Discovering Deaf Worlds March 2015 Newsletter, vol. 8, issue 3

MARCH 2015 Volume 8, IsSue 3

Rowella Tanjusay, a member of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Sustainability Sub-Committee, pitches a three- week Deaf awareness program during a DDW training on program development and evaluation. photo credit: Alim Chandani

www.discoveringdeafworlds.org

Celebrating 5 years as a nonprofit organization

Board Members President Shane Feldman Vice President Khadijat Rashid, Ph.D. Treasurer Michael Servé Secretary Mencie Hairston Donalda Ammons, Ph.D. Carol-lee Aquiline Jim DeCaro, Ph.D. Bryan Hensel Marty Hiller Kimberly Kurz, Ph.D. Stacey Miller Howard Mowl, Jr., Ph.D. Michael Schwartz, Ph.D. Denise Thew, Ph.D. Madan Vasishta, Ph.D. Staff Executive Director Davin Searls International Programs Director and Co-Founder David Justice

Newsletter Services T.S. Writing Services www.tswriting.com

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.

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DDW and PFD MEMBERS participate in a capacity-building training during the USAID-funded EXPAND program last February.

On Nov. 5, 2009, we received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating that DDW was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Having recently celebrated DDW’s five-year mark, we would like to take a moment to reflect on some of DDW’s accomplishments as we enter the next growth phase for the organization.

In the past five years with many thanks to our partners, sponsors, families, friends, colleagues, board, staff, volunteers, and all of you who are subscribed to this newsletter, DDW has: • Secured multi-year grants from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) to provide crosscultural capacity building programs between Deaf advocacy leaders in the United States and Philippines.

• Visited the Philippines five times through the USAID/Philippines EXPAND program (2013-2015).

— Trained over 400 Deaf Filipinos on organizational development skills including data collection, strategic planning, financial management, fund development, organizational governance, disability law, and program development and evaluation.

— Strengthened 34 Deaf advocacy organizations to operate more effectively and become more sustainable.

— Assisted over 2,000 Deaf Filipinos in 24 follow-up trainings via DDW’s “train-the-trainer” model.

— Consulted the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) on creating infrastructure and policies critical to the long-term sustainability of their organization.

• Through the Department of State EMPOWER program (2012-2014): — Engaged over 500 youth, organizational officers, community members, government officials, and educators through capacity-building workshops, networking events, and site visits.

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President’s Note: Shane H. Feldman This month we thank four DDW board members who have concluded their service as officers of the organization: President Harold Mowl, Jr., Vice President Jim DeCaro, Treasurer Bryan Hensel, and Secretary Stacey Miller. We are grateful for their six years of invaluable dedication.

The board recently elected new officers, and I am honored and humbled to serve as president, with fellow officers Vice President Khadijat Rashid, Treasurer Michael Servé, and Secretary Mencie Hairston.

The DDW mission addresses challenges Deaf communities face in developing countries by providing tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their organizations. I firmly believe, as does DDW, that lasting change is best achieved through systematic change. Through DDW’s collaborative approach with organizations, these organizations are equipped with the right tools to advocate for equal access to information, communication and education.

In March 2014, I had the privilege of serving as a trainer in the Philippines as part of the USAID/EXPAND program. It was a unique opportunity to witness the impact of DDW’s services on the organizational development of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD). My conversations with each PFD member in the core training group revealed the deep and significant impact that DDW had upon them. They shared how the training not only provided new skills, but also bolstered their confidence in their ability to lead and train others to lead. DDW makes a world of a difference for the communities it serves.

We aspire to replicate this DDW training model in other countries DDW is invited to, in order to strengthen organizations and build their capacities to serve their respective Deaf communities. We envision a truly international organization governed and run

Incoming DDW Board President Shane Feldman poses with members Of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf and De la Salle College of Saint Benilde. by experienced, passionate individuals who hail from different countries and backgrounds. Together the wealth of their diversity can create a unique, collective knowledge of organizational development from the perspective of different countries and systems.

