Interpretation Connection

Timeline of the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C.

Photo story of a volunteer trip to the Iowa School for the Deaf.

Article about the significance of American Sign Language in people’s lifes.

From the editor

Hello! Welcome to the first edition of Interpretations. Interpretations is a magazine with a primary focus of educating and advocating for Deaf culture. In this issue we will be submerging ourselves into Deaf culture and American Sign Language. In Immersed, we plunge ourselves into Deaf Culture in a trip to the Iowa School for the Deaf, ISD, for their Celebration of Deaf Culture. In, [timeline title] we cover the history of Deaf culture and American Sign Language. Lastly, in Why I Sign, we cover what #WhyISign is and why it was created, as well as people’s stories on why they sign.

I started taking American Sign Language in January of 2022, and fell in love with the language, but it’s not just a language… it’s a culture. In the progress of learning ASL, I learned to love and appreciate the culture behind it. The passion for I have for advocating and teaching others about Deaf culture and ASL has become a large part of my life. I am the Communications Director for the Deaf Cultural Experience, a student organization on the University of Northern Iowa. I am also considering going back to school after I graduate to get my Interpreter’s License.

Matilynn Anonson Bodwell

UNI Deaf Cultural Experience is a student organization on UNI’s campus who’s focus is to promote awareness and appreciation for Deaf culture throughout the University of Northern Iowa campus and surrounding community through various activities organized by club members and the faculty advisor.

Deaf Cultural Experience

Facebook: UNI.DCE

Instagram: UNI_DCE

The Brunch Bunch

immersed

A Photo Story by Matilynn Anonson Bodwell

Immersed is a photo story about a trip I took with the other Officers of Deaf Cultural Experience, our teacher and some American Sign Laguage III students, to the Iowa School for the Deaf.

Below: We the 13 of us (only 5 pictured) loaded into our van of Friday March 31st, headed to Council Bluffs, Iowa/ Omaha, Nebraska for the weekend. We are going because we are volunteering at he Iowa School for the Deaf’s Deaf Cultural Celebration. Left to right: Lauren, Ella, Felicity, Madi, Tayllor. Right: Our group of all 13 students and instructors and the Deaf Cultural Celebration on April 1st at the Iowa School for the Deaf. Front Row (left to right): Lauren, Taylor, Kylee, Mati, Madi. Back row (left to right): Bailey, T, Hannah, Jordan, OB, Felicity, Ella, Heidi.

Left: (from left to right) Kylee, Madi, and Taylor eat breckfast on Saturday morning, in our AirBnB, before the day long event.

Above: Friday night afterward arriving to Council Bluffs, Iowa, Taylor does some homework, while T, Bailey, Felicity, and I play Scrabble and others take on dinner duty.

Right: Saturday Morning we load in tho the van to head to the school. Front to back, left to right, Fleicity, Mati, Kylee, Ella, T, and Bailey.

On Saturday, April 1st, we volunteered at the Deaf Cultural Celebration carnival. There were classic carnival games, an obsticle course and a bounce house. Kids earned tickets by playing games and then could use those tickets to earn prizes.

Iowa School for the Deaf is not just a ‘special’ school. It is an extraordinary language and learning environment for children who sign, talk or use nication methods. We welcome children who have cochlear implants, who use no assistive hearing devices. We value our students’ strengths individual learning goals centered around each student’s unique needs. In the right environment, amazing progress is made. Small successes every day, becoming large accomplishments every year. We invite you website and learn how our students thrive in a language-based academic environment.

Far left top: carnival games, face painting, and balloon animals.

Far left bottom: more carnival games and the bounce house.

Left: Mati’s station, skeeball and tic tac toe combination game and the obstical course.

The obtacle course was a huge hit!

extraordinary use both commuimplants, hearing aids, or strengths and design needs.

successes occur you to explore our academic and social

Iowa School for the Deaf

Left: After the carnival, we attended a little theater where the Iowa School or the Deaf had one of their cheerleaders taught the audience a couple of their cheers for their basketball games. The cheerleaders recently were on national news for winning a cheer competition in their division.

