FROM WHERE I SIT: reply to Nyle DiMarco's message about "inspiration porn"... posted from @CSD Communication Services for the Deaf, Inc.
Re: Videos posted on social media showing "deaf babies 'hearing' for the first time".
********
Caveat: I always do my best to address the 'topic' at hand, but know this:) No matter what the 'designated' topic, I always seem to revert back to what I believe to be the 'elephant' in the room when discussing anything Deaf-health related (mental/emotional/social-justice/equality/access/inclusion/education/identity-pride) in any way .. and that is the 'issue' at the heart of it all; 'language deprivation' perpetrated against d/Deaf children during the critical 'language-acquisition' years of birth-to-five...continuously... since 1880, with no end in sight.
********
- Okay:) So, I have a new friend who tends to follow any so-called "inspirational" videos, the ones showing emotions elicited from "theHearing" when they watch a deaf baby 'hear-for-the-first-time', with ones he believes to be #realIyInspirational, ones that counter the underlying message of the ones Nyle includes under the label ''inspirationPorn.
He, my new friend, follows those kinds of videos with others, showing Deaf babies 'speaking', if you will, the eye-hand language of ASL, communi- cating their wants/needs up to a full year before Hearing toddlers are able to produce even one-two word utterances verbally.
The thing about the message from Nyle - about those 'baby-hears-for-the-first-time-videos) - is that mostly "theHeairng" will just get a puzzled look on their faces, roll their eyes, and, in the end DISmiss him as being "one of those (know-nothing?) "RADical deaf"! My new friend goes on to describe his experience when he stands up and takes the same position as does Nyle DiMarco on the matter of InspirationPorn, AND stands up for the DeafBabiesBill-ofRights, which of course is synonymous with Aslfirst for ALL Deaf babies, those same Hearing parents wave him off with taunts mimicking AG Bell's trick (propaganda) catch-phrases such as "Parent CHOICE" and "Communication OPTIONS" and/or today's Orwellian "NewsSpeak" they call "LSL"... only to label him also, as "one of those radical Deaf"! As for me, they make themselves believe I'm just an 'old' HearingParent of Deaf children ... it began for me in 1969) who has simply been 'brain-washed' by the 'angryDeafRadicals'; (sound familiar? Well, it is, the same way any 'supremacists' dismiss people-of-color as "angry 'this-or-that', so too is it with 'HearingParent 'followers-of-the-AUDist-agenda ... they scream 'brainwashed' as a way of negating any validity to mine, or Nyle's or anyone else able to leexpert in the area of things like language acquisition and cognitive development, or not), fully able and willing to guide them to the actual BEST PRACTICES for raising their precious children (with NO "delays in "language acquisition, key to all aspects of healthy, "normal" development (mental, emotional, social and certainly academic-literacy)!Anyway (?), then, to top it all off, when he, or myself even, try to reveal, UNcover and 'call-them-out' as the key AG Bell 'lies', the lies that hook HearingParents the most, which is that 'clear, intelligible speech' thing discussed above, again, with that being the only representation of "truly Human communication" and/or "proof of intelligence" absolutely necessary for learning to occur :( And, again, which is the #1 myth that HearingParents BELIEVE in their gut to be true
, but which none is... because the facts are, which
anyone with even minimal understanding of child development knows, that spoken language FIRST only fills the need-of-the-Hearing-child 0-5 years (and even that is debatable:),
because he/she are part of the "people-of-the-EAR" culture; WHEREas ...
AmericanSignLanguage, (ASL) FIRST fills the visual-language need-of-the-d/Deaf-child 0-5 years, belonging to "the people-of-the-EYE" culture!
P.S. My friend shows us those other videos and we get to watch the Deaf babies signing away, signing "intelligibly" at 6, 8, 10,12, 14 months and, further, are often-times BI-lingual by the time they are two or three years. NOW watch those videos and really BE BLOWN AWAY INSPIRED! Fact: deaf OR hearing: all babies can predictably be communicating expressively AND receptively so that they are understood well before age one (which lessens the frustration and minimizes the universally dreaded "terrible twos") ... as those lucky enough to become BI-lingual in ASL and ENGLISh and, again, do so NATURALLLY, make themselves understood just 'fine', thank you!P.P.S. Final message? "Hearing Parents"...can we just stop being afraid of 'sign-language'? THEY are lying to feed our fears, and we keep swallowing the same (blank-blip) THEY've been luring us to 'eat' since 1880, which is why most of our babies end up being labeled "oral FAILURES"... and that's what they evolved into but ONLY because we followed what I call "the AUDist-designed yellow-brick-road-to-Oralism hell", laid out before us by the author of "AUDism 101", Alexander Graham Bell:( Result? Our babies, and ourselves end up doing the worst possible harm if 'helping/guiding our children toward
Bottom line about us 'theHearingParents' learning 'sign-laguage': you don't have to become proficient right away; your kids will be doing that for you, and before you know it they will be helping you improve:) No worries! Watch them thrive while you have fun practicing, and can RELAX! Can you imagine relaxing and 'enjoying' the whole family's journey to a Bi-lingual, Bi-culural life and you don't need to travel anywhere to do it. But all of this only if you stop listening to the AUDist way of forcing your deaf baby to become a second-rate 'hearing' person instead of the most fulfilled, well-educated, well-adjusted, empowered and happy Deaf adult he/she can be...asap!
