2001 and submitted their [...]
Fri, Feb 16 2007

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
ASL Community Journal Ontario Association of the Deaf's VLOG: “Ministry of Education Puts Deaf Students at Risk” It appears that the Ministry of Education in Ontario is banning the usage of American Sign Language for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing with cochlear implants. According to Ontario Association of the Deaf, it?s understood that 97 percent of children who are [...]
Wed, Feb 14 2007

Durr?s Response to IKJ?s article in the WP
ASL Community Journal Response to I King Jordan's January 22, 2007 letter in the Washington Post      Written by Patti Durr, February 3, 2007 Immediately after Dr. Jane Fernandes was terminated as president-designate by the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet, the only liberal arts college for the Deaf in the world, Dr. I King Jordan, the then president of the college [...]
Sun, Feb 04 2007

The Certified Deaf Interpreters of the ASL Community by...
ASL Community Journal The Certified Deaf Interpreters are deaf and hard of hearing people who immerse into the hub of the ASL community and are well articulated in both ASL and English.  On a regular basis they mingle with deaf people from all walks of life: are quite empathized with the plights of their sufferings.  Much more than [...]
Sun, Jan 07 2007

Comparison of DPN and UFG: Analysis by Prof Durr
ASL Community Journal Comparison of Deaf President Now and Unity for Gallaudet Analysis by Patti Durr Please feel free to send in corrections, additions, etc.  Would especially like more quotes.  Deaf President Now Unity For GallaudetWhen March 6-13, 1988 Spring 2006 to PresentWhere Gallaudet’s gated campus and Internationally Gallaudet’s gated campus and [...]
Tue, Oct 31 2006

NYT: Signs of Revolution by Leah Hager Cohen
ASL Community Journal [link] Op-Ed Contributor Signs of Revolution By LEAH HAGER COHEN Published: October 31, 2006 Belmont, Mass. NEARLY a month of astonishingly passionate protest ended on Sunday when the Gallaudet University board voted to revoke the appointment of Dr. Jane Fernandes as the institution’s next [...]
Tue, Oct 31 2006

Propaganda Is Alive at Gallaudet University by Conley
ASL Community Journal Propaganda Is Alive at Gallaudet University By Pamela R. Conley Dedicated to the Student Protestors and the Creators of the DeafRead Blogroll   Allow me to introduce myself.  I am prelingually Deaf.  English, spoken/written, is not my first language.  Nor is American Sign Language (ASL).  I represent a significant proportion of those in the Deaf World born to hearing [...]
Sat, Oct 28 2006

GUFSSA Now in the Homestretch by Carl Schroeder
ASL Community Journal GUFSSA Now in the Homestretch by Carl SchroederI have been asked the same question on more than a few occasions, “Where do we fit in this GUFSSA protest?” My answer is always the same, “Right beside Yerker Andersson, Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Allen Sussman, Frank Turk, Hank Klopping, Bridgetta Bourne, Wilton McMillian, and hundreds of other Deaf [...]
Sat, Oct 28 2006

False Peace vs. True Peace and a ?Solution? by Patricia Durr
ASL Community Journal False Peace vs. True Peace and a “Solution” Has Getting Deaf People into Leadership Positions Empowered or Entrapped Us? by Patricia Durr I?ve been wondering why more d/Deaf folks in positions of power (CEOs, presidents, vice presidents and chairs of programs, companies, professors, student governments, etc) are not taking formal positions on the Unity for [...]
Fri, Oct 27 2006

FYI: Brueggemann & Burch
ASL Community Journal Unspeakable: A History of Race, Disability, and Eugenics in America (The Life Story of Junius Wilson) Dr. Susan Burch Associate Professor of History at Gallaudet University Thursday, November 16th from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. Saxbe Auditorium, Drinko Hall Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University 55 West 12th Street, Columbus Ohio *Free and Open To The Public* Dr. [...]
Tue, Oct 24 2006

Are U Ready to Die? & Trustees Are Scared!
ASL Community Journal Gallaudet Trustees Are Scared!  Kinize’s article, “Gallaudet Trustees Planning Special Meeting” at the Washington Post  I think Brenda Bruggemann finally realized the severity of our protest.  And our march last Saturday, she was probably stunned to realize we were more than, to quote Thornely, 4 thousand strong, consisting of students, faculty, [...]
Tue, Oct 24 2006