Left and Below: Saturday Night we attended a performance at the school. The performance was by a group called Sunshine 2.0. They signed, sand, and danced for the audience sharing motivational songs and statements.

We all took a photo with the crew of Sunshine 2.0. Three of their members are Deaf and one is hearing. Sunshine 2.0 is a professional traveling theater troupe based at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). It travels to public schools, schools for the deaf and hard-of-hearing students, colleges, or civic group venues and offers performances and activities that highlight STEM fields and other educational topics through the arts. Performances are presented in voice and in American Sign Language, are accessible to all audience members, and cover subjects for people of all ages. Contact Sunshine 2.0 to schedule a performance at your location today.

share your story why do you sign?

#WHYISIGN MERCH

United States Tours

All Hands

International Cruise Locations

Deaf President Movement

Deaf President Now was a movement held in Washington D.C. at Gallaudet University. Gallaudet is a University for Deaf and hard of Hearing students where most if not all classes are held in American Sign Language and English. At Gallaudet they serve the community of Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deaf Disabled, Hard of Hearing people, and all of humanity. In this article, you will learn about the Deaf President Now movement and how the student, staff, and faculty fight for their right for education, and for someone who knows their story and can relate to them, through mutual experiences.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Louis Laurent Marie Clerc established the first American school for the Deaf.

Edward Miner Gallaudet, Thomas’ son, establishes a kindergarden through twelfth grade school for the Deaf in Washington D.C.

A collegiate division was added to Gallaudet school for the Deaf.

Timeline by Mati Anonson Bodwell

President Now

1880 1983-1888 1919

At the Milan Conference, after deliberations from September 6 to 11, 1880, the conference declared that oral education (oralism) was superior to manual education and passed a resolution banning the use of sign language in school. This is considered the worst form of audism.

The National Association of the Deaf formed as a retaliation against the Milan Conference.

By now almost all schools for the Deaf used Oral Communication.

The Presidents’ Council on Deafness (PCD) formed by faculty and staff. This was formed because they felt that students’ needs were overlooked by administration, which consisted mostly of hearing people.

Day 2 Search for the new President:

In February 1988 there were three finalists, Dr. I. King Jordan (Deaf), Dr. Elizabeth Zinser (hearing), and Dr. Harvey Corson (Deaf).

Day 1

The Board’s Decision Day (March 6th, 1988): The Board decided to make the seventh president of Gallaudet University, Dr. Elizabeth Zinser (hearing) and the board chairman would be Jane Spilman. The supposed reason for this was because “Deaf people aren’t able to function in a hearing world.”

The Protest begings (March 7th, 1988):

After the new of another hearing president, the students responded by locking down the campus. The blocked the gates with buses that they had hotwired and their own cars, then deflated all of the tires so they could not be moved.

Jane Spilman announces Elizabeth Zinser as the new President of Gallaudet University.

Students make a wall surroundingthe Gallaudet University grounds in protest.

Day 3 Day 4

Tuesday March 8th, 1988: The gates of Gallaudet reopened, but the students all boycotted classes. The protest was named “Deaf President Now!” and that became their rally cry. The Deaf President Now council included students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other advocacy groups.

Wednesday March 9th, 1988:

On this day, Zinser arrived in Washington D.C. and the board urged her to step down, but she refused.

Protestors stand with signs, this sign read the students’ demands.

The Protesters demands are as follows, Zinser must resign and a Deaf President must be selected, Spilman must resign from the board, and the percentage of Deaf members ont the board must increase to at least 51%.

Students, staff and faculty protest outside of Gallaudet University.

Day 5 Day 6

A Day of Reckoning (March 11th, 1988):

Students marched to the capitol in victory, but still three and a half demands needed to be met.

A Day of Reckoning (March 10th, 1988):

Students once again blocked the gates when a rumor was spread that Spilman were going to force their way onto campus.

Jane Spilman announces Elizabeth Zinser as the new President of Gallaudet University.

