NADmag Spring 2020 by National Association of the Deaf

NADmag Spring 2020 | Volume 20, Issue 1

A Publication of the National Association of the Deaf NADmag | Spring 2020

ABOUT THE ©2020, is published by the NAD (USA), and is sent as a national membership benefit. For membership information, contact Member/Donor Relations at nad.info@nad.org or complete the contact form at: www.nad.org/contactus. Subscriptions: Libraries, schools, and similar institutions may subscribe to NADmag. For more information, complete the contact form at www.nad. org/contactus. Requests for Permission: Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Complete the contact form at www.nad. org/contactus or email nad.info@nad.org. Advertise in NADmag: For more information, go to www.nad.org/ advertise or email nad.info@nad.org. Publication of an advertisement in the NADmag does not imply NAD endorsement of a product or service. The NADmag is not responsible for advertisement contents. The National Association of the Deaf and the NADmag do not endorse or recommend any article, product, service, opinion, advice, statement, or other information or content expressed by third party authors. The views and opinions of such third party authors who have submitted articles to the NADmag belong to them and do not reflect the views of the National Association of the Deaf. ABOUT THE NAD The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more information, visit www.nad.org. ABOUT DESCRIBED & CAPTIONED MEDIA PROGRAM Described and Captioned Media Program 1447 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307 800.237.6213 / 800.237.6819 TTY 800.538.5636 F info@dcmp.org / www.dcmp.org The DCMP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the NAD.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF

8630 Fenton Street, Ste. 820, Silver Spring MD 20910 301.587.1788 / 301.587.1789 TTY nad.info@nad.org / CFC Number: 10356 MISSION STATEMENT

To preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. CONTACT / LEARN MORE

To contact the Board of Directors, complete the contact form at nad.org/contactus. For information about the Board, visit nad.org/board.

THE BOARD President Melissa Draganac-Hawk Vice President Richard McCowin Secretary Jenny Buechner

Region I Liz Hill Steve Lovi Region II Linsay Darnall, Jr. Kevin Ryan

Treasurer Michelle Cline

Region III Steve Hamerdinger Holly Ketchum

Appointed Members Alicia Lane-Outlaw Benro Ogunyipe

Region IV Amy Gomme Martin Price

EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher NAD Editor in Chief Lizzie Sorkin Editor Anita Farb Advertising / Sales Donna Morris

Desktop Publishing Jill O’Leske, Graphic Designer impactdesign.biz Guests Zainab Alkebsi Darissa Bashaw Chanel Gleicher Bonheyo Bonita Ewan Jay Isch Kriston Lee Pumphrey

RECURRING

5 7 12

5 7 11 12 34 37

From the President // Melissa Draganac-Hawk From the CEO // Howard A. Rosenblum School Spotlight

// Missouri School for the Deaf

Deaf Culture Today Donor List In Memoriam

FEATURES Engage and Educate: How DGM Woke Me Up

Jay Isch

Ensuring Equal Access and Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans

Zainab Alkebsi

Collective Deaf Voting Power: Organizing and Educating in ASL

Kriston Lee Pumphrey

#2019JrNAD Motions Chanel Gleicher Bonheyo

My Campaigning Experience Bonita Ewan

Access During Coronavirus Public Briefings Howard A. Rosenblum

27 29 34

17 22 29 NADmag | Spring 2020

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FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. IP Captioned Telephone Service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says. These captions are then sent to your 4phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. No cost is passed on to the CapTel user for using the service. CapTel captioning service is intended exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. CapTel® is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Ultratec, Inc. is under license. (v2.6 10-19)

FROM THE PRESIDENT

President Melissa reads a book to young deaf students at the Dr. C. Owen Roundy Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A new season brings new changes BY MELISSA DRAGANAC-HAWK Do you think a stop sign should be added to a street you live on? Do you believe you’re paying too much taxes? Do you feel your elected official did enough to protect you during COVID-19? Do you support one candidate over the other because of similar beliefs on certain issues? Do you want to ask your state to increase the budget for your local deaf school? This is why we need to vote. The first step is to register to vote. Find out when the deadline to register is in your state. In most states, it only takes a few minutes to register. Some states even allow online registration. It is very important that you register before the deadline in your state. Depending on which state you live in, you could even register on the same day as the election!

President Melissa welcomes the attendees at the Town Hall in Las Vegas, January 2020.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

We can’t allow other people to make decisions for us. By voting, they know where we stand. The Internet has a lot of available resources such as the NAD’s ASL Voter Hotline, SignVote, and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) website. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)’s motto is “VOTE as if your life depends on it—Because it DOES!” and that is absolutely correct! The NAD strongly encourages you to be an active member of the deaf and hard of hearing community and your own local community by becoming a registered voter. President Melissa at the Town Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Second, find out where your polling center is and make sure you have access on election day. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 protects people with disabilities’ right to vote, including deaf and hard of hearing Americans. Under HAVA, state and local governments are required to make polling places accessible. This includes training election officials, poll workers, and training election volunteers on best practices. HAVA allows you to ask your polling place for any voting aids, voting assistance, or absentee ballot procedures. As a registered voter, you can ask workers at your polling place to help you use the accessible voting machine or even bring someone to help you vote. Third, find out who and what will be on your ballot and do your homework. Voting is a huge responsibility. Are you sure you want to vote for this person? Do you want to pass that measure? Do you agree with that bill? Consider your options, other perspectives, candidates’ questions and answers. The more information you have, the more reflective your vote will be. We can’t allow other people to make decisions for us. By voting, we make where we stand known. 6

And in light of the current COVID-19 crisis, our choices matter even more. It is elected officials who decide if they will have a sign language interpreter standing by them when they make critical live announcements on television. You can remind your elected officials that if they do not protect your rights, then you can vote for someone else. We all must remind our elected officials that they need to remain committed to our civil rights and the educational rights of deaf and hard of hearing students. Be counted, register to vote! NADly yours, Melissa Draganac-Hawk

Melissa Draganac-Hawk has been on the NAD Board of Directors since 2008 and now serves as President for 2018-2020.

FROM THE CEO

NAD CEO Howard A. Rosenblum greets attendees at the Town Hall in Las Vegas, January 2020.

Engaging for equality BY HOWARD A. ROSENBLUM The NAD becomes 140 years old this year! Having fought for the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people for 140 years, the NAD is the longest serving national civil rights organization in the United States. The NAD was formed at the first national conference of deaf and hard of hearing people in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1880. Since then, there have been many challenges to our community, and now we face one of our greatest challenges in the form of COVID-19. For the past 140 years, the NAD has hosted national conferences, which have been a dynamic way for every member and representative from around the country to guide and advise the NAD leadership about the latest issues confronting our community. Every day at the NAD office, we get emails, calls, letters, and walk-ins that give us a picture of what acts of discrimination and barriers deaf and hard of hearing people are facing so that we can form strategies to combat systemic oppression. Nevertheless, the

conference is a great way for our board and staff to get feedback from deaf representation in every state and from every representative group during the Council of Representatives sessions (where those representatives serve as delegates and vote on our priorities, bylaws changes, and the new NAD Board). The NAD has been planning its 55th conference this summer in Chicago, Illinois – my hometown! The NAD last hosted a conference in Chicago 83 years ago in 1937 at the 18th Conference, and before that at the 4th Conference in 1893. However, at the time this NADmag goes to press, we are faced with a great deal of uncertainty given the pandemic of COVID-19 across the entire world. Will there be a 2020 NAD Conference this summer? While we continue to plan for it at this time, we are monitoring all announcements by the Federal and

NADmag | Spring 2020 1

nad.org/oldest-civil-rights-organization-in-the-us/

FROM THE CEO state governments to determine what is in the best interests of everyone. As soon as we know that is recommended by health officials, we will make sure to make appropriate announcements. In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 outbreak has changed how the world works. Nearly every hospital is scrambling to serve the number of people arriving for assistance. Universities and colleges are switching to online learning, and so are K-12 schools. Workplaces are closed, and employees are working from home. Restaurants are switching from dining in to take-outs and deliveries. Hotels, airports, conference centers, sports stadiums, movie theaters, theater stages, and health clubs are empty. At the start of this pandemic, there was almost no information available to deaf and hard of hearing people! Government and health officials kept announcing information without ASL interpreters. The information that was being shared kept changing from week to week, and then from day to day. Finally, when officials started telling people to wash their hands often and establish social distancing, most of us realized how serious we must take this disease. The NAD has been working very hard throughout this disaster to ensure that all of us are fully informed and aware of what is going on, and what we can do to get through these challenging times. We have provided tools for everyone to advocate for ASL interpreters in every press conference hosted by government and health officials. Thanks to the hard work of our entire community, nearly every state Governor has had an ASL interpreter next to them during their COVID-19 press conferences. We have also worked with television broadcasters to ensure that the ASL interpreters are visible on every television and online broadcast. We also pressured the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for weeks to provide their information in ASL, and their videos are now posted online.