Reprisals Are Occurring Over & Over by Suzy Rosen Singleton
ASL Community Journal Unfortunately, folks, you got to consider ALL the below alleged reprisals confirmed because I personally have seen letters and/or I have personally confirmed the allegations with the affected individuals about the retaliatory actions taken by the Administration. Now I am trying to confirm the allegation that students who were not even arrested are getting letters [...]
Mon, Oct 23 2006

Four Thousand Strong by M. J. Thornley
ASL Community Journal Four Thousand Strong By M J Thornley Last Saturday I joined the march from Gallaudet University to the Capitol. It was massive. I sprang out of bed, threw some clothes on and ran to campus.  I found a few of my students, and threw in my lot with them. I got a cup of remarkably good java, got [...]
Sun, Oct 22 2006

Attempting to Quash Signs of Resistance in Deaf Community?
ASL Community Journal Susan Burch, a hearing white historian and professor of history at Gallaudet University, researched and wrote a book, Signs of Resistance: American Deaf Cultural History, 1900 to 1942.  Take a moment to contemplate a few excerpted comments from the book jacket. “...Historians have all assumed that in the early decades of the twentieth century oralism triumphed [...]
Sun, Oct 22 2006

Something to Ponder
ASL Community Journal I am challenging a particular sentence that has been said by several people, “While I do not support the lockdowns of HMB and campus, I support the protest.”  If there were no lockdowns, would we find out that Jordan hijacks Gallaudet University Alumni Association’s database of 15,000 names? If there were no lockdowns, would Jordan order a [...]
Sun, Oct 22 2006

A Tsunami of Deaf Pride by Paul Singleton
ASL Community Journal Tsunami of Deaf Pride, A Tsunami of Deaf Oppression, and Trustees of Tsunamis by Paul Singleton 21 October 2006 Today’s rally at the U.S. Capitol: The earliest I could come to the rally was when the march to the Capitol arrived at 1st street/Constitution ave NW. I saw a TV helicopter hovering above, and trying to capture it while shooting [...]
Sun, Oct 22 2006

Reprisals Are Occurring by Jeff Rosen
ASL Community Journal Yesterday I confirmed with the person that she was summarily suspended from her internship at MSSD because of her arrest. She was not given the opportunity to provide information before the the suspension was imposed. She also said that a student leader was suspended as a Residential Advisor at Clerc Hall, even though he was [...]
Fri, Oct 20 2006

Facts!
ASL Community Journal From Michele Berke of Bay Area Perspective: A group of people in Bay Area of California got in touch with Senator Woolsey’s office and they will have a meeting with Woolsey next week.  Apparently, Woolsey’s people are researching at the Library of Congress on the general principles of the Board of Trustees’s fiduciary duties.  Woolsey believes [...]
Fri, Oct 20 2006

Listen, Protestors!
ASL Community Journal Do not play into the hands of the IKJ/JKF administration! JKF?s comments to the media that protestors are anarchy, terrorists, and now being threatened to be shot. I agree with Mishka Zena that JKF?s threatening comments (anarchy, terrorism, and threatening to be shot) smell of red herrings. Do not react the way the IKJ/JKF administration wants you to react! Continue [...]
Fri, Oct 20 2006

Prof Eckert Responds to Kinzie?s article in the WP
ASL Community Journal Editor?s note: Richard Eckert just received his PhD in Sociology and is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of Wisconsin. The article Eckert wrote is in response to the Washington Post, ?Gallaudet Trustees Split on President: Fernandes Seeks To Retain Support In Face of Protest? by Susan Kinzie.If the letter alleged to be from [...]
Thu, Oct 19 2006

Hunger Strike: Correction from Berrigan
ASL Community Journal Editor’s note:  I will be on campus at Gallaudet University later today to conduct a group interview with everyone on hunger strike.  I’m deeply concerned about those on hunger strike because I am not sure if they have someone in a professional capacity to ensure their well being. I overlooked a mistake in the article. It said, in the [...]
Thu, Oct 19 2006

Breaking News!
ASL Community Journal Gallaudet Trustees Split on President Fernandes Seeks To Retain Support In Face of Protest By Susan Kinzie Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, October 19, 2006; A01 Gallaudet University trustees have split in their support for incoming president Jane K. Fernandes, a shift from their united front endorsing her as the best person to lead the school for the deaf. Last [...]
Thu, Oct 19 2006

