Discovering Deaf Worlds January 2016 Newsletter, vol. 9, issue 2

January 2016 Volume 9, Issue 2

DDW Vice President Dr. Khadijat Rashid waves her hands in celebration and gratitude at DDW’s first annual Washington D.C. Gala

www.discoveringdeafworlds.org

President’s Note: Shane H. Feldman

Board Members President Shane Feldman Vice President Khadijat Rashid, Ph.D. Treasurer Michael Servé Secretary Mencie Hairston Donalda Ammons, Ph.D. Carol-lee Aquiline Alim Chandani, Ph.D. Erin Moriarty Harrelson Bryan Hensel Joseph Hill, Ph.D. Marty Hiller Kimberly Kurz, Ph.D. Poorna Kushalnagar, Ph.D. Stacey Miller Madan Vasishta, Ph.D. Staff Executive Director Davin Searls International Programs Director and Co-Founder David Justice

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About DDW

Discovering Deaf Worlds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the selfdetermination of signing Deaf communities through local capacity building in developing countries.

DDW recognizes that all people, regardless of their social or economic background, possess the capacity to succeed, and deserve equal access to education, the workplace, and the benefits that society has to offer. For more information, visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.org.

2015 was an extraordinarily successful year for DDW. The key people driving this success were our volunteers on the board, committees, and DDW project members. Two remarkable individuals, Davin Searls and David Justice, are the torchbearers of the DDW vision: to enable organizations in developing countries to attain what Davin Searls (left) and David Justice World Federation of the prepare for a program in Manila.

Deaf President Colin Allen calls the “basic factors for human rights for Deaf people,” including “accessibility, sign language interpretation, bilingual education and sign language.”

Davin and David, who some endearingly call “D&D,” are an amazing team who appear to move together in perfect harmony. They have the Midas touch in every effort DDW has undertaken. What they touch does not necessarily turn into gold, but rather something more valuable: they create a sense of belonging, community, collaboration, and shared vision.

We are incredibly grateful to have not only forward-looking leaders, but also highly respected international development professionals who have humbly served in our worldwide community.

While DDW has focused on organizational development in the Philippines this year, success lies in our ability to build the individual, who in turn becomes a stronger contributor to his/her organizations. Albert Einstein said, “All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.” DDW has created a program model that respects the culture, language, and community of the country it supports, embraces individual leaders, and provides the necessary sustenance for prosperity.

The DDW board focused on significant activities and laid the groundwork for future initiatives this year. One example of this groundwork was the first DDW Gala event held in Washington, D.C., accompanied by the DDW board meeting. This brought us to the nation’s capital, a vital hub of international development activity, which then brought greater visibility for the organization. Among the comments shared at the gala were, “I’ve been looking for a way to support Deaf people in developing countries in a manner that respects their culture and language, and never knew about DDW before. What an incredible organization!” and “DDW did all of that in the last six years? Wow!” I welcome our new D.C. supporters and look forward to engaging them in DDW’s future endeavors throughout the world.

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First National Forum on Deaf Leadership in the Philippines

By Raphael Domingo

Prior to the forum, PFDSSC members drafted I have been involved and revised presentations in the Philippine Federaand practiced a couple tion of the Deaf’s (PFD) times with feedback from since its establishment in DDW’s Davin Searls and 1997. After my 2003 term, David Justice. It was the PFD board members confirst time I created my own vinced me to continue outlines instead of simply running the organization. using past presenter and I volunteered, often worktrainer slides. ing alone, for seven years, As fellow PFD-SSC and then for the first time member Patrick Ablaza I received a modest salary and I started our four-hour Raphy Domingo assists participants during through a four-year sponpresentation on financial a Financial Management workshop activity. sored project. I sometimes management, I was worfelt frustrated because ried about how I could some board members and make the participants inthe Filipino Deaf community were not helping with terested in financial management, which I thought PFD. Where was all the leadership and support? many considered a boring subject. They were much Now I look around and see a growing number of more eager to learn than I expected, much to my reDeaf Filipino leaders, and feel my commitment to PFD lief. The next morning, PFD-SSC member Jet Romo has paid off. I am so grateful for this, despite the initial presented our outreach, marketing and public relalack of organizational sustainability. I want to extend tions session. Before the forum, he was anxious and my warmest gratitude to DDW for its worthy partnership with PFD. Truthfully, I thought that DDW might be like everyone else coming here: giving leadership training, and then leaving. I thought DDW might get frustrated with us for being too slow in moving forward with PFD’s work. At one point, I told DDW that the best thing that could happen would be to find any means for PFD to manage itself on its own without assistance from outsiders. DDW and PFD then discussed a partnership that would help get PFD to that place.