- End -
Friday, February 1, 2019
From Where I Sit: "InspirationPorn"
Sunday, July 2, 2017
So
wonderful, no, what I mean is 'so special'! This show-casing of Mr.
Marshall, and preservation of HIS-story(ies), reminds me that in all the
years raising Deaf Deaf kids myself, beginning in 1969 and remaining on
the path of "Oral/Aural/'LSL" hell" for nearly ten years ... but
thankfully evolving into what is now the 2nd generation of a 'mixed'
bi-lingual, bicultural' family (whew:), seeing such up close and
personal hand-waving, 'regaling' of anything related to "D"eaf history
is still a relatively recent phenomenon:(
True, in nearly five decades it is only now that I've become keenly aware of "Deaf" history appearing more often on 'social media' and being 'billed' as something that matters!! Growing up (my 75TH Bday coming up)...it was the same way when it came to just about every historical event 'American history DENIERS' did NOT want included in school 'social studies' curricula. Like mush coming out of the POTUS White House today, if you/we "deniy", that solves everything :((( Today we call that "REVISIONIST history".
The following are a few other examples:
- the near-successful genocide of Native Indians which was actually the "FIRST" holocaust!
- Japanese internment ('concentration') camps here during WWII (never included): - the nearly successful anti-semetic "solving of the JEWISH problem" by the Germans et al (that was the SECOND Holoaust). I don't think it was taught as part of 'U.S.and World War II' history in the U.S. until the 60s;
....And tell me, please, what exactly is "DIFFERENT" about AG Bell's 137 year march toward 'solving the 'deaf problem' with their own "FINAL SOLUTION"... Actually, It's happening now as the medical profession/CI Industrial complex isolate the "deaf' gene which [the need for further discussion about this, of course, is huge];
- Then there is African American/Black History, with its horrors of slavery etc. - began being taught when?
I could go on adding to this list of what things have been deliberatly LEFT OUT of "AMERICAN HISTORY" class and continue to be LEFT OUT!
Today we have 'African American Studies' departments in just about every American University, yet Black Lives Matter is fighting RACism every hour of every day, so deep and unique is our "American brand of it and rallying cries of "Black History IS American History" can be heard/seen everywhere to STOP the killing~~!! SO TOO "Deaf History IS American History" (Black,white,Latino,Asian or otherwise)! WE MUST teach Deaf History and make the analogies necessary to link Deaf oppression and current reality of Deaf ethnic cleansing by the AUDists with all other oppressed peoples' united struggles. Black History Revealed
One last example; Last year I went with the "AFA" folks ( Ruthie Jordan Paul Kiel Ellen Mansfield) to the Smithsonian Institution's "American History Museum" in D.C. there was a substantial exhibition about Alexander Graham Bell and his 'invention of the telephone' etc. When I was walking through the "American Stories" section, it hit me! There was, however, NOT a single reference to any Deaf individual having contributed a single thing to our society...NOT ONE, anywhere in the museum (if I missed it, please tell me)! Deaf History Promoting the American Deaf History & Culture Deaf History & Culture ASL Presenting Series Deaf Women United
True, in nearly five decades it is only now that I've become keenly aware of "Deaf" history appearing more often on 'social media' and being 'billed' as something that matters!! Growing up (my 75TH Bday coming up)...it was the same way when it came to just about every historical event 'American history DENIERS' did NOT want included in school 'social studies' curricula. Like mush coming out of the POTUS White House today, if you/we "deniy", that solves everything :((( Today we call that "REVISIONIST history".
- the near-successful genocide of Native Indians which was actually the "FIRST" holocaust!
- Japanese internment ('concentration') camps here during WWII (never included): - the nearly successful anti-semetic "solving of the JEWISH problem" by the Germans et al (that was the SECOND Holoaust). I don't think it was taught as part of 'U.S.and World War II' history in the U.S. until the 60s;
....And tell me, please, what exactly is "DIFFERENT" about AG Bell's 137 year march toward 'solving the 'deaf problem' with their own "FINAL SOLUTION"... Actually, It's happening now as the medical profession/CI Industrial complex isolate the "deaf' gene which [the need for further discussion about this, of course, is huge];
- Then there is African American/Black History, with its horrors of slavery etc. - began being taught when?
I could go on adding to this list of what things have been deliberatly LEFT OUT of "AMERICAN HISTORY" class and continue to be LEFT OUT!
Today we have 'African American Studies' departments in just about every American University, yet Black Lives Matter is fighting RACism every hour of every day, so deep and unique is our "American brand of it and rallying cries of "Black History IS American History" can be heard/seen everywhere to STOP the killing~~!! SO TOO "Deaf History IS American History" (Black,white,Latino,Asian or otherwise)! WE MUST teach Deaf History and make the analogies necessary to link Deaf oppression and current reality of Deaf ethnic cleansing by the AUDists with all other oppressed peoples' united struggles. Black History Revealed
One last example; Last year I went with the "AFA" folks ( Ruthie Jordan Paul Kiel Ellen Mansfield) to the Smithsonian Institution's "American History Museum" in D.C. there was a substantial exhibition about Alexander Graham Bell and his 'invention of the telephone' etc. When I was walking through the "American Stories" section, it hit me! There was, however, NOT a single reference to any Deaf individual having contributed a single thing to our society...NOT ONE, anywhere in the museum (if I missed it, please tell me)! Deaf History Promoting the American Deaf History & Culture Deaf History & Culture ASL Presenting Series Deaf Women United
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Creative Access ! 1992 - 2009 (Series)
CREATIVE ACCESS ! 1992 - 2009 (SERIES)
Memories...
- Throw back FAR (2009). Do NOT try and 'contribute'$ OR Google' this - [see FB photo of Creative Access web 'front page']; it was hacked, but I will post announcement if and when fixed:( BUTTT, the memories from those amazing years - showcasing the brains, beauty and talent of Deaf actors, dancers, poets, comics, playwrights, theater companies, fine artists, photographers - all through the one-and-only spectacle of AMERICAN Sign Language - wow; we had quite a seventeen-year 'run'. P.S. And don't forget when NAD asked us to lead the way in DEMANDING "Open-Captioned American movies NOW" :) THAT alone is a great story about how 'two/ten heads are better than one"... Bottom line? WE WON! We did 'FIGHT CITY HALL" and were relentless! Today there are captioned movies in theater chains across the nation; it is 'expected' now, in the 21st Century, but too often we don't remind ourselves, and our kids, about what life was like 'back then'. NO captions and NO movie-access in theaters, period. The only way we could see the newest 'blockbuster' movie was for some 'non-profit' to pay $300 to show it once or twice and 'send it back' to Cal... Want to know the whole story?? Ask me and I'll come to your group and tell it; I will :) ANYway... just wanted to share our great Web cover page, but, again, DON'T try and open it 'yet' - except for this link to the BLOG > http://pahcreativeaccess.blogspot.com/
Enjoy the memories!
#D-PAN: Deaf Professional Arts Network @deaftalent @SignWorldTV #TyGiordano #Deaf-TV @DailyMoth l #De'Via Central @PattiDurr #DeafWestTheatre #CreativeAccess #CarolFinkle #BobHiltermann #SteveLongo #SteveSandy #JadeBryanFilms #MoniqueHolt, #HarveyWilliams #MagicMorgan - more...
Monday, May 9, 2016
Friday, April 4, 2008
Advocacy: Open Letter to All Presidential Candidates, April 2008
An equal rights/equal access issue: an American minority culture being ignored:
YES~! On March 31 - ASL interpreters were at Senator Clinton's rally in Fairless Hills - PaH! (in ASL, "PaH!" stands for "success.....FINALLY") ?? ARE INTERPRETERS SCHEDULED FOR THE REST OF SENATOR(S) CLINTON, OBAMA AND MCCAIN RALLIES, PRESENTATIONS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND DEBATES??
(?) April 9 - ASL interpreters for Elton's Concert in NYC! We interpreted his 2004 Philadelphia Freedom Concert before 200,000 people. Now let's continue including Deaf Americans by respecting their language: American Sign Language EQUALS 'ramps" for equal access according to the ADA!
An equal rights/equal access issue: an American minority culture being ignored:
ASL interpreting is required to insure access to communication for Deaf voters - in order to be compliant with the ADA and insure that hundreds of thousands of voters using ASL have the opportunity to be as informed as any American voter asked to choose among our candidates running for President of the United States.
(?) April 9 - ASL interpreters for Elton's Concert in NYC! We interpreted his 2004 Philadelphia Freedom Concert before 200,000 people. Now let's continue including Deaf Americans by respecting their language: American Sign Language EQUALS 'ramps" for equal access according to the ADA!
Castle Film: Sneak Peek at Fleisher/Ollman Gallery
On October 26, 2007, the Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists held a sneak peek at their first film production—a documentary about Idaho artist James Castle—at the Fleisher/Ollman Gallery in Philadelphia.
This event was organized by Carol Finkle of Creative Access as part of Creative Access’ Deaf Arts & Culture PaH! Festival 2008 in conjunction with Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disability Arts and Culture: a month-long celebration of the visual and performing arts.
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery owner John Ollman talked about the drawings, books, and constructions on view and Foundation director Molly Dougherty introduced the film to an audience largely unfamiliar with the work of James Castle.
This event was organized by Carol Finkle of Creative Access as part of Creative Access’ Deaf Arts & Culture PaH! Festival 2008 in conjunction with Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disability Arts and Culture: a month-long celebration of the visual and performing arts.
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery owner John Ollman talked about the drawings, books, and constructions on view and Foundation director Molly Dougherty introduced the film to an audience largely unfamiliar with the work of James Castle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)