We have developed policy guidelines for: hospitals on how to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing patients under these stressful conditions; early intervention programs on how to ensure that parents with newborn deaf children get the services they need while they are sheltering at home; K-12 schools on how to make sure that deaf and hard of hearing students are included in online learning; universities and colleges on how to make their classes accessible to deaf and hard of hearing students; courts on how to make their judicial proceedings accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals; and employers on how to make their video conferencing platforms accessible to their deaf and hard of hearing employees. Those issues were among the most immediate effects felt by deaf and hard of hearing people in their daily lives. Because the economy has come to a standstill, many more are struggling with loss of income, an inability to get food and water, a shortage of supplies, and other life threatening issues. The NAD is collaborating with other non-profit organizations, universities, technology companies, telecommunication companies, employers, and government agencies to try to find ways to make sure every deaf and hard of hearing person gets the information and resources needed to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be tough, we can make it through this disaster together.

Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq. has served as the NAD Chief Executive Officer since 2011.

NADmag | Spring 2020

Each of us has a unique part to play in the healing of the world. ADWAS is located in Seattle, WA and is striving towards a healthy community that is free of violence and oppression. We provide services to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Late-Deafened, and Hard-of-Hearing survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We work with all ages and genders. Check out our website adwas.org for more information: • • • • • •

Our services Supportive housing How to donate Job opportunities How to get involved Our January 2020 E-Magazine

Contact Us Office VP: 206-922-7088 adwas@adwas.org Local Crisis Line VP: 206-812-1001 Follow Us @ADWAServices @adwas_seattle @ADWAS1986

The National Deaf Hotline provides services and referrals to Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Late-Deafened, and Hard-of-Hearing survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The safe and strictly confidential services that our hotline offers Deaf survivors can be life-saving. Deaf advocates at the hotline can be reached 24/7 through Videophone (VP), live chat, or email. Services Provided • • • • • • •

Listen and provide emotional support Information and referrals Domestic violence and sexual assault education Brainstorm with callers on ways to stay safe Advocacy Develop safety plans Outreach & prevention work

The National Deaf Hotline is for anyone: survivors, family & friends of survivors, and service providers. 10

Contact Us VP: 855-812-1001 nationaldeafhotline@adwas.org Live chat: thedeafhotline.org Follow Us @The Deaf Hotline @thedeafhotline

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Why do we vote? MISSOURI SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

We vote to elect people to fight for us. MIRACLE WELLS 5th Grade

Voting is important to make the USA a better country. Voting helps protect people. It is important to share our JASMINE COLLEY opinion and decide what is right for us. 7th Grade

Through voting you can support your opinion.

We vote to make sure that people are equal. MASON DAUM 10th Grade

ETHAN ORICK 5th Grade

People should vote so they will be more satisfied with the laws. If there were no voting the world would be a mess.

We vote for people that represent us and respect the law. RHIANNON GONZALES 10th Grade

RHYLEIGH WHITE 4th Grade

Voting is important for equality. Through voting, we change laws for the betterment of society. HAILEY LUPER 9th Grade

ANNABELLE WYRICK 7th Grade

KARI MERTENS 7th Grade

If no one votes then there would be a lot of complaining about the law. If people want to change the law, they need to write up what they want changed. Then when we vote, the problem will be solved.

Voting is important to pick our President. Voting is our voice in the government, and gives us the power to share our opinion.

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DEAF CULTURE TODAY

Q&A BY DARISSA BASHAW

The Deaf community’s voice represents years of struggle, oppression, and discrimination that has led to the growing number of Deaf politicians today who fight for our rights. This success was not easily fabricated and it did not come from the work of a single person. Many deaf leaders in our history have fought for us. Little did they know, they were paving the way for future deaf leaders that have the same access to politics with the rest of the society. Deaf politicians are diversified and their experiences are slowly forming the framework of Deaf political campaigns of modern society. Some like to work behind the scenes, but there are some who ran for office in various levels within the government. I had the opportunity to interview a few deaf politicians who ran for office.

ROBB DOOLING ran for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC), representing his neighborhood of NoMa and Old City in Washington, D.C. in 2018 and won with 95% of the vote. He took office on January 2, 2019, but he resigned in April due to moving outside the area.

AMANDA FOLENDORF is the mayor of Angels Camp, California in the Calaveras County district. She ran two campaigns – in 2014 and 2018 – and is currently running again against the incumbent for District 4 Calaveras County Supervisor in the election on March 3, 2020.

NEIL MCDEVITT ran for mayor in North Wales, Pennsylvania in 2017 against Republican incumbent Greg D’Angelo.

“People with disabilities can do anything!” ROBB DOOLING

Who inspired you to work this field? DOOLING: For

Where are you from and what is your background? DOOLING: I

grew up in Nebraska, studied Computer Science at Rochester Institute of Technology, and moved to Washington, DC in 2014 for a software engineering job. In 2017 and 2018, I moved away from programming and got into writing, editing, and local politics.

FOLENDORF: I

am from Angels Camp, California.

MCDEVITT: I’m

originally from Northern New Jersey. I graduated from Gallaudet University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and moved to Pennsylvania shortly after. What is your occupation? DOOLING: I’m

an editor at the U.S. Department of

State. I am currently employed with the United States Forest Service and I am also a Councilmember for the City of Angels Camp in California.

FOLENDORF:

MCDEVITT: I’m

an Executive Director for the Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre (DHCC) in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

editing, my father inspired me to keep looking for my dream job even when I was unhappy as a programmer. My father was a novelist who wrote books outside of his day job and eventually he succeeded enough to be able to write full time. I enjoy my current editor job. For local politics, my urbanist friends inspired me to advocate for better walkability in DC. After moving to DC, I fell in love with public transportation, biking, and other efficient modes of moving people through cities, and going to protests with these friends inspired me to do even more to make DC one of the best cities in the world.

MCDEVITT: I

had a great experience as a volunteer firefighter which led me to a full-time career at NAD’s partner in advocacy, TDI, managing their disaster and emergency preparedness training programs. After those grants ended, I went to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency at their headquarters focusing on the issue of communication and disabilities. I left that to become DHCC’s Executive Director. What made you decide to run for office? DOOLING: I

attended my neighborhood commission meetings and then realized I could bring more affordable housing and walkability to DC if I ran for the neighborhood commission and used the seat to focus on these issues.

FOLENDORF: I

ran for city council because I believed that there needs to be more voices at the table to represent the entire community. During my second campaign for the city council in 2018, I kept that same platform along with the need to do better working with our community partners to build a better future and accomplish goals together. I am

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DEAF CULTURE TODAY

help my hearing neighbors communicate when I went door-to-door campaigning. I also spent a long-time developing a relationship with the former neighborhood commissioner where I helped her on various neighborhood issues. When I told her I wanted to run for her seat, she was happy to retire and endorse me. I ran unopposed and it was an easy campaign because the former commissioner and other neighbors knew I volunteered for the local farmers market as well as a local news website, so they trusted me to do what was best for the neighborhood.