Students hang their banners on the capitol building in Washington D.C.

Day 7 Day 8

Board makes Announcement (March 13th, 1988):

The board announced that Jane Spilman had resigned as Chair of the Board and was replaced by Philip Bravin (Deaf), a taskforce would be set up to determine the best way to achieve 51% Deaf on the board, there would be no reprisals against the protestors, and Dr. I. King Jordan was named the eighth President and first Deaf President of Gallaudet University.

(March 12th, 1988):

The board flew back to Washington D.C. and held an emergency meeting.

Protester signs during the protest.

Dr. King George is announced as President of Gallaudet University while crowds cheer and applaude.

The Impact

- The Deaf President Now movement gained national attention in the media.

- American Sign Language gained popularity as a language credit.

- Many people once again began to recognize the use of sign language to teach Deaf children.

“If all hearing people knew sign, Deaf so-called wouldn’t

hearing knew how to

people’s disability wouldn’t exsist”

Today

The current president of Gallaudet University is Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano. She was inducted as the 11th president of the school.

Lifeprint.com is a free website run by Dr. Bill Vicars and his wife Bee. Lifeprint has more than 45 lessons and thousands of vocabulary words.

Do you want to learn American Sign Language?

LEARNING TODAY

Clearwater is a city in Florida’s Tampa Bay area known for sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Clearwater Beach, on a barrier island, is a 3-mile stretch of white sand backed by hotels and restaurants. Injured dolphins and sea turtles are rehabilitated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. At the city’s Spectrum Field, the Phillies pro baseball team plays spring training games.

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Why I Sign

Article by Mati Anonson Bodwell

Why I Sign is a story about two hearing individuals and why they chose to use American Sign Language to express themselves. Throughout the story there will be spotlight stories, to view them simply scan the QR code!

This article is based off a company #WhyISign. I was first introduced to #WhyISign in February of 2023 at a conference called Explore ASL, where their founder was the keynote signer. #WhyISign’s website states that their mission is “Families are still not given resources or support about including signing with their DDBDDHHLD or Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened children. Families often feel alone in their signing journey. For most, their baby is the first deaf person they meet. They often are nervous and scared to connect with the deaf community. Our diverse communities often desire to connect with hearing families, but lack knowledge of where families are & how to reach out. Through sharing #whyIsign narratives, people can: connect with deaf & hard of hearing children to other families, connect to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened & the diverse communities within, connect with the signing communities (CODA’s, students, friends, community members, etc.), share resources and information about resources of raising a deaf and hard of hearing child, understand that sign language is a right, not an option.” This company really interested me and I immediately knew I wanted to cover something relating to it.

tion the quote “For Deaf children born into hearing families being proud and saying

- Jackie Wan, Community Mental Health Nurse, August 2017, was brought up multiple times and it stuck in my head. I met with Felicity Frisch, a student at the University of Northern Iowa and O’Brien, the American Sign Language Instructor at the University of Northern Iowa, to ask them some questions about themselves and why they chose to pursue American Sign Language. I also wanted to share my opinions and thoughts as well.

“We’ve got one’... like a golden ticket... and feeling ‘We know what to do!’ I’d love to see that attitude in society.”

This is Stacy, the founder of #WhyISign. Scan the QR Code to learn about her story and why she started #WhyISign.

When asked “Why did you initially learn American Sign Language?” Felicity stated that she started learning American Sign language Because she loves languages and as a future Speech–language Pathologist, being able to sign with patients will be really beneficial. When the same question was asked to O’Brien she answered,

If I were to answer this question I would say that I was initially drawn to American Sign Language because my best friend knew some words and I thought it looked really cool. Then when I found out UNI, the University of Northern Iowa, offered American Sign Language classes I jumped on the opportunity to really learn ASL.

“I was always fascinated by ASL from the time I was little. I had been teaching myself from books and my mom signed me up for a continuing education class at a local community college.”

Vocabulary

DDBDDHHLD: Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafend.

Five Parameters of ASL: handshape, palm orientation, movement, location, and expression/non-manual markers (NMMs).