Joe Gerstandt, a nationally-known speaker on diversity and inclusion, said, “Decisions are a window to an organization’s values.” DDW’s values: collaboration with native organizations; respect for indigenous languages; belief that all Deaf people, regardless of their background, possess the capacity to succeed; and unyielding support for the U.N. and World Federation of the Deaf guidelines on development activities define our unique philosophy. The incredibly talented DDW board and staff are committed to making decisions that uphold our values, and are grateful to partner with you to raise the collective rights of Deaf community throughout the world.

“What I’ve experienced is that I can’t know the future. I can’t know if anything that I do will change what happens tomorrow. I can’t know with certainty, but what I do know is if I do nothing, nothing will change.”

– James Orbinski March 2015

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PFD in motion:

Defining, building, and measuring future programs

PURPOSE

By Allie Rice and Alim Chandani

What’s next? The question posed by the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Sustainability Sub-Committee (PFD-SSC) proved to be simple but significant.

For two weeks in February in Manila, Philippines, under the USAID-funded EXPAND program, the PFD-SSC leaders entered the Phase IV capacity-building training and continued their leadership and advocacy work shaping their organization. Along with DDW Executive Director Davin Searls and DDW Program Director David Justice, the two of us, Program Specialists Allie Rice and Alim Chandani, created, collaborated, and facilitated a myriad of workshops, discussions, and hands-on activities on program development and evaluation, including program budget. As reflected by countless and colorful sticky notes during the training, the experience turned out to be inspiring and valuable.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Having a compelling vision describes where you want to go. Also, within an organization, a vision drives positive change. During the first part of the training, we provided a series of three workshops called “Organizational Agility: Purpose and Direction.” Before the workshops, we introduced “Bago Planeta” (“New Planet” in Tagalog), a fun, two-hour activity, to the Filipino leaders. The activity consisted of three groups; each group focused on building its own imaginary country, choosing a name, designing a flag, and choosing a form of government. During the process, we interrupted the groups and shared different scenarios and tasks with them, and they had to come up with solutions.

This activity led the Filipino leaders to understand the important components of describing and developing a program. Using various examples, real-life stories, and quick exercises, the workshops guided the leaders through the steps of analyzing the PFD’s priorities, aligning proposed program goals with the PFD’s mission, vision, and values, and carrying out effective action plans in implementing future programs.

Every program has a structure. Through another activity, “Daan Mapa” (“Road Map” in Tagalog), the Filipino leaders were assigned to create two different kinds of visual road maps, designed to examine key issues, desired outcomes and potential challenges of a program. It provided an opportunity for the Filipino leaders to identify detailed plans for strong and sustainable programs.

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PROGRAM BUDGET An organization has its own budget. A program also has its own budget. Davin and David coordinated several workshops sharing important strategies to create a program budget.

In accordance with the program proposals in the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Bill and Interpreting Standards and Ethics, the Filipino leaders participated in an activity to develop a budget document that included both revenue and expense sections for each proposed program. Also, the leaders brainstormed a list of program-related expenses and income resources. Towards the end of this training, with some support from us, the leaders turned into trained experts on determining cost share, maintaining records on revenues and expenses, monitoring the use of funds, and analyzing program budget variances.

PROGRAM EVALUATION What is evaluation? And why do it?

Both questions were asked and discussed during the second part of the training. Two workshops focused on exploring the tools of program evaluation and understanding the importance of program impact among the PFD and the deaf and hard of hearing Filipino population, as well as the greater community.

To maintain a successful program, it is crucial to evaluate what happens within a program, seek ways to take further action, and ensure that it continues to make an impact. After completing program proposals derived from the road maps, the Filipino leaders divided into two groups and learned to develop short-term, midterm, and long-term evaluation plans, formed different evaluation approaches such as questionnaires and focus groups, and identified important elements to include in evaluation reports.

REFLECTIONS With plenty of sticky notes, markers, and brainstorming, the PFD-SSC made tremendous progress. We were inspired on every level. The Filipino leaders taught them some FSL, shared interesting customs and stories about Filipino culture, and discussed a wide range of deaf-related issues in the Philippines. We focused mostly on hands-on activities, supporting the “how-to-do-it� approach. The leaders felt enriched as a result of the hands-on learning. Through these interactions, the bonds made it all worthwhile.

