www.dbcusa.org

Transcript from LaRonda Zupp's vlog (posted with permission):

 

LaRonda: A vlogger meets another vlogger! Over here is Deaf Chip-m-u-n-k, right?

David: Spelled with “n” not “c” - right. Ok.

LaRonda: Nice to meet you. (Hugs)

David: Nice to meet you too. Great!

LaRonda: So why are you here tonight?

David: For the DBC Retreat. We got together to discuss plans for the future and how we will continue to support Deaf babies. We are thinking through different ways we will go about doing that, how we will share important information, keep the organization running, and remain in touch with each other. That. It’s been cool.

LaRonda: Where did you fly from?

David: I flew from Detroit. Well actually, I drove there from Windsor Canada, which is only like 30 minutes from the Detroit airport over the Canadian boarder. I flew here from Detroit. Really, it’s half-way like I came in from America, but really, I’m came from Canada.

LaRonda: Welcome to my neighborhood. I live maybe 3 blocks, or maybe a few more over.

David: Oh wow. So that’s your house down there? LOL Wow. (waves)

LaRonda: (laughing - hand waves) Hey, there’s more people here! There is someone behind the camera. Look, look , look! (turns cam around)

Mike: Hello. Hello. (Thumbs up) I’m happy to be here. I’m here to support DBC and Deaf language for Deaf babies. It’s important to support early language acquisition. That’s why I’m here, to support their fundraising efforts. Hey, let you know that there’s another vlogger sitting right over here next to me. There, there, there. (pointing)

Don: (Waving)

LaRonda: (waves) Hey, it’s Dr. Don! Whoo! Hello and welcome! Why are you here tonight?

Don: (fumbling with words) Well….(smiling and stunned)… wh…why not?!

LaRonda: (nodding and laughing) Why not?!

Don: (looking for words…) Of course. I feel I MUST be here. DBC cherishes ASL for Deaf children, for Deaf babies, and their rights to language. How could I miss it?! How? (shaking head)

LaRonda: You feel it’s impossible.

Don: I’m here to give my support.

LaRonda: (Hand waves) Yeah! There are other vloggers here too. Look, look, look! (Turns cam)

(Cam shows John Egbert, Ella Lentz and Richard Ray)

Richard to John: You doing good?

John: (nods yes)

Richard: Keep it up. I’m proud of what you are doing. Yeah!

John: What “WE” are doing.

Richard: Good. Yes. Wonderful.

Olaf: Hi. My name is Olaf Attletweed. I’m here because my Deaf parents were b oth very involved in CAD meetings. Secondly, this afternoon at the Deaf school, there was an EDHL(?) meeting, along with some other educational meetings. One of the educators spoke about something my father fully supported - ASL. He fully supported ASL rather than the use of SEE signs. He wanted to toss that out if we are to develop a better future and correct use of American Sign Language. Children should be encouraged to learn ASL at an early age. We need to promote early language so that they have a better future. That is my hope, and that’s what CAD does. They keep ASL going, which is good.

Victor: Eh…. I’m camera shy…. ok… Hello. I’m Victor from Palm Springs. I came for the CAD meeting. At the same time, I heard that DBC was hosting a party. So I thought, why not come and support their philosophy! I’m supportive of the philosophy to give our Deaf children the future! And this, we must remember: with ASL, our Deaf children will become our future leaders! So, why don’t we come and support DBC!

LaRonda: Guess what?! The Deaf world is truly small. Guess who is here? My ASL teacher from waaaaay back - Mel Carter.

Mel: I’m so surprised that she remembered her teacher. I thought she would probably forget.

LaRonda: I recently made a vlog talking about how I chose ASL as my “human technology” rather than Cochlear Implants or hearing aids. I chose ASL and it’s his f ault. He is responsible for that. He gave me a love for ASL. You probably don’t get to hear that from your old students.

Mel: I don’t “hear” it. I “see” it. Seriously, I hope that I will see that love and passion for ASL continue to spread all over the world. (Hand waves) It’s so exciting.

LaRonda: I have chills right now. It’s like standing next to a movie star. He’s in the book! Mel’s in the book! (ASL book) (Exchange Hugs and kisses) Whoo!

Mel: It’s a wonderful treat for me to remember students from long ago. I really don’t remember all of them from over time. I don’t want to be viewed as responsible for their success. It’s not my success. It’ their success. And you have succeeded. Wonderful. Congratulations!

LaRonda: Well, yes, but you were an inspiration. You inspired me.

Mel: Thank you.

LaRonda: Why are you here, tonight, Mel?

Mel: I’m here tonight because I really want to support the connection between CAD and DBC. It’s a social and friendly time here in the Deaf community. We have the opportunity to gather here together tonight and mingle. I see all the hard work people in DBC are doing and their impact on Deaf children. As children grow and thrive, they will know it was DBC who worked hard to give them that foundation. So I want to be here and to congratulate those people. That9s why I’m here.

LaRonda: (Hand waves and Hugs) That’s great!

LaRonda: Hello, Ms. Ella! How are you tonight?

Ella: Fine, but cold!

LaRonda: Yes, frozen fingers. Why are you here tonight?

Ella: I’m here to celebrate a gathering of people. Really, this is a fundraiser for DBC and CAD combined. The proceeds will be split between the two groups. This afternoon, those people who work for DBC had a retreat to plan out the year ahead. It worked out wonderfully. We nabbed the people who were there working along with CAD’s board and discussed the upcoming plans for the conference in August, in Clovis. Please come. We’re calling it 20/20, which means we will be focusing on our clear vision for the years ahead. We will talk about how we will structure CAD, how we make decisions, and so on.

LaRonda: Only CAD or DBC too?

Ella: Well today… we had both groups at the same time this weekend. Today, I was involved with CAD. Yesterday, I was involved with DBC all day. It’s been a busy weekend. Plus we had the Hoy baseball tournament.

LaRonda: I heard about that.

Ella: We took the opportunity to share information with those who attended to come here tonight to mingle.

LaRonda: I’ll let you know, I grew up in Fresno and Clovis, so I know where Clovis is. I’m willing to drive people around as I know the area well.

Ella: Farout. Are you a volunteer with CAD?

LaRonda: Yes, for CAD.

Ella: Have you let them know you’re willing to volunteer?

LaRonda: I just finished talking with Judy.

Ella: Wonderful! Cool!

LaRonda: I want to participate.

Ella: Thumbs up! (Hugs)

Barb: I’m not going to tell you the story. You watch and figure it out. I hope to collect feedback and to help raise funds for tonight… (Shows the DVD: The Red Riding Deafhood. People watch…)

John: They were recently having a discussion about what’s going on about Deaf babies. They are learning education from the mouth and education from the ear before they are learning education from the mind. It’s the mind that will teach the baby anything. But it seems the focus is still on speech and hearing. I’m not against speech. Learning it is good, but it seems people are still trying to get the horse before the cart. Something like that.

Tara: (Transcription unclear…) They are not horrible people, but they don’t get it. The presenter didn’t know. He asked me, “You sign? But how? You sign a little bit? Can they get along in the real world? You mean kids can understand ASL?”

Rory: But you know many of those teachers…. It’s really interesting. I find it fascinating… Do they raise children with exposure to Deaf role models? Have those teachers20themselves been exposed to Deaf role models?

Tara: I wonder if anyone has ever asked them if they had Deaf mentors? A Deaf person who uses ASL? Deaf person to volunteer with students in class?

Rory: Or even oral Deaf. Have they? No, they haven’t. That’s my whole point. Even the oral Deaf are not represented. So…. we find so few. Not many.

Daniel: Come on. Show it!

Collin: I’m shy! No, no, no!

Daniel: (unzips Collin’s sweatshirt to reveal “I love ASL”) Ta-da!

Collin: I’m so proud! (And I have come out!) (Both laughing)

Tanja, Steve and Mike: (Doing a German robot dance with their beers)

Tanja: D.B.C.! Yeah!

Mike: Right. Ahhhh….

Steve: Tonight, after we have finished the Hoy Tournament, we have all gathered here at David Reynold’s home. The purpose of this even tonight is to collect and donate money to help support DBC. They have just shown a film called The Red Riding Deafhood. It’s a short 18 minute film…

Tanja and Mike: It’s cute. It’s good.

Steve: … a children’s story.

Tanja: It’s a wonderful movie. I encourage you to watch it. It’s really heartwarming.

Steve: It’s a thumbs up.

Tanja: It has hidden meaning behind the story. Very cool!

Steve: Yes, that.

Mike: It8 0s really cool.

Tanja: You know, all over the world, we cherish Deaf kids. And we cherish ASL. We encourage using it. We do not take it from them. It’s precious throughout the world.

Steve: We are not against the use of Cochlear Implants either. But we still encourage them to learn and use ASL. We want to see ASL involved with children who use Cochlear Implants. We want to promote that, but we are not against Cochlear Implants. That’s what it’s all about.

Mike: Yes, and ASL helps with speech training. You can learn speech through using ASL. A child can pick it up. It’s interesting.

Steve: That.

Mike, Steve and Tanja: (Cheers)