MZ: An Ex-Founding DBC Core Member
I’ve thought long and hard about this. I have encouraged DBC twice to become more transparent. I’ve asked two DBC leaders to vp with me, so we can discuss this further, but they both weren’t ‘available’. In e-mails, I asked them why they don’t want to acknowledge to the Deaf Community that they practice Deafhood heavily but received no response. Transparency and integrity are essential as these will benefit the organization and also the Deaf Community.
Since the top DBC leader, also the Deafhood leader, Ella Mae Lentz had accused me of assumption and confusion in the comment section of a vlog, I have no choice but to come forward. These are the facts.
I was one of the founding core members of DBC. When it started, we had a very simple mission: baby signs for deaf babies. Later it was expanded to include deaf babies and deaf children by several members. Two Deafhood leaders began to push Deafhood on us. The majority wasn’t comfortable with that as they only wanted to focus on Bilingualism and nothing further. However, these leaders persisted, ignoring the moderates’ objections. As Anne Marie Baer said, there was no voting or due process, including an election of DBC leaders, though we wanted to set up a formal system, etc. Finally two moderates, including me, resigned and four other moderates were pushed out summarily without notice afterwards. Then I found out two other leaders, including a strong Deafhood proponent, were appointed one month prior to my resignation and none of us knew about this new development. We went ahead and set up our organization which addresses to deaf bilingualism only. Some wanted to disclose to the public, but another former member and I asked them not to mention anything. We still want to see DBC succeed. Looking back, I wonder if that was a mistake keeping quiet as afterwards Dr Hocokan volunteered his hard labor for four months, believing in bilingualism only to find out the Deafhood agenda has been infiltrated into the organization. What Dr Hocokan had described so far, run parallel to what we experienced. Very recently, Dianrez and Anne Marie acknowledged being booted out without any notice.
For me, as long as Deafhood is what Deaf people want in DBC, that’s fine with me. However, I’ll be honest and say that some moderates don’t feel good to see the DBC hijacked to serve two purposes instead of the original one, especially when they toiled hard to build the foundation and provide research information. They feel that if parents see Deafhood, they will not get the message about the value of ASL with Deaf children. It happens that I agree with them. But two Deafhood leaders disagree and they are certainly entitled to their opinions.
Their definition of Deafhood is somewhat different than mine as I have come to terms with my own deafhood many years ago. All deaf people, whether they are ASL users, C.I. users, deaf oralists, hard of hearing, and cued speech users, etc are embraced. Whether the person views deafness as a medical pathology or a deafhood is irrelevant to me as I look at the whole person. The Deafhood concepts are fascinating - the audism, the audism behind the cochlear implants and oralism, and its impact on Deaf education and Deaf Community. All of these ideas are profound and thought-provoking. In my opinion, the labeling of deaf groups is divisive and not encouraged. Personal attacks on deaf people by another deaf group due to cultural intolerance on either side are not condoned, either.
The longer the DBC leaders continued without disclosing their second agenda to the Deaf Community, the more puzzled I became. At first I thought it was due to fear of rejection, but it doesn’t make sense because three DBC leaders are openly identified as Deafhood leaders. The Deafhood themes became more obvious in the blogs and vlogs over the period of time, including the DBC convention. Hence my encouragement for them to become more transparent. The importance of one being true to oneself and others is paramount, especially in the Deaf community where many feel too inhibited in expressing their real opinions openly.
I also saw how inspired and empowered Deaf people were when they attended the DBC Conference. In my personal belief, some Deaf people need empowerment and feel good about their deafness, both long overdue. As you know, I am all for Deaf activism and empowerment as long as mutual respect and tolerance for the diversity of D/deaf people are practiced. This includes their rights to their beliefs, whether we agree with them or not.
At the conference, the majority of time was spent on Deaf Bilingualism, with excellent lecturers versed in this field. However, Deafhood, audism, oralism, cochlear implants, and sharing of negative experiences were also covered. Many Deaf people resonated with the conference, so it was a very successful conference for Deaf participants. The targeted audience was, in my honest opinion, the Deaf Community, not the hearing parents of deaf babies and toddlers. As long as Deaf people are aware of that, this isn’t a problem.
Yet one thing remains unclear to me. The DBC carrying two different agendas, Deaf Bilingualism and Deafhood, is increasingly becoming more apparent. Why do the leaders feel reluctant to be more transparent with its members and the Deaf Community? Instead of being willing to discuss this with the concerned members of the Deaf Community, they attacked those who gave them constructive feedback, using intimidation tactics and utilizing some of theirs followers to speak up for them. Repeatedly I get the feeling none of Deaf people can give honest and constructive feedback at all without being accused of trying to destroy DBC or practicing crab theory. In my blog, I tend to cover many topics, with various point of views, popular or unpopular. Some readers disagree with me, but they are entitled to their opinions. However, this also leads to some bashing on me in my own blog, but I don’t accuse them of practicing crab theory since it comes with the territory. The Deaf leaders should be able to handle constructive feedback professionally without restoring into negative and destructive attacks to denigrate concerned Deaf people.. This particular dynamic of intimidating people isn’t healthy for the Deaf Community. Aidan Mack is correct. Healthy dialogue is a must for the Deaf Community.
So this brings back the question: Why are DBC leaders not being forthcoming with their Deafhood agenda?
A note: I would respectfully ask for no bashing. I hope DBC will continue to be successful. All I am asking is the organization to show transparency, integrity, and tolerance for Deaf members.
Sites from other ex-core DBC members:
Dr. Hokocan’s DBC Facts: http://dbcfacts.blogspot.com/2008/07/dbc-facts.html
Anne Marie Baer’s DBC members – No Voting Power http://www.annemariemetaasl.com/2008/07/10/dbc-members-no-voting-power/
Amy Cohen Efron’s revelation of her former founding core member role and acknowledgement of infiltration of Deafhood into DBC: http://blog.deafread.com/abcohende/2008/07/13/revelation-and-vision-of-the-future-signing-community/
Deaf Pundit, of Deaf Edge, also a former core DBC member, had confirmed the statements of Dr. Hokocan. Dianrez acknowledged that she was pushed out without any notice. MZ, AM, DP, and Dianrez still root for DBC. MZ
P.S. Someone asked what Ella wrote. So here is it: . “And sadly, all those worse accusations about DBC by Mishka Zena, Amy Cohen, Dr Hocokon, Ben Vess, etc who werent even there at the conference… you didn’t bother to challenge them. Some of them were confusing, some were outrageous, and they were insulting to the 700+ people who paid their way and gave up a whole weekend to come and see for themselves and every one was inspired and UNITY was present and many wonderful stories (and yes heartbreaking ones too) came out of the Conference, all to be buried with the piles and piles of assumptions by those people and others. And you didn’t bother to check them out?? http://deaffilmblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/leaders-beware-of-assumptions.html”
My question: How can I be outrageous, confusing, and insulting when the materials I’ve documented came from their site, their vlogs, the DBC participants’ and other people’s testimonies that these did happen? Recently a Deaf guy, Northtrue, praised DBC for teaching him to accept self-empowerment. culture, language, and destruction of Deaf culture by c.i. and oralism… comparing Deaf with the oppressed Indians. This is his message, not mine. http://www.deafvideo.tv/video/watch/14223/ That’s fine. However this has nothing to do with bilingualism. This is the deafhood talk. It’s same with Tar. He mention the concept of D.I.E., a term often used in deafhood discussions.
Why would a leader act this way to the concerned Deaf constituents? Why is this person so against us expressing our concerns and looking for truth? This is America, isn’t it? I acknowledge her rights to her beliefs. I don’t criticize her Deafhood. I express my admiration for her dedication to Deafhood. All I ask is transparency and show conflicting messages directly from DBC. This type of behavior is the intimidation factor that inhibits many Deaf people from speaking candidly. Is it healthy for the Deaf Community? No, it’s not. MZ
An Addendum:
Here is an excellent vlog where a Deafhood scholar who studied under Paddy Ladd shares Ladd’s definition of deafhood. Ladd’s version sharply differs from the American version interpreted by several Deafhood Leaders. Since the majority of people haven’t read the book, here is the link where Joseph explains the concept as defined by Ladd himself. By the way, I know Joseph and he is credible. He did study in Britain. MZ
Paddy Ladd’s Conception of Deafhood: http://blog.benvess.com/?p=148
The subject is closed
I’ve thought long and hard about this. I have encouraged DBC twice to become more transparent. I’ve asked two DBC leaders to vp with me, so we can discuss this further, but they both weren’t ‘available’. In e-mails, I asked them why they don’t want to acknowledge to the Deaf Community that they practice Deafhood heavily but received no response. Transparency and integrity are essential as these will benefit the organization and also the Deaf Community.
Since the top DBC leader, also the Deafhood leader, Ella Mae Lentz had accused me of assumption and confusion in the comment section of a vlog, I have no choice but to come forward. These are the facts.
I was one of the founding core members of DBC. When it started, we had a very simple mission: baby signs for deaf babies. Later it was expanded to include deaf babies and deaf children by several members. Two Deafhood leaders began to push Deafhood on us. The majority wasn’t comfortable with that as they only wanted to focus on Bilingualism and nothing further. However, these leaders persisted, ignoring the moderates’ objections. As Anne Marie Baer said, there was no voting or due process, including an election of DBC leaders, though we wanted to set up a formal system, etc. Finally two moderates, including me, resigned and four other moderates were pushed out summarily without notice afterwards. Then I found out two other leaders, including a strong Deafhood proponent, were appointed one month prior to my resignation and none of us knew about this new development. We went ahead and set up our organization which addresses to deaf bilingualism only. Some wanted to disclose to the public, but another former member and I asked them not to mention anything. We still want to see DBC succeed. Looking back, I wonder if that was a mistake keeping quiet as afterwards Dr Hocokan volunteered his hard labor for four months, believing in bilingualism only to find out the Deafhood agenda has been infiltrated into the organization. What Dr Hocokan had described so far, run parallel to what we experienced. Very recently, Dianrez and Anne Marie acknowledged being booted out without any notice.
For me, as long as Deafhood is what Deaf people want in DBC, that’s fine with me. However, I’ll be honest and say that some moderates don’t feel good to see the DBC hijacked to serve two purposes instead of the original one, especially when they toiled hard to build the foundation and provide research information. They feel that if parents see Deafhood, they will not get the message about the value of ASL with Deaf children. It happens that I agree with them. But two Deafhood leaders disagree and they are certainly entitled to their opinions.
Their definition of Deafhood is somewhat different than mine as I have come to terms with my own deafhood many years ago. All deaf people, whether they are ASL users, C.I. users, deaf oralists, hard of hearing, and cued speech users, etc are embraced. Whether the person views deafness as a medical pathology or a deafhood is irrelevant to me as I look at the whole person. The Deafhood concepts are fascinating - the audism, the audism behind the cochlear implants and oralism, and its impact on Deaf education and Deaf Community. All of these ideas are profound and thought-provoking. In my opinion, the labeling of deaf groups is divisive and not encouraged. Personal attacks on deaf people by another deaf group due to cultural intolerance on either side are not condoned, either.
The longer the DBC leaders continued without disclosing their second agenda to the Deaf Community, the more puzzled I became. At first I thought it was due to fear of rejection, but it doesn’t make sense because three DBC leaders are openly identified as Deafhood leaders. The Deafhood themes became more obvious in the blogs and vlogs over the period of time, including the DBC convention. Hence my encouragement for them to become more transparent. The importance of one being true to oneself and others is paramount, especially in the Deaf community where many feel too inhibited in expressing their real opinions openly.
I also saw how inspired and empowered Deaf people were when they attended the DBC Conference. In my personal belief, some Deaf people need empowerment and feel good about their deafness, both long overdue. As you know, I am all for Deaf activism and empowerment as long as mutual respect and tolerance for the diversity of D/deaf people are practiced. This includes their rights to their beliefs, whether we agree with them or not.
At the conference, the majority of time was spent on Deaf Bilingualism, with excellent lecturers versed in this field. However, Deafhood, audism, oralism, cochlear implants, and sharing of negative experiences were also covered. Many Deaf people resonated with the conference, so it was a very successful conference for Deaf participants. The targeted audience was, in my honest opinion, the Deaf Community, not the hearing parents of deaf babies and toddlers. As long as Deaf people are aware of that, this isn’t a problem.
Yet one thing remains unclear to me. The DBC carrying two different agendas, Deaf Bilingualism and Deafhood, is increasingly becoming more apparent. Why do the leaders feel reluctant to be more transparent with its members and the Deaf Community? Instead of being willing to discuss this with the concerned members of the Deaf Community, they attacked those who gave them constructive feedback, using intimidation tactics and utilizing some of theirs followers to speak up for them. Repeatedly I get the feeling none of Deaf people can give honest and constructive feedback at all without being accused of trying to destroy DBC or practicing crab theory. In my blog, I tend to cover many topics, with various point of views, popular or unpopular. Some readers disagree with me, but they are entitled to their opinions. However, this also leads to some bashing on me in my own blog, but I don’t accuse them of practicing crab theory since it comes with the territory. The Deaf leaders should be able to handle constructive feedback professionally without restoring into negative and destructive attacks to denigrate concerned Deaf people.. This particular dynamic of intimidating people isn’t healthy for the Deaf Community. Aidan Mack is correct. Healthy dialogue is a must for the Deaf Community.
So this brings back the question: Why are DBC leaders not being forthcoming with their Deafhood agenda?
A note: I would respectfully ask for no bashing. I hope DBC will continue to be successful. All I am asking is the organization to show transparency, integrity, and tolerance for Deaf members.
Sites from other ex-core DBC members:
Dr. Hokocan’s DBC Facts: http://dbcfacts.blogspot.com/2008/07/dbc-facts.html
Anne Marie Baer’s DBC members – No Voting Power http://www.annemariemetaasl.com/2008/07/10/dbc-members-no-voting-power/
Amy Cohen Efron’s revelation of her former founding core member role and acknowledgement of infiltration of Deafhood into DBC: http://blog.deafread.com/abcohende/2008/07/13/revelation-and-vision-of-the-future-signing-community/
Deaf Pundit, of Deaf Edge, also a former core DBC member, had confirmed the statements of Dr. Hokocan. Dianrez acknowledged that she was pushed out without any notice. MZ, AM, DP, and Dianrez still root for DBC. MZ
P.S. Someone asked what Ella wrote. So here is it: . “And sadly, all those worse accusations about DBC by Mishka Zena, Amy Cohen, Dr Hocokon, Ben Vess, etc who werent even there at the conference… you didn’t bother to challenge them. Some of them were confusing, some were outrageous, and they were insulting to the 700+ people who paid their way and gave up a whole weekend to come and see for themselves and every one was inspired and UNITY was present and many wonderful stories (and yes heartbreaking ones too) came out of the Conference, all to be buried with the piles and piles of assumptions by those people and others. And you didn’t bother to check them out?? http://deaffilmblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/leaders-beware-of-assumptions.html”
My question: How can I be outrageous, confusing, and insulting when the materials I’ve documented came from their site, their vlogs, the DBC participants’ and other people’s testimonies that these did happen? Recently a Deaf guy, Northtrue, praised DBC for teaching him to accept self-empowerment. culture, language, and destruction of Deaf culture by c.i. and oralism… comparing Deaf with the oppressed Indians. This is his message, not mine. http://www.deafvideo.tv/video/watch/14223/ That’s fine. However this has nothing to do with bilingualism. This is the deafhood talk. It’s same with Tar. He mention the concept of D.I.E., a term often used in deafhood discussions.
Why would a leader act this way to the concerned Deaf constituents? Why is this person so against us expressing our concerns and looking for truth? This is America, isn’t it? I acknowledge her rights to her beliefs. I don’t criticize her Deafhood. I express my admiration for her dedication to Deafhood. All I ask is transparency and show conflicting messages directly from DBC. This type of behavior is the intimidation factor that inhibits many Deaf people from speaking candidly. Is it healthy for the Deaf Community? No, it’s not. MZ
An Addendum:
Here is an excellent vlog where a Deafhood scholar who studied under Paddy Ladd shares Ladd’s definition of deafhood. Ladd’s version sharply differs from the American version interpreted by several Deafhood Leaders. Since the majority of people haven’t read the book, here is the link where Joseph explains the concept as defined by Ladd himself. By the way, I know Joseph and he is credible. He did study in Britain. MZ
Paddy Ladd’s Conception of Deafhood: http://blog.benvess.com/?p=148
The subject is closed
July 11th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Wow, such eloquence. I love it.
I hope you will be answered.
-ben
July 11th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Nice posting.
Balance and check is needed in DBC, all right… hopefully it will acknowledge the moderates soon.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:13 am
After seeing DBC vlogs few months with DBC core members, I knew immediately that this organization was infilatred with the DeafHood agenda. How sad!
What about our deaf children???
I was going to criticize the DBC leadership publicly, but was urged by someone else not to. I silently gave the DBC a chance to prove themselves at the conference. That was a reason for me not going to the DBC conference in the first place.
One particular individual surely inflict hir own agenda to turn the DBC into the vehicle of Deafhood, instead of being a real bilingual organization to promote bilingualism and ASL for our deaf children.
Look at the Republican Party nowday! The GOP used to be the moderate political party with pro-business leanings and efficent government without any wasteful government spendings. It have been hijacked by the social conservatives whom pushed their own social agendas for what the American society should be all about. GOP is no longer the party of strong government and low taxes!
Democratic Party used to be the anti-black ##########/social diversity party. It have been changed much better to more diverse to broaden their own constitutency. Of course, GOP always good at exploiting people’s fears about radical changes within the society. Look what happened to our country so far for past 30 years!
I personally have nothing against the concept of Deafhood so far. DBC is not really the place for pushing the Deafhood upon people. Keep topics seperate within the DBC, please.