“I kept that same platform along with the need to do better working with our community partners to build a better future and accomplish goals together.” AMANDA FOLENDORF

running on the same platform as County Supervisor during this current election. I believe that the district needs someone that is going to listen to them and advocate for their issues at the Board of Supervisors. I am currently running against the incumbent for District 4 Calaveras County Supervisor. MCDEVITT: Quite

simply, it was intended to be a constructive response to the election of Donald Trump to the Presidency. I know I couldn’t spend the next several years fuming about it. So, I decided to run for office. There were a lot of conversations between myself and the Democratic party folks locally about what to run for. Because of my background in emergency management and as a volunteer firefighter, it was decided that Mayor was best. What was your experience like running a campaign? DOOLING: It

was challenging running for elected office as a Deaf person, but I am forever grateful to the Facebook group “Pro Bono ASL Interpreters (DC/MD/VA)” where interpreters volunteered to

FOLENDORF: Each

election is different depending on how many people are running. My first election was in 2014 and there were three of us. Since I was new, I knocked from door to door, attended events, and other activities in the community to allow people to know me. In 2018, there were five of us. Due to my job and being gone on assignments, I did not have the ability to do the type of door knocking I had done in 2014. I ran a pretty low-key campaign. In both elections I did put signs up, attended debates and community events. The current campaign I am in has been a very different investment in sense that there is a bigger population to reach out to. I have been using a variety of platforms to get my message out such as using a website, social media, door knocking, community meet and greets, attending public events, neighborhood meet and greet events in private homes, setting up in parking lots, and so on. As you can see, each time it’s always different. However, the concept is the same, you need to reach out to as many as you can so they can learn more about you and what you are going to do for the public.

MCDEVITT: I ran for mayor in North Wales, Pennsylvania in 2017. I ran a small campaign and did not really have a committee. I paid for everything myself. I was worried that audism – (determining the value of a person based on their ability to hear or speak) would be a major factor in running a campaign. There were some challenges, but I ended up making very good connections to the local Democratic Party folks. I lost to Republican Greg D’Angelo with a very close vote of (R) 446 (50.2%) to (D) 441 (49.8%). During your campaign, what did you not expect to happen? DOOLING: I

was surprised and thrilled when the former commissioner decided to go door-to-door with me and introduce me to her constituents and encourage them to vote for me. It was a heartwarming moment when I knew my volunteering for the overall neighborhood had paid off.

FOLENDORF: My

first two campaigns in 2014 and 2018 were very mild. However, I did have to address a lot of the stigma around being Deaf. I was called Deaf and Dumb, “how can you keep up in meetings”, things like that. But, I realized that those were from people who 1) feared what they did not know, and 2) they needed something to attack me on; they took it to a personal level. The current election I am in has been educational in how hostile people are. I have had signs damaged, which is criminal, trespassing on to private properties to deface my signs, my family attacked with lies, and other random acts of harassments. I understand I am a public person, however my family is off limits, as is violence. In this day in age with how volatile the national level is, it is no wonder our local communities are doing the same thing. It’s very sad that we no longer have enough respect for each other to disagree. As you can tell, it is all very different. I am still happy I am doing this. I want to set an example that you should not have to deal with bullying and violence when you want to stand for something bigger - community. Involving yourself into politics or being a public person, those are the

NEIL MCDEVITT ran for mayor in North Wales, Pennsylvania in 2017 against Republican incumbent Greg D’Angelo.

hits you will have to take and know that you can overcome the ugliest and still show that politics does not have to be like that. We need to learn how to work together despite what side you stand on. MCDEVITT: As

I mentioned before, I was worried audism would be a major factor but it wasn’t. However, I did hear comments about cost of accommodations and how that would impact the Borough’s bottom line. Generally speaking, people within the Democratic Party were very supportive and appreciative. For fundraising and funding, it was very difficult for me to find volunteer interpreters for events. For the Election Day itself, I needed to pay for them. If I had to pay also for the times they graciously volunteered, I would have had to spend as much money on interpreting costs as my opponent spent on his total campaign (McDevitt raised approximately $1,000 and the opponent $500). None of the party events had ASL interpreters. When requested, they told me they had no funds available for interpreters but are still supportive and will do anything to get me elected. If you could change anything that you did during your campaign, what would you change? DOOLING: I

would not have changed anything. It is very easy to run unopposed and any people who want to run for elected office should strive to develop nonpartisan goodwill with all potential voters by performing community service that benefits them. They trust you and are less likely to run against you.

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DEAF CULTURE TODAY

“I would have had to spend as much money on interpreting costs as my opponent spent on his total campaign.” NEIL MCDEVITT

Overall, I would not of change too much. I am happy with what I did and was okay with the decisions I made during those campaigns. In 2014, I wouldn’t change much. I am happy with what I did there. In 2018, I would of like to be able to be out more, but due to traveling for work, it was difficult to do as much outreach as I wanted. I think I would have changed how I approached that. Currently now in 2020 cycle, ask me after March 3rd.

FOLENDORF:

Overall, what was your take-away from your campaign experience? DOOLING: People

with disabilities can do anything!

There are good people out there and need someone to just listen and advocate for them. We have all the same goals, we just need to learn how to work together to accomplish those goals. It also teaches you a lot about yourself too and ensure you have a core foundation of your supporters both family and friends that are able to keep you grounded and true to yourself. Politics is a different world, but it all comes down to community - looking out for the future and bringing those who are behind you in front of you and supporting your community in what they envision.

FOLENDORF:

MCDEVITT: For the election to turn out the way it did was due to the ward breakdown (there were three wards in his area). The third ward has a higher Republican percentage (McDevitt won majority vote in other two wards). I noticed that my opponent

appealed to older democrats by putting up signs and I learned from conversations that he had with some of my colleagues that his main argument was, “Neil is younger, has a full-time job, etc. I’m retired and always in town.” In essence, it was a form of reverse ageism. Other than that, people were extremely polite and when I told them I was Deaf, they gave me the opportunity to explain my qualifications as well. At the same time, I feel if I had lesser qualifications or I didn’t speak as clearly as I do, the issue of audism would have been greatly amplified. Along those lines, I struggle greatly with how to present myself publicly. Do I use the language I use at home with my family and friends (ASL) or do I focus on speaking to the best of my ability to set aside the (presumed) audism and discrimination that I may face from voters? In the videos I did online, you can see I transitioned from speaking to using ASL and this is reflective of that struggle. I don’t believe that voters are especially ready to accept someone who signs 100% and uses an ASL interpreter. I was hoping that my election would smooth the path for others but I worried that changing to ASL would make the voters feel I presented a false picture of myself.

Darissa Bashaw, a California native, is a senior at Gallaudet University; she plans to become a lawyer and is interested in running for office in the future.

FEATURE

A group from Louisiana participate in the DGM National Rally at the U.S. State Capitol in 2018.

ENGAGE AND EDUCATE: HOW DGM WOKE ME UP BY JAY ISCH I find, as I have met Deaf individuals throughout my life, there is a recurring theme as to why people don’t vote. It is a lack of basic civics or even simple access to information. Despite the disseminated information from officials or advertisements in the media outlets, there is still a great deal of ignorance as to the where, the how and the when of getting registered to vote or to engage politically. The Deaf community, in many cases, is lacking political engagement. This is a danger to our hard-earned progress. Procedural issues such as registration and the day of polling appear to be the

major block to the deaf community’s participation due to communication barriers and lack of voting booths with an ASL version of the ballot. Not participating in political activities enable others to make life-changing decisions for you. The repercussions of our own complacency are one of the reasons why our children suffer nowadays. Like Ben Bahan’s story “Bleeva” expresses, it’s a vicious cycle. It is clear that the present methods are NOT working, and new ways must be tried so that the most basic element for participating in democracy, ie. participation and voting, is available to all. NADmag | Spring 2020

ENGAGE AND EDUCATE: HOW DGM WOKE ME UP

The Center on American Progress stated in The State of Civics Education: “Civic knowledge and public engagement is at an all-time low. A 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that only 26 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government, which was a significant decline from previous years. Not surprisingly, public trust in government is at only 18 percent and voter participation has reached its lowest point since 1996. Without an understanding of the structure of government; rights and responsibilities; and methods of public engagement, civic literacy and voter apathy will continue to plague American democracy. Educators and schools have a unique opportunity and responsibility to ensure that young people become engaged and knowledgeable citizens.” In late 2015, Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM) and Wesley Arey, quite the animated character that he is, began popping up in my feed on Facebook. He ranted about many issues that I could relate to being a Deaf person living in an auditory-based society that largely fails to embrace our diversity. A burning passion to seek out change lit up in me. I came to the realization that I should do something. I started reading up on other Deaf people that shared similar experiences I had, other trending obstacles in the Deaf community, negative policies, legislation, and I delved into politics more than ever before. DGM opened my eyes to see the need for Deaf leaders. I stopped taking my rights for granted. It is true, participation lies at the core of any democratic society. My belief for the reason of the disconnection from the political process by those in the Deaf community demographic is either due to plain ignorance, lack of equitable access to critical information, or even a missed opportunity to receive the most basic civics course in previous educational settings. 18

Jay Isch with Fmr. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa at a Louisiana Democratic Party fundraiser in 2019.