After years of working together under various grants and organizational development training, the PFD-Sustainability Sub-Committee (PFD-SSC) and DDW hosted the National Forum on Deaf Leadership (NFDL) at the Pearl Manila Hotel in Manila last October. The event had 42 Deaf leaders (20 men, 22 women) from 25 PFD member organizations participating. Each representative chose one session to participate in each morning and afternoon. After each workshop, the two representatives from each member organization exchanged information. The forum was an important opportunity for them, to improve their organizations and realistically apply what they had learned. I had never seen anything like this before. It was so interesting.

Ronald & Catherine Hirano

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asked me to practice his prenity workshops. Some sentation with him for sevparticipants asked for a eral nights. When it was time second National Forum to present, his presentation on Deaf Leadership bewent well without any assiscause they wanted to tance from me. I believe this is learn even more about due to everything he learned each topic. This alone from the EXPAND program proved that the forum training. was a meaningful and I saw the same confidence fruitful event. in Patrick during our finanA few weeks latcial management workshop. er, some participants Patrick easily answered quesposted pictures on DDW and PFD prepare for the National Forum on tions, such as “If there is no Facebook and I was Deaf Leadership, held in October 2015. receipt number, what will we pleased to see that do?” There were many immany participants did portant questions and good follow through with points that we had not considered. We learned from their financial management and fund development the participants, and will apply that knowledge in op- sessions. As an organization in a developing country, erating PFD. During the group activity, the participants proper financial management is important in order to also shared feedback. secure and maintain funds for sustainability.

PFD-SSC members did an excellent job presentI can see that the forum participants and PFD are ing and working together at the forum. I was also im- ready to fight for equality with confidence, thanks to pressed by how the participants kept asking questions the EXPAND Program and the forum. I have worked even after a full day and evening of workshops. Some with DDW and PFD-SSC since the beginning of their participants even came to our hotel rooms after dinner partnership; not only did DDW do a wonderful job in to further clarify information. They put their full trust process consultation, but DDW also showed much in our capabilities as facilitators. In fact, we chuckled patience with us. Many thanks to DDW, the U.S. Debecause these participants reminded us of how we partment of State, USAID for making these projects were when DDW program specialists came to train us. possible.

It was a wonderful experience and challenge for us.

Mabuhay!

As I stood in front of the participants, guests, and sponsors, sharing my closing message at the forum, I More about the DDW’s EXPAND program can be congratulated them on becoming a part of PFD-SSC found at www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/programs/ and preparing to serve as facilitators for their commu- usaid-expand-program.

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Remarks by the Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. at the DDW Gala On Nov. 7, 2015, Philippine Ambassador to the United States H.E. José L. Cuisia, Jr. delivered a heartwarming message at DDW’s Gala.

I am very pleased and honored to have had the opportunity to join the first Gala of Discovering Deaf Worlds in Washington, D.C. I would like to give special thanks to the Board of Directors, particularly to Mr. Shane Feldman and Ms. Mencie Hairston, who has been a reliable partner of the Philippine Embassy for the past several years. For those of you who may not know, Mencie is one of the pillars of the Filipino community in this part of the United States. Her organization, Mabuhay Inc., is one of the major FilipinoAmerican groups based in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Through Mabuhay, Inc., Philippine culture and heritage continues to flourish within the FilipinoAmerican community.