Frederick Douglas did espouse personal hatred for the evil of slavery and former masters during his tours with the abolitionist movement. In the end, abolitionist movement dragged themselves without producing any significant results to end the slavery in the United States. The bloody Civil War took care of the slavery issue along with Lincoln’s “Empanciation Proclamation” to keep England from getting involved with the Confederacy.
Same thing happened with DBC, too many deaf people are really angry with the AGBAD for its past history to disfranchisize deaf people more than a century.
That is very normal for some people acting this way.
Are we head for the real civil war between audists and propoents of ASL and bilingualism in near future? I guess so!
AGBell need to think deeply before it keep promoting the AVT programs without use of ASL. Please make a real compromise and come to the table to work out agreements and embrace the reality of successful educational means for deaf youngsters than being stuck with the so-called ideology to promote oralism and put $$ into the pockets of cochlear implant and audiological-leaning industry, ex. audiologists and doctors.
Everyone could get hurt if the DBC do not reflect upon itself what they have been doing. Same thing with the AGBell, too.
I would be not surprised that I will be smeared with lies and endless attacks. Guess what? I will be NOT really afraid to fight back in very nasty way.
Important of all is to embrace the difference of opinons and criticisms and digest them without resorting to systematic attacks.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
July 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
How sad.
I am doing this for the majority of the hearing (and deaf) parents of the deaf babies’ sake.
I am an ASL fluent. I *was* an oralist. I do feel a pain for them…..
No diversity. I am getting an emotional.
You did good, MZ.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:29 am
MZ, yup, I know which organization you are talking about… several months ago I gave the link to ISD (the superintendent and Outreach’s EI program) and both love the organization that you and AM set up… very informative.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Hi Mishka!
To report you that I already went to the fancy hotel nearby airport for SJIAA Reunion (oral deaf school St Joseph Inst for the Deaf Alumni Association) last Saturday night!
I got report from one Deaf did told me that his hearing father is still strong member of AGB for long time. He is still against ASL since he learned from NTID. His father still against him , his Deaf wife and his 3 hearing CODA children…He had problems with his father that he never believed him that some SJI nuns and hearing Dorm RA did badly physically abused him and other boys in the boys dorm.. I got several Deaf reported to me last Saturday night at the hotel lobby.
AGB is not 100% Diversity! thanks. gotta go now.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Greetings Brothers & Sisters,
MZ demonstrated the best of best. She of all people understand integrity and practices it. She is the ideal mentor for each of us to look up to. Thank you, MZ for the core values. Above all, thank you for coming forward as a former founding member of DBC.
In the past few days I’ve received intimidating and threatening emails from several DBC Core Members who encouraged me not to post information on the blogs and vlogs as if they did not want me to disclose the truth and jeopardize the entire DBC movement and mission. In reality, it was them who jeopardized DBC’s movement and mission.
The latest email came in last night telling me I’d be welcomed back into DBC if I stopped whatever I was doing. I will post these emails as part of DBC Facts evidence at http://www.DBCfacts.com.
Regardless I responded and told them that there were still an opportunity for them to come clean with me and others. They still have not restored integrity so my quest for integrity and dignity will continue.
I’m going to the store today to purchase a scanner machine to scan evidences and documents and will post them accordingly.
Regards,
Barry Sewell
July 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am
You brought a tear to my eye. I agree with you 100%.
Sorry to have to name names, but Ella, GG, and DE have to go if DBC is trying to separate itself from Deafhood and to gain trust by the rest of the Deaf community who is for moderation.
Unless DBC is aimed for empowerment and Deaf/ASL pride, I am all for it! The trio is awesome for that part. But for deaf children? I am staying as far away as possible unless the trio leaves DBC.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
MZ
Thanks for sharing this with me. I truly regret that I am blinded by the DBC. At first I was thrilled to hear the news about DBC but a few weeks later I sense that the organization goes wrong. Based on my opinion, DBC must have diverse members and runs like any other organizations — Such as voting, bylaws, and many more. Diverse Deaf people must be welcomed. They must remain professional and keep themselves quiet. I am the only Deaf member of the organization here in Boston (I will not disclosed here- if you wanna know – ask away if you can!) . I attend the meeting with interpreters monthly. We have worked together with respect and courtesy. Once more .. the teamwork is a key. We cannot leak any important information outside of the organization without the press release. Once the information gets out without it. Without the press release, the mixed information comes out and it will go all wrong. Again I have noticed the members of DBC keep sending out the mixed messages. It is pretty dangerous and confusion. Those people need to be more careful of they have to say publicly. I wish the DBC well. The time will come. DBC is so new. I will just back off and see how it goes since it is only less a year old. Sorry I am still wary of my english writing so pardon my grammar mistakes. Smile.
Ex-Deaf Oralist and Pride Deaf ASL-er, Diane
July 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Well-said!!!!
July 11th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Well said!
No. 8 Comment, well said, too.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Comment #8 – Native ASL/CI Parent and Child:
I agree with with you 100%.
When I read Aidan’s vlog and Ella made the comment that was uncalled for. She made me very furious. Ella needs to apologize to Aidan.
…..as well as others.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Diane, you wrote just fine.
)
July 11th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
WG:
Ella will never apologize. She is a hard-core militant with an agenda that is not hidden. She is an amazing woman who accomplished so much in her life timeand did so much good for the Deaf community with regards to ASL and empowerment.
My personal opinion is that she does best in that area of Deaf revival type of gatherings than in the area of Deaf education. I was told she does not have a graduate degree nor a credential in Deaf education. She shoud not be seen as an expert in deaf education as it is a very very complex domain.
Deafhood is a great concept and the trio I mentioned in comment #8 does it very well. DBC if we want it to flourish and to stay focused on bilingualism in deaf education (including CI/speech therapy/AVT), we need deaf education professionals including audiologists and AVT and/or SLPs to add balance to the DBC organizers in order to attract parents of deaf children who want their children to learn ASL and to hear and speak with their aids and/or implants.
Keep Deafhood OUT of DBC or else make it transparent that DBC is all about Deafhood and ASL for all deaf babies and children.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
“Ella, GG, and DE have to go if DBC is trying to separate itself from Deafhood and to gain trust by the rest of the Deaf community who is for moderation.” –native asl/ci parent and child
Thanks, Native ASL/CI parent. You have put your finger on it…to avoid confusion and sending out conflicting messages, the three Deafhood proponents need to leave DBC entirely and allow the parent-focused people to steer the group.
The three are awesome and inspiring in their fields; they just need to go their own way separately for the good of DBC.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Yes, as charismatic leaders, Ella and DE maintain a strong passion for Deafhood and have this amazing gift of inspiring the Deaf Community. The concept of steering away from the medical pathologicalization of deafness and celebrating the linguistic and cultural aspect of Deaf Community is much needed for the Deaf Community, as most don’t consider themselves ‘disabled’. Yet they feel very much oppressed and misunderstood by the public. The majority also needs to heal from the damaging effects of oralism and audism. Despite of our ideological differences, I do respect Ella as a strong and dynamic person with strong beliefs in ASL and Deaf people
July 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Deafhood is NOT an organization or group of people at all!!! Everyone seems to get the wrong idea of the term “Deafhood”.
Try to think this way, it is similiar to Motherhood. Just like motherhood, it is way of life.
Some people are really into motherhood, others are not. Its same thing for Deafhood.
Look at this way, you know PTA (Parents Teacher Association), you can’t tell them to keep motherhood OUT!!!
July 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I feel like I am not smart here. Many are good in English .. umm.. I am off the point here at number 8?
July 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
It feels good to be finally understood by some of you despite some of our differing views. I am sure the ASL/CI community feels the same way.
DBC should be parent-driven. I am a parent of a Deaf child and I have not yet found an organization that I fully agree with. I use AGB resources for specific needs relating to my child’s IEP. I am well versed in deaf education and Hands and Voices is a great site for parents who are seeking for information relating to all options in deaf education.
Where do I go to in order to collaborate with other parents who are all for ASL and AVT? There is NONE in this entire nation if not the whole world. Not a hyperbole, but a fact. I have great ideas about how to merge the two as my son is a living proof that it can be done and where do I go to share my successful stories and to provide support for new parents who are curious about merging the both approaches? They come up to me and say very often that their oral program tell them they shouldn’t sign to their children if they choose oralism and schools for the Deaf tell them they should sign ASL all the time and there is no spoken language component in Deaf schools except during speech therapy. Total Commnication programs are like a big messy pot of unstructured information on how to educate deaf children. Just put your child in the TC classroom and we will sign SEE to them and you learn SEE and you can talk to them at the same time. Where is the organization that I and many other parents are seeking for in order to better meet our Deaf children of the modern era?
Im rambling on, I know, but time is of essence and I want some of you to hear first hand from a parent of a CI deaf child who is for true bilingualism.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Native ASL/CI Parent,
You can set up a yahoo listserv so when people search for the key words, they can find the group. Then you all can get together and set up a formal organization. I am sure there are other parents who feel the same way you do
July 11th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
DR, you hit the nail spot on the head in your vlogs, especially where you mentioned the due process, as well as where they did not even try to establish formal meetings with AG Bell before embarking upon their actions in Milwaukee. Like you, I have a strong business background and can tell you from my own experience that if they did this in the business world, they would dig the hole so deep that they probably could not get out of it.
As for deafhood, while I have my own definition of it and I am very comfortable with who I am, I grew up oral and did not learn to sign until when I was an adult. I am a fluent signer nowadays and my attitude is that I would much rather be around deaf people than hearing people although I do speak and read lips quite well.
However, throughout my life, I’ve had to deal with the “deafhood radicals” that have tried to tell me that “I am not deaf enough”, so I ask “is that because im not a DoD?” they say “Np. its because you speak and read lips”. The irony is that in many of these cases, the severity of my hearing loss is often worse than theirs, as it is over 100dB in both of my ears, so I think “who the f*ck are you to tell me I am not deaf enough?”
Unfortunately, a few years ago, I met Ella for the first time and we got along fine at first, up until I brought my oral background, I could sense an immediate and significant change in her attitude towards me. It had me wondering WTF?????
I love ASL and its language, altho English is my first language. I wish I had learned ASL at an earlier age, but I am not going to dwell on it, but it is for this very reason that bilingualism is something I would support wholeheartedly in a heartbeat. If DBC brings in the type of leaders the deviate from the bilingualism concept and try to pull in deafhood radical leaders who potentially say that “I am not deaf enough” then it completely defeats the whole purpose of bilingualism.
Bilingualism is about using both English and ASL and it should not matter if they’re deaf, hard of hearing, use CI, etc.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
We do have ASL/CI Yahoo listserv for Deaf parents of CI children, but remember the 95 percent of deaf children areexcluded from that listserv because their parents aren’t deaf.
DBC would have been something the 95 percent could go to get information and collaborate. The parents at my son’s oral school come up to tell me they do not have anywhere to go to get information about both oralism/AVT and signing ASL to their children as a support in the classroom and in the home. Thus far I have been their resource.
There is none out there.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Diane, there are geniuses out there that don’t know the english language well either, so trust us on this one when we say that we think you are smart
However, your English level is still quite good compared to many others out there in this world. Hold your head high with pride…..you’re smart 
July 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Diane
)
I sense you have a good soul… and you have always impressed me as a smart person, in Boston, graduating from Gallaudet, etc. I am not smart, but I have common sense and I gain a lot of information from reading and I just step back and try to see a bigger picture and see if the puzzle pieces fit together or not.
Your comments DO fit
)
July 11th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Nothing new under the sun about charmisa.
The world was in a disaster in the name of
Hitler, for one.
Stalin, for another.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I dunno about myself … I don’t know you Karen Mayes and nice meeting you. Hope you have a good weekend.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Jean, not to be a nitpicker here or to try to make you look bad or anything but unless charmisa is a new word I hadn’t learned yet, but I presume you mean charisma?
July 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Wow, Mishka! Great blog! I’m still trying to get my jaw off of the floor.
Once again, I still don’t agree that Deafhood should be applied to DBC’s mission statement. That has nothing to do with Deaf babies/children. Deafhood is for the Deaf adults ONLY, period. The hearing parents would not understand how would Deafhood work for their Deaf babies/children because that is not their journeys. That should be left up to Deaf people to go on their journeys alone.
I had viewed Anne Marie Baer’s vlog about no voting power. That has been very disturbing and unsettling. It is so wrong on many levels. Each organization, club and etc. should have the voting power. That is part of important on our democracy rights.
I’m really appalled that DBC never bother to inform the exiting members their real reason for letting them go. That is not proper way to treat everyone. Obviously I’m sure they have had lost DBC’s respect even though ex-members still support DBC and their original mission statement.
Misha
July 11th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
God. This is now officially a witch hunt, thanks to you commenters. And a lot of your info is false. Genie Gertz is not part of the DBC core committee, yet some of you are naming her. Get your facts straight.
Enough is enough. This is no longer a quest for truth – it is a witch hunt. What’s next – burning DE and Ella at the stake??? Look at yourselves.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
[some comments were deleted due to unacceptable content. Racist terms, homosexual bashing, and religious talk aren't permitted here]
July 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Well the truth hurts, eh?
Don’t YOU have a problem with an organization that’s run as if it’s the Communist Party, squashing the moderates, just to protect the sacred and holy Ella and DE?
Everyone can see that MZ gave them both positive comments. She just reported the facts as she learned them. What’s the problem with that?
When the light exposes the false, don’t blame the light!
July 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Observer,
Where were you when DBC members called deaf people deficit thinkers, colonialists and oppressors? Where were you when the DBC founder demanded deficit thinkers, oral deaf and people be censored from DeafRead?
They can dish it out, but they cannot take it?
Okie Dokie
July 11th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I agree with observer above.
This is very disturbing to me how such a tiny number of people could create so much noise based on false information- and they do not even know what happened at the conference, really, because they were not there.
These naysayers have no credibility at all (the main ones). One of them criticizes Deafhood but didn’t even read the book, making the aburd claim that Deafhood is a continuation of the Deaf Power movement. But there was no such thing as a Deaf power movement. Maybe 3 or 4 people back in the late 1960′s printed up a few bumper stickers, and that’s all.
This is becoming like a “theater of the absurd.”
July 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
another observer, i presume you havent gone to the http://www.dbcfacts.com website? That information is coming from some people originally involved with DBC and you’re saying that they have no credibility?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Go see Aaron Cues blog in DV.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
EricJIndra — I am not into the religious stuffs here. I don’t think you fully understand the diverse means to you. Diverse comes with respect, courtesy, and many more — without fighting against each others based on religious, racism, and la la…. As an Ex- Deaf oralist — (At the few events where I went) Several Deaf militants rarely give me hard time because of my own upbringing. I didn’t chose this where I come from. Today I live here in Boston .. I have no problem in dealing various Deaf people here. I haven’t been to the DBC in Milwaukee but I can sense that something goes wrong (after reading many comments and mixed messages) I just hope the DBC can straight this out soon otherwise it will fall apart. Teamwork is a must. Open minded is a must too.
Diane
July 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Well-spoken, MZ.
To native asl/CI parent and child,
Your heart is in the right place. ASL and written/spoken English are like the pieces of a puzzle that come together and fit perfectly in a deaf child’s education, regardless of hearing technology or not.
To anon at #21,
My experiences are nearly identical to yours, although I struggle with ASL as I started very late in my life.
Like you, I instinctively understood the concept of bilingualism for babies and young children. It makes a lot of sense. I wish for more research to back this up so oralists can’t use ASL as an excuse to say it hinders an oral deaf child’s education.
To Diane,
Your message was “loud and clear”. I gotcha.
To observer #29,
I understand that Genie Gertz is not a DBC core member, but she is a Deafhood seminar presenter. This association may have some people confusing her with DBC leadership.
Contrary to what you say, I don’t think MZ’s article here is a witch-hunt of Ella and DE. MZ has expressed admiration for Ella’s and DE’s passion for Deafhood, but is concerned that Deafhood has turned DBC’s mission into a confusing double message.
DBC should decide which way to go. A two-headed creature will have a hard time making up its mind where to go and will end up expending far more energy and time going off in several directions, rather than just one. The end result is that the creature really doesn’t know where it’s going, the two heads can’t think together.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Oppression, Stereotypical assumption and Diversity issues always have been around throughout the world history over 2000 years.
My family ancestors were Puritans, Dutch Reformed and Quakers. Puritans started the witchcraft trials in Salem MA in late 1600’s. Puritans acted being assumptions on anybody related to “Devil” over tiny things such as witches, women, birth defects, adultery, alcoholics, thieves, independent religious thinkers… Same thing happened in Europe before Salem, MA!
I am totally sick of hearing about DBC, AGB and NAD issues over and over again on this blog. Are we in witchcraft trials like back to Salem, MA or what? We are simply D E A F people as human being!!! Everyone made mistakes and n body is perfect! We can overcome the obstacles and it will make us stronger.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
There will be more from others.
I have already acknowledged that there were a lot of grounds covered in bilingualism. However, the fact that audism, deafhood, oralism and the evils of AG Bell cannot be denied. Anyone only needs to check the blogs, vlogs, and the press publications to see them.
Not that I am saying people shouldn’t talk about oralism, deafhood, and audism. On the contrary, they were entitled to and obviously it helped them a lot to share their experiences. As a person with an oral background, I have seen people not doing well in the oralism system and how they suffered. All of these should be aired. I am glad that they felt confident to speak out as they deserved to be heard. I am glad that they have a forum. Where else can they speak? There is no forum for these people as of now until DBC came on. The oral education system needs to be held accountable for what they have done to countless deaf people.
I am also not criticizing deafhood. Everybody have their definition of deafhood, a personal journey of self examination and self acceptance.