Corey Axelrod, Founder and CEO of 2axend, wrote in a 2017 article: “72% of Deaf People will not vote for inaccessible candidates running for public office” How do we fix this? Collectively, we all must share common ground focusing on issues that negatively impact us as a group by looking past the political differences and the systemic ignorance for the sake of our own existence. The disconnection is the fault of a system that failed to embrace us, understand us or even accommodate our unique educational needs. This is why we must engage and educate. Voter turnout levels in proximity of model schools for the deaf in progressive cities tend to be higher than those in rural or southern ones. A variety of explanations, including a stronger sense of community, stronger political organizations and traditions, as well as an older population have been put forward. The lack of participation by so many people, including our own, distorts the results in any election and the politicians must implement innovative means to overcome this growing trend. This is why we must engage and educate.

ENGAGE AND EDUCATE: HOW DGM WOKE ME UP

It all begins with education. Deaf Education, as perceived by our own Deaf education experts, often is regarded as inefficient or not inclusive enough. The reason lies in a fundamental misunderstanding of our deafness in government. Generally, society views deafness as a deficiency rather than a separate linguistic context, worldview and culture, and not as a capable group with so-called “normal” intelligence. There has been a controversy within Deaf Education for the last 140 years. Why? Ignorance divides and conquers us, but that’s a whole other conversation. This is why we must engage and educate. I am forever grateful for the inspiration from DGM for encouraging leaders who improved society. It is heartening to observe the sheer excitement of people who are getting involved or even voting for the first time in an election, be it for the city council, state legislature, U.S. Congress, or for the presidency. Can you imagine if there were many more of us involved

in politics? We would be making monumental progress together. This is why movements like DGM play an important role in our community to remind us that complacency in politics is something we, as the Deaf community, simply cannot afford. This is why we must engage and educate. In conclusion, it is important to remember that we are a small minority group, we all need each other, and we do not have the luxury to not engage and educate. Hopefully, the state of our current affairs will act as a wake-up call to many of us to participate in the democratic process and to contribute to a better society for all of us. Jay Isch is Deaf, Deaf-bred and Deaf-educated in the northeast, a passionate award-winning Deaf advocate in the deep south with a continuing successful record in progressive systemic changes as a leading DGM activist, and as a Governor-appointed Commissioner for the Deaf, as well as being Deafinitely loud. For more on Jay, visit www.deaffocus.org.

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Sprint IP Relay Service is a free service offered to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and have a Speech disability that allow them to place relay calls over the Internet between locations in the United States (including its territories). Available only in USA and US territories. International calls will either be blocked or terminated. Although Sprint IP Relay can be used for emergency calling, such emergency calling may not function the same as traditional 911/E911 services. By using Sprint IP for emergency calling, you agree that Sprint is not responsible for any damages resulting from errors, defects, malfunctions, interruptions or failures in accessing or attempting to access emergency services through Sprint IP; whether caused by the negligence of Sprint or otherwise. Req. download of app after receiving the code. One per acct. for two devices. Data & standard message rates may apply. App restrictions & terms apply. For details, see sprintrelay.com ©2020 Sprint. Sprint and the NADmag | Spring 2020 logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.

FEATURE

Ensuring equal access and opportunity for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Americans BY ZAINAB ALKEBSI DHHCAN, established in 1993, serves as the coalition of organizations representing the interests of deaf and/or hard of hearing citizens in public policy and legislative issues relating to rights, quality of life, equal access, and self-representation. DHHCAN provides a forum for proactive discussion on issues of importance, such as education, employment, transportation, housing, telecommunications, and more. Ahead of the 2020 election primaries, DHHCAN submitted a proposal to all 2020 presidential candidates – those whose campaigns were active at the time of submission – to ensure equal access

and opportunity for deaf, hard of hearing, latedeafened, DeafBlind, and deaf-mobile disabled Americans. Refer to the next page for a list of all the organizations that participated in this effort. DHHCAN respectfully invited all the presidential campaigns to actively participate with us during the 2020 election cycle in a bipartisan dialogue and exchange of information, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for all Americans. During the campaigns, many deaf and hard of hearing Americans will attend town hall meetings and rallies across the nation, and we reminded the campaigns to provide accessible services at

Taken at DHHCAN’s 25th anniversary reception in September 2018, then-members of DHHCAN in 2018. Front row: Michele Mulligan – CPADO; Middle row L-R: Claude Stout - TDI, Neal Tucker - RID, Art Roehrig - AADB, Evon Black – NBDA; Back row L-R: Zainab Alkebsi – the NAD, Edgar “Bernie” Palmer - ALDA, Marcia Zisman - GUAA, and Alfred Sonnenstrahl – DSA.

ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING AMERICANS

these events, such as, but not limited to, captioned videos, sign language or tactile interpreting, Communications Access Real-time Translation (CART) services, and assistive listening systems. We also requested that each campaign’s political advertisements on TV and the Internet include accurate captions. These policy recommendations focus on addressing the human and civil rights of approximately 48 million deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, and deaf-mobile disabled people across a broad spectrum of areas: • Promoting civil rights through legislative, administrative, and enforcement actions. • Improving the quality of education and related services, and ensuring appropriate transition services. • Increasing employment opportunities through new initiatives and the provision of reasonable accommodations in the workplace. • Ensuring effective early intervention systems; access to health care, including substance abuse and mental health care; and insurance coverage for hearing health care, including hearing aids, other assistive technology, and comprehensive rehabilitative services.

transportation. We were pleased to see several campaigns release disability platforms that incorporated some of the tenets laid out in our recommendations and hope to see such platforms become the norm in future election cycles.

Zainab Alkebsi is the NAD’s Policy Counsel and also chairs DHHCAN.

The following organizations worked together on the proposal for equal access and opportunity for DHHCAN: American Association of the DeafBlind American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association Association of Late-Deafened Adults Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization Communication Service for the Deaf Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network

• Increasing the availability of safe and accessible housing.

Deaf Seniors of America

• Providing equal access to telecommunications, information services and video programming, realizing the potential of broadband services, and enabling public safety improvements through accessible emergency communications.

Hearing Loss Association of America

• Ensuring accessible transportation information, services, and facilities. We shared recommendations in regard to civil rights protection and enforcement, education, employment, health care, housing, telecommunications, information services, video programming, and

Gallaudet University Alumni Association

National Association of the Deaf National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing North Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.

NADmag | Spring 2020

FEATURE

Collective Deaf Voting Power: Organizing and Educating in ASL BY KRISTON LEE PUMPHREY Deaf people care about politics. We don’t always have access to information about our choices. Most politicians and media outlets don’t prioritize access. The less we understand policy discussions, the less informed we become. Thomas Jefferson once said that ignorance is a threat to true democracy. The media is supposed to help people understand current events. Despite their best efforts, the news can be hard for the deaf community to follow. Real-time captioning services are often inaccurate or delayed. Those who are hard of hearing or have a firm grasp of English may struggle less, although it’s frustrating for people who are not as fluent in English. Or those with vision impairments and other disabilities. So, where can we find information that will help us vote more wisely?

Using digital media, the deaf community creates content in ASL—such as the Daily Moth and Sign1News. Social media provides spaces for sharing and discussing information. Nonpartisan organizations serving the disability community have also been supportive. The American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) started online campaigns. #RevUp (AAPD) to talk about access and voting. The platforms mentioned above are independent and cater to their respective followers. SignVote.org aims to change that. The website consolidates election 2020 content and resources in one place, making it easier to find. SignVote’s coalition of partners are nonpartisan organizations serving the deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and late-deafened communities. These partnerships help foster more conversations within the community.

COLLECTIVE DEAF VOTING POWER: ORGANIZING AND EDUCATING IN ASL

They also push for more people to register and pledge to vote. SignVote coalition partners include several wellknown deaf organizations and institutions. The National Association of the Deaf, DPAN.TV, Council de Manos, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, are just a few. They help educate and engage the deaf community around the 2020 election. SignVote aims to raise awareness of the lack of access to politics. SignVote will also collect 2020 accessible election content in ASL. However, it cannot become a deaf movement without us working together.