An Interview with Berrigan on Hunger Strike
ASL Community Journal Last night (Tuesday the 17th of October) I was on campus at Gallaudet University and had an interview with Kenneth Berrigan who is on hunger strike. His last meal was last Black Friday the 13th at 5:30 PM and, yes, he was one of the 135 arrested people. I found him sitting with other two students [...]
Wed, Oct 18 2006

Hunger Strike!
ASL Community Journal Let’s honor those who are on hunger strike, opposing the choice of JKF as the designated 9th President of Gallaudet University.  I’m listing the names, the dates and time they started on hunger strike.  Later on I will interview each of them. Jon Kessell - 13 October at 4:32 AM Nixo Lanning - 13 October at 2:00 PM David Simmons - [...]
Mon, Oct 16 2006

Durr Responds to JKF?s article in the Washington Post
ASL Community Journal Editor’s note: This is the editorial Patricia Durr sent to the Washington Post in response to JKF’s opinion piece published last Saturday, October 14, 2006.  While I am not an alumni, student, faculty or staff member of Gallaudet, Gallaudet is a very sacred place to me.  For me as a hard of hearing person - it was also [...]
Mon, Oct 16 2006

Open Letter to Irving Jordan and Jane Fernandes
ASL Community Journal For many years as president and provost of Gallaudet University, you have used your tactics to intimidate students, faculty, staff, and alumni into submission, by issuing pink slips to many members of faculty and staff. Kitty Fischer had only one week left before she could be available for annuity and she plead with you to [...]
Sat, Oct 14 2006

The Words of a Concerned Hearing Parent of a Gally Student
ASL Community Journal Students are students and should not be expected to make reasonable demands. IKJ is an experienced adult administrator and should behave in a more sympathetic, professional way. To just say no [to a proposal in hiring an independent assessment] is idiotic. I also think saying that the first step was JF had to resign was too [...]
Sat, Oct 14 2006

The Real Cause of DPN and ?Resign, JKF? Protests
ASL Community Journal The indisputable crisis surrounding Gallaudet University Presidential Search that began nearly a year ago began with a small group of people of color making attempts to address the potential flawed process.  They wrote several letters of concerns to the Board of Trustees but never received a response.  Last May at the open Forum with Tom Humphries and Celica May [...]
Sat, Oct 14 2006

Protest at Gallaudet University Continues
ASL Community Journal Alumni are planning to protest and camp out at the 8th Street Gate at Gallaudet University tonight (October 14).  Please come and camp out tonight to show your unity for those 135 arrested and released.
Sat, Oct 14 2006

From a Concerned Parent now on Campus
ASL Community Journal That concerned parent just paged me after talking with a cop,  “ok a cop said that the administration asked the police to be there — there are actually more than 20 — and the cops will start arresting when the administration agrees to expell those arrested.”  Now that parent asked me, “Does that make sense?” “If the [...]
Thu, Oct 12 2006

Paul Singleton?s Response to Jordan?s Open Ltr to Alumni
ASL Community Journal Dialogue from a Desperate Man Running His Marathon Mind by Paul Singleton When a man gets desperate, he will do anything possible- including a feeble attempt to gather the alumni in a pow-wow fashion in supporting the Administration that’s crumbling at this point. Big time crumble. Many signs in Dr. Jordan’s message explain his “marathon mind”. [...]
Tue, Oct 10 2006

Paul Singleton responds to Anti-Protest Concerned Students
ASL Community Journal Students: You still have your education- I understand the Administration is relocating classes so they can continue today. The protestors are not stopping that- they support you getting your education. So, I don’t thinnk you need to be any more concerned now with this support from Admin and the protestors about your education. Gallaudet is a place [...]
Mon, Oct 09 2006

Summary of this am?s events by Alison Albrecht
ASL Community Journal Summary: 10/9/06 Hall Memorial Building At approximately 6:15 am *bam* *bam* *bam* steady beats of a drum could be felt vibrating throughout tents. Students woke up to see what was going on and were given a message explaining that DC Police officers were at the front gate. Students proceeded to calmly move into the atrium area where they [...]
Mon, Oct 09 2006