I only ask that DBC be fully transparent instead pretending it is only bilingualism. Why are people trying so hard to deny the deafhood part of DBC and accusing the founding core members of lying? What do we have to gain by lying when in reality we are setting ourselves to be viciously attacked and our character maligned by telling the truth? We are not making any money. We only want the best for the Deaf Community
This gets weirder and weirder
July 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
The Rogue,
Didn’t you see me complimenting Ella and DE for their Deafhood work? Why isn’t it permissable for me to ask DBC to show transparency? Why isn’t it ok for DBC to acknowledge that it does explore Deafhood? What’s wrong with that? If they really believe in it, so be it. Why hide? That’s the part I don’t understand. People should have the courage to stand up for their beliefs. This is America.
I can understand if you are sick of my topics lately. It’s not for everybody since it’s not an entertainment blog. I like to explore different topics and examine the sociological aspects as I cover them. They may be old news for others, but it’s mostly new for me. I see that some people learned something from my blog.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
This took a lot of courage to share this and hope to see the feedback utilized to improve in the best interest of Deaf children everywhere. I agree, it appears more and more that people want these different issues need to be separated. Combined I think has hurt the effort more than helped.
I do hope those involved with DBC respond to your concerns.
Meanwhile, Thanks for all the work you are doing to spread awareness and educate on a variety of issues via your blog.
Best.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Ann_C
Yes. The reason why I respect and understand the majority of the hearing parents of the deaf babies to go through the confused stages when they get the double messages (from DBC and Deafhood). That’s not fair to them.
Deafhood is the personal group/identity. Many hearing parents/people will never understand that kind of message. That’s not fair to them, too.
Deafhood must leave from the DBC as well as the NAD. NAD have worked with many hearing people.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
MZ,
No one is forcing me to read. What is making you think that way? I am just expressing my pure honest ans straightforward what I thought. I will stay out of it.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Rogue, I appreciate your feedback. In fact, after this, I am planning to resume my break that I interrupted.
Have a good summer.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I deeply admire Elizabeth’s passion. Yes, I’m with Ben – let’s all hope her thoughts will be acknowledged by DBC.
Diane, you write quite all right so don’t worry. Keep your head up high as possible. Are you the same Diane who goes by this nickname “Sweetmind” in other deaf forums?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Gal,
I would like to correct you on something. The term, Deafhood is not an organization but Deafhood Foundation is. And this organization controls Deafhood’s workshop inside seework. Everything that DBC does is stored in Deafhood Foundation’s seework account. Everything is controlled by these few leaders that runs DBC,
Diane,
I do not think you are giving yourself enough credit. You, like everybody are gifted in different ways. You as well as each one of us are beautiful human beings. Being smart does not make or break you and your ability to be productive in this world. It is the good spirit that does. How come? Our spiritual language promotes integrity. You will do very well if you stand for integrity. Additionally there are many different “smarts”. Having said that I am sure you are a lot smarter in so many different ways than some of us are. To write well is only one small portion of “smarts”. We have to act responsibly. That’s one of the smarts. We have to promote integrity. That is one of the smarts. The list goes on and on. Remember this… I saw nothing wrong with your writing skills. I have seen many business people who write terribly but yet they are financially successful. What does that tell us? They use their other smarts to become productive in life.
Anyway, sorry for changing the subject.
Another Observer,
The numbers don’t matter. It is the principle and integrity that matters here. Even if I was the only one that stood up and fought for integrity I would do it. Those who knows me well knows that it’s been my life story. Standing up for the truth even if I have to do it alone. That in itself is powerful enough just as powerful as the stroke of a pen.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
MZ,
One more thing.. It is not about you. Some people made ridiculous comments. Yes, you are right it is America.
You are entitled to retrieve the information from DBC. You wanted to see the facts. You simply wanted to know what kind of DBC’s philosophy. I would do the same.
I assumed DBC may treat themselves like Fraternity/ Sorority club or they may be too new to prepare for everything like “Unorganized” organization. You may know that all Frat/Sorority don’t usually provide their secretive information to anybody. : )
I wish to see more radical and reasonable comments like you. You made good points.
Just stand up what you believe in.
Have a good summer!
July 11th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I enjoyed to learn your different opinions from blogger, vlogger and commenters.
However, the negative remarks against the DBC became unstoppable daily. Why? Probably you don’t realize when you unconsciously force them to change their perspective in order to meet your desired perspective.
I believe that every Deaf child, who is native visual-learner, learn a visual-based language (ASL). Until his/her Deaf child’s ASL becomes solid, then every Deaf child learn English literacy.
Until his/her English language finally emulated with ASL in order to meet the goal of the bilingualism, then every Deaf child wants to expand his/her education by learning foreign language, communication modes as such SEE or Cued Speech and developing his/her speech skills.
I am not against the speech training or non-ASL communication modes but I am against the top priority of speech training and communication modes over ASL. That’s how the AGB’s messed up priorities that permanently damaged many Deaf child’s literacy.
The concepts of Deafhood and Deafness are completely different. Are you aware that the Deafhood is strongly pro-supporter of the Bilingualism? Also, the hearing people are welcomed to the Deafhood movement as hearing allies. Do you know that?
Secondly, every Deaf child needs to look up at Deaf role model who is ASL signer and well educated person.. It helps empowering Deaf child. In the dark era of Pure Oralism movement (1920′s), the oralists feared of the role model of Deaf signers that causes many Deaf child become not interested in Speech training.
I am not sure to understand why some people want that the DBC must be restrictedly focused on only agenda – Bilingualism.
Comparing to the AGB organization, it has several agendas such CI, AVT, Speech training, communication modes. Why?
CI or hearing aids will never be equalized to the ASL. CI or hearing aids are simply soulless machine. I believe that the DBC leaders don’t have their forte of any audiology-related issues except language and empowerment. So, the DBC leaders don’t see any good reason for answering the audiology-related question.
My picture of the DBC is almost one year old baby that does not know how to handle with many negative attacks as same as every Deaf child feels lost unexpectedly when the audists take American Sign Language away from his/her native language the deaf child needs visual-based education.
Finally, everyone including myself are not perfect because of either human beings or sinners.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
“Unfortunately, a few years ago, I met Ella for the first time and we got along fine at first, up until I brought my oral background, I could sense an immediate and significant change in her attitude towards me. It had me wondering WTF?????”
Anon #21: Ella knows that I was raised orally and I am from hearing family. She never looks down on me. I’m surprised to hear what you are saying. I am shocked to hear that some people would claim Deafhood is anti-hearing people, anti-people-with-CIs, and anti-people-raised-orally.
Look at Adam Stone’s recent vlog, he is a Deaf person with a CI. He took a Deafhood class and is inspired by it. He still wears his CI.
My hearing professors are the reasons why I becoming successful as a filmmaker. If I had known that Deafhood was anti-hearing people, I would not adopt this concept. I would never abandon Deaf people with CIs including Deaf babies or Deaf children with CIs even though I don’t agree with the idea of CI. If I had known that Deafhood is anti-Deaf-people-with-CIs, including deaf babies/Deaf children, I would never adopt this concept.
I can see some people are hurting about the situation and I feel for them. Can you tell me what I can do to help us to move forward toward healing and to focus on Deaf babies/Deaf children? They are the ones who will get hurt the most if we keep up the infighting, shutting each other out, and being criticized for having a healthy dialogue.
Warmly,
Aidan
July 11th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Just for clarification purposes, I dont think the bulk of these information and comments are targeted specifically towards DBC as an organization overall, but more towards a group of people behind DBC that a lot of people feel that are deviating from the original purpose of DBC and that want to see that stopped and stick to the original purpose of DBC.
The original goals of DBC and Deafhood Foundation may be very good in their own way, but they should not be intermingled.
The impression that I am getting from people here is that they are attempting to intermingle to two concepts of bilingualism and deafhood and they are two separate and different concepts that can get very confusing when they are intermingled. Additionally, I would imagine that more people would support the concept of blingualism than they would for deafhood, therefore DBC stands to lose more people if the deafhood concept is intermingled with DBC. Especially when it comes to hearing parents of deaf babies.
You do not want to throw the deafhood concept at these hearing parents as it will scare them away. What should be done is to teach bilingualism and then when the deaf baby is older and knows ASL, then bring in the deafhood concept at a later stage of that child’s life.
Deafhood does not apply to hearing parents, as I understand it and correct me if I am wrong, simply because they are not deaf. That being the case, the parent is not going to feel that they can be a part of the deafhood concept, therefore they back away from DBC and the purpose of bilingualism is defeated with there on the spot.
I think that this is what is concerning many of us.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
[some comments were deleted due to unacceptable content. Racist terms and relgious talk aren't permitted here]
July 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Aidan/ Anon,
Is that true some of those people like DBC and Deafhood are anti-hearing people, anti-people-with-CIs, and anti-people-raised-orally? I am just curious,
I was raised Orally with hearing family. I was the only deaf in my entire relatives. However, I learned PSE/ ASL without taking classed and I just picked up sign language through deaf socially at RIT. My closest friend is cued. I don’t see them differently with their own languages.
I am totally against CI for deaf babies. However, I rather to let the children turned 13 and give them a choice if they wanted CI or not. There are some pros and cons about CI. Audiologist offered me CI every time I visited the appointment. I kept rejecting because I am satisfied with digital hearing aids.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Rogue, to answer your question, as an organization as a whole, the answer to your question is no, but they both do have some people within the organization that are like that, but I refuse to let that allow me to label the whole organization like that, ya know the saying, there’s a few bad apples in every barrel.
Now as for babies with CI’s, this is not to say that I promote it, because I am basically nuetral when it comes to CIs. Likely because I am of the “old school” type. However, the fact is that a baby’s brain is much more of a “sponge” than it is of a teenager or older. When I say “sponge” it means that it absorbs more information on a much quicker basis.
That being the case, a CI is potentially much more effective in deaf babies than it would be on teenagers or older. I have seen deaf adults get CI’s, and they have had it for 5 or more years, and they still cannot use the telephone or identify some sounds. As a matter of fact, a while back, a friend of mine that has had a CI for a few years thought she heard a motorcyle, but it was actually a helicopter.
On the flip side of the same coin, I have seen babies with CIs be able to use telephones when they are 5 or 6 years old and they can actually be placed in public schools as young as kindergarden.
The only reason that happened, is because of the extensive involvement of their parents, these children not only practiced their aural skills at school, but also at home with their parents, siblings, and neighborhood friends.
But bottom line is that once they take off the CI, they are deaf!
July 11th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I had an interesting discussion with somebody via VP earlier today. Together we talked about Deafhood book written by Paddy Ladd and Deafhood Foundation run by Ella. Having never read Paddy Ladd’s book myself this person shared a little bit about the book’s message. I then explained how Ella interpreted Deafhood and how she distributed the message.
Then I realized something afterwards. I do not know Paddy Ladd and however based on how Ella interpreted the book to me and others is the real cause for concern.
I first heard about Deafhood from Ella herself as soon as I joined to help DBC. She told me that DBC was a small project compared to her Deafhood project. She wanted to know if it was possible for me to support Deafhood Foundation. I said, politely, that it was a possibility. she wanted it for DBC.
Anyway, Ella went on to explain what Deafhood meant. She comapred Deafness to Deafhood, telling me that Deafness was a medical term for deaf people but Deafhood was Deaf people’s preferred term. Her message was confirmed again when DBC developed a power point presentation for the conference in Milwaukee. In this power point presentation it said “Deafness vs Deafhood”, as if we are supposed to choose one or the other. And that is where I rejected the notion. I rejected the notion that I had to choose defaness or deafhood. I rejected the comparision because medical term is based on hard science. Deafhood is based on soft science. Someone explained the difference between hard science and soft science to me last night. I am thankful this person took the time to educate me just as I am thankful to the person who jus VPed me today to tell me what Paddy Ladd’s book was really about.
In conclusion, based on people who have read the Deafhood book and how Ella and her group interpreted the book I think it is possible that the deafhood term was manipulated by Ella and her group whereas they defined it more than what it really is.
Regardless, I will stick to what Ella told me and how her group used DBC to make us believe that we were supposed to choose between deafness and deafhood. It made me wonder if Paddy Ladd is aware of Ella’s Deafhood Foundation? Does he support Deafhood Foundation? Does he subscribe to “Deafness vs Deafhood” theory as seen in DBC’s power point presentation? Where is he? Did he approve the message? If so, I will discredit his book instantly. If not, I shall read it.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Aidan,
?
I do not wanna reveal myself here. I do not wanna to dispel here with you, ok?
“If I had known that Deafhood was anti-hearing people, I would not adopt this concept. I would never abandon Deaf people with CIs including Deaf babies or Deaf children with CIs even though I don’t agree with the idea of CI. If I had known that Deafhood is anti-Deaf-people-with-CIs, including deaf babies/Deaf children, I would never adopt this concept.”
I do not see anything such like this. I do not think this is their intention at all. Oh, please. They know better than this. Where do you get the information like that?
Thank you.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Anon,
You got the points about CI on deaf babies as early learning. Babies’ brain can developing the connection between the brain and CI. I know baby’s brain made out of sponges and they pick things up quickly as fast learner.
However, you always know CI is not 100 percent GUARTNEE for everyone. I hate to see some of hearing parents to have high expectation with CI on their deaf babies . Few years later. Some babies can’t hear with CI. Hearing parents may feel resentment to the deaf child or whatever for CI was not working. I can’t make any assumptions about the parent. I have seen some parent to have a HIGH EXPECTATION. I hate to see totally wasted on “Non functioning CI” babies.
I have two CODA boys. If one of them turned Deaf. I rather to wait until my boy turned 13 and ask him if he wanted CI or not. It is up to anybody’s choices over CI. They need to think about pros and cons about CI.
I have one funny story about my youngest son. When he was 3 years old, he just picked up the swearing word from the babysitter by accident. He kept repeating the word as F&%K U over and over for one week. I just came up the idea. I had to teach my son to say Puck you as derailing the swearing word into hockey word. I showed my son with a hockey puck and hockey game from TV. Suddenly, my son completely forgot the swearing word, whew!!!! Yes, Baby’s brain made out of sponge.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Nevermind, discard my recent question… I reread and I saw the big “IF”… blah. I guess I was impressed that someone else mentioned that what you said about Deafhood. I got impressed that you were not for Deafhood. It got me off guard. Sorry about that.
Okay, I went to your vlog about Deafhood message. I saw plus in it, now I understand the whole thing.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
You know, MZ, it’s your call but I have a suggestion.
How about creating a “what if?”forum in your blog in which readers can put in comment form what they’d like to see DBC’s mission as and what constructive improvements can be made. I think this would be a more positive direction than the criticism and backstabbing that is going on, of which many of us are guilty of doing, myself included.
Don’t know if the DBC leadership will listen in or not, but at least some of us can say, we tried.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Ann C
DBC belongs to DBC leaders and members. Only they can decide what they want it to be. I can see that the Deaf people love DBC, so obviously they are doing something right.
If they want both Bilingualism and Deafhood, that’s their prerogative. I don’t think it’s a good combination. But since they feel that way, they should run it the best way they think is best for them.
I personally think DBC is very empowering for Deaf people and help them learn how to become proactive advocates.
I only want transparency so people won’t get confused by conflicting messages. Being open about both agendas will help reduce the confusion and yet empower Deaf people.
I am not sure if you understand what I’m trying to say.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
EricJindra –
Do the African American accept the word “xxxxx that you just wrote down? Not likely. It is obvious you still don’t get it .. I think xxxxx is an offensive word to them. Must be very careful with various people here and from all over the world. How do you feel if someone mention that you are Deaf and Dumb? Diverse is to respect and understand the custom of their valves, cultures, and so soon.
EricJindra quotes #51 (see above)
“……. They had to get xxxxx, asian, latino, and etc to order to promote the imagine that they are diversity people but their effective isn’t what it ……”
Deafhood, DBC, and NAD can be very tricky to many of us and they need to sort this out by making a better mission this time. A clear message is a must to every Deaf, HH, parents of Deaf/HH children (with or without Hearing aids or Cochlear implant) and many more. Let’s hope to work out with courtesy and respect.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I understand what you’re saying, MZ, and I agree with you that Bilingualism and Deafhood is not a good combination.
I don’t know about you or other members, but when an organization’s leadership doesn’t listen to the d/Deaf community from which it sprung and doesn’t acknowledge the community’s voices, that’s a red flag right there. That’s called exclusion, and many of us experience plenty of that as it is.
So far, it’s been silence from them and that doesn’t bode well for the organization. If DBC leadership doesn’t want to address the d/Deaf community’s concerns, then what makes hearing parents think that DBC will address THEIR concerns?
July 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
EricJindra.
for #30: here’s a little something I scribbled last night on a photo (i can take a scan of it if you want…) This is my words, mine alone.
“Diversity is when a square tries to fit in a circle and not get mad about it.
Diversity is not about tolerance,
Nor is it about acceptance.
Diversity is when you don’t know
And you know, you’ll never understand.
It’s all about differences
and how you’ll react to them.”
-Ben
July 11th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Great post!! Hand waving.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Native ASL/ci parent and child,
I would love to get in touch with you. I am a deaf parent of two children, one hard of hearing and one deaf. My deaf son has the implant and goes to a school for the deaf in our state. My son lost his hearing at the age of two. He wanted the implant and does very well with it. He is fluent in sign language and he does receive auditory services at his school. The school for the deaf here is very supportive of children with the CI.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Dr. Hocokan, Google books has the whole Paddy book online for anyone to read.