Collectively, we create a more representative electorate. We can also encourage debate on a range of public policy issues. We will promote civic engagement with greater access and education. This is necessary to build power within our varied deaf communities. If you are a community member seeking information on how to vote, clarification on political terminology, a candidate’s platform, or to connect with other civic-minded deaf individuals, consider subscribing to SignVote. At SignVote.org, you will find our resource center, which includes several great tools:

NADmag | Spring 2020

FEATURE

COLLECTIVE DEAF VOTING POWER: ORGANIZING AND EDUCATING IN ASL

SignVote aims to raise awareness of the lack of access to politics. SignVote will also collect 2020 accessible election content in ASL. However, it cannot become a deaf movement without us working together. • A video playlist. Watch content from the community and political news in ASL. Send us your videos to be added to the collection; • Rock the Vote’s information about state-by-state voting policies; and • Information from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN). DHHCAN is a group of organizations invested in the accessibility needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community, and their seven DHH-related policy proposals.

Deaf voters can easily access a wide variety of helpful tools and videos using the online resource center at SignVote.org.

• A direct link to NAD’s ASL Voter Hotline. You can ask any burning questions about the election or voting. Just call in to get connected with a volunteer; • A voter toolkit with informative videos and links. Better understand your political views and how to vote;

So, what next? Get ready to #rockthevote by taking advantage of these resources. Start having meaningful discussions with your family and friends. Register to vote. Join the SignVote movement to stay “in-the-know” and help shape what we hope will become the Deaf Agenda Plan that politicians cannot ignore. Together, we can hold them accountable to our community.

Based in Detroit, Michigan, Kriston Lee Pumphrey, former DTV News anchor, is CSD’s Community Engagement Manager spearheading the 2020 SignVote Campaign, a deaf nonpartisan effort to centralize election content and resources in ASL.

You can contact Kriston Lee at signvote@csd.org or kpumphrey@csd.org. 24

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THE RIGHT FIT Deaf and hard-of-hearing students bring a variety of life experiences and communication preferences to RIT, but all have one thing in common – RIT is the right fit for them.

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FEATURE

#JrNAD2019 Motions BY CHANEL GLEICHER BONHEYO The Jr. NAD had its biennial general assembly at the recent Jr. NAD National Conference, held November 6-10, 2019, hosted by the Rochester School for the Deaf. President Emma Kane, of the Rochester School for the Deaf, led the assembly with 27 chapters in attendance. There was a total of 42 Advisors, 50 Delegates and 30 Observers. The Delegates were responsible to vote during the meeting, while the Observers were there to observe and support their Delegates. The Jr. NAD Delegates had the opportunity to make motions and vote for what they would like to see for Jr. NAD for the next two years. During the Jr. NAD general assembly, there are two recurring motions: 1) vote for two Jr. NAD Delegates to attend to the NAD Conference; and 2) vote for the next Jr. NAD Conference site. Then, the Jr. NAD uses its remaining meeting time to make motions and vote on important motions for the two Jr. NAD Delegates to bring to the next NAD Conference. Here are the motions that were passed at #JrNAD2019: The Jr. NAD Delegates voted for the top five motions to share at the 2020 NAD Conference and by the

consensus of the Jr. NAD Assembly, the top six motions (with two being tied) passed: 1. A ll schools that have mainstreamed deaf students must offer ASL classes and Deaf Culture classes to be taken by all of its students. 2. D uring all IEPs involving deaf students that are not currently in a school for the deaf, the option to place the student in a school for the deaf should be explained to the parents/family members and the deaf student. 3. Doctors that notify parents that their child is deaf should be required to inform the parents about deaf schools and all other options, and to ensure that the deaf child has an opportunity to decide whether to accept cochlear implants. 4. A ll public places that have televisions for public viewing must ensure that captions are turned on at all times. 5. W hen ticketing Deaf individuals, law enforcement officers must issue tickets that contain visual icons representing the offense. NADmag | Spring 2020

#JRNAD2019 MOTIONS

By participating in the general assembly, Jr. NAD members learn how meetings are run, how to make motions, and how to vote. 6. S chools for the deaf that have more resources should share such resources with other schools for the deaf. Katie McClyman moved to nominate two delegates to attend the NAD Conference in Chicago, IL in 2020, and by the consensus of the Jr. NAD General Assembly, the 2020 Jr. NAD Delegates at the 2020 NAD Conference are: Aubrie Bauer and Natnail Tolossa. Zara Thompson moved to open nominations for a Jr. NAD Chapter to host the 2023 Jr. NAD Conference*, and by consensus of the Jr. NAD Assembly, the winning bid for the 2023 Jr. NAD Conference site is: St. Mary School for the Deaf.

Rochester School for the Deaf Jr. NAD President, Emma Kane, led the kick off event.

By participating in the general assembly, Jr. NAD members learn how meetings are run, how to make motions, and how to vote. This interactive meeting gives them a taste of how the Council of Representatives meetings at the NAD Conferences are run, as well as board meetings across the country. Students learn how important it is to vote along with why and how their vote makes a difference. If you are attending #NAD2020, grab the chance to meet our Jr. NAD Delegates Aubrie Bauer and Natnail Tolossa!

Chanel Gleicher Bonheyo is the Director of the NAD Youth Programs.

Our 2020 Jr. NAD Delegates, Natnail Tolossa and Aubrie Bauer.

*The next Jr. NAD National Conference will take place at California School for the Deaf, Riverside in Fall 2021. Details coming.

FEATURE

In April of 2015, state representatives and former Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) Board member Gregory Porter and Christina Hale invited ISD students to serve as Statehouse Pages for the day. The Speaker of the House was impressed with students’ knowledge and participation. This was an awesome experience for ISD students between grades 7 and 12.

My Campaigning Experience BY BONITA EWAN I have been a registered voter since I was 18 years old. I have not run for office, but I definitely have worked hard in several different campaigns, whether it was for someone who was running for local or statewide office. I first got involved with campaigning because I was worried about how the Governor and various legislators dealt with issues concerning my children who attended the deaf school. I was also troubled about how they appointed school board members who actually knew nothing about deaf education and sign language. I decided to visit the State Capitol a few times to observe other deaf leaders and how they interacted with our legislators. I got really enthusiastic after taking Deafhood courses; it made me realize that we are able to do more than we think.

There were many events where interpreters were not available, but I couldn’t let that stop me from being an active participant in Indiana’s politics. It’s important to show up and make the most of it because if members of the Deaf community don’t show up, then others will make decisions for us. I brought paper and pen and found someone willing to write a summary of different presenters and their platforms. I first started in 2012 by encouraging deaf people to register to vote. Deaf constituents don’t have access to voter education so they don’t know why it is important to register to vote. I learned I had more success if I encouraged people, one by one, to register. The voter drive was a big success with many deaf voters registering for the first time, even at 60 NADmag | Spring 2020

MY CAMPAIGNING EXPERIENCE

years old! I also went to a fundraising event for State Representative Christina Hale and met 10 other deaf people there as well. Along with nine other deaf people, we canvassed more than 1,000 homes! The key was to work closely with the campaign manager. When I attended Organization Days (which happened two weeks after Election Day) – I met deaf community members, Michael Reis, a deaf native Hoosier Historian, and Sharon Wesley Dunn. There was no interpreter, but we were able to rely on Twitter and follow a journalist who was reporting live from the statehouse. Later, in 2014, I decided to become more involved with Rep. Hale’s campaign. This was a huge accomplishment for me because I worked hard to get people to donate to Rep. Hale’s campaign and encouraged deaf people to register to vote. This was the first time a deaf constituent hosted a private fundraiser at someone’s home. Small, but important networking events like that helped Rep. Hale win the election. Then, in 2016, Rep. Hale decided to run for Lt. Governor. At Rep. Hale’s Election night party, there were interpreters and more than 20 people who attended. Even though she lost, it was still a memorable event for me because we were able to talk with other attendees about accessibility.

With only a two-day notice, I joined Governor Candidate John Gregg’s bus tour for one day and visited six cities with Michael Reis. Indiana Association of the Deaf covered the interpreting costs. We managed to get four deaf people in two different cities to meet us. This was definitely a rich experience!

