| AG Bell "Warns" Its Members |
| Thursday, 26 June 2008 | |
|
The Deaf Bilingual Coalition would like all of you who have registered
for the DBC Education Conference and ASL Rally Celebrations to be aware
that AG Bell has sent out this notice (below) to its participants.
(AG Bell's letter:) "Demonstrations--AG Bell would like our attendees to be aware that a demonstration is expected to occur outside of the Midwest Airlines Center and Hilton Milwaukee City Center during Convention. AG Bell recognizes that differing viewpoints exist within the deaf and hard of hearing community and respects the rights of those viewpoints to be expressed in a positive and lawful manner. AG Bell's primary goal is to provide an enjoyable environment for attendees at all of our events." The DBC would like you to know that regardless of the misinformation that AG Bell perpetuates, we will continue to maintain a professional, friendly, and peaceful stance during our rallies in support of American Sign Language for all Deaf babies and children and during our conference. The DBC will continue to stay committed to the purpose of educating people who are involved with Deaf babies about the misinformation and myths regarding ASL that AG Bell has perpetuated for 118 years. The DBC wonders what AG Bell means by "a positive and lawful manner" and "an enjoyable environment", since at all our rallies at AG Bell conferences (in Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, and California), AG Bell and their associates have treated us in a rough manner and with blatant disrespect. AG Bell representatives (or people acting on their behalf) have inflicted physical harm on us, including a defenseless 8-year-old Deaf girl. AG Bell sent a notice to the Indiana chapter of AG Bell, warning them to not "engage with DBC", since DBC (allegedly) can be "emotional". They called police agencies in all states in advance, warning them of the DBC. The police in California were convinced by AG Bell to bring in increased security (a police RV and extra cars), only, at the end of the day, to declare the DBC to be the best group they have ever worked with. An AG Bell member gave DBC members the middle finger in California, which prompted the police to intervene and remind AG Bell to not resort to unacceptable behavior towards DBC or toward anyone. And today, AG Bell has convinced the Midwest Airlines Center (where they are holding their 2008 conference) and the Hyatt Corporation (the hotel that is hosting the DBC conference) to close off the walkway between both buildings. This will prevent families of Deaf children from accessing truthful information directly from the Deaf community. If using profanity, harming 8-year-olds, and inciting unfounded suspicion among the police is what AG Bell means by "positive", "lawful", and "enjoyable", then we wonder what they could possibly view as being a "negative environment". Such would most likely be a family that signs (thus representing a loss of profits for AG Bell and its corporate allies). AG Bell claims to "respect the rights of [differing] viewpoints". The DBC begs to differ. Among the most glaring example of their extremist oral-only crusade is AG Bell's recent letter to PepsiCo, condemning their use of ASL in their Super Bowl commercial. And, AG Bell has provided financial assistance to families for the purpose of suing school districts that incorporate ASL in their programs. Through AG Bell's so-called Auditory-"Verbal"-Therapy (AVT) programs, families are coached to not use sign language. This type of promotion of the oral-only philosophy has been going on for 118 years, and counting. Furthermore, AG Bell's continued insistence on viewing Deaf children as being defective, who suffer from "hearing loss", coupled with their misguided view that signing (allegedly) prevents access to mainstream society, all betrays a certain mindset and extremist activism on AG Bell's part, fueled by the mad need to see that bean counters are provided with higher numbers in their annual net-profit reports--all of which amounts to the exploitation of Deaf children and their families. On top of all this, AG Bell is charging families exhorbitant amounts (upwards of $400) to attend their Milwaukee conference, with additional fees added for other sessions. Unlike AG Bell, the DBC's first-ever Education Conference is free of charge, as part of an open intellectual exchange that is not compromised by minor financial considerations. The DBC's primary goal for the first DBC Education Conference is to provide a truth-based educational environment for the participants. All parents are welcome and the conference has been made free of charge so that everyone might be able to attend. We're not the bad guys here. In Indiana, an AG Bell member gave private words of encouragement to DBC rally-goers, saying the following (without the AG Bell brass looking on): "I just want to let you know that some of us really support you and we're glad to see you here"--words to that effect. They knew the day would come when someone, or some group, would finally step up and support Deaf children's right to use sign language, and challenge AG Bell. Deaf children deserve the chance to be successful members of society who lead happy and fulfilling lives. This can only be done by recognizing their human rights, including their right to use a natural sign language. Thank you, The Deaf Bilingual Coalition |
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