If you have not, you need to watch Joey Baer’s interview with Paddy and read the book and a review by a critic, before you can really understand where Deafhood came from. Joey’s interview with Paddy was very interesting. Paddy was amused that the American turned his book into workshops/seminars.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
What about transparency in how money is used via CAD for donation purposes to DBC cause?
http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.com/2008/07/dbc-in-violation-of-irs-charitable.html
Does NAD know about this? Who is controlling the flow of money? Does the IRS know about this? And so on. On DBC website it says that donations to DBC is tax deductible but I question that since you can write a check to DBC directly but DBC is not recognized by the IRS (I have the link to show this) as an organization that’s qualified to be tax deductible to those who donate cash to DBC but CAN is. So, there are more and deeper questions about transparency in this aspect.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Correction:
CAN = CAD (California Association of the Deaf)
July 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hi all!! Wow this is what we need from DBC leaders to be open to our discussion and comments to listen to the deaf community as a whole no matter what kind of deafness or how much you do know asl or orally or whatever you prefer. I want to say to the resigned dbc founders, bless your hearts we need more people like you all cuz you all have been very open minded sharing info and concerns or idea with the community without any hidden agenda. I thought of that too Mccdonnel wondering why blow 35K on one weekend, they could use it to go to deaf schools to teach or hiring a professional lawyer and PR or even hire a media person as I guess they were too selfish to not use the money for their own pleasure. The resigned dbc founders got my foremost support gracefully. Respectbally, t’care. I just see the ones that aren’t on the DBC board doing a lot more work for us sharing with in the deaf/DEAF community such as jon’s videotape, amy, mz, dh, karen,ben (you are awesome), pixie, anne marie (you deserve a applause for coming out as it sure was a shocking info)and I’m not too sure if I’m missing a few, if I did this goes to you too. I do not have any regret how I was mainstreamed and later in life learned sign language as even I took up speech therapy with a therapist up to high school as well as my beautiful supportive family leading me the way to have a fruitful life to respect all walks of life. Bless ya all,
July 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Mishka Zena wrote:
I can feel your concerns. What intimidation tactics did they utilise? DBC is neither a fraternity nor a sorority; rather, it is an organisation.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
#27 anon:
Charmisa was a term coined by a Hitler biographer who was a German psychologist based in Paris. Charming + satanic (note a lower case “s”) becomes charmisatanic (adj.) which evolves to a noun, charmisa (charmi + sa).
Please do not be so hesitatant that you have to use a weapon. No one invites you to be inferior. It is you who do so. Be a true man. Read Goethe.
Bonsoir, Anon__?__(you can, if you so desire to develop imagination, be perfectly free to invent a suffix to your name “Anon” to describe your own self. Do you know what is the latest new word being added in Merriam-Webster this week?
July 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Hi deafmom!!
i would suggest that you sign up with CICDA (CI Children of Deaf Adults) in yahoo groups. The moderators will invite you to the group afterthey know for sure you are Deaf and have a CI child. I am a part of the group.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Guess what? The CAD pageant director is quite upset that California may no longer have Miss Deaf California pageants. Thanks to Ella who said pageants equal to sexism and condemned any possible future CAD hosted pageants.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Who decide no CAD pagenet, what does Ella have to do with it as is she on the board or something. Wasn’t there a vote to have it or not?? I find that strange, are they scared if they make the wrong decisions cuz of what was quoted as I find that pretty strange though.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:35 am
MZ,
Thank you for sharing this post. I agree but I am shocked. I know I am not only one to say that.
Last year, DBC did a fine job. They talked about educating about deaf babies to learn ASL so they wont be delay to learn something in early time. Good one! Now, this year, DBC went different way(Deafhood added). I admit I am really disappointed after reading some b/vlogs last a few days included yours.
Why I said that? Last year, I donated some money to DBC (I am not a member yet). This year? You kknow my answer.
I respect DBC what they want this year but I am not interested until they find the right way.
I guess we better have a good day tomorrow.
Ex-oralist,
Tom
July 12th, 2008 at 1:06 am
jean, i didnt want to try to underestimate your intelligence which was why i asked
thanks for a valuable lesson learned 
July 12th, 2008 at 1:41 am
#69 Jean.
Deaf cult is a right word!
July 12th, 2008 at 1:43 am
MZ,
You censored someone’s comment because it had religious content. What about all the Native American religious stuff that someone posted on your blog recently about “the circle,” etc.
That is clearly religious talk. You are not being consistent.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Another Observer,
What I posted about Native Americans were more focused on medicine for therapeutic approaches, not religion aspects. When I spelled spiritual you assumed it represent religion. It is not the same thing. I know many people confuse themselves with spiritual and religion. The Native Americans use spiritual and mediation approaches for their therapeutic needs, not just for religion. This is where you may have confused the two. They do have their religion aspects but when it comes down to their therapeutic approaches they call it the medicine. Their medicine and therapeutic approaches is what I’ve posted. I know better than to publicize their religion in the blogs. It is sacred to them and should be respected.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Eric
You hijacked my post to preach religion, quoting bible, using negative and derogatory words about African Americans and another race, and bashing gay people. You show a lack of respect for other people, showing intolerance toward certain groups. Religious, racial, and gay intolerance are NOT accepted here. It offends me and others to hear these negative and judgmental comments against groups of people. By the way, it is my blog. I will not promote hate speech, which society frowns.
You went off a tangent. Please address to the topic. Thank you
July 12th, 2008 at 9:24 am
MZ — Way to go. I was pretty stunned by Eric’s comments. Glad you removed his comments a several hours later. I was pretty confused — *Why would MZ allow this? Can’t be her!*
DEAF
Diverse, Empathy, Attribute, Faithful.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Yep, I will sign up for CICDA!
I just wanted to make a few comments regarding DBC. In theory, it sounds great. Encouraging more hearing parents to use ASL with their children. In reality, it is entirely different. In the previous coop my deaf son was in, how many parents signed? Only one. And these parents did not use ASL, they used signed english. They are doing an awesome job with their deaf child, the whole family signs. However, these parents are the exception. Most parents do not even use signed english. To my dismay, most parents don’t sign at all. That is just the way it is. DBC is fighting an uphill battle.
DBC is great for the deaf community. However, we need to find a way to connect with hearing parents. Find common ground. The all or nothing tactic will not work.
By the way, I am a deaf mom and yes, my boys use ASL, they go to a school for the deaf here.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
My cats are FODA — Felines of the Deaf Adult.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
It is sad to see how the deaf community here is being damaged by the deafhood movement. It is fairly eerie when you visit England (the home of the author of Deafhood) and find out that their deaf leaders and communities are totally unaware of this concept, what is going on here? Is poison being exported from England to the US? Did Paddy Ladd move here after failing in England? These questions must be answered as the deaf community in England seem to be open and there seem to be no divisions there.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Cindy #65 above hit the point as she says that Paddy was AMUSED when he found out that the book was turned into workshops and a movement! So it was not exported but taken and possibly twisted by certain leaders?
July 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Quiet Man and Candy,
Paddy is in regular contact with the 3 Deafhood workshop presenters. At the Deafhood workshops at the 2006 NAD convention, DE read a message from Paddy basically affirming the American movement and showing support. I was there, witnessing those words. I also saw part of the email another time. I chatted with Paddy briefly *in person* a while back after he observed my class for his next book, and he was pleased with what they were doing.
Have either of you had these opportunities? If not, I’d suggest you be more careful about your assumptions.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Paddy said WARNING. Don’t go deep in Deafhood end. What does it mean??
Beware of Deaf cults!
July 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Excellent, even more divided we are now than ever. Good job yall!
I’m amused by all cheap talks the naysayers have been saying about the Deaf community while what they have been contributing to our community is really nothing, but rather, they have been sitting around behind their computer monitors whining, moaning and bitching against those among us. They called those as “speaking up.” Amusing.
Reading the comments in this blog and other blogs, those naysayers have gone farther by adding degrading comments about us, our intelligence and our quality of life based on stereotypes. Ahh, nothing is new.
I do not feel that the “leaders” really need to respond to those non-constructive, or if the naysayers believed that they are constructive, then those are always negative criticism but they never contribute their time to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. So, they do not need to respond to you all. Just keep on with actions.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
It’s interesting to note that all of people below are oralists:
1. Alan Hurtwitz – president & dean NTID
2. Harvey Corson – provost GU & supt ASD, LSD
3. Roslyn Rosen – provost & VP GU, Director CSUN
4. Steve Weiner – provost & dean GU
5. Michael Moore – interim provost GU
6. Jane Fernandes – president & provost GU,
president UNC (July 1, 2008)
7. Nancy Bloch – executive director NAD
8. Bobbie Beth Scoggins – president NAD
9. Robert Davila – Reagan appointed him in the
US Dept of Education, vice president NTID,
president GU
10. Ramon Rodriquez – top position in US Dept of
Education
So let’s hope to see a native Signer become president or provost!!!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Brewster, I am only asking for transparency. As concerned empowered Deaf people, we only want to clear up the confusion as it keeps sending mixed messages. It doesn’t mean we want to see DBC torn down. Why should I? It’s our baby.. we helped establish it before it was hijacked.
Anon, aren’t Steve Weiner and Bobbie Bath native signers? They are also from Deaf families. I see some from Deaf families, like Roslyn Rosen.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Diane, it was a friendly reader who alerted me to these messages. I didn’t realize the content, so once I was informed, I deleted them promptly.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Mishka, as an ex-founding member of DBC, you gotta reap what you have sowed, suffice to say.
You had good intentions for DBC in the beginning but, unfortunately, Deafhood proponents have turned it into an undisciplined beast shunning criticism and promoting cronyism, based on what I’d read and being impressed so far. If the current DBC leadership continues to remain stubborn and unhelpful with your desire to improve and empower the Deaf community under DBC’s original guidelines, then, perhaps, you may have to take a tough, decisive action to deal with its very existence.
I’d realized my suggestion may seem unorthodox and shocking to you, but what other solutions have you proposed to alleviate the troubles you have with DBC’s leadership, all the while they remained undaunted by your criticism? Absolutely, no one or no organization is above criticism but DBC’s leadership seem to think otherwise.
Please let’s dispense with the notion of an organization being described as a “baby”. It is not and never a living thing. Organizations can be changed by dissolving, reforming or abolished outright by members involved, including the living founders themselves.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Rob,
You’ve chosen to only listen to one side of the story. This has become a witch hunt, and you’ve gleefully jumped onto the bandwagon.
And, no, MZ, I’m not referring to you – most of the people expressing concern about this virtual lynching aren’t talking about you – it’s some of the commenters and bloggers/vloggers. Please don’t take this so personally. Smile.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Well, it’s like you said to me, MZ, in your reply to me, #59, that DBC belongs to its leaders and members.
It’s their “baby” and it’s time it grew up to be answerable to its members. After all, an organization exists primarily on its membership and the funds from its members. If DBC leadership doesn’t follow thru on the momentum built from the Milwaukee Conference and support the state chapters, then we know what will happen.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hmmm… if Paddy Ladd is in constant contact with Deafhood Foundation then he must be in mutual agreement with Deafhood Foundation’s radical views including Deafness vs Deafhood philosophy, which preaches radical views.
If so, I and many others will not subscribe to their views. I will post a new blog and explain why Deafhood Foundation painted false picture / information on the Deafness term. The term, Deafness is being stomped on and bashed in order to promote Deafhood as a positive term. Deafhood’s definition for Deafness, as seen in DBC’s powerpoint presentation is a myth, at best. It has no merits and I will explain why in my next blog.
July 12th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Dr Hocokan,
I’ve suspected for a while now that you’re placing your own interpretation on the situation, and your last comment proves it.
Jenny said “in regular contact,” and you interpreted that to mean “constant” with no basis at all. That throws everything you’ve said into question.
I rest my case.
July 12th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Don’t forget he is not a “Dr.”
July 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Sad. As I predicted, attempts to smear the character of Dr. Hocokan are being made. He repeatedly said that’s his middle name. There was never an attempt to deceive the public about his middle name, like Another Observer tries to imply.
Observer, regularly and constantly are almost similar, yet you are nitpicking on the semantics of the words in a ridiculous attempt to damage the credibility of another person. How do you think people see this coming from DBC people and members?
I read this AIM. It’s very bad. [the link has been removed. I do not want to see anyone fired for their personal beliefs.]
I cannot condone this kind of conduct. It’s why I left, but it had become much worse.
It’s very sad.
July 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I know, Mishka.
This is a small community.
My heavily heart goes to the majority of the hearing (and deaf) parents of deaf babies and the entire hearing relatives and friends.
Full of betrayal.
July 12th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Mishka Zena,
You still have not answered my question below. If you mentioned this and that and this and that, it is you who owe an explanation to us. It is the duty of a writer to explain to a reader. If you do not want any reader to know that DBC core members used initimation tactics, you should omit this. Now everybody wants to know why you mentioned the intimidation tactics and then witheheld the explanation. A true journalist invariably owes an explanation to a reader.
Jean Boutcher Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Mishka Zena wrote in her blogpost:
<Instead of being willing to discuss this with the concerned members of the Deaf Community, they attacked those who gave them constructive feedback, using intimidation tactics and utilizing some of theirs followers to speak up for them.”
I can feel your concerns. What intimidation tactics did they utilise? DBC is neither a fraternity nor a sorority; rather, it is an organisation.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I don’t know what to say.
I did come into clash with John Egbert because of my online friendship with Paotie and MikeM last year. We kind of made peace with each other a short time ago. I sensed that he was a good man who wanted to make everything work out.
I knew Barb personally… we were good friends in Rochester, NY, and of course, she was against CI back then… that has not changed and it was her opinion which I respected. She can be feisty sometimes and she is very smart, but she has a great heart. She never backtalked to anyone as far as I know, from Rochester, NY. She was very cool with my son who was one of her son’s good friends… my son whose first language is English. I had some good times with her. When she fell in love with Steve Longo three or four years ago, of course, she got to meet and to spend more time with the Bay area people such as DE and Ella and GG. Right or wrong… neither. Just the way it happened and I was happy for her to have some happiness in her life.
Tami… we emailed briefly but then my struggle for getting the dual enrollment for my son to be approved took up a lot of my attention, so I more or less ceased communicating with her. From what I was told by many people, she was great and very kind and had NOTHING against deaf children who could talk.
As for DE and Ella… I sense that they invested a lot of time in Deafhood, so understandably they’d fight skin and teeth for it and they made no secret of it. There are a lot of things that we don’t know… and that the conversations, recorded, could be easily twisted around and that the people meant differently, etc.
I am stepping away now… Take care.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I am finally catching up today and I am really truly, truly, truly upset and in utter disgust and shock.
Especially after reading the conversation files. This was totally unprofessional of them. They cannot separate personal and business meetings.
My respect for them is completely gone with their jokes that are totally uncalled for and for who they REALLY are.
That deafhood workshop I attended two years ago?
That was just bullshit. It is worthless to me now.
I am in complete shock right now…
July 12th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Jean I explained at the end of the post. Go back and read it. Also check DE’s comment at Patti’s blog where he bashed Amy, mocking and jeering at her. By the way, I am a blogger who reports. I am not a bona fide reporter working for a company. Oranges and apples.
Karen, I understand. They are not the same people I knew.
I cannot condone that kind of talk, even in joking. Violent rampage? Strangling? That is so sick
screening out people who drill into their children’s heads?
not good.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
*sigh*
I am washing my hands off of DBC and Deafhood.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Karen and Iammine!
Me too. I no longer recognize the founders and members of the DBC.
Frankly, I am truly glad that I did not attend the deafhood. I don’t consider myself to be a “deaf-hood.”
Thank G*d.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I did attend the workshop but I did not get wowed by it… instead it immediately raised questions and concerns about the way the trio held hearing people responsible for “colonization” of deaf people, a negative light. My other friend who went to the workshop with me shared the similar concerns also. But both of us acknowledged that it was a good enpowering workshop, nothing more.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Sounds like DH and DBC are falling apart? Who is DE?
July 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Jean Boutcher,
Correct me if I’m wrong, I thought DBC was a coalition, not an organization?
If that’s so, I should go ahead and research the true differences between the two.
-Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
DE is just a clown himself…young and all that…Barry did throw in two encouraging responses…one was “ha ha funny DE” about selling their bodies (ears)….all very humorous reading to me except for that violent rampage at the Hilton comment by DE. There is a lot we don’t know plus we are getting only what Barry has and wants to show us.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hi WG… I am still in shock and my mind is running at 100 miles per hour.
I was actually wow’d by the Deafhood workshop, even though there were some things I disagreed with. I left feeling very good and very hopeful for the Deaf Community being united.
I was tired of labels, in-fighting, and so on.
I had the pleasure of chatting with DE outside and Ella inside, too. Very smart and friendly people with strong passion for the Deaf Community.
I feel betrayed big time. The whole thing is a lie.
I am so done here.
I want nothing to do with DBC or Deafhood.
I will support ASL Think Tank or a new movement who truly wants to educate the benefits of ASL and bi-bi – regardless of other options added.
But I will be very cautious next time…
July 12th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
DE is David Eberwein (has a deaf sister who has been helping him edit the DBC vlogs). He is a teacher at CSD (either at the Fremont or Riverside campuses).
I pity John Egbert….
July 12th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
MZ, they might be kidding around to lighten up the seriousness of AIM meeting. But from reading the AIM dialogue, it was mostly about business. I am sure that President or one or two cabinet members would joke around once a while, poking fun at Russia or Islam countries before resuming business.
I am not defending… I am just pointing the possibility out…
July 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Yes, Iammine.
I am doing this for the sake of the majority of the hearing (and deaf) parents of the babies, relatives and friends.
I know how it is…..it’s about the mutual and political respect.
However, DBC and its crews have betrayed the deaf community.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
How would you feel if someone joke about N####r?
I will never joke about violence. If someone talks like that, I would tell them to cease and detest. This is a formal business meeting.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Yeah, yeah.. I know.
The problem with me is that I tend to rationalize. I apologize.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Karen, it’s ok. It’s a lot for people to digest at once. Some people may have a hard time with this kind of conversation.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I’m still reeling from that AIM conversation. I still can’t get over the fact that they’re acting a bit more extreme and “cult-ish”.
Just think the scene in the restaurant, they’d talk like that within earshot of the hearing parents of deaf babies. How would they react like that? Sick? Disgusted? Angry? Confused? Disillusion? You bet.
That’s damn shame.
Misha
July 12th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I’m really curious, the original DBC founders/members that started the coaltion…how did these DH core members or ASL powerhouse or whatever it is they are called, came into the picture? Did they invite themselves or were they asked to join? how did that go about?