I visited U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly’s office during an open house. I was asked a lot of questions about my hobbies, what personal stories I have, and so on. Even though it lasted an hour, it was definitely worth my time.

In 2018, I got involved with Congressional District 5 Dee Thornton’s campaign. I learned it is important to work with other deaf community members to be sure that we are on same page and learn new things together. There was an interpreted Q&A session at a local coffee shop for the deaf community and we invited Candidate Dee Thornton. We also joined the interpreted Debate between Congressional District 5 Susan Brooks and Candidate Dee Thornton – this event was hosted by the League of Women Voters. To show how invested we were, we held a fundraiser at the deaf club – we used the opportunity to educate other deaf community members why it is important to vote and how to support a candidate. Fundraising is important because it shows the candidate that you are committed to vote for them. Look at it this way, their mailings and yard signs cost a lot of money. By having a yard sale, both you and the candidate are more visible.

MY CAMPAIGNING EXPERIENCE

By volunteering and campaigning, you are making a difference. They see us and they must include us. If you are not a registered voter, they don’t have any reason to listen to you or meet with you. Your vote is important to them. I was often notified of events at the last minute and had to scramble for interpreters or means of access so I could attend and participate. Last minute events made it very challenging to schedule interpreters, but again, I didn’t let that stop me. People remember me, whether I was involved with their campaign or showed up at events. Candidates running for office knew they needed us because we helped them win their election. My journey in campaigning for has helped build my confidence to do more and I’ve learned that showing up does make a difference. I’ve gained more experience by networking with different politicians and volunteers. They do want to know who we are and what’s important to us, but they can’t know if we don’t show up. By showing up and being visible at their events, politicians and supporters become aware of our issues.

Over the years, I have learned that the legislators are more aware and respectful towards deaf schools and our community as they are willing to listen and compromise. Relationships do help make changes for the better. Invite candidates to your events, you never know! Several important people have contacted me directly to help coordinate volunteers, to get information, and to ask me general questions. These personal connections are important! I always appreciate seeing other deaf constituents campaigning and showing up at events. If you’d like to start somewhere – volunteer at a voting drive, polling place, fundraiser, or campaign. There’s so much to do and each hour counts. Some tasks could be going door to door to encourage people to buy yard signs while other tasks could be clerical at the

NADmag Spring 2020 Women 4 Change is a bipartisan organization in Indiana. We learned about their event at the last minute, but fortunately I was|able to find two volunteer interpreters and spread the word to other deaf women. It was a great networking opportunity to learn more about issues like gender pay gap, health services and how politics can support changes.

MY CAMPAIGNING EXPERIENCE

campaign headquarters. You can decide how much time to contribute, from an hour to maybe four hours every week. If you have more time, you can give more hours! Campaigns love questions so don’t be afraid to ask. It’ll be easier for you if you can find at least two or three other deaf friends to volunteer with you, that way you can learn together and support each other. By volunteering and campaigning, you are making a difference. They see us and they must include us. If you are not a registered voter, they don’t have any reason to listen to you or meet with you. Your vote is important to them. Before you meet with your legislator or the other candidates, explore their website and learn what their positions are on different issues. When you meet with them, find out if they support your issue(s). Before you decide on who to vote for, check with other deaf people to see if they’re on the same page as you. Build connections by touring your State Capitol. Take a workshop on your state’s legislative process. Attend any open house events on every level – Federal, State, County, and City for both the Primaries and General Elections. Keep in touch with your legislators every two to four months even if there’s nothing new to discuss.

I met Dana Black, former Indiana Representative candidate – even though Dana lost, she continued to be involved in politics behind the scenes. We would see each other at various events from time to time.

Bonita smiles with State Representative Christina Hale, who lost her 2016 Lt. Governor race, is now running for Congress in Indiana’s Fifth District.

Bonita Ewan has been married to Brian Thorn for 25 years and they both have two deaf children. They currently live in South California after living in Indiana for 18 years.

We only had 12-hour notice of an event where Governor John Gregg appointed Rep. Christina Hale as Lt. Governor. Deaf community members Kim Bianco-Majeri and Dwight Casler joined me, even though we did not have interpreters. People were surprised and pleased to see us show support.

NADmag | Spring 2020

FEATURE

Access During Coronavirus Public Briefings BY HOWARD A. ROSENBLUM Many of you have contacted the NAD about the lack of American Sign Language (ASL) and captioning access to public briefings about coronavirus across the country, including the White House press conferences. We agree that the White House must provide ASL interpreters during their press conferences and ensure that the ASL interpreter is visible on screen so that all deaf and hard of hearing people have the same information at the same time about coronavirus as everyone else. We thank the National Council on Disability for sending a letter to the White House to ask for this access, and the NAD has also sent a letter to the White House. Our letter asked for ASL interpreters at all White House public briefings. Our letter also asked the White House to direct the Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide their information about coronavirus in ASL immediately. We ask everyone who shares our concerns about their lack of ASL access to send a message to the White House directly and request interpreters during live press conferences about coronavirus. The more of you that do this, the sooner we may see an interpreter during the White House press conferences. The NAD has sent a letter to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) asking them to make sure that TV news broadcasters include the ASL interpreter on the screen and fully and accurately captions for all coronavirus press conferences.

We ask everyone who shares our concerns about their lack of ASL access to send a message to the White House directly and request interpreters during live press conferences about coronavirus. 34

ACCESS DURING CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC BRIEFINGS

Thanks to all who advocated for (and continue to advocate for) ASL interpreters in your states! It looks like most states’ Governors did have an ASL interpreter next to them during their public briefings on coronavirus. Please thank your Governor who did! If your Governor did not have an ASL interpreter during their public briefing, please use our letter template and send a letter to your Governor’s office. Use the same template if your mayor or local government did not provide an ASL interpreter during their public briefings. If there was an ASL interpreter but the camera did not fully show the ASL interpreter then send a letter to the news broadcaster responsible using our provided template. If the public briefing was not captioned or was poorly captioned (such as auto captions) either on TV or on the Internet, please file a complaint with the FCC.

LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE www.nad.org/letter-to-white-houseabout-coronavirus-conferences/ LETTER TO NAB www.nad.org/letter-to-nab-aboutcoronavirus-conferences/ SEND FEEDBACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ USE OUR LETTER TEMPLATE www.nad.org/lettertemplate-live-covid19briefings-without-asl/ FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FCC www.nad.org/resources/how-to-file-acomplaint/#tv-closed-captioned LIST OF ASL AND OTHER RESOURCES www.nad.org/coronavirus

Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq. has served as the NAD Chief Executive Officer since 2011.

NADmag | Spring 2020

DONOR LIST The list below recognizes donations made by individuals and organizations to the NAD from July – December 2019. Donors are listed under the designated fund. If a fund is not designated, donors are listed under the general fund. Individual donors are recognized by their level of giving. Organizational donors are recognized by their member type. Individuals and organizations who are not members are listed as friends of the NAD. There is a Donor Key on the right for individual giving levels and organization member status. Roman numerals following Benefactors (B) identify cumulative donation amounts in $1,000 increments.