Mencie champions a number of advocacies but none as passionately as she does for the welfare of the Deaf community. In the Philippines, great strides have been made to ensure the full participation and equality of rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities, including the deaf. Firm in its belief that persons with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else, the Philippine government strives to remove all barriers that are prejudicial to people with disabilities (PWD) with the end view towards integrating them into the mainstream of society. The passportprocessing office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila, for example, has instituted a policy of giving employment opportunities to the Deaf. It is a policy that is paying dividends as our Deaf colleagues have proven to be among the most competent and hardworking employees of the DFA. Their determination, integrity and commitment to public service continue to inspire the rest of us to demonstrate the same level of dedication to our duties.

Notwithstanding our current efforts, we recognize that more needs to be done to uplift the quality of life of the Filipino Deaf community. This is why the government attaches great importance to partnerships with the private sector and NGOs in promoting the welfare of our Deaf brothers and sisters. I am grateful to DDW for undertaking capacity-building projects in the Philippines, in direct partnership with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf. Through various trainings and seminars, DDW has given over 900 Deaf Filipinos the tools and skills necessary for them to access educational and job opportunities. DDW essentially helps our Deaf kababayan to be self-reliant and become

(L-R): DDW’s David Justice, Philippines Ambassador H.E. José L. Cuisia, Jr., DDW Board Member Mencie Hairston, and DDW’s Davin Searls. empowered members of the Filipino citizenry.

In mid-November the Philippines hosted a series of high level meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). APEC is the premier economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region, composed of 21 member-economies, including the major ones such as the United States, China and Russia. Under the Philippine chairmanship, the theme of this year’s APEC is “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” The key word here is “inclusive.” Growth and development, to have any meaning at all, must be felt by everybody in the economy. Everyone should reap the benefits of progress regardless of class, ethnicity and race, religion, gender, and abilities. As the Asia-Pacific region becomes the new engine of global growth, the economies within are becoming increasingly aware of the need to include every segment of society, including the PWD sector. Let me assure you that the Philippines is determined to lead this effort without reservation and with the highest degree of commitment.

In closing, I would like to extend my congratulations to Discovering Deaf Worlds on its success. I wish you all the best going forward and hope that you will continue with your noble mission. May you all be friends and partners of the Philippines for many years to come. Maraming salamat at mabuhay.

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”

– Margaret Fuller January 2016

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The Year i

Members of the Deaf Association of Iliolo after a community as part of the EXPAND pr Top to bottom: A roadmap exercise led by DDW Program Specialists Dr. Alim Chandani and Allie Rice during an EXPAND training on program development in February; PUSH Physical Theatre performed at DDW’s 5th Annual Rochester Benefit in April, attended by 350 guests; DDW board member and strategic planning committee chair Marty Hiller leads the board through a goal prioritization exercise at the annual board meeting in April; Davin Searls joins World Federation of the Deaf members and Judy Heumann, U.S. Department of State Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, during the opening ceremony of the 8th Session of the Conference on States Parties to the UNCRPD in New York City in May; Lizzie Sorkin and Debbye Byrne celebrate with DDW and PFD members after a successful day of training on public relations, outreach, and marketing in May.

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in Photos

y workshop hosted by Filipino Deaf community leaders rogram in December Top to bottom: DDW President Shane Feldman poses with conference attendees at the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters in Istanbul, Turkey in July; DDW and PFD-SSC have worked closely together for four years, which culminated with the National Forum on Deaf Leadership in Manila in October; USAID EXPAND Grants Officer Nancy Ebuenga with Maria Jera D. Lepatan from Cebu during the closing ceremony of the National Forum; Leah Maxson, USAID Democracy Fellow, delivered the keynote address at DDW’s inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C. in November.

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Ernie & Mencie Hairston

“It may seem naively idealistic, but I know that as long as we can imagine a better tomorrow, we can work towards a better tomorrow.

Such idealism has seeded the world with some of its greatest accomplishments and social institutions. I can change my own life and practices to make these ideals live in what I do in my life today.”

— James Orbinski 8

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DDW Board of Directors, Staff, and Program Specialists at the inaugural DC Gala last November.

Continued from page 2

The birth of the D.C. gala idea originated during the spring DDW board meeting. One individual deserving of recognition is the exceptional board member and volunteer leader, Dr. Alim Chandani, along with his committee. His committee, who included Kris Pumphrey, Derrick Behm, Smitha Hanumantha, Allie Rice, and Andrew St. Cyr, along with many other volunteers, did a phenomenal job in an incredibly short period of time. Gratitude goes to them for their time, commitment and support.

The Rochester community was the incubator for DDW, and continues to serve as the roots that drive DDW’s growth. The support from Rochester-area donors, leaders and volunteers are the key to our upward trajectory, and we look forward to continuing this relationship.

Our foray into a different locale for our gala and board meeting is the precursor to a future goal, to become a truly international organization comprised of leaders who reflect the values established by our organization. DDW board meetings would then be held in the developing countries that we serve. These diverse staff, board members, and volunteers will carry out the vision for a world where Deaf people in developing countries are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to attain their human rights through their respective national and local organizations.

Our board has only begun this dialogue to lay the groundwork for this future. We need your continued support, so here’s how you can help: 1) continue to tell others about DDW, 2) share any grant or funding opportunities that fit the organization’s mission, and 3) where possible, give with your time or funds.

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

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FU N DR A

ISIN

G

CallingGall OA interpreters and ASL teachers!

L

Want to make a difference in Deaf communities worldwide?

Here’s how: Host a workshop in your town

1 2 3

Attendees can earn CEUs!

Collect tax-exempt donations for DDW from attendees in lieu of registration fees

FUNDRAISING GOAL

50 STATE CHALLENGE F U ND

OAL GG N I R A IS

Make a difference in the world!

Challenge someone you know in another state to do the same Double your impact!

$500 - $1,000 per workshop for a total of $25,000 nationwide!

All proceeds will go to DDW’s organizational development projects in partnership with Deaf associations in developing countries.

www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/support/50-state-fundraising-challenge 10

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Joseph Neale & Marcy Oppenheimer

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Shout-outs The following champion supporters to DDW this past quarter are recognized for their confidence in our team! Thank you!

Dr. Donalda Ammons & Dr. Diane Morton Dr. Scot and Sally Atkins Jarlath Bloom Dr. Gerard and Judy Buckley Shane Feldman Dr. Betsy Finigan Erin Finton Donald Galloway Melissa Echo Greenlee and Benjamin Abrams Mary Gulick Ernie and Mencie Hairston Erin Moriarty Harrelson and Paul Harrelson Ronald and Catherine Hirano

William Hayes Marty and Karen Hiller Greg and Charmaine Hlibok Carl and Michelle Justice Maria Justice Raymond Justice Dr. Poorna and Dr. Raja Kushalnagar Beverly and Wayne LeChase Gaurav Mathur Brian Milburn and Sheena Stuart Dr. Harold and Mary Mowl Catherine O’Brien Caroline Pezzarossi Katherine Putnam Miako Rankin Susan Rizzo Howard Rosenblum Tracey Salaway Dr. J. Matt and Susan C. Searls Michael and Barbara Serve

Jutta and Joe Stuart Dr. Ted Supalla and Elissa Newport Robert Tobin Chris and Staci Wagner Robert Weinstock Wendy Wiatrowski Special thanks also go to our phenomenal interpreting team at the D.C. Gala, all of whom donated their time and services to provide accessibility for the evening: Miako Rankin (coordinator) Krystin Balzarini Sheila Jackson Mary Beth Morgan Corrie Pond Stephanie Sforza Jennifer Wagner

6 Benefit th ANNUAL

ROCHESTER N.Y.

SAVE THE DATE FRIDAY APRIL 15th, 2016 EAT

DRINK

NETWORK

LEARN

BE ENTERTAINED

www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/support/annual-benefit 12

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