www.dbcusa.org

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Attn:  Jay Wyant, Karen Youdelman and Board of Directors
3417 Volta Place NW
Washington, DC  20007

Jay Wyant, Karen Youdelman and Board of Directors,

I am disappointed in how our organization's name, "Wisconsin Organizations for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing", was used as a vague reference in the recent AG Bell convention update to show that you included everyone.  This reminds me of how poorly the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001 was designed to include "all" children, while only financially rewarding the high performing schools in rich communities with the least number of students in special education, bilingual, and minority groups.  While we paid more than $1,000 for one booth (with help of outside sponsors), we were placed in a location at the end of the exhibit hall with no visual space or contact with people across us.  Some of our groups were astonished to find out how expensive the booths were and felt AG Bell doesn't have the heart to include everyone fairly.  Those who cannot afford to attend the convention were "left behind".  Only the rich and powerful got special attention.  Where is democracy and freedom of speech?

You also boasted that booth space was provided to "a coalition of sign language groups" covering up the reality that other groups that didn't use ASL were part of this coalition.  Where did the label "a coalition of sign language groups" come from?  Our experience as exhibitors at the recent AG Bell convention was negative in that we were repeatedly pointed out as the sign language group and no one cared to ask how we were doing, only to criticize the bilingual materials we passed out even though we spent a lot of money.  We included information from adults with hearing loss and parents who didn't know sign language.  Did you even notice we had staff who didn't know ASL to share all perspectives equally without bias?

Our booth clearly showed our collaboration of different perspectives in the deaf and hard of hearing community with spoken and sign languages.  AG Bell demonstrated a communication bias at the convention based on the majority of workshops and exhibits focused on auditory, verbal, and oral approaches.  We met many people who got the interpretation that ASL will prevent children from speaking or learning to read/write English because they are not familiar with research in bilingualism.  Some people even look down on any form of "visual" language even though captions, emails, and text messaging are popular around the world.  We know English is a dominant language needed to be successful in education and employment in American society instilling fear and ignorance of ASL.  Your workshops degrade the value of ASL by emphasizing hearing aids and speech education to increase literacy skills.  Again, ASL research such as studies by Acredolo and Goodwyn showing the impact on increased IQ levels has been ignored and pushed aside.  It is an age-old myth that ASL prevents children from learning to read and write, where they actually start at a younger age than relying on speaking and listening only.

Can you explain how AG Bell is not "anti-ASL" when you don't sell, share, or distribute ASL literature in your bookstore or website?  If you claim "communication approaches should not be prohibited or restricted", why does your motto "Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking" not mention "Signing"?  Did your welcome package at the Hilton hotel include all communication approaches?  AG Bell is clearly denying full access of information to parents by emphasizing speaking and listening without including information on ASL.  Only those who had "money" could access your information.  Your website limits information on ASL to 3 sentences and one link to National Association for the Deaf, NAD.  Our deaf and hard of hearing community will continue to be divided not because of the opinions we have but the lack of resources on all sides of education that can bring us all together equally.

We would appreciate your follow-up in how you can collaborate with all organizations serving the deaf and hard of hearing community and allow equal distribution of ASL research and materials.

References:
Linda P. Acredolo, L. P., and Susan W. Goodwyn, (July 2000). “The long-term impact of symbolic gesturing during infancy on IQ at age 8.” Paper presented at the meetings of the International Society for Infant Studies, Brighton, UK.

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