My Next question for Felicity and O’Brien was “What was the biggest challenge for you when you were learning ASL?” Felicity answered by saying, the hardest part was probably just remembering all of the words, especially those that are similar to one another, and trusting what I know. I would definitely have to say the same thing. American Sign Language is a very complex language. In American Sign Language, we use the five Parameters of ASL to describe how a sign behaves within the signer’s space. The parameters are handshape, palm orientation, movement, location, and expression/non-manual signals. If even one of the parameters changes the word’s meaning will change. When I asked the question to O’Brien she said “Meeting Deaf people and having friends to practice with. I was 15 when I started classes and the next youngest person in the class was 22- 25? I met my friend April when I was 17 and that really helped a lot. We became best friends, she lived with my family one summer, and she is still a very, very dear friend!”

Non-manual Markers (NMM): non-affective facial expressions, head positions, and body positions that provide crucial grammatical context to the manual signs.

Simultaneous communication: SimComming, SimCom, or sign supported speech (SSS) is a technique sometimes used by deaf, hard-of-hearing or hearing sign language users in which both a spoken language and a manual variant of that language (such as English and manually coded English) are used simultaneously (This is very difficult to perform, never ask someone to SimCom unless absolutely necessary).

“Why did you stick with it?” was the next question. O’Brien answered

“Katie, I don’t know ASL so you’ll have to voice, but try using your hands to talk to me.” So I started SimComming and, all of a sudden, I could speak. I realized I could express myself with ASL in a way that I couldn’t with English.”

SimComming or Simultaneous communication, SimCom, or sign supported speech (SSS) is a technique sometimes used by deaf, hard-of-hearing or hearing sign

language users in which both a spoken language and a manual variant of that language (such as English and manually coded English) are used simultaneously (This is very difficult to perform, never ask someone to SimCom unless absolutely necessary). I chose to stick with learning ASL because my best friend was taking the classes with me and I felt like the community welcomed me with open arms. It truly did feel like home, although I didn;t always fully understand what was being said, people would stop and explain to me what a word ment or would slow down. Felicity responded to the question by saying she stuck with it because of the experiences I was getting that I never could have before, in and outside of school settings.

“ I felt home. I felt like I had found my voice. My mom picked me up from my sign class one night and I was really mad at her about something. I was so mad I couldn’t even talk. She said,

The final question I asked was “How has ASL changed your life for better or worse?”. Felicity said “It has definitely changed my life for the better. I’ve met so many people I never would have otherwise and became an ally in ways I wasn’t before. I’ve gained humility and respect as well.” O’Brien had a similar response saying, “For the better, and it changed my life COMPLETELY. I wasn’t planning to go to college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life... I found ASL and fell in love with the language so much I decided I wanted to teach it. I met my wife at an ASL social event. If it wasn’t for ASL, I don’t know where my life would be or what else I would have done!” Lastly, I would say ASL has changed my life for the better one hundred percent. Because of my first ASL class I applied for a position on the Deaf Cultural Experience, a student organization on the University of Northern Iowa’s campus, officer board with my best friend. We both got positions and I ended up meeting some amazing people including one of my best friends. I have become closer with the Deaf community in the Cedar Falls/ Waterloo area and I even have an independent study where I am working with the Iowa Association of the Deaf to rebuild and redesign their website. Learning American Sign Language benefitted my life in so many ways I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

This is Micheala. Scan the QR Code to learn about her and her son’s story.

Queen OF HEARTS Gin

Rasberry Lychee spritz

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2oz King & Queen Gin

- 1/2 oz Chambond (Rasberry liqueur)

- 1/2 oz Rasberry Puree

- 1/4 oz Lychee Juice

- 1 tsp Simple Syrup

- 2 oz Prosecco

Instructions:

1. Add King & Queen Gin, Chambond, Raspberry Puree, Lychee Juice, and Simple Syrup to a shaker and shake to combine.

2. Pour into a glass with ice,

3. Top with Prosecco

Its not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. - Audre Lorde