We are determined that the PFD will become a stronger organization in promoting equal access for deaf and hard of hearing Filipinos, as well as maintaining the connection with the greater community.

We are honored to be part of DDW during this training program, seeing firsthand the impact upon Filipino Deaf people.

Thank you, DDW, for continuing to change the world for the better.

PHASE IV PROGRAM SPECIALISTS Allie Rice is the National Association of the Deaf Youth Programs Coordinator.

Alim Chandani is the Student Success Specialist and adjunct faculty for General Studies at Gallaudet University.

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ANNUAL BENEFIT

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015 6:00pm – 9:00pm

TICKETS

LOCATION

$50 general $40 students

Harro East Ballroom

hors d’oeuvres and one free cocktail included

155 North Chestnut St. Rochester, NY 14604

PERFORMANCE

www.pushtheatre.org

www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/support/annual-benefit

National Women’s History Month: Spotlight on Yvette Apurado-B In honor of National Women’s History Month, DDW is proud to spotlight a remarkable woman who has worked with DDW since 2012, Yvette Apurado-B. A native of Bocolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, Yvette was born Deaf. Vice president of both the Philippine Sports Federation of the Deaf and the Filipino Deaf Women’s Health and Crisis Center, she is also an active member of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf’s Sustainability Sub-Committee, and has served as DDW’s Filipino Program Manager for the U.S. Department of State and USAID/Philippines grants since 2012.

Yvette formerly served as a consultant on Filipino Sign Language and as an assistant researcher at the Philippine Deaf Resource CenYvette Apurado-B. leads a discussion ter. She is on the executive board and works as a Deaf Relay Inwith DDW and PFD members. terpreter for the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters, is on the core team of the Philippine Coalition on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and is also on the Deaf Education Council.

Clearly, Yvette wears many hats and has been a strong advocate for the Deaf community. She has made great strides in furthering development, understanding, and equal treatment and opportunity for Deaf Filipinos.

Join DDW in celebrating the determination, strength, and influence of this very important woman who, in spite of all her success, remains humble and charitable. Thanks, Yvette!

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Preserving indigenous sign languages in the Pacific Islands In the Solomon Islands, there are 71 spoken languages, which can often pose a challenge for locals. “However, this has also worked to the advantage of the deaf community,” says Deaf New Zealand filmmaker Brent MacPherson, “because it is common for islanders to use gestures when speaking to people from different language groups.”

MacPherson founded the New Zealand Deaf Short Film Festival, and travelled around the world to watch films produced by Deaf filmmakers. He established NOEL FAARODO, A DEAF SOLOMON ISLANDER, IS IN TRADITIONAL DANCE COSTUME a production company, Stretch Production, in 2007. Stretch ProAS HE CHATS WITH NEW ZEALAND FILMMAKER BRENT MACPHERSON. ductions investigates, documents and celebrates diversity in all its now, and each time I visit it’s heartening to see many forms. Stretch Productions works with indithese deaf people become students who grow and viduals and groups of different races, nationalities, prosper by learning a new language.” and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, and ages MacPherson’s goal is to bring attention to the and genders. Perhaps more importantly, the comchallenges related to sign language preservation pany works respectfully to “tell stories that need and accessibility facing Deaf people in the Pacific and want to be told.”

Islands, and share this with local government agenMacPherson’s latest project, The Forgotten Peocies. By raising awareness, he hopes the governple, is about deaf people from the Solomon Islands ments of these nations will support the recruitment and their unique social dynamics and language deand training of qualified teachers for deaf students velopment. Stretch Productions is in the pre-proand equal access to language and culture. He also duction stage to film indigenous Deaf people from hopes to see the development of a sign language Papua, New Guinea, and possibly Australia, and the dictionary to help preserve their language. challenges they face to preserve their indigenous Sign language imperialism is a very real concern sign languages. that has resulted in the eradication or alteration of “Indigenous languages and traditional dances indigenous sign languages around the globe. DDW are critical to Deaf culture and identity, as well as shares Stretch Production’s value to preserve loto the traditional values and beliefs associated with cal and indigenous sign languages, and applauds their local villages,” says MacPherson. Despite MacPherson’s pro-active approach to raise awarethe extreme poverty in the Solomon Islands, the ness on these issues. For more information, visit Deaf community remains cheerful due to their abilwww.stretchproductions.co.nz. ity to communicate in Solomon Islands Sign Language. “Many deaf people first arrive at the village Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/deafwith very little language,” MacPherson continues. communities-pacific-face-language-challenges/ “but I’ve been to the Solomon Islands four times 6007190

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Shout-outs Mirana Medina and Crew: Thank you for the important work you do. It is our honor to have your help in creating the EXPAND documentary on PFD, DDW, and USAID. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to work with you.