Annual Fund Campaign – General Naveen Akunuri, FON Amy Amundsen, P Glenn Anderson, P Anonymous, FON Glenna Ashton, BVI Peggy Bagley & Rabbi Douglas Goldhamer, BI Suzann Bedrosian, Bl Kendall Belcher, FON Larwan Berke, S Ethan Bernstein, FON Linda Blue, C Jay Blumenfeld, P Alyson Boote, C Mary Boxer, BI Phil & Judith Bravin, BXVII Stephen & Dorothy Brenner, BXI Carl Brininstool, BIII Lucinda Brooks, P Roger Brush, FON Robert Bryant, FON Frank Burckardt, P Alex Caddy, S Maurice Cardenas, FON D. Lamar Cason, BI Mirtha Castellano, FON Alison Chassin, A Mary Chestnut, FON Patricia Clark, BI Michelle Cline, BI Dr. & Mrs. Norman Cohen, FON C. David Coles, A Janis & John Conklin, FON John Corrill, FON Alester Dailey, FON 36

Rodney & Vicki Danco, BIV Joe Dannis & Tina Jo Breindel, BII Arthur Deegan, FON Micah Dirksen, FON Valerie Dively, P Anna Dombrowski, FON Thomas & Laurie Dowling, BV Melissa Draganac-Hawk, BXVII Brianna Drown, FON Amber Drown, FON Douglas & Gayle Ellis, BII Sammie Elser, Bl Anita Farb, BXI Aaron Fisher, FON Megan Floyd, FON Alice Ann Friends, A Irene Garcia-Benavides, A David Geeslin, A Dale Giesting, FON Jerome & Janet Giesting, FON John Godich, BI Patrick Graybill, Bll Marvin Green, FON Jennifer Greenfield, BI Elizabeth Gregorich, C James & Esther Griffin, S Alice Guilbert, BIV Alice Hagemeyer, BIII Michelle Halvorsen, A Stephen Hamerdinger, BllI Denise Hanlon, BV Thomas & Kathryn Harbison, BII Amy Hinnant, FON Timothy Jaech, P Vilas Johnson Jr, BX Helen Johnson Peterson, BII Samuel Jones, BI

DONOR KEY B = Benefactor ($1,000 and up) P = Patron ($500-$999) S = Sustaining Member ($250-$499) C = Contributing Member ($100-$249) A = Advancing Member (up to $99) SA = State Association Affiliate FON = Friends of the NAD OA = Organizational Affiliate

Travianna Jones, FON Dorothy Kelsay, BlI John Kirsh, P Paula Klein, FON Julian Koss, FON Donald Kovacic, P Bajwa Kulvinder, FON Rachel Lacasse, FON Jeanne Lavelle, BII Julie Lehto, P Brenda LeMieux, BI Mitchell Levy, P Joyce Linden, P Glenn & Stephanie Lockhart, BII Steve Lovi, BI William Ludwig, Bll Linda Lytle, Bl Michael Majerowski, P Katherine Malady, A SF Maloy, FON James Manning, FON Jaimie Mariona, A Cathleen Markland, BI Louise McCane, A Jennifer McCann, FON Pat McCullough, P Raymond McDevitt, C Marge McHenry, S Stephen McKenney Steck, A Betty McKown, BIII Jennifer McLean, S Brian McMahon, S Stephen Melton, C Thomas & Sheila Mentkowski, BI Lewis Merkin, BI Amy Michner, BIII Kenneth Mikos, BXI Barbara Miller, S

Jonathan Miller, FON Lucy Miller, BXX Robin Mills, P Winchell & Ruth Moore, BI Judith Mounty, BIII Harold & Mary Mowl, BVIII Geri Mu, BI Joseph Mulcrone, BI Kathi Neuenschwander, A Jana Owen, S Gloria Pagan, C Klaudia Persson, FON David & Jacqueline Peterson, BII June Prusak, S Dorothy Ranum, FON Nancy Rarus, BXV Khadijat Rashid, BI Jacob Rast, FON Scott Ratafia, P Victoria Rentz Damond, FON James & Joan Revell, BIII Tiffany Richardson, FON Janice Rimler, P Clinton Roberts, FON Paul Robertson Jr, BI Cynthia Rome, FON David Roper, FON Herb & Roslyn Rosen, BXXXVI Scott Rosen, FON Allan & Judith Rosenblum, BlV Howard Rosenblum, BXX Nicholas Ross, FON Jenna Rote, FON Lisa Roth, C Byron Rowe, Bl Michael Saltzman, C Kathy Say, P

Patrick & Dorene Sell, BIV Jerry Seth, BI Nancy Shugart, BI John & Kim Silva, C Brian Slate, A Lorrie Beth Slonsky, A Carol Ann Smalley, S Lindsey Smalley, A Janet Smith, P Nancy Sneed, C Claire Solak, FON Jody Steiner, A Alyce Stifter, BX Darchelle Strickland Love, A Charles Sullivan, FON Hartmut & Janice Cagan Teuber, BIII Diana Thorpe, BI Angelia Thrash-Thomas, S Carol Tipton, P Grace Tovar, FON Betty Van Tighem, BXV Dan Veltri, C Gary Viall, BII Peeranut Visetsuth, FON Christian Vogler & Krystallo Tziallila, BI Thomas Von Bergen, BII Megan Walker, A Leo Wallis, FON Taylor Watts, FON Taylor Wigglesworth, FON Leandra Williams, P Sharon D. Williams, S Betty Witczak, BII Betsy Anne Wood, P Nur Hani Zainal, FON Dan Zigmond, P Marcia Zisman, S Amazon Smile Donations, FON American Charities, FON Communique Interpreting, Inc., FON Facebook Donations, FON IBM Corporation Employee Services, FON Network For Good/ Facebook Donations, FON Sorenson Communications, LLC, OA Target % Cybergrants, FON Your Cause, FON

Nancy J. Bloch Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship

Annual Fund Campaign – International

Donna Drake, BII Steve Lovi, BI Maureen Mazza, BI Teresa Moon Flaherty, P Lynn Null, BVI Leonard Peacock, BVll James & Susan Pedersen, BXXXIV BJ Wood & LeWana Clark, BX Brookdale Community College Deaf Culture Club, FON

Scott Rosen, FON

Frank R. Turk Youth Leadership Scholarship Paul Blicharz, BIII Thomas & Shirley Desrosier, S James & Susan Pedersen, BXXXIV Anna Maria Rinaldi, BI Joseph & Kay Francis Rose, BVII Lizzie Sorkin, P Frank & Marlene Turk, BXVI

Annual Fund Campaign – Education Advocacy David Albano, FON William Ames, A Susan Baginski, FON Michelle Cline, BI Andy Foster, S Donald Galloway, BI Robert Greenstein, FON Amanda Heinbaugh, A Ronald & Catherine Hirano, BXIV Katrina Johnson, FON Raymond Kenney, BI Thomas Krohn, P Karen Leslie, C Caroline Partin, BI Brian & Faith Perry, BIII Scott Rosen, FON Lauren Sanders, S Scott Whitney, A

Annual Fund Campaign Law and Advocacy Dallas & Margaret Barker, BII Julia Becker, P Brett Brashers, FON Phil & Judith Bravin, BXVII Lucinda Brooks, P Gerard & Judy Buckley, BXIV Julie Casaccia, A Howard Chabner, P Brenda Clark, A Perky Cohen, FON Harvey & Mary Ann Corson, BXXIV Renwick & Elizabeth Dayton, BII Derrick Earl, C Michael & Virginia Finneran, BI Melissa Fleming, FON Andy Foster, S Amy Free - Free Spirit Interpreting, LLC, FON Donald Galloway, BI Harvey & Astrid Goodstein, BXXVII Brian & Rebecca Greenwald, C Charles & Marilyn Harbison, BI Robert & Evie Harris, BXI Catherine Ingram, BIII Judith Jonas, C Samuel Jones, BI Brenda Kelly-Frey, BI Raymond Kenney, BI Elizabeth Kline, FON Thomas Krohn, P Bajwa Kulvinder, FON Karen Kunkler, S Daniel Lasher, A Betty Lawson, BI Carla Mathers, BI Dee McElroy, A June McMahon, BII Carol McMichael, FON Lewis Merkin, BI Elisa Mlynar, C

Teresa Moon Flaherty, P Sharon Morency Bryant, BII Larry & Alice Obray, BIII Lynn Oettinger Sien, BII Marcy Oppenheimer, FON Mr. & Mrs. Martin Oppenheimer, FON Debra Patkin & Tayler Mayer, P Brian & Faith Perry, BIII Andrea Richards, A Scott Rosen, FON Barbara Russ Smith, S Matt Schmid, FON Patrick & Dorene Sell, BIV Richard & Luisa Sobeleski, BI Carol Tipton, P Joseph Vieira, P Barbara White, BIII Maria Wingrove, FON Nur Hani Zainal, FON

Annual Fund Campaign – Youth Leadership Sean Alvarez, A Karen Atwood, A Julia Becker, P Kim Bianco Majeri, C Mandy Bracken, C Richard Brumberg, FON Megan Buechner, FON Jennifer Campero, C John & Nancy Castle, BI Kathleen Clemens, A John Crouch, P Glyn Davenport, FON Carly Dreyfus, FON Nicholas Elstad, FON Bonita Ewan, A Sara Fair, A Elizabeth Falkos, A Paul Filiatreault, S Andy Foster, S David & Audrey Frank, BI Dylan Geil, FON Daniel Girard, P Nicole Gleicher, FON Melissa Echo Greenlee, P Elizabeth Gregorich, C Carla Gunn, C Robert Haggard III, S Anna Hayes, S