July 12th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
MishkaZena, wrong. Regular contact could mean anywhere from daily to monthly/quarterly. Since someone else was the one who said that, I have no way of knowing how frequent the contact actually is. And it’s not a smear on DR Hocokan – just pointing out that he’s not sticking to what was actually said… and I suspect it’s not the first time.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Wow Mishka,
You said “cult?”
Like I said in another blog–I’m so tempted to make a VP call to certain someone who I know is close to Ella and pass on a message…
Since she refuses to respond to anything–I’d like to see how she responds to that. I am just as well connected as she is.
I’ve played nice, kept this cleanly in public without resorting to what strings I could pull as an “insider” of the Deaf community. I feel this is an unfair advantage on my part; but then again, it might be a good resource to use every now and then.
uhm. if this gets worse or I get even more pissed, whichever comes first–I think I might do just that.
Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I no longer know Barb, John, and Tami. They are not the same people I knew. I am concerned for them.
Candy, they were in the same group from the beginning. But they weren’t like that at the beginning.
[Clarification: I'm talking about the strong groupthink atmosphere inside the core DBC team only, not the DBC itself and not the Deafhood workshops]
July 12th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Forgot to add something. I’m not a DBC member, I’m a conscentious objector to this witch hunt and this flying up into the boughs.
Hocokan tried to claim that the DBC core team is against CI and saying awful things. Well, I read that AIM thing he posted too. Only one person was saying that kind of stuff. And it ignores the fact that he probably felt safe doing that with a trusted group. Whether anyone feels that was right or wrong, the point I’m making is that Hocky exaggerated and made things sound worse than they are by saying “the core committee said…” when it’s not true. Capisce?
July 12th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Your opinion is shared by many. With their use of terminology like “high priestess,” “Our Father..” I’m more inclined to say it seems less and less of an opinion.
I figured you’re not the one to lose faith so easily–perhaps they’ll come around. (Actually now I’m asking myself why I’m defending them after fighting them for so long, uhmph.
maybe i do like to argue for the sake of argument? uhm. lol)
From them, each and every one of them, a public apology is needed and DBC needs new set of leaders if they’re to recover from this.
-Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Observer, the damage had already been done.
It’s all documented.
There is no witch hunt. Now we know where they really stand.
I wonder how people would defend them, after reading these comments. Their conduct are unacceptable.
It’s a very sad day.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Actually, Observer, the WHOLE core members share the same sentiments. If you observe their comments on other public forums and blogs/vlogs, you will see that bias.
In a professional meeting, racism (even in a joking manner) will be reprimanded. They were not. It was in their convo that it was one of their intentions to get rid of AGBell. Their press release supports that.
This isn’t a witchhunt. We’re not adding supporters into this–the leaders’ numbers did not increase. This isn’t a hunt against deafhood supporters or DBC supporters. Just the leaders, the accountable parties.
-ben
July 12th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Now I’m on moderation? What did I do? Where did I say anything that was a personal attack? This isn’t very fair. I respected you for allowing freedom of speech, as long as basic principles of respect were followed. All of my comments have discussed ideas, concepts, and events, not individuals (except to point out who said what). I fail to understand your moderation policy. Please elucidate. Thanks.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Ben Vess:
Coalition means a TEMPORARY ALLIANCE.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Barry did say “ha ha funny DE” about selling bodies (ears)…agree with you, observer. DE already has a reputation of being a “clown”….a jokester
July 12th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Jean,
So DBC is temporary? Perhaps, its time is up? It appears that DBC’s alliances are hurting them more than helping.
I think there should be an organization in place of a coalition and accountability be considered a priority.
-Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Oh damn, did I do something wrong? My comments are being moderated…
let’s be nice, people. C’mon, don’t make this harder on mishka…having to moderate this.
-Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
If it’s temporary, then, they’re keeping fighting until they wins.
Just like Iraq, USA was with Alliances until Iraq gets the Sovereignty.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Was John Egbert an ex-Oralist? Is he the one who runs the DBC? Do you think it has to do with the Crab Theory?
Observer? Is he Oscar or a diffferent guy?
Bouyea #45 … No it is not my nickname Sweetmine in the other Deaf forum. Smile.
A lot to read here.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
White Ghost,
I’m going to go ahead and make a comparison: perhaps, Mishka would moderate this one…
I call Ella the “Nero” of the deaf community. She is over there somewhere playing her fiddle while “Rome,” the deaf community is burning down. Come to think of it, she started the fire and dares to play the fiddle as all of Rome goes down in flames.
The Romans won’t take this sitting down. History has proven that much.
-Ben
July 12th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I felt it was necessary to make a comment here.
I know I am being viewed under a completely different light after I’ve begun to spill the beans. Some people thought I made things up. It is only a beginning as I only exposed few emails I had out of 500 emails in my files and only one AIM meeting out of eleven that I have in my records. It is going to take me a while to go through everything and expose every indications of sheer ignorance and incompetence.
Several people asked if I was going to spill the entire pot of beans or expose just enough to prove that I was in fact there in middle of DBC Core Group and expose their radical views. I did not know the answer to their questions because I don’t believe in doing anything with half heart. I got into DBC with full heart and I really expected to contribute towards the cause.
However, wisdom tells me one has to know where to stop and when. One can not further destroy what has already been destroyed. That is where it become senseless. There comes a point when we all will know when to stop and realize what is more important here. In this case it is sign language for deaf babies. Bilingualism means respect and recognization for both languages with equal footings and air time. We all know ASL are introduced first but never for a moment think that English language is the lesser half or unequal. As in marriage these two go in together on equality basis, which generate success and fruits.
DBC’s corrupted and self-appointed leaders are human beings too. They do make mistakes. I am not focused on their mistakes as human beings. I make mistakes too. Everybody does and that is why we need to know when to apologize for something and seek forgiveness. There is no greater gift than forgiveness. In my case I waited for DBC’s leader to explain why they did something like that to me and I waited for an apology. It never came. I was ready to forgive them without being asked to until I learned that there were other victims (former DBC founding members) before me. Then something inside told me to make a firm stance to restore integrity to its’ rightful place so that there will be no further victims after me.
I have absolutely nothing to gain from it. Instead I had so much to give and contribute. I planned to donate one of my company’s royalty arrangement to support the cause. You can imagine my disappointment when I witnessed greed, corruption and ignorance in name of bilingualism and Deaf babies. Leader of Deafhood Foundation wanted it more than they wanted it for DBC. That told me plenty. It told me that their hearts were not in the right place. I withdrew my offer and contributed my time instead, as a strategist to help them improve and take them where the needed to go. I even remained involved, behind the screen and helped Kristen with State Chapter Kit up until the evening before the conference. Why? I BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE. This much should be clear to everybody.
However these people claim to be leaders. They need to be mindful of highest possible standard. Ethics. Integrity. Respect for all people regardless of their backgrounds. These people are not bad or evil. They made mistakes, yes and that is when we all learn the difference between bad leadership and good leadership. Not everybody are suited for leadership posts. DBC’s leaders are classic example of bad leadership. They are good people but yet they make bad leaders.
They need to step down, release DBC back to the people. They need to let people elect leaders who will be held accountable to them. Anytime there is a leader that is not held accountable to the people then corruption will almost surface. Wisdom tells me that our greatest test is when nobody’s looking.
The main thing is we never lost our core belief, that of sign language for deaf babies. We all are fighting for the same thing. The current leaders have to go. They need to be replace with capable leaders who not only know the meaning of integrity, ethics, accountability and respect but practices it. Leader(s) that walk the talk.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Oh geez! This is so witch hunt! I am so disgusted by exploitation some of you attempted to use by painting wrong pictures.
First of all, those AIM conversations should really have stayed on the inside, not meant to be shared to the outside. Now, the world knows that Barry, a.k.a DR Hocokan, is not to be trusted. For any organizations, groups, companies, whatever, DR Hocokan should not be trusted, because when he is not happy with them, he goes out and leak out inside information to the world with an intention to mislead the readers into thinking otherwise.
For example, “Deafhood High Priestess…”, although I was not at that meeting or part of this group, this term is OBVIOUSLY a joke. It started out as an insult by this particular individual (worthless to be named) in his blog. The same true goes to other terms. All just joke to lighten up the heavy and roller coaster moments. The surgeons joked all the time during surgery! Does it mean that they thought that their patients’ health problems are plainly funny? Of course not!
Of course, those particular attackers exploited those comments and said SEE, THAT PROOF, THEY ARE CULT! That is really cheap shot to enhance your hidden agenda, that is personal vengeance. For that, I am absolutely disgusted.
Light up about the “violent rampage at the Hilton” comment. It was meant as a sarcasm, because the AGBell and the like always attempt to portray us as violent people, and such by calling police for protection when it was not really necessary in the first place, etc etc.
MZ argued that “violence” should never be joked. True, but it depends on where the comment was made. First of all, this was an inside meeting with particular people. That was not supposed to come out to our eyes. Second, that was cheap attempt that you and others to exploit to satisfy your desire for vengeance.
I’m so sad to see such trust be violated, destroyed. In the other way, that taught me to be extra careful and wary with who to trust. This definitely is not helping the unity. SAD!
Like it or not,
IT IS SO
WITCH HUNT!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Some people are saying this is a witch hunt and that we are doing this out of vengeance. I actually feel sad, disappointed, and disgusted. I had high hopes for DBC. only to see them falling down.
I left because it was starting to feel like a one groupthink. Others had the similar feelings. It just didn’t feel right. [Clarification: I'm talking about the strong groupthink atmosphere inside the core DBC team, not the Deafhood workshops]
The behavior of the moderate leaders started changing after we left. They are not the same people we knew before we left. Their blogs became angry, especially John. They started using a lot of Deafhood terms.
I still supported Deafhood. I still supported DBC. I was still positive last week, asking for clarification. I praised DBC’s successful conference. I had no idea how bad it had gotten until very recently. Then the AIM changed the whole picture for me.
I am disappointed.
I am not comfortable with their radical Deaf views inside DBC. That kind of anger and hatred. This is not healthy.
This violent talk, even in joking and hateful talk aren’t appropriate at all for a formal business meeting. Joking is often used to release tensions and frustrations, but it’s also a reflection of oneself. It’s three weeks prior to the convention, so this isn’t like last minute meeting. Not acceptable is the actual rejection of people because they did what they felt was the best for their kids.
I support healthy deafhood where people accept other people no matter who they are. Healthy self esteem. Happy. Mutual respect.
What the leaders promote in the Deafhood workshops. They don’t practice what they preach.
Denial is a powerful mechanism. I am sorry you see nothing wrong with this kind of hatred and joking about violence. I am sorry the integrity and lack of transparency aren’t important.
[Clarification: I’m talking about the strong groupthink atmosphere inside the core DBC team only, not the DBC itself and not the Deafhood workshops]
July 12th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hmm. On rereading DrHocokan’s AIM transcripts, I see a lot of work done by the DBC leaders for the Milwaukee convention. There is bantering, some unprofessional, in letting off tension during the last minutes of planning. Without laughter, the job would be awfully daunting.
Also noted is the discussion of staying on track after the convention regarding deaf babies.
Not good, however, were casual remarks against cochlear implants, since DBC was originally to support adding ASL to other programs, not to be against the CI.
In short, this banter is not unusual for hectic boiler room work.
Of more concern is how the funds are handled and how the leadership is managing the coalition without the input of the deaf community. They had a great slate of Deaf bloggers and Deaf community workers to begin with and chose to eliminate them.
That was a serious mistake, in tactics and in narrowly picking and choosing opinions they liked better. They failed to give the panel they chose a vote and thus lost an important direction.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Mishka,
Even throughout all this, I still beleive in deafhood, only difference is that my own definition of deafhood maybe different from those of the leaders.
My definition of deafhood includes all forms of communication modes, but that they accept their own deafness and the deafness of others.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:57 am
MZ,
I recently read that AIM. They are very bizzae sp?). I don’t care whether they are cults or not. Still total unaccept! Yes, that AIM makes me very sick. Unbelieveable. Hard to believe. I am very disgusted with them. Oh yes, sad, sad day.
I want to thank you again for sharing the important truth about DBC’s problems. Not only you, also some other commenters too.
I am not sure how to say… It is better to know the truth than be blinded. Sorry that my grammer is not great but my heart tells.
It already is too much for me to see DBC
to go simply wrong way. Big mess.
Hey, MZ, I am going to stop reading this post because I got information plenty from this post. Plent of the truth. (head shakes)
I don’t know to say more. I may be akward to say, “Good night”,
Tom
July 13th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Oops. I mean… I don’t know what to say more.
Tom
July 13th, 2008 at 1:34 am
DBC Father of Heaven and Deafhood High Priestess are DUMB DUMB DUMB. Im going to show this to hearing world. They would laugh and look down on DBC. I think DBC is an idiot organization.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Mishka, Ben, All,
DBC leaders are definitely cults. They can’t be changed once they are 100% brainwashed or blessed in other way
I kept recalling it DEAF CULTS in several blogs at Deafread. Until now. It’s revealed.
Deaf cults could be found mostly in faculty / staffs at the Deaf schools, Gally, NTID, and Deafhood supporters.
In the future. Be aware of Deaf cults! They have a full of insecurity and betrayal.
All Deaf people have their own “natural” Deaf cultures – it has a lot of varieties. They should keep it forever. No need to become one of Deafhood freaks or cults.
So. Be yourself!
July 13th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I’ve wondered how in the world did this person who published the AIM conversation of DBC “core” groups get ahold of their private AIM conversation? Was this person invited to chat with them or managed to hack in their AIM group discussion and record their conversation?
At least, I hope this AIM conversation is real, not hoax. Ella amuse me and David frightens me.
I wouldn’t want David to run DBC at all, not the way he talks like that.
Karma gonna bit their asses if they continue doing this way. They really need to come clean now or forever hold their peace.
In response to comment #110. Definitely Fremont
July 13th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Mishka,
I agree with you. I think the Deafhood concept has been changed a lot to suit the ideas of a few people. Deafhood was never about your physical configuration. It was about becoming aware of who you are, your needs, the way you interact with other people… I read comments like this:
and I wince. Deafhood is applicable to EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL. We all have Deafhood the same way we have sexuality or culture. Hearing parents have Deafhood, people who have never met Deaf people have Deafhood. It’s not something that magically appears in a Deaf person. Deaf people are MORE LIKELY by far to understand and get it because they are forced into situations which make them explore their Deafhood every day.
Ah, I don’t know. People seem to love their cult. I love culture. Three letters, but what a difference!
July 13th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Well.
I am not going to comment anymore on DBC and Deafhood. Becasue we are all assuming based on the facts and we don’t hear any from DBC leaders and DH leaders (except for John E. insulting Ben on his youth on DrD’s blog… which does NOT help at all, because it reflects on DBC, DH, and deaf community.)
Have a good day.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Yes Anon. I am beginning to believe that deafhood has value for some deaf people who are frustrated, confused or angry with certain issues. Obviously it is not for everybody. What is very unfortunate here is how they manipulated deafhood into something that is more than what it reallyis. Even worse, these leaders profited from it through workshops.
NAD just passed a motion and agreed to their workshop and training. If it were not for DBC’s recent mopvement it would have been a major battle for them to train NAD on Deafhood.
What should irk all of us is how these leaders hijacked Deafhood term and went on a rampage and hijacked DBC and then hijacked CAD and bilked funds against IRS regulations and won NAD’s approval for training. Obviously NAD is their next target and they fell for the trap in New Orleans.
And yet, in the same breath they tell us deafhood is nothing but a personal analysis and journey. They conned deaf people into believing so that they are able to commercialize the philosophy. To commercialize mean to profit from it.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Observer (no. 92), it is not a witch hunt and I’m not “gleefully” jumping into a bandwagon.
It is a matter of recognizing that things are getting out of hand coming out of the DBC fiasco and it’s already having negative effects across the deaf/Deaf community, as you can see some of the recent posts expressed by others here, especially DR Hocokan posts.
If MZ and other founding DBC members do not get straight answers and if DBC’s current “leadership” reject any criticism and take things a bit too far for some comforts, then it may necessary to take appropriate actions to force a dissolution or abolition of DBC before it turns into an undisciplined and unreasonable beast of burden for the Deaf community. Otherwise, problems will fester and get worse anyway.
MZ, have you proposed some solutions to alleviate the concerns you have with DBC under the circumstances with the current “leadership”?
July 13th, 2008 at 9:47 am
After a good sleep, I am seeing things a little differently.
Dan
I worked at Gallaudet for many years. I have no idea what cult you are talking about. As far as I am aware, there is no cult in faculty and staff. It’s similar to NTID. People with strong beliefs doesn’t mean they are involved in cults. Look at right wing and left wing people in the politics. Are they cults? no.
However, if the intensive views of a group are forced on the individuals without their permission and they start changing, talking differently, sharing the same groupthink, not permitted to challenge the concept, and start changing their personal values as a result, that’s a different story.
For others who embrace this concept easily at the Deafhood workshops, they feel it’s right for them. as the theories click with them. As I said, many of these concepts do make a lot of sense. I don’t agree with them fully, just some. They are oppressed, horribly oppressed, without any doubt, and it’s inexcusable how d/Deaf people are treated.
Deafhood is based on each person’s personal journey of exploring and accepting one’s deafness. There’s no right or wrong about deafhood.
But of course everybody has their own definitions of what deafhood is. Ella and DE are entitled to theirs own definition. Of course people can criticize the parents for their decisions as they have the right to their beliefs.
I just don’t subscribe to the rejection of parents who ‘drill holes in their kids’ skulls’ from volunteering at DBC. They are not doing this to abuse their kids as they believe it’s a tool that will help their kid gain mastery in Spoken English. How can we educate the hearing parents ignorant about ASL if the other parents with c.i. kids are excluded from DBC?
It’s also the lack of integrity from the DBC leaders and their persistent denial about deafhood part of DBC. Not only do I like them, I even admire Ella. It’s just a big disappointment. Many people feel betrayed by the lack of transparency regarding Deafhood within DBC. This doesn’t help the Deaf Community.
Many Deaf people feel empowered at DBC conference. Inspired, they have many great ideas. I hope they will put them into good use, for the benefit of deaf babies and children. I wish them all the best of luck
July 13th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Dan, cult is a four letter word, not three.
DB, You wondered how in the world did I publish the AIM conversation during DBC “core” groups meeting. Was I invited? Yes obviously I was invited because I was part of the core group until I resigned, several days before the conference in Milwaukee. Furthermore, every meetings that happened in AIM are recorded. Everybody knew that our comments are recorded and somebody always record them and distribute copies to every core members for future references. So, it is not like I recorded the conversation illegally and without consent.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Here is an excellent vlog where a Deafhood scholar who studied under Paddy Ladd share Ladd’s definition of deafhood. Ladd’s version sharply differs from the American version interpreted by several Deafhood Leaders. Since the majority of people haven’t read the book, here is the link where Joseph explains the concept as defined by Ladd himself. By the way, I know Joseph and he is credible. He did study in Britain. MZ
Paddy Ladd’s Conception of Deafhood: http://blog.benvess.com/?p=148
July 13th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Barry, (DR, not doctoral) Hocokan – BUT you RELEASED the records to the public without consent. That is a major difference. Your intention was to cause a destruction, not to be constructive.
Thus, YOU along with others are on WITCH HUNT. Nothing more.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
#135 Brenster Says:
“First of all, those AIM conversations should really have stayed on the inside, not meant to be shared to the outside. Now, the world knows that Barry, a.k.a DR Hocokan, is not to be trusted.”
Hey, Brenster! Were you downright angry that California’s cultist Charles Manson the High Priest’s private conversations with members
of his cult should not have been shared
“TO THE INSIDE….”
July 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Joseph Santini’s vlog hosted by Ben Vess, is ‘making me feel so relieved. I knew that something ain’t right, it must be American’s interpretation of Ladd’s work.
Now, with Santini, who studied under Ladd, and how he presented himself makes so much more sense!
I want more of Santini’s vlogs!
Amy
July 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
DR, when it was said, three letters, what a difference, i think he was referring to the three letters of “ure” one adding those three letters to “cult” is a big difference, “culture”
Now we have people calling this a witch hunt and I will say I disagree and allow me to explain why with a historical lesson.
There was a point in time, I beleive in the 1950s and 1960s, african-americans imposed a “test” within themselves, which was basically known as the “paper bag test”. This is because they would compare themselves to the color of paper bag and if they matched the color or lighter, then they were generally accepted, if they were darker, then they were rejected.
This is exactly how I understand these DBC or Deafhood leaders to be doing, they are classifying deaf people by labels, then they are either accepted or rejected.
Now these african americans eventually dumped the paper bag test concept and I beleive MLK had a lot to do with they and they eventually unified and worked together, regardless of how light or dark their skin is. Nowadays, they are much better off than they were in the 50s or 60s.
We, as a deaf community need to do the same, in oder to advance another notch or two as a deaf culture. We need to start accepting all communication modes, we need to stop the bullshit that continues to divide the deaf community and my hat is genuinely off to DR Hocokan for stepping up and attempting to stop further diversification of our own deaf community. He is a hero in my eyes for his reason.
His concept of circular thinking is a term that I have never been able to put my finger on in terms of “description”, however it was a concept that I basically had been following for years and years, I just didn’t have a term to name the concept.
Now lets compare linear and circular thinking using DR Hocakan’s explaning, and he freely credits this concept to indian tribes, when it comes to horses and apply it to DBC. In here with horses, linear thinking applies to square pens while circular thinking applies to circular pens.
Linear thinking – DBC leaders are against CI, they are completely against AVT, they are trying to totally break the “spirit” of AG Bell and trying to force them to follow their beleif that all deaf babies MUST sign. In the case of horses, they run to corners to try to “protect” themselves until the point where their spirit has been forced upon and broken and they submit themselves to the trainer where they allow the trainer to ride the horse, but the horse is thinking, “you broke me, I don’t like you, but I will submit to you” But with AG Bell, there are so many of them, just as if there were too many horses, for a trainer to do himself, AG Bell’s spirit will never be broken if you try to force them all into a corner. That being the case, linear thinking will not work when you are trying to convince AG Bell to support baby signs because you were trying to shove it down their throats and forcing it upon them.
Circular thinking – this is where the trainer puts the horse in a circular pen and they have no corner to try to protect themselves in. That being the case, as I understand it, the trainer just stands in the middle of the circular pen and let’s the horse continuously run in circles along the fence until the horse realizes that it is not going anywhere so the horse eventually realizes that something needs to change so the horse brings himself closer to the center and the trainer and he adjusts himself towards the trainer and learns to like the trainer and eventually lets the trainer ride hm. The horse made that decision himself, therefore his spirit was not broken and when he allows the trainer to ride him, the horse is in effect saying, “ok I like you, let’s do this together and I will be your friend”
Huge difference from the square pen and the horse/trainer relationship is in a much better position with a circular pen than it would with a square pen. Now lets that this concept with AG Bell where we just stand in the middle of the circle pen and allow them to run continuously in circle along the fence and we tell them, “hey its ok if your deaf kids want to learn to speak, its ok if they want to have CIs, we want to tell you about our deaf culture so you can learn more about it and see how deaf children can benefit from bilingualism and learn another language, ASL and show that it would not hinder their speaking abilities, in fact it improves their language development, etc. As they learn more about that, they will eventually come to us in the middle of the circle where we can come to common ground and unify the deaf community.
We should not care what communication modes they use, we only need to basically ask two questions.
Do you accept your deafness? Do you accept the deafness of others? If the answer to both questions is yes, that means that they accept all forms of communication modes, as well as all levels of hearing loss. This my friend, is what will unify the deaf community.
Lastly, I would like to thank DR Hocokan tremendously, not because of what he has done with DBC, as I do beleive he did the right thing, but bringing the concept of circular thinking to us, as it finally allowed me to put a label to what I have been doing for the bulk of my life. DR Hocokan, my hat is off to you!
July 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Name Witheld Says & Brenster,
Since when did I beg anybody to trust me? I never had to beg and am not about to start. Why?
Whenever I walk into a room I trust people at face value and expect the same of others. Nothing more and nothing less. Nobody has to beg or earn my trust. This is how we all are supposed to behave. Don’t want anything to be used against you? Then I suggest you walk the talk with dignity and integrity. Then there will be nothing to report. In short, be on your best behavior even if you think nobody’s looking.
Wisdom tells me that our greatest test is when nobody’s looking.
July 13th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I have been reading all of the comments, messages, etc. throughout this episode. One thing that raises significant red flags for me, and that I think needs to be discussed, are the current positions that David Eberwein and Barb DiGiovanni currently hold. Both of them work in educational environments, and both of them have explicitly stated their opposition to CI/oralism/etc. My question is this: with this seemingly biased approach, do students of theirs who do have CI’s, etc. receive substandard services or are treated in a way that is different from their peers in the classroom simply because of DE and Barb’s personal views? Are they able to separate their opinions from their jobs, which is to educate deaf children, regardless of their backgrounds, languages, auditory choices? Food for thought….
July 13th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Amy and MZ
Good news! Joe has okayed a follow up vlog to the current one.
there’ll be more!
-Ben
July 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Ben,
That’s great! I echoed Amy’s and MZ’s sentiments on bringing up more Joseph’s vlogs.
Misha
July 13th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I just viewed Joseph’s vlog, and I do not see anything new in it. I find it strange to see that some people are saying that they are finally understanding what it means. It doesn’t make any sense, because that is what Genie has been saying all along! Nothing is different in Joseph’s vlog – that Deafhood is a PROCESS.
http://www.deafhood.us/class/?p=4
Since both have said the same thing, it confirms my analysis that some particular of you are on witch hunt against strong Deaf advocates. I guess that’s part of their journey which is an attempt to create more destruction rather than in seeking for unity. Thanks to many of you, I feel that your want for unity is BS.
I’ll just focus on my journey.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Brenster, actually no. Ella and DE said many things that contrast what Joseph described. I’ve spent a lot of time with them. Some of their ideas include c.i. and oralism are symbols of audism rejecting the purpose of deafhood, defecit thinkers, deaf people wanting to get c.i. rejecting their deafhood, and hearing people oppressing and colonializing Deaf people. You can ask other former DBC leaders who left due to this extreme version of deafhood.
I support Deaf leaders who don’t deceive the Deaf Community and make financial profit out of this political agenda they claim is the only Deafhood for all.
Sometimes it’s too difficult to see the truth. I understand.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Bren, I dont think Genie was ever targeted in this situation, with the exception of a commenter that may not have had his her her facts right. I havent seen any vlogger or bloggers refer to Genie as being wrong so not sure why you think she’s involved in this so-called witch hunt, as you put it. Its other leaders that have created diversification, not Genie. I think you are basing your thinking of Genie being dragged into this because of a single commenter on a blog so don’t get ahead of yourself and try to put the cart before the horse here. I haven’t seen any of these bloggers specifically point their fingers at Genie at all.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Actually, MZ, CI and Oralism are symbols of audism, yes. I am regarded as less of equal citizen, because I do not wear CI and because I am not successful speech user. That is oppressive.
When I said CI and Oralism, I am not referring to PERSONS with CI and PERSONS who are oral, I am referring to the SYSTEM that believes we are better off if we get CI and grow up oral.
That is audism.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Anon, that’s problem – When the people bashed on the Deafhood Trios, Genie is part of it. And the other things were distorted, because it is not at all what Ella and DE are saying.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Anon,
You understood me when you explained linear and circular approaches very well as if you knew the same truth that I knew as well. My hat is off to you as well. Thank you for that.
Barry
July 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
brenster, that is exactly what DR Hocokan is trying to say here, you are looking at this from a linear thinking approach, simply because you perceive CI and oralism as a symbol of audism.
Ok, put it this way, suppose your vision is decreasing, would you opt to wear glasses or say hell no i wont wear glasses because it its a form of visionism (im making up this word as an example)
Deafhood is geneuinely about finding yourself and learning more about your identity, I grew up oral myself, altho I have no CI and I dont even use a hearing aid anymore, but became a fluent signer.
Now based on your terms, are you perceiving me as being audistic, because I was oral and can still speak and read lips? If the answer is yes, then you have the wrong definition of deafhood.
You say you are regarded as a lesser citizen because you dont have a CI and you are not a successful speech user, who regards you as a lesser citizen? certainly not me!!!!!!!
July 13th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Response to #160:
Sorry, MZ. You’re wrong.
Paddy talks about colonization all the time. Did you read the book?
July 13th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Brenster, I understand that. That’s how you feel as well as many other Deaf people. It’s true that the society looks down on Deaf people who are not successful oralists. BUT not everybody feel that way. I know many people who wear hearing aids, cochlear implants and/or can read lips who feel fulfilled. They have no desire to learn and associate with Deaf people who sign because they feel comfortable being with hearing people. Their definitions of deafhood is very different from you. So the definition of deafhood actually varies from individual to individual.
For me, it doesn’t bother me if someone wants to use a c.i. so she can listen to music. I don’t consider a person defective for wanting to regain her sense of hearing and be able to talk on the phone. For them, being able to hear fills their needs: physical, psychological, and emotional. They feel complete, hearing.
For some deaf people, they are very comfortable being Deaf and would rather not hear. I am one of them. I think if I start hearing sounds all the time, I’ll climb the walls
D/deaf Community is so diverse. HoH people don’t want to be labeled deaf, preferring to continue with HoH label. Some cochlear implant users don’t regard their deafness significant at all and don’t feel oppressed.
Being more comfortable speaking and listening don’t make deaf people deficit thinkers, colonialists or oppressors. They have different societal values than the Deaf people who use ASL and very active in the Deaf Community.
FH, I’m aware of that. My point is that not everybody agrees with his concept of Deafhood. Do you know that many deaf people don’t subscribe to his theories? We all have different cultural values, including our deafhood.
I hope I’m making sense (sleep deprived here) By the way, I have a high respect for Genie.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Wow, I now do understand what’s Deafhood is after seeing Amy’s (beautifully done, made me cry even)vlog and Joseph’s vlog under Ben. I do have a clear picture now about what’s the purpose of Deafhood since we need people like Amy, Joseph explaining the meaning in a gentle way not to destroy diverse community. I would follow Amy and Joseph’s vlog about that. Life’s too short. To say it was totally the opposite of what has been going on. Sadly too many people interpreted it differently just like one story makes thousands of stories from the original story not true.
Joseph, please do consider to do more vlog as it does helps alot of people that haven’t got a clue what’s deafhood in a meaningful way since you did studied under Paddy.
good day all.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Oops, for MZ, you amazes me you have a great heart to make everyone included to make it work in harmony. Bless your heart.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Anon and MZ, you don’t GET ME.
Anon, I already said (in #162) that I am not referring to PERSONS who have CI and/or grew up oral. I was referring to the SYSTEM… repeating, SYSTEM that is Audiology, Doctors, Education, Government, etc etc. Read carefully.
That’s what I am talking about.
Deaf persons who wear CI, hearing aids and/or prefer speaking over signing cannot be “audistic” because they are not the system. They have no power. Thus, you, Anon #165, cannot be an audist; you have no power. I don’t give a rat-ass if you can speak, lip lips, or whatever – just do whatever you feel is best for yourself. I do mine.
In my #162, I was talking about AUDISM – not DEAFHOOD. You put those two together; quit distorting what I was saying.
Anon, how typical! Falling to comparison between Deaf and loss of vision. Apple and Orange!
Lastly, I’ll no longer respond to Anonymous unless they identify themselves with names or nick names.
MZ, if those grew up in hearing environment and feel fulfilled without sign language, I really don’t care. But when they come to us acting like they are above us, I have a problem with this.
Again, trying to distort what I said does not earn my respect.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Brenster, I’m truly sorry if you think I was trying to distort your words. I may have misunderstood what you said. I am really exhausted now, my brain totally fried, so if I did distort your words, it wasn’t my intention.
I agree with you… I would have issues with any deaf people who feel they are superior to others because they can talk, hear, or read lips. Like what Rachel claimed several months ago..that we are ‘envious’ of her because she can hear and talk without using her hands. That was very insulting and I’ve lost more respect for her.
I would like to comment about the doctors, etc, but I am afraid I will mess it, so I’ll go and take a nap
I’ll leave this blog unmoderated, but please please discuss this diplomatically.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
OoO Mishka,
John basically called you and the others out…He said he is the sole founder of DBC and those who claimed to be ex founders aren’t true.
What say you to that?
-Ben
July 13th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
A link would be helpful….
July 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
it’s over at amy’s vlog
July 13th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
John came up with the idea, but we expanded on the idea, built the foundation and collected all the data. We did all the hard work as he had no knowledge how to set up an organization. He feels because he has the idea, he owns the group, but actually it belongs to all the founding core members, including him.
He said that no core members attended Deafhood workshops. There was no need as we received intensive training on deafhood from the deafhood leaders inside DBC. Any of us who are unreceptive to their radical Deaf views either resigned or were kicked out. It felt like a strong groupthink. The ones who were receptive stayed and you could see them starting to use the deafhood terminology. You could see the changes happening in their blogs/vlogs.
I need to clarify. When I said a strong groupthink, I mean inside DBC core group, not the DBC as a whole entity and the deafhood workshops. The workshops cannot be compared to the very intensive radical Deaf training forced on the DBC core members by the DH leaders. From what I’ve talked with people who have attended the deafhood workshops, the deafhood definition was very appropriate. I hope this makes more sense.
You can ask Deaf Pundit when she returns from Europe. She’ll tell you the inner group of DBC is a strong groupthink. Or you can ask any other former DBC members. They have nothing to lose by telling the truth whereby DBC has a lot to lose if it’s revealed that Deafhood is a big part of DBC, too. If DBC is only based on Bilingualism, why did we receive so many conflicting messages the last few months and during the DBC conferences?
July 13th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Thank you, MishkaZena. I appreciate your restoring my comments in their entirety.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
observer, I apologize for that. When I put the blog in moderation, for some reason your comments ended in the spam control. I am not sure what happened, but I can understand why you would get upset with me.
In fact, I wish I did see your comments. That would have given me a little different POV.. I was distressed last night after reading that AIM and lost my emotional objectivity.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
John,
How is it possible for you to allow Deafhood Foundation to hijack DBC movement without first understanding what Deafhood Foundation teaches? You, of all people, claim to be the sole founder of DBC and yet you don’t know what Deafhood Foundation teaches? How is that possible?
I also found it rather odd for you to say that you, alone, founded Deaf Bilingual Coalition. You mean to tell us that the coalition was in fact just you, yourself holding your right hand with your left hand without others’ help. If so, why call it coalition? If it is the case of your right hand holding your left hand, alone without the help of a coalition then it is not a coalition.
I had my focus on the BIG picture because you told me to stay focused on signs for deaf babies. But what did you do yourself? You opened the door and invited Deafhood Foundation in and allowed them to infiltrate deafhood into DBC, producing conflicting messages for everybody to see. So, who was not really focused?
Barry
July 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Mr. Egbert claims he has never been to a Deafhood workshop or class…. I believe that. What I don’t believe is that he hasn’t been brainwashed through his interaction with other members of DBC.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
How interesting this is.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
[...] MiskaZena’s home on the internet to get caught up. If you have any interest in this subject, she’s pretty much linked to the major players, including the IM post in [...]
July 13th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Ben,
What really had happened was in July 2007, when John Egbert decided to move forward by making an announcement that he’ll protest against AG Bell in Virginia. John contacted me, Mishka Zena, Anne Marie and others to work with him. John wanted to create some kind of organization that will address the problems with deaf babies needing ASL, and challenging AG Bell.
The team of us tried to make this concept simple – signing to deaf babies. We worked together via email correspondence trying to come up with ideas of the best name of the organization. Thus, the birth of Deaf Bilingual Coalition.
We were identified as original members along with others. We were all equals at the beginning until one month later, the structure had changed.
Four people, John, DE, Ella and Barb was appointed as core leaders. Others were core members, and I requested to be on an advisory committee.
It is all about semantics. John still feels strongly that he is a founder of DBC.
Amy Cohen Efron
July 13th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Crab Theory?
July 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Amy,
thank you for clarifying things. it all makes sense now.
From what it seems, i consider you guys founding members (ex) of dBC
-Ben
July 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Diane, no, it has nothing to do with crab theory.
Deafhood is already incorporated into DBC, but for some reasons still unknown to us, DBC refuses to acknowledge it, The Deafhood themes have been all over their blogs/vlogs, their comments elsewhere, the press releases, the media interview and DBC convention. Deafhood is the reason why seven DBC core members left or kicked out.
Deafhood and Bilingualism are fine with me. I just want them to tell the truth.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Amy
Those who appointed the core leaders of DBC have allowed the hijacking of DBC by these so-called Deafhood “radicals”. So whose fault was it?
Radicalism have no place in any organization, let alone DBC. Radical views can be presented and considered but cannot be expected to impose upon an organization just because theirs are better or empowering. I’m in agreement with DR Hocokan’s posts.
MZ, you still have not answer my question, please.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
John just demonstrated that he is not going to come clean with deaf people. He savored being called “DBC Father of Heaven” and “God” as I have seen in other blogs. He savored the celebrity status as well as the attention that goes with the territory.
Remember what I said earlier… true leaders do not want to lead but yet they are elected by the people to lead. Thes etype of leaders work for the people, not themselves. John’s comment told us what kind of leader he is… the one who works for himself.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Rob,
For your information, nobody appointed these core leaders to DBC Core Group. There was no due process and no election process. They appointed themselves.
So, whoose fault was it when Deafhood Foundation hijacked DBC? It is John’s fault since he claimed to be the sole founder and owner of the movement. He is the one that opened the door for them. Knowing John he is easily intimidated by others as he likes to intimidate others. He tried to intimidate AG Bell. He tried to initimdate many others before he tried the same tactic on me several times on VP and few days ago. It is the only thing he seem to understand.
You are right. Radicalism have no place in any organization and that is precisely why I disclosed copy of AIM meeting, which tore people’s heart. Upon seeing how torn deaf people were after they examined the evidence I made a decision to withdraw the information, out of respect for humanity. The rest of evidences will continue to be posted.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
So therefore DeafHood “hijacked” the DBC to make it worse and send out the wrong messages. John Egbert can kick the Deafhood teams out of the DBC then. And start from the scratch? Or I am just being stupid here … lol
July 13th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
The Hoocockan- I do not believe the reason you posted private AIM meeting without prior consent or notice that whatever they discussed would be posted on the internet on your own will, is purely out of integrity. You have none. You are just being disgruntled and posted those with an intention to create destruction.
I already saw in the AIM discussion, and they did discuss a lot of things. Nothing much of dirts to tell, except that you highlighted certain lines intended to throw the readers’ focus off the whole conversation. Disgusting!
I strongly recommend you not post the rest of trashes unless you enjoy destroying the rest of our community. Don’t say that you have integrity, because it’s BS.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
No prob, MZ. Thanks for explaining what happened.
It’s been a very emotional time for many of us…
July 13th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
MZ,
You mention that there were seven founding ex-DBC core members either resigned or kicked out.
1. Barry Sewell
2. Dianrez
3. Anne Marie Baer
4. MishkaZena (yourself)
5. Amy Cohen-Efron
6. Deaf Pundit
The seventh one has remained silent so far?
July 13th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Barry,
I want to be honest with you is that you are not very helpful. You have already damaged not only DBC but also Bilingualism. It is practically sinking. We all have worked so damn hard to keep it afloat.
It is easier to destroy it in ONE second but it takes years and years to rebuild. During that time, many new Deaf babies and children will be lost because of your unacceptable and inhumanity action.
I have to roll up my arms and join Deaf people to patch up many holes in the ship of Bilingualism.
Deafchip
July 13th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Oh, not all were the founding members
Amy and I were the founding core members.
Dianrez, Anne Marie, and Deaf Pundit came about two months.
The person still unnamed came in Oct, but now to think of it, she wasn’t a core member.. more like an associate member, though she wasn’t given a title. I don’t think she knows what has happened on the cyberspace the last few days.
Barry joined several months after we departed.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
deafchipmunk,
I appreciate your honest view. It is okay for you to think that I am not very helpful. I can accept that. Four months tenure with DBC is not good enough… not helpful. I get it. I’ll serve longer next time.
DBC destroyed itself when it did not practice what it preached. I only disclosed the truth. Truth never hurt anybody. Only time it hurts is when somebody is hiding the truth.
DBC also misinterpreted bilingualism in Milwaukee when they touted ASL almost exclusively on the sidewalk for everybody to see… English language had little or no air time. They touted Deafness vs Deafhood. So I fought to reclaim bilingualism in order to restore what it really meant. Next time around, don’t tout bilingualism if you don’t really mean it.. by this I mean English language deserves equal respect and recognization.
I agree with you. Some things are easy to destroy in one second but takes many years to rebuild. The same is true for integrity. It takes many years to build and preserve but only one seconds to lose it. If DBC recognizes this important fact then none of this would have happened.
During that time, many new Deaf babies and children will be lost because of DBC’s dishonesty and lack for transparency.
Former bilingual founding members and I rolled up our sleeves to help pave the way so it is appropriate for you to earn your fair share of work and patch up the holes that was created in name of DBC’s dishonesty. I’ll join in and patch the holes too because the original cause is equally as important to me. These DBC leaders got it all wrong. I did not join because I liked them and their personalities. I joined because I believed. That’s the difference.
Barry
July 14th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Brenster, you are probably right, I don’t fully get you and I’m trying to understand your position better. I was actually using “anon” as a nickname but you say you wont respond to anonymous, ok suppose I use “xyzabc” as a nickname, is that going to make a difference? Unfortunately, I don’t think it will.
But you refer to the system, I would certainly hope that you would know that there is no one system in this entire country, there are many systems.
Your comment in #161 was talking about audism and your comment in #162 was talking about deafhood and I was merely responding to both of those comments so how I was distorting what you were saying?
Now Brenster, the rest of this comment is not directed at you, but at everyone else that is pissed off or disappointed about all this.
Now I understand that you are pissed off about what has happened and in no way am I saying that you are wrong about being pissed off, unfortunately, you are pissed off at the wrong person, rest assured, its not DR Hokocan, that you should be pissed off at. I could name names here of people that you should be pissed off at, but that would only “lead the witness” if you want to put it in court room terms. Look at the facts that were presented from ALL points of view, and then tell me who you ae pissed off at.
I loved the original concept of DBC and I was all for it, but I could also sense it changing over time, for example, at the very beginning, DBC was saying that they are absolutely not against CIs, then, without naming names, a “Milwaukee DBC leader” clearly showed a vlog that was totally against CIs, and then later, he vlogs about the DBC Conference in Milwaukee. That led people like me to beleive that DBC is against CIs.
What did the core leaders of DBC about it? Absolutely nothing!!!! It went against their original mission when they said that DBC was not against CIs. What the DBC core leaders should have done was to reprimand this vlogger and made him do a public apology or removed him as a local DBC leader, but they did absolutely nothing.
As you can see here over the last few days, people that were formerly core members of DBC were eliminated for no reason. DR Hocokan thought he was the only one, but he found out there were others. He reached out to them and most of them asked DR Hocokan to hold back and at least give the DBC core leaders a chance to come clean and what did they do? Absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!!
It is not DR Hocokan that you and some others should be pissed at, its actually some of the core leaders that you should be pissed at!!! They messed it up, not DR Hocokan, not Anne Marie, not Mishka, not Amy Cohen Efron, they were deleted from DBC for the wrong reasons, that raises a HUGE red flag right there.
Would you rather have had these people do absolutely nothing and continue to let these core leaders to make this situation much worse where they were gathering more and more supporters for the wrong reasons? I know I would not!!!! I would want it resolved now and have it fixed, many of your people feel that DBC is all over, the plane has crashed, etc, etc.
Reality is that I think it can be fixed, not easily, but it can be done. BUT, it has to be done by the core leaders of DBC and no one else. They know what they need to do, but they are not doing it!!! So yes, my friends, some of you are pissed off at the wrong people!!!!!!!
DR Hocokan, Mishka, Anne Marie, Amy Cohen Efron, and others are all heroes in my book for coming forth with the truth, the DBC original mission is what we all wanted, not its hidden agenda!!!
Imagine how much worse this would be if this happened a year from now instead of right now, it would be much worse, rest assured of that!!! These people care enough about exposing ASL to deaf babies enough to say something about it and say that the current DBC is not taking the right approach.
Jay Wyant, the president of AG Bell said it himself, that no one at DBC ever approached him or the other leaders at AG Bell about having a formal discussion, instead DBC just decides out of the blue to stage an event right next door to the AG Bell convention and make a HUGE announcement about it and then maybe DBC did then asked for a formal meeting, but I doubt that they did.
That is a VERY bad approach!!!!!! Do you think DPN happened without even approaching the Gallaudet administration at all???? No, the students met with the administrations and made their concerns known during the presidential selection process, in other words, formal meetings were held.
When they saw that they were blatantly ignored and a hearing president was selected, then they set up the protest.
As I understand this, DBC did nothing like that. Unless the DBC core leaders can show proof of documentation that they sent a formal letter requesting a meeting, AND they also received a letter from AGBell that they declined to have a formal meeting (I am referring to before it was even announced that DBC would set up an event right next to their convention) then I will gladly apologize and take back this point, but they had the opportunity to do so and did nothing.
Now supposing DR Hocokan were to just write a blog/vlog without backing up his points, you know as well as I do that we would all say BULLSHIT!!! you’re making this up. He knew that!!!! Which is why he had to disclose the documentation, and now some of you are pissed off at him????? I do beleive it was one of the hardest things he had to do in his lifetime. I honestly commend him for his very courageous actions.
Some of you are pissed off at the wrong people. Rest assured, I am pissed, but I’m not pissed at DR Hocokan, and its obvious here that I don’t need to specifically name who I am pissed at.
Now some of you say that, DR Hocokan should not have posted that AIM meeting, or he should have crossed out the names and replaced them with different names, if he did that, then it would not be taken as seriously as proof. He had to do it, so that this matter could be taken seriously. Based on his statements, he could probably post a heck of a lot more evidence, but that would also led to even more turmoil amongst the deaf community, and if he deems it necessary to do so in order to really wake us all up, I would wholeheartedly support him if he did.
As I mentioned in Aidan’s blog, no rights to privacy were violated, in my old workplace, I knew the IT Dept kept records of AIM conversations on every single employee that worked there, and Ive actually seen people fired for their AIM conversations while at work and these records were used as proof. A lot of public stuff that we know about Enron, the huge company that went kaput years ago, the strippers, etc, were found out because of AIM records so don’t try blowing smoke by saying that what he did was wrong in exposing those conversations. Furthermore, he even said that they all knew that it would be kept in records, and that didnt even have to be done.
Yes, Im upset at all this, but we need to be upset with the “right people” and not the wrong ones, we need to band together and try to fix this so that we can expose ASL to all deaf babies!!!! And it has to be done right, in other words, implementing the circular thinking that DR Hocokan as so eloquently described in the past and not implement linear thinking.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Barry
I was there. I saw and I believed.
Currently, English is a very well known language. ASL is not well known language; therefore, we need more time to educate parents about ASL and Bilingualism. We must push ASL up to level of English language. That is what we are talking about. DBC mission is already written in English. Can you see that?
In my management experience, I have emphasized people including parents about ASL because ASL is new to them. Parents need more time to learn ASL and bilingual approach. Parents do not have to learn about English because they already know it anyway. They are encouraged to use both languages. That is what DBC convention is all about.
DBC’s mission and information are clear. I mean very clear. If you were there at the convention, it might make a difference. I wish you did.
I wish you did not do hurt people that you already did. That is way beyond my fathom. It is very much against my principle and integrity.
Deafchip
July 14th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Thank you Anon. Yes. It was one of the hardest thing I had to do, knowing it could destroy DBC and hurt their followers.
In fact I felt for those vloggers who described DBC as a plane that crashed. Upon seeing them as ‘broken’ and ‘torn up’ it tore me on the inside but yet as you put it, DBC decided to play the bluffing game thinking I didn’t have any backbones. I don’t play this type of game at all.
When I saw that the recorded AIM meeting had done the most damage I ordered it to be taken down. Why? Because I am a compassion guy. Surprised? Don’t be. I feel for those who believed, just like I believed, in DBC only to learn that these leaders were radicals. I know how the people feel because I felt the same thing when they left me to hang and dry that day. And then things became worse when I learned that there were other victims before me. It is a shameful practice and it should not have happened. These corrupted leaders have to go.
I want no part of it if people choose to dismiss the essences of integrity and remain hyponized by Deafhood Foundation.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:44 am
deafchip,
When Enron was there, thousands of people worked there, they saw it, they beleived, just the same way as it happened to you in Milwaukee.
It only took a small group of core people to mess everything up at Enron. They were once ranked #5 in the Fortune 500 company if memory serves me correctly and it absolutely collapsed, because their scandal was discovered at a stage that was too late to do anything about it.
That does not apply here to DBC because it is not too late, it is still a young organization and it still can be salvaged, but everything has to be done right too. They have no bylaws, they had no board, etc, how are hearing people supposed to take them seriously when they have none of that?
Again, it wasn’t the people that brought forth the truth that hurt people, it was the people that didn’t bring forth the truth that did.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Good for you Chipmunk. I am glad you went and I am glad you felt good about it. I am glad you believed. You spent three or four days with these people. I spent four full months working with them. The closer you get to these people the more dents you will see.
Your explanation on English as a well known language and ASL as the ‘not well known’ language is understandable in deaf people’s view. You are obviously more interested in targeting deaf audiences. When you said it you assumed something incorrectly. You assumed that the hearing parents will know and understand why we only tout ASL. In reality, they will translate your message as ASL is more important than English language because you don’t tout it and advertise it as much as you advertise ASL. They begin to think about it and say, oh, we don’t want our deaf children to view English language as an unimportant language. You see the problem. Most everybody that went were more interested in winning support from deaf audience while I had my focus on hearing parents who ultimately decide the fates of 95% deaf children.
Having said that, the hearing parents will judge our messages by the way we behave and how we promote ASL in comparison to English language and if we advertise English language as ASL’s equal half with equal footing and equal air time. If they don’t see it then they won’t believe what you write in your mission statement. They see all the physical evidences (signs and slogans) that promoted ASL almost exclusively and they say, forget it…. does not appear bilingual to me. Walk the talk when you tout bilingual. You’d better mean it next time you advertise it. That’s the point I made earlier and it is still my point.
I did not hurt the people as you put it. I have no power to hurt anybody. It is DBC’s dishonesty that led one thing to another, which led me to restore integrity, exposing the truth that hurt those who hid the truth in the first place. It is beyond my fathom to realize that you still don’t get it.
Barry
July 14th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Barry,
I think some do get it, but they want to protect the concept of bilingualism and deaf babies. Nobody, including me, wants to see DBC fall.
I don’t think they really understand that deafhood themes are very confusing for the parents. The parents are already overwhelmed trying to find enough information about the best communication methods for their deaf babies. Language Development and communication are the top priorities and their time is very limited. Deafhood is a very complicated concept which is a big minus for people with very limited time. It will not help meet the babies’s immediate needs at all.
An example: Grape juice (DBC) is mixed with Orange Juice (Deafhood). What kind of flavor will one taste? What color is it? The mixture affects the flavor and the color.
It’s the same concept when one mix Deafhood with Bilingualism.
I am not sure if this is the best analogy, but at 2 am, it’s all I could think of.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Deafchip,
Indeed, truth does hurt, but, down the road,
you will discover that it hurts much less
than lie does which you would find very
painful.
Anon makes an excellent parallel between
Enron and DBC Conference at Milwaukee.
Look at Bush. 85% of Americans were wildly
jingoistic for Bush in 2002. Then now his
approval rating dips to 28%.
I think you will get the idea down the road.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:02 am
#155 #155 # 155 #155
Hades – You nailed it! I will NEVER EVER NEVER have my Deaf (ASL, Deaf culture, and CI) children in Barb DiGi and DE’s classroom. I thank stars that we don’t live in NY and CA. It’s truly UGLY world we live – Deaf against Deaf, Deaf Adults against Deaf Children with CI regardless of their Deaf families, their birthright to Deaf culture and ASL.
DBC once was my favorite words.. Now, it’s taboo words, just like Nazi
July 14th, 2008 at 2:17 am
DR Hocokan has once again hit the nail right smack on the head in his comment #199.
The big question with this is…….
Who is your target market?
We all know that about 95% of deaf babies are born to hearing parents. As Mishka said in comment #200, these hearing parents have very limited time to make decisions for these deaf babies.
Now allow me to use this from a business perspective to give you an analogy. I form a business, lets call it “Bilingual Water Inc” where I am selling bottled water and my target market is the hearing parents of the 95% of the deaf baby population. My company motto is is “ASL and English work very well together”
I get the manufacturing agreements, the bottling agreements, etc and then I print out a series of different brand names for water bottles, which are named as follows:
1) ASL Rocks
2) Deafhoodism
3) Deaf Power
4) CI/AVT Sucks
I then order thousands of cases of this bottled water and make an effort to sell these by marketing these to my supposed target market of hearing parents of deaf babies. They see my company name “Bilingual Water Inc” and they see my motto “ASL and English work very well together” and then they take a look at my 4 brands of bottled water listed above, now the question is this….
Do you think that these hearing parents of deaf babies that are struggling and quickly trying to figure out what is best for their deaf baby are going to buy any of my bottled water?
I think we all know that most of them won’t buy it. But does that mean it is a complete flop???
Nope, and why? Because this bottled water will quickly sell out in the deaf community and will probably have a huge demand to make more.
While I may have done well with the deaf community, but I also completely failed the original purpose of my company to specifically target the hearing parents of deaf babies.
This my friends, is exactly what happened in Milwaukee, hundreds of deaf people gathered in Milwaukee, but just how much did they actually accomplish in reaching out to their target market goal of hearing parents with deaf babies, I would imagine very little or none.
Why you ask? I just told you why. If you don’t get it, read this again until you do.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Barry,
I want to say…
Thank you for standing up for us. I won’t forgot you.
Good night,
Tom
July 14th, 2008 at 3:08 am
Barry,
Deafchip kept focusing on his OWN view (DEAF, DEAF, DEAF audience), instead of understanding other people’s view including hearing, diversities.
Obviously, Deafchip is one of racialism or “DEAFHOOD CULT” followers. It’s really difficult to convince him to understand. He NEVER admit that he is DEAFHOOD CULT, but the truth – he is.
Maybe, we can’t blame him. He possibly has bad experiences with hearing people or oppression in his life. Most of Deaf cults are victims like him.
DEAFHOOD CULT = More than just a definition of DEAFHOOD.
Mishka, to me… Deafhood is a part of CULT. Another meaning of CULT is not about religious issue.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Anon, you got information all wrong. Those ppl were not eliminated. They left on their own will. Barry was not there at that time, and he came into DBC very much later. Your point that AIM conversations are public is plainly ridiculous! Your example about IT, the employees were in trouble, because they used aim conversation in that workplace. Completely a different story with our situation. Barry intentionally caused harm and damage to our Deaf community. The rest of your statements, you were just rambling.
Ahh, you admitted that you put my two comments (161 and 162) together, but those were two separate comments for that reason! Duh!
I’m all done with all this here, because there is no ONE straight fact, just all garbages. If I continue to discuss here, we only go in circles. So, I’ll let you, disgruntled folks, continue to debate and stay in circles.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Barry,
I don’t think you will ever get my point. You worked 4 months virtually. I was there physcially. I saw hard stuff and you saw virtual stuff. So I rest my case.
Dan,
It is too bad that you have made false accusations. You are way off the point. I have never involved in Deafhood at all. I don’t appreciate your behaviour. I am happy man with a family at our own house. All I care about is Deaf babies and children and their parents. Bilingualism is my target, nothing more nothing less. I am not interested in dealing with you from now and on due to your pointless and unproductive comments.
Deafchip
July 14th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Chipmunk,
So you won’t comment on my discussion regarding difference between deaf audience and hearing audience? So you don’t want to discuss what was involved during my four months tenure with DBC? Then you are not seeking the truth. You don’t want to hear it. You are just so set on the idea of discrediting me without wanting to know the truth.
Barry
July 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Barry,
You just put me back on website. Oh well. During the convention, it was open for everyone including hearing people/parents.
During the convention, we learned how to approach the government department (EIHD spell not sure – infant hearing screening department to make sure ASL resources are used properly). Before the convention, we did not know anything about it. Now we know. That is part of proactive approach. We learned how to discuss with people (government) and we also learned how to approach parents about Bilingualism. Parents would tend to ask a lot of questions about ASL because ASL is new to them. (That is the area I believe is appropriate). They are already educated about English, AVT, Cochlear Implants and many other information.
ASL is not well known and we need to push that up to the level of English Language in order of hearing parents’ view on true bilingualism. That is the most logical approach.
Regarding Deaf audience, before the convention, we did not have enough manpower to expand DBC. So we need Deaf audience as well as hearing people and parents to come and learned from presenters and people at workshops. Without us, how do we expand and recruit new parents. That I believe was an best and most logical plan. We grow and we can outreach to new parents and (infant hearing test) department. You cannot drive without a car. You must build a car and make sure everything is in order, then you can drive. I hope you got my point.
That was our first convention and we learned from that and we evaluate and improve. There is always room for improvement. Yes I believe in DBC and its future.
In my personal opinion, a portion of Deafhood information should be used in DBC. Remember I have never involved in Deafhood except read the Deafhood book. I will explain in my next vlog soon.
I did not make order in my explanation due to my rush time.
Deafchip
July 14th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Brenster, no, you got the facts wrong. Four people were booted without any notice. What do they have to gain by lying? They know it is very risky for them to stand up and tell the truth because they know people who love DH/DBC will not like the truth. They know people will question their credibility. They know that they will be attacked, just like I was attacked.
Yet they went ahead and told the truth. Why? The Deaf Community deserves the truth. These people really love Deaf Community and the Hearing parents.
Why were most of the moderates gone? If it was just bilingualism, one would think they will stay, too. But they are gone. Don’t you think it’s strange?
Who has a lot to gain by keeping quiet about the extensive role of Deafhood in DBC? Just think about it?
None of the members from last year wants to see DBC fail. That’s why they kept quiet, hoping the messages will be strictly on Bilingualism. But they realized the messages are too mixed.
Please do not attack DeafChip. He is a decent person. He really doesn’t know the extent of the Deafhood in DBC.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am
brenster, you say “Ahh, you admitted that you put my two comments (161 and 162) together, but those were two separate comments for that reason! Duh!” Yes I was making a point with your two comments there, while they may be separate points but they were the same topic. Are you saying that you think I should have made a separate comment for each separate comment listed? If so, we’d probably have over 400 comments already.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Deafchip,
How many hearing parents of deaf babies attended the DBC Conference in Milwaukee?
I haven’t seen much info regarding the ratio of hearing parents to Deaf attendees there.
I keep hearing that the Deaf attendees came away inspired by the Conference, but I don’t see anything regarding hearing parent attendees’ reaction to the conference.
I read patti durr’s vlogs on her interactions with some hearing attendees there, but nothing on numbers in the audience regarding hearing parent attendees. This, in my estimation, is flimsy information. That is not a reflection on patti, I know she worked very hard on her part. That is about all I’ve heard regarding an answer to my first question above.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Ann_C’s questions are interesting and deserve answers. I, too, wonder why DBC did not videotape FULLY the presentations of six presenters. One videotaoe shows for about 20 seconds of Scoggins, Bienvenu, Kanapell. Less than 15 seconds on Gentz, Kuntze, and Boudreault.
WHILST in the early 1900s, VEDITZ was videotaped for more than 120 seconds!
Historical videotapes should be treasured as valuable documents
July 14th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Post Scriptum:
DeafRead Conference in California WONDERFULLY
showed full presentations.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Interesting discussions going on above.
To save the DBC, here is a suggestion: change
the name from:
Deaf Bilingual Coalition
to
Coalition for Bilingualism and Deafhood.
CBD or whatsoever.
Vox populi will decide the name.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Jean,
I was thinking what would be a good name. I like yours.. very easy. CBD Bilingualism first as that’s more empasized than Deafhood.
CBD
July 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Yes, that way there’d be no more hiding of DH in DBC… out in open and more choice for people (deaf/hearing) to pick… CBD, NAD, AGBell, Cued Speech Association, etc. Transparency, clear messages.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
if that were the case, then deafhood would need to be clearly defined as many people have different interpretations of it.
However, I would like to keep deafhood separate for the following reason. Deafhood is basically about finding out your own self identity, now answer me this, are babies going to have the existing wisdom and knowledge to to find their self-identity?
July 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
AG Bell: A cutting-edge research symposium entitled “Hear Our Voices: New Mechanisms in Auditory Discrimination and Speech in Deafness”
Deafhood and DBC should be together like AGB and deafness
July 14th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I don’t adhere to Deafhood, however I can see that the concept does empower some Deaf people.
Deafhood is just that, a Deaf awareness and empowerment philosophy that involves a PERSONAL journey.
Deafhood here in this country was taken to the extreme to include blaming of AGBell, of hearing parents’ choices for their deaf babies, of hearing technology, of CI companies and oral therapies for all of d/Deaf people’s problems. Deafhood has been taken out of its original context and politicized at CAD and thru DBC.
There is nothing wrong about Deafhood seminars taught across the country. But there is something wrong about Deafhood being an influence on an organization that is supposed to represent d/Deaf people across the spectrum and targets an audience of hearing parents of deaf babies.
Take Nazism. It started as a philosophy in Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” to empower the German populace dispirited by their defeat in WWI and the depression. The ideal of “Fatherland” instilled pride in an unwitting populace but Nazism also took to blaming certain parties, the Jews, for one example, for the Germans’ woes at the same time.
Then Nazism took on political overtones that started to corrupt German government and created the monster we all know as Hitler. Dissent was ruthlessly suppressed.
In other words, a philospphy that got taken to the political extreme of blaming others had a way of corrupting the very fabric of German life.
Deafhood is a Deaf philosophy, not Deaf politics. It needs to kept out of the political arena in the d/Deaf community.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
ann c is right, deafhood is a self-journey and that means including all forms of communication modes without saying that any of these communication modes are bad. They analyze all communication modes and then decide which one suits them best, that being the case, its not a one size fits all.
suppose a deaf oral anaylzes himself, he accepts his deafness, and yet he chooses to remain oral, who are we to say that he is wrong? Its his own self-journey and not ours.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Changing DBC’s name won’t make any difference. It is the contents, not the label names, that makes all the difference. Choose the wrong contents you still won’t reach out and connect with hearing parents of 95% deaf children no matter how perfect of a name you choose to use. People aren’t stupid.
Want to stick with Deafhood or mix it some how then I’ll know who you are really targeting…. deaf audience. It’s that simple.
Barry
July 14th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Hi Elizabeth,
I finally had a chance to read all the comments here. Wow! It took me approximately one hour reading the whole thing while my youngsters napped.
It shocked me more than anything i can remember (at DR). Good thing I did not read this post and its comments before doing a vlog, “Deafhood What?” yesterday. I would have said something –replying to your post rashly. However I wanted to remain neutral listening or reading both sides.
My head was spinning a bit on this one, maybe because I’m wondering if you-know-who are spinning. But they sure did not say all the words we wanted to hear, now did they?
Anyway . . .
First and foremost, thank you for addressing it so honestly and eloquently — without all of the finger-pointing.
Yes, I know it was one of the commentors who started naming people. I guess that’s all right, because they have had not come forward and explained their position. I am quite puzzled. I cannot fathom why they choose to remain dead silent.
Let’s wait a few days and see if one of them will step out into the spotlight and tell us what was really happening. It is best to stay neutral until we hear their side. Agreed? We ought to aim helping both sides understand the issues of the other side.
Hopefully Barb DiGi will do a vlog very soon. Pretty please, Barb. Save yourself and DBC. Do it for the sake of the deaf community. I know you can!
July 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Hi Teri,
Actually several DBC leaders have been corresponding with me after my second post. Two people were trying to discourage me from coming forward, saying that Barry is deceiving me. I left DBC because of deafhood themes. What Barry told me is NOT new to me or other former DBC core members. They all had the same problems.. dealing with the two DH leaders’ radical Deaf version being shoved down their throats. Never mind that we all have our own Deafhood already. We respected their Deaf views but they didn’t respect our Deaf views. That’s why we were out of DBC.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Deafhood is just simply a philosophy, and cannot be separated into a thing or forced onto people. So there is no such thing as making DBC and Deafhood separate. There is also no such thing as a Deafhood agenda. If you read Paddy’s book, you will see why Deafhood cannot be made into a separate entity. It is just basically an enlightened understanding of your existence within this world. Ella, GG, and DE are working hard to share what they have learned with other Deaf people so that they better understand their place in society. We all have our own journeys. It breaks my heart when I see people trying to tear them down so unnecessarily.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I have noticed many argue each others on many certain issues related to the DBC and DeafHood. It has gotten worse. How soon will this settle down? Tonite I just watched Aidan’s vlog “Amy Cohen Efron: Come and Clean! — and the “Signing Community” issues. I got Caught off Guard by her vlog. It impresses me that Aiden is envious of Amy and her well known vlog “The Greatest Irony”. Aidan is a talented filmmaker and she has done a lot of good things for this community too. I don’t want to target Aidan but many others too. The Deaf Community is extremely small …. and we keep getting the mixed messages everyday. It is so unfortunate to see this way. How soon will this settle down? Peace and Unity.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Liz, I am no deafhood expert nor will I try to claim to be, but these deaf babies are not going to be old enough to even realize a deafhood journey. Simply put, don’t you think it would have been significantly easier if DBC had a booth inside of AG Bell conference as opposed to “protesting from the outside”?
The way to do that is to befriend AG Bell and be their ally, DBC did the opposite and it backfired big time. Who’s fault is that?
Now I know that Ella, GG, and DE may be good when it comes to explaining to the deafhood concept, but those that were involved with leading DBC didn’t need to preach deafhood, they didn’t need to change the original mission of DBC, they didnt need to get rid of key people, and most importantly, they didnt need to go against AG Bell, because they have the best access to hearing parents of deaf babies. They didnt need 700 deaf people that already knew about asl and biligualism, what they needed were 700 hearing parents of deaf babies and that was not accomplished at all, heck, they were very very far from that. Bad approach, failed mission, they need to go.
If they wanna continue to preach about deafhood, let them go ahead and do that, but if they wanna continue doing what they did to try to reach out to hearing parents of deaf babies, they failed miserably!
July 14th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Are you happy now?
You’ve helped destroy what has taken SO MUCH WORK to build up.
I’m not a core DBC member, just a grunt volunteer at the DBC convention trying to get people to sign to deaf babies.
Maybe the next generation of deaf will read this and learn from our mistakes here. Maybe THEY can work around the crab theory long enough to actually accomplish something.
One MORE generation of deaf babies abused so you could proclaim your core status. Congratulations! You’re part of Hocokan and Der Sahnt’s team now. I’m sure you’ll find THEM more accomodating to your needs.
Disgusted MORE with you, because you DO know better…
-AR
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Refugee, you simply arent getting it. These people didnt destroy it, the DBC leaders did, because they simply didn’t do it right.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Ooops .. NOT impresses me … emphasizes me that Aiden is ….. my fingers slipped lol
July 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am
AR
Not only other former core members, but also I invested heavily in DBC, spending hundred of hours building it up, discussing and doing extensive research.
How is the truth hurting DBC? Only if it’s not transparent to the public and its real agenda not the same what it presents to the public.
Had DBC been honest from the beginning, none of this would have happened. However the DBC leaders chose not to be transparent. Deficit Thinking, Colonialism, and oppressors, medical pathology vs deafhood, etc have nothing to do with bilingualism. They have harmed a lot of people on DeafRead by blasting the unpopular bloggers with negative terms and bashing them due to their cultural differences.
Where is the acceptance of diversity Deafhood is supposed to promote?
Why is deafhood heavily infused with DBC when it’s supposed to concentrate on bilingualism of deaf babies and young children alone?
Why is the truth hidden so long? Don’t kill the messenger. Look at the Deafhood leaders who hijacked DBC and John who allowed this to happen.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I have been thinking about two words… diversity and unity.
In order to bring about unity, we need to embrace diversity. But we can’t embrace diversity right away… first we need to analyze, question, nitpick, etc., what diversity means. Once we accept diversity, unity follows.
But as long as we don’t fully understand what the diversity in deaf community means, there will be no unity.
I know I sound pessimistic…it is just we have strong opinions over diversity.
July 15th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ella’s Vlog ridiculous! Proverb Bible mmm!
Simple formula must be peaceful to deaf community look these:
Bible + DBC = NO WAY AND CANNOT MIX!
DBC + Dh = NO WAY AND CANNOT MIX!
DBC + Anit-CI = NO WAY ANDCANNOT MIX!
DBC + ASL for babies = OH YES!
DBC + Respect the parent’s choices = OH YES!
DBC + Neutral in CI & AVT = MMMM YES!?
July 15th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
#229
anon,
Where do you stand? Your version on
this blogpost differs from that on
Ben’s blogpost. Make up your mind
and KNOW where you really stand!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:08 am
It’s my first blog comment to share my voice for the DBC’s future sake.
From what I picked up many comments about the DBC and Deafhood (and ABG) so far, it’s clear enough that they must remove Deafhood from DBC.
I believe that few certain DBC leaders hijacked DBC with the Deafhood stuff which doesn’t belong to their original mission purpose in the first place.
It’s about those deaf babies, not about the Deafhood which rather belongs to the deaf teens and adults.
It sickens me to read such ugly insults or non-sense fusses by some people… those won’t solve but destroy the sole purpose. Grow up, people!
Otherwise, it’s pleased that we have DBC for the outreach on those deaf babies to stress ASL. Also that the DBC is only a year old so let’s give it some time to improve its image and purposes over the time ahead.
Recommend them to remove those hijackers then restructure the DBC and stick on with its original mission to reach the hearing parents, and make them to approach AGB to iron things out so we could reach those hearing parents there more effectively.
That’s pretty much is all we need. So act according and set personal differences apart, thanks!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 am
#234, which comment on Ben’s blogpost are you referring to? My stance on this hasn’t wavered and I’m seeing more others using that same “anon” so I will eventually have to create a psuedo-name for myself so people do not confuse me with other anons
July 26th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Before closing the comment section, I want everybody to remember this:
It’s not the truth, but the lack of transparency that hurts any organization.
Truth is the best policy for both the organization and its community.
Have a good weekend.
November 17th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
[...] Before I get into the meat of this truth series, It is a fact that Deafhood (DH) and Deaf Billingual Coalition (DBC) are synonymous. It was revealed by several former core members of DBC that they were pressured to practice “Deafhood Ideology” within DBC. Deafhood core members did not want the public to know that DBC practices deafhood heavily. [...]
March 19th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
[...] read up on Mishka Zena’s own experience when she was booted out one Deaf (and not deaf/hh) organization for suggesting to become more transparent. And how “deafhood” was reasons why seven [...]