Noemi Adela M. Paminutuan-Jara and Engr. Emer Rojas: A million thanks for your time, talent, and insight during our program development and evaluation panel in Manila last February. You are appreciated!

Alim Chandani and Allie Rice: Two superstars creating one dynamic duo. It was a pleasure to work with you and learn from you during Phase IV! Noemi and George Villaruz, Diana Ross C. Nono, and Cristina L. Villaruz : You have gone above and beyond with your leadership, guidance and mentoring

for DDW and PFD on financial management policy and bookkeeping. Thank you for all that you do.

Jose E. Sales: You have been working hard these past few months, and made tremendous progress for the Philippine Federation of the Deaf. We are all grateful for your service and commitment!

DDW’s 2015 Volunteer Event Committee ( Jamie Munro, Adrianna Smart, Bill and Kim Keenan, Susan Rizzo, Scot and Sally Atkins, Brian Milburn, Sheena Stuart, Wendy Dannels, Erin Finton, Tate DeCaro, Adam Nadolski, Shannon Connell, Sarah Gordon, Kimberly Persky, Maria Nikolau, Frank Kruppenbacher, Brian Plath, Danielle Strom and Sarah McCormick): You are all amazing individuals. Thank you for making the time to support this organization. Simply put: the show could not go on without you!

to perform at

DDW’s 5th Annual Benefit April 17, 2015 Rochester, NY Don’t miss it! Purchase tickets today! www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/forms/benefit4

www.pushtheatre.org March 2015

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Celebrating 5 years Continued from page 2

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— Hosted 11 Filipinos for a three-week cross-cultural exchange, visiting over 20 institutions and meeting with over 50 professionals in organizational development tools.

— Led a delegation of 11 Americans to the Philippines for three weeks to meet with government officials, Deaf advocacy organizations, and the U.S. Embassy, and facilitated seven capacity-building sessions with the PFD .

Provided needs assessment and facilitated capacity-building sessions with the Siglo 21 Team to promote Deaf rights and accessibility in Costa Rica.

Led three journeys for the public to Costa Rica, Thailand, and Cambodia to connect with and learn about the important work of local Deaf advocacy organizations in those countries.

Connected with over 300 Deaf schools and advocacy organizations from more than 50 countries, creating one of the largest Deaf advocacy networks in the world Created a film, “Discovering: Shuktara” to promote the incredible work of this organization that gives children who have various disabilities and no families a second chance.

— Provided training to 400 Deaf leaders in India at the National Association of the Deaf Grassroots Leadership Conference.

— Delivered over 40 presentations and workshops, reaching thousands of participants, on the diversity of language and culture in international deaf communities, social entrepreneurship, and international development.

— Distributed 41 newsletters with stories and updates from various deaf associations and schools around the world to over 4,000 subscribers worldwide.

— Expanded fundraising base to over 1,020 unique donors, 30 sponsors, and over 1,500 attending DDW benefits.

— Hit 5,000+ Facebook followers.

— Had dedicated members volunteer over 30,000 hours before establishing two full-time staff positions.

— Recruited a diverse group of 15 board members to guide the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision and values, international program development, and fiduciary responsibilities.

Board of Directors, staff, and partners worldwide: thank you for your unconditional support, guidance, and faith in our efforts. Together, one day at a time, one individual at a time, one organization at a time, and one country at a time, we are advocating for equal access to education, employment, and society for our beloved Deaf and hard of hearing friends and colleagues around the globe. With your support, we look forward to what new accomplishments we can attain together. Thank you for believing in us!

– Davin Searls and David Justice

DDW is sponsored by:

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