NADmag | Spring 2020

DONOR LIST Ronald & Catherine Hirano, BXIV Nancy Horowitz, BVIII T. Alan & Vicki Hurwitz, BXXVI Regina Kiperman Kiselgof, FON Berti Klein, FON Janice Knauth, C Eleanor Koski, FON Lee & Bonnie Kramer, BV Marian Lage Mahoney, P Karen Leslie, C Betty Lynch, BIII Jana Mauldin, FON Jean Miller, A Maureen Miniter, A Erica Mueller, FON Stephanie Nicols, BIII Gary W. Olsen, P Joan Ostrove, A Mary Ann Panella Best, FON\ Doug Patti, Fon James Perry, BII Laura Peterson, FON June Prusak, S Hilda Richey, BI Jeffrey Rosen, BI Amy June Rowley, S Peter & Debie Seiler, BII Grace Shirk-Emmons, S Simmie Slay, BIII Daniel Sonnenfeld, FON Lizzie Sorkin, P Ronald & Agnes Sutcliffe, BXX Denis Tucker, S Frank & Marlene Turk, BXVI Florence Vold, S Peggy Weaver, P Judy Williams, C Samuel Williamson, BI Molly Wilson, C Sheri Youens-Un, P SLRS, Inc.,OA In Honor… Thalia Grace Albano David Albano, FON Norma Buemi’s 75th Birthday Joseph & Kay Francis Rose, BVII 38

Lee Cavanagh Dorothy Ranum, FON

Ari Lustig Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, FON

Mari De Boshir Inna Hoover, FON

Christine Marshall Naveen Akunuri, FON

Deaf Business Advocates Marvin Green, FON Rhoda Lea, FON Scott Rosen, FON

Bernice McCormack Anne Schons, FON

Dennis Dombrowski Anna Dombrowski, FON Melissa Draganac Hawk Andrea Richards, A Craig Fogel and Beth Appelbaum/Sounds of Silence Eleanor Koski, FON

Laura Meotti Nancy E. Schmid, FON Kaylee Mariah Miller Martin Kreisler, FON NAD Staff Kenneth McCamish, A Nico Molly Wilson, C

Michael and Glenda Freeman Arthur Pettygrove, A

Joseph H. Parker Glyn Davenport, FON

Beatrice Goldstein’s 90th Birthday Julian Koss, FON

Ashton Peck Marvin Green, FON

Rebecca Gorlin and Kim Shaw’s 25th Wedding Anniversary Harvey & Astrid Goodstein, BXXVII

Krista Pohlmeyer Jennifer McCann, FON Taylor Wigglesworth, FON Noble Power Alice Ann Friends, A

Jeff and Deena’s Wedding Dorothy Ranum, FON

Howard Rosenblum Howard Chabner, P

Karin Kasper Victoria Rentz Damond, FON

Matt and Laura Runyon Rachel Lacasse, FON

Kat Katona and Beth Appelbaum/Sounds From The Heart Eleanor Koski, FON

Jonathan Schulman Micah Dirksen, FON

Kathy Ledesma Mary Chestnut, FON Dr. Steven Liptman’s 60th Birthday Robert Greenstein, FON Taco Lockhart Glenn & Stephanie Lockhart, BII

Pete and Debie Seiler Susan Baginski, FON Liz Tannebaum Alison Chassin, A Tia Delia Johnson, FON Daniel Woods Katrina Johnson, FON

In Support… DeafBlind Section Steven Frank, BI Alice Ann Friends, A Darla Konkel, P Anna Maria Rinaldi, BI Scott Rosen, FON Deaf Culture & History Section Steve Baldwin, P Inna Hoover, FON Thomas Krohn, P Scott Whitney, A Education Section Andrew Batuure, FON Jennifer Greenfield, BI Thomas Krohn, P Interpreter Section Andrew Batuure, FON Patty Drasin, P Loralyn Green, A Bobbe Skiles & Sue Gersten, P Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Section Maria Castine, FON Glyn Davenport, FON Arizona Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, OA Senior Citizens Section Ronald & Catherine Hirano, BXIV Rae Johnson, BV MaryLynn Lally, S Alice Lodwick, FON Youth Section Sean Alvarez, A DT Bruno, BIII Maria Castine, FON Sheri Cook, C Brad Leon , S Nako Mbelle, FON Zachary Offner, A Doug Patti, FON Stephanie Summers, P

DONOR LIST

In Memory…

June Kennedy Stephen McKenney Steck, A

Marca Bristo Howard Rosenblum, BXX

D. King Kenneth Kaleta, FON

C. Bruscia Kenneth Kaleta, FON

Michael Michner Rosalyn Brotman, FON Harvey & Astrid Goodstein, BXXVII Amy Michner, BIII Herb & Roslyn Rosen, BXXXVI Howard Rosenblum, BXX Philip Rubin & Cliff White, FON Robert & Denise Sidansky, BI Kramer Wealth Managers, FON

Gerald “Bummy” Burstein Joyce Linden, P Elizabeth Weyerhaeuser, BIII Frederick M. Cardenas Maurice Cardenas, FON Martha Church Melissa Ponton, FON Susan Lynn Crouch John Crouch, P Bonita Josephine DeCoste Aaron Fisher, FON Lois Diamond Loralyn Green, A Bill and Glenda Ennis John Ricciardi, BII Patrick R. Ford John & Nancy Castle, BI Julie Ann Giesting Dale Giesting, FON Jerome & Janet Giesting, FON Ryan Steven Griffith Brandeis Machinery and Supply Company, FON Flanary Veterinary Clinic, FON Jim Smith Contracting, FON Marie May Gualderon Alice Lodwick, FON Mildred Harris Hugh and Donnell Louviere, FON Darwin Holmes Caroline Partin, BI

Nelly and Nella Nako Mbelle, FON Don and Hertha Neumann Richard Hall, S Agnes Padden Katherine Jankowski & Karen Goss, BIV Frank & Marlene Turk, BXVI Sean M. Paper Lorraine Bates, FON Jean Richardson, FON Marilyn J. Parker Bobbie Brelowski, FON Sally Peters Peggy Weaver, P Delight Rice Ronald & Catherine Hirano, BXIV Gary Sanderson Patty Drasin, P

Donald Galloway, BI Judith Jonas, C Elizabeth Kline, FON June McMahon, BII Carol McMichael, FON Lewis Merkin, BI Lynn Oettinger Sien, BII Marcy Oppenheimer, FON Mr. & Mrs. Martin Oppenheimer, FON

Nancy Violette Sarah Gregory, FON James Wiegand Sharon Sinkler, C Deborah Winkler Sandra Blake, FON Carlene Nolin, FON

William J. Stifter Alyce Stifter, BX

IN MEMORIAM Marca Bristo, Friend of the NAD Martha Church, Friend of the NAD Susan Lynn Crouch, Patron Bill and Glenda Ennis, Friends of the NAD Betty Bounds Evan, Benefactor I Charles C. Estes, Benefactor I Julie Ann Giesting. Friend of the NAD Ryan Steven Griffith, Friend of the NAD Mildred Harris, Friend of the NAD Donald and Agnes Padden, Benefactor V Marilyn J. Parker, Friend of the NAD Sally Peters, Friend of the NAD Melvin Shepherd, Friend of the NAD James Stern, Benefactor IV Nancy Violette, Friend of the NAD James Wiegand, Friend of the NAD Deborah Winkler, Friend of the NAD

Melvin Shepherd Peggy Weaver, P James Stern Phil & Judith Bravin, BXVII Perky Cohen, FON Michael & Virginia Finneran, BI

NADmag | Spring 2020

8630 Fenton Street, Ste. 820 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Young adults huddle together during the #JrNAD2019 conference in November 2019.

NADmag Spring 2020

Articles inside

2019JrNAD Motions

Deaf Culture Today

My Campaigning Experience

Engage and Educate: How DGM Woke Me Up

Collective Deaf Voting Power: Organizing and Educating in ASL

Ensuring Equal Access and Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans