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The California Association for the Deaf (CAD) hosted the ASL Celebration in Sacramento, on Friday, September 26th. This Celebration, in recognition of International Day of Sign Language Rights was a huge success! It was a historic event honoring ASL (American Sign Language) as the natural language of the Deaf community. This celebration reminded us of our human rights and encouraged us to "preserve, honor, and promote ASL for ALL.”

More than 1000 Deaf people from different walks of life, which include deaf children, ASL students, Deaf community allies, sign language interpreters, hearing children of Deaf parents, hearing parents using sign language with their hearing babies, and others were present to celebrate ASL. ASL is a true natural language that benefits ALL deaf and hearing children. There were over 30 booths from many organizations and exhibits supporting ASL.

Lyle Hicks led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Chester Brock from the Sacramento Bible Church for the Deaf, led the Invocation. The dynamic speakers for ASL Celebration were California government officials, legislators including those from the Senate & Assembly; Richard Ray, CAD President; Manny Johnson, National Association of the Deaf; Dr. Tom Holcomb, Ohlone College; Barb Digi, David Eberwein, Ella Mae Lentz - ASL Presents!, and David Reynolds, Deaf Bilingual Coalition; Andrew Metz, The Purple Team; Dr. Roz Rosen, Past President, World Federation of the Deaf; Nan Zhou, National Asian Deaf Congress; Mike Byrd, Chair, Intertribal Deaf Council; Senator Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento, CA; Tom Lee, Deputy Director, DSS; Dr. Genie Gertz, Dean, Deaf Studies Department, Ohlone College; Dr. E. Lynn Jacobowitz, Professor, Dept of ASL and Deaf Studies, Gallaudet University; Cheryl Moose, President, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, CA School for the Deaf-Fremont; Shari Kido, CA School for the Deaf, Riverside; Joanne Dixon, High Schools Student, Mainstream; Len Gonzalez, CA Teachers of the Deaf (CalEd); Tony Ronco, President, Statewide Parents IMPACT; Dr. Don Grushkin, California State University, Sacramento; Michael Baer, Sprint; and Dr. David Corina, University of California, Davis.

The dynamic performers were Terrylene, Vikee Waltrip, Don Lee Hanaumi, Wormy, and ASL Drummers: Jonathon and Justin Reynolds.

Please visit these two sites, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferrayman/ and http://deafprogressivism.blogspot.com/2008/10/celebrating-intl-day-of-sign-language.html.

This event would not have been possible without the hard working ASL Celebration Committee. A very heartfelt thanks goes out to each of the following committee members: Sheri Farinha, Chair; Cheryl Bella; Dan Chan; Kevin Clark; Sarah Hafer; Don Lee Hanaumi; James Henderson; Lyle Hicks; Michelle Lennert; Tom Murillo; Sandy Parks; Jennifer Rayman; Richard Ray; Julie Rems-Smario; Katrina Rogers; Judy Singleton, Ralph Singleton; Susan Snapp; Darrell Utley; and Pearlene Utley.

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors, Vendors and Sign Language Interpreters!

The fabulous Sign Language Interpreters were: Shirleen Cardenaz; Susan Snapp; Patty Drasin; John Arce; Molly Bowen; Marlowe Wilson; Tracy Brennan; Michael Purcell; and Sabina Wilford. The Deaf/Blind Interpreters were Mala Poe and Rick La Bar. The back-up Interpreters were Shawn Carlino, Carita Stacy, Tina Cook, Stephanie Hester, Alonzo Pack, Ronda Meyers and Vicki Dorsa.

The Platinum Sponsors ($2,500) were California Coalition of Agencies Servicing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., GoAmerica, and ASL Presents! Ella Mae Lentz. The Gold Sponsor ($1,500) was Sprint Relay. The Silver Sponsors ($1,000) were Don Parodi Fund and San Francisco Club. The Bronze Sponsors ($250) were Sorenson Communications, CSDVRS, Los Rios Community College, Dan Chan (In-Kind), Nancy Baldwin, and DeafHope (In-Kind). Others were Senator Darrell Steinberg, Official Legislative Sponsor, Jannessa Price, Interpreting and Consulting Services, and Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).

My speech for the opening remarks at the ASL Celebration in pdf is available here! I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Don Rosenkjar for preparing the script with the assistance of Nancy Carroll and Ella Mae Lentz!

Thank you for the support you have given to CAD!

Richard L. Ray