NADmag Spring 2017 | Volume 17, Issue 1
A Publication of the National Association of the Deaf NADmag | Spring 2017
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RECURRING 5 7 9 10 12 57 60 63
From the President // Melissa Draganac-Hawk From the CEO // Howard A. Rosenblum #NADHandwave School Spotlight
// Alaska School for the Deaf
Regional News Deaf Culture Today Donor List In Memoriam
FEATURES Marc Charmatz: Original Litigator for the NAD Howard A. Rosenblum
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Krystle Curley & Claudia Hernandez
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Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Its Impact on Deaf People
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Our Experience as Hearing Mothers of a Deaf Child
Bridgetta Bourne-Firl
Showing Up Lizzie Sorkin
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Brenda Palmigiano & Zainab Alkebsi
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Deaf Youth Perspective: Understanding and Ending Mass Incarceration of Deaf and Disabled People
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Overcoming Barriers as a Deaf Female CDL Trucker
Derek J. Landis NADmag | Spring 2017
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ABOUT THE Š 2017, 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.
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.
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.
THE BOARD
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.
Secretary Jenny Buechner
For more information, visit www.nad.org.
Publisher NAD
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.
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF
President Melissa Draganac-Hawk Vice President Joshua Beckman
Region I Michelle Cline Steve Lovi Region II Linsay Darnall, Jr. Richard McCowin
Treasurer Philippe Montalette
Region III Holly Ketchum Jerry Nelson
Appointed Members Alicia Lane-Outlaw Meena Mann
Region IV Lisa Furr Martin Price
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor in Chief Lizzie Sorkin Editor Anita Farb Advertising / Sales Donna Morris
Guest Writers Zainab Alkebsi Bridgetta Bourne-Firl Krystle Curley Claudia Hernandez Derek J. Landis Brenda Palmigiano Designer Jess Thurber jathurber@gmail.com
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Yes, You Can: Legislative Advocacy and You. BY MELISSA DRAGANAC-HAWK
NAD President Melissa answers a question during a town hall in New Mexico, January 2017.
The Spring, a season for renewal, is a good time to reflect on the things you can do to bring about change in your community. Each one of you have the power to make change happen and each of you can make change happen. Identify your elected officials at the State and Federal levels. Talk to them about an issue that you are concerned about—such as Communication, Education, Employment, Health Care, Safety, or Social Security. Share your story from a recent life experience that will help them understand why the issue is important to you. Tell them the outcome you want to see happen. Remember as you sit down and meet with your elected officials, you are explaining the issues to someone who likely does not know very much about deaf culture and issues affecting deaf community. You will need to describe the issues in a way an “outsider” will understand.
Be prepared for unexpected questions: Once during a meeting with a state senator about funding for New York schools, the senator changed the topic of conversation when he learned that I was from New York City and wanted to know which Broadway shows I had seen and which ones I enjoyed. While this was not a goal for the meeting, I obliged, as I knew that would both leave a personal footprint and build a working channel of communication. I would be able to follow up on the actual issues I wanted to discuss at a later date. The legislative process is most active during the spring and fall seasons. You can learn more about state election dates and deadlines at usvotefoundation.org. When you meet with an elected official, you will often also meet their assistants. Make sure you get their names as well and include them in all communication. Below are seven simple takeaways to keep in mind as you work with your official. NADmag | Spring 2017
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
What to do with your elected official 1. Bring information such as statistics, copies of articles and other documents that support your cause; 2. Appear friendly, energetic and courteous; 3. Explain things from your perspective; 4. Ask questions (don’t forget to ask what the next step will be); 5. Leave your contact information, business card or a letter, so that they can follow up with you; 6. Thank them for their time; and 7. Follow up on the meeting with a thank you letter.
For the past several months, there have been a number of protests throughout the country addressing varying issues relating to immigration, women, employment and so forth. We, as deaf people, have unique intersectional identities, which means that our issues can pretty much fold into any national movement or debate. Our cause then becomes much greater and enriches our lives as we engage in the dialogue on so many different levels. We must recognize how important it is to “show up”; whether we choose to march, write letters, post blogs or vlogs, or to use our talents and skills in the form of information exchange and building strong networks—we are indeed one huge community with so much to offer to the world. We each can increase awareness and help each other. After all, we all have our stories to share and experiences to build upon.
Melissa Draganac-Hawk has been on the NAD Board of Directors since 2008 and now serves as President for 2016-2018.
Everyone has a laugh during the “ASL Storytelling” community event in Hartford, Connecticut, April 2017.
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FROM THE CEO
BY HOWARD A. ROSENBLUM
NAD CEO Howard introduces himself to a group of students at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, January 2017.
This year is shaping up to be a year of enormous change and challenge. Among these is the transformation in United States Government leadership from one political party to another – representing a complete reversal in politics and ideology. Much is uncertain as we await new appointments and policies in many areas.
that governments – federal, state and local – did not make decisions impacting deaf and hard of hearing people without their input. For 137 years, the NAD has consistently advocated to fulfill its mission of preserving, protecting and promoting the civil, human, and linguistic rights of all deaf and hard of hearing people in the USA.
Like many other groups, the deaf and hard of hearing community wonders what will happen to them under this new administration. Will life improve or get worse for us? Will our rights advance or will rights be taken away? Nothing is clear at the start of this new presidency. However, a number of developments, including new Executive Orders and proposed laws, impact many in our community, requiring vigilance and advocacy from the NAD.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. explained, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” This quote is an eloquent way of saying that even though the fight for civil rights often does not result in immediate improvements in life, the goal of equality will be achieved over time. When the history of the NAD is viewed in the entirety of its 137 years, it becomes clear that our civil rights have not come easily, but were obtained through the diligent efforts of many deaf leaders throughout many presidential administrations.
While a change in administrations is often concerning, a historical perspective is necessary to view any governmental changes in proper context. Deaf leaders established the NAD in 1880 to ensure
When the NAD began as an organization in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 25, 1880, Rutherford B. NADmag | Spring 2017
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FROM THE CEO
NAD CEO Howard shares a comment during a board meeting.
Hayes was the 19th President of the United States. At that time, deaf and hard of hearing people did not have the right to education, employment, or opportunities. Since then, there have been 26 U.S. Presidents—16 Republicans and 10 Democrats— and the NAD has worked with and persevered through all of them to achieve many of the rights we now enjoy.
We face uncertain times and an undefined agenda, but our advocacy work has endured 137 years and will continue until the day we achieve true equality. There are deaf and hard of hearing people being marginalized in many different areas, and this includes oppression and discrimination based on intersectional identities. We as a community must advocate on behalf of every deaf and hard of
We face uncertain times and an undefined agenda, but our advocacy work has endured 137 years and will continue until the day we achieve true equality. Unlike many countries in the world, we have gained new rights such as: education of deaf children; access to universities; mandate for qualified (and sometimes licensed) interpreters; access to medical and legal services; accessible telecommunication options; captioning in almost every area; the right to work; and more. Yes, we still face challenges and barriers. We have much work to do to advocate for an accessible and equitable world.
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hearing individual to ensure all of them have equal communication access and equal rights. Anything less is inequality and is unacceptable.
Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq. has served as the NAD Chief Executive Officer since 2011.
#NADHANDWAVE At any gathering, one will either see a wave of hands in the air from the audience or hear applause when an individual is recognized for his or her work. The #NADhandwave is a community initiative to recognize people in the deaf and hard of hearing community. The NAD belives advocacy lies at the heart of the deaf and hard of hearing community, and people’s efforts
should not go unnoticed. The #NADhandwave will go to any person who embodies the true spirit of the NAD, and has contribute valuable efforts to today’s society. If you know someone who deserves a #NADhandwave, submit suggestions at: nad.org/forms/contact-NAD (select “#NADhandwave” as the area of interest).
December 2016 Kim Anderson & Chriz Dally
February 2017 Jodee Crace
January 2017 Juliette “Jo” Bienvenu
April 2017 Dorian Fletcher
#NADHANDWAVE
NADmag | Spring 2016 NADmag | Spring 2017
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SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT Students from the Alaska School for the Deaf ask President Melissa some questions:
JORDYN Junior President
MIQUEL Senior Member
TONY Senior Vice President
What is your dream and vision for the NAD, as well as the Jr. NAD?
Were you a member of Jr. NAD?
Why did you decide to run for office?
EMMANUEL Sophomore President
JAMIE Freshman Secretary
LIEF Senior Member
Do you feel challenged, honored, and humbled as a deaf female president of the NAD?
What is your proudest moment as a deaf person?
When did you decide to run for president and why did you go for it?
ZACHARY Junior Treasurer
What is your plan for each state if the decision is made that every deaf student should be mainstreamed without accommodations?
To read Melissa’s answers, please go to: nad.org/schoolspotlight-answers
NADmag | Spring 2017
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REGIONAL NEWS
Region I
BY MICHELLE CLINE & STEVE LOVI
6Pennsylvania: PSAD members, along with the NAD, participated in a Capitol Hill Advocacy Day on March 1st to support H.R. 1120, the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act. The Pennsylvania group was one of the largest in attendance. PSAD is also working on updating Act 57 sign language interpreter registry law to add requirements for mental health interpreting. PSAD is collaborating with state legislators on a proposed bill called “Language Readiness for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.”
Region II
5New Jersey: NJAD hosted their first annual Deaf Youth Day on March 4 at the Marie H. Katzenbach School of the School (NJSD). Workshops for parents and fun activities for children aged 2-21 were provided. Tawny Holmes from the NAD gave presentations on Deaf Education and IEP 101 to parents.
BY LINSAY DARNALL, JR. & RICHARD MCCOWIN
Kentucky: Kentucky School for the Deaf and Kentucky Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing celebrated National Deaf Youth Day on March 6th.
5 Kansas: On March 8th, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Day was held at the Kansas Capitol Building. Highlights include many different exhibition booths including a KAD booth, and presentations about seven different organizations’ missions. Attendees had an opportunity to meet with several legislators. 12
Illinois: IAD has collaborated with legislators to introduce SB0752 and HB1811. SB0752 amends the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission Act to improve delivery of services to Illinoisans. HB1811 extends the repeal date of the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007. In addition, the IAD responded to the Mount Sinai Health System’s closure of their Deaf Health Program, a program serving more
REGIONAL NEWS
than 1,000 Deaf patients in the Chicagoland area. Leaders from IAD, Chicago Chapter of the National Black Deaf Advocates and Illinois Deaf Latino Association convinced the hospital to restore services. Indiana: The LEAD-K Team drafted a bill and is now working on building a coalition for support and will submit it for the 2018 legislative session. IAD is preparing for their Biennial Conference, April 21-22 in Indianapolis with Richard McCowin as the keynote speaker. Conference theme is “Creating Connections.” IAD established a working committee on employment issues with EmployIndy, a large non-profit that works with companies to hire more individuals that are typically overlooked in hiring process. IAD hosted fundraiser for the Youth Committee to serve Deaf/ KODA youths in the community. Iowa: IAD served on the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) which analyzes student achievement and makes recommendations to school administrations. Missouri: MoAD hosted a workshop, “Chapter Retreat” on March 4. Chris Wagner, former NAD President, led the workshop and explained the roles of the Board of Directors and members. MoAD Board of Directors formed an AD-HOC committee to recommend new changes for MoAD.
North Dakota: NDAD hosted the Centennial Celebration in Fargo in September. Guest presenters included Mike Olsen, who presented about NDAD’s history; Linsay Darnall, Jr., inspired NDAD with ideas on how to recruit; and Howard A. Rosenblum presented on the various activities of the NAD. Ohio: There’s been much progress since OAD’s founding in 1961. OAD leaders are committed to improve quality of life for deaf people by pushing for accessible auto insurance, and setting up Community Centers. OAD is currently working with its LEAD-K Team on language acquisition for deaf children. South Dakota: SDAD had a busy few months with two legislative bills: HB 1149 and HB 1210. HB 1149 proposes to reduce the tax on all telecommunication lines to $.13 per line per month to reduce the buildup of surplus funds. HB 1210 was authorized to sell under-utilized or unused properties owned by the state, including the South Dakota School for the Deaf (SDSD), which will be moved to a much smaller facility. Both bills passed and now sit on the desk of the Governor for his signature.
5Wisconsin: WAD has been active with four 5Nebraska: NeAD hosted a historic Town Hall for deaf and hard of hearing people at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on December 2, 2016. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts gave a presentation and emphasized about how state agencies need to serve deaf and hard of hearing people better.
possible legislations: Mental Health, Deaf Education, Deaf Commission, and Interpreter Licensure for the current legislative cycle. WAD also celebrated Deaf Youth week by spotlighting Wisconsin deaf youths on Social Media. WAD hosted its 2nd annual Deaf Legislative/Lobby Day on April 19th. WAD’s conference will be held June 22-25.
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REGIONAL NEWS
Region III
BY HOLLY KETCHUM & JERRY NELSON
Arkansas: AAD volunteered at the Great Plains School for the Deaf (GPSD) Basketball Tournament. During this event, AAD offered a free membership to those who attended. North Carolina: NCAD is busy with modifying HB84 which seeks a deaf or hard of hearing designation for driver’s licenses upon request and pushing to change this to a designation in the database instead. Mississippi: The Mississippi School for the Deaf (MSD) Superintendent, also a member of MAD, went to Washington, DC and met with several lawmakers to discuss the Cogswell/Macy bill. Also, MSD received accreditation from Advanced ED. Alabama: AAD worked on two legislative bills this year: HB253, LEAD-K Bill, which had initial opposition due to misinformation, and HB292, the license plate bill, which was initially opposedby the deaf community. After AAD’s efforts,the bill has been modified so that when a police officer looks up a license plate,“DEAF”will pop up as part of the information listed. South Carolina: SCAD monitored two bills: S.220, an amendment to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing children have the right to receive proper accommodation services. And S. 195, a bill to help identify deaf and hard of hearing drivers. Oklahoma: OAD put together a legislative committee to assist with OAD’s legislative strategies. OAD also set up a LEAD-K committee. OAD opposes HB1757 that seeks to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter. Georgia: GAD will have their conference July 27-29 in Rome. 14
Florida: FAD is still working on an appeal of a lawsuit against Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach for using only VRI. FAD will award two college scholarships at $1,000 each to two students.FAD is celebrating its 100th anniversary during their biennial conference this November. Louisiana: The great flood of August 2016 in Southern Louisiana was the biggest flooding disaster since 1926 for many families and businesses. ZVRS, Sorenson, LAD, and several individuals contributed to help the families. LAD hosted two workshops, one on conflict transformation and one on estate planning. Tennessee: TAD monitored a bill to accept ASL as a foreign language, and the bill has gone through committees, but is pending for a vote.
REGIONAL NEWS
Region IV
BY LISA FURR & MARTIN PRICE
Alaska: ADC has been involved in some legislative items in the Alaska Legislature: HB16 and SB42, the Disability Identification and Training Act, which requires standardized training for all law enforcements on how to identify if a citizen they are stopping has a disability and approach and communicate appropriately; SB 80, which mandates TRS surcharges on mobile phone lines and expand the equipment distribution program to allow mobile devices. The Denali Deaf Community Center Board is busy with youth events.
aids and services for effective communication; HB 1106, focusing on ASL Interpreter Licensure; HB 1107, focusing on registration of interpreter referral agencies; and SB 535, which would provide insurancecoverage of hearing aids. Idaho: HB 46, Interpreter Licensure, awaiting the Governor’s signature. Nevada: Plans are underway to submit a bill to form a Commission. New Mexico: SB411, Telecommunications surcharges on modern technologies passed, awaiting waiting for the Governor’s signature. HB 283, communication registry, add options on driver’s license; however, the deaf and hard of hearing community expressed concerns that legislators didn’t involve them to discuss this bill.
5Arizona: Annette Reichman, Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) Superintendent, was invited to sign the pledge of allegiance during the legislative session,a historic first! Governor Ducey committed in the proposed 2018 budget $800K to ASDB for the Early Childhood and Family Education program. AZAD plays an active role as a supporter for DGM-AZ and works with the local liaison, Heather Russell. California: The Biennial ASL Celebration took place at the State this year. Sheri Farina is CAD’s lobbyist in Sacramento and this event is important to build relationships with legislators. Hawaii: After the success of HB 1272 in 2015 requiring open movie captioning for at least two showings per week of each motion picture that is produced. several bills were introduced in the Hawaii legislature: SB 1157, which would fine any health care provider who fails to provide auxiliary
Oregon: OAD is waiting for three bills: SB 1081, Oregon Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Mental Health for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals Bill of Rights Act; and the Language Equity Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K). Additionally, OAD is monitoring several bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives – to find out more, check OAD’s website. Utah: UAD had success with HB60 which changes “hearing impaired” to “Deaf/Hard of Hearing” in all government communications. The bill passed in both House and Senate, waiting for the Governor’s signature. Washington: WSAD was very disappointed with HB1303 regarding EIPA since 200 interpreters took the test but only 70 of them passed. WSAD will hire lobbyist to sway more nay votes. WSAD plans to develop a bill for LEAD-K within a year. NADmag | Spring 2017
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FEATURE
MARC CHARMATZ Original Litigator for the NAD
BY HOWARD A. ROSENBLUM
Only one person has worked for every executive director of the NAD and only one person has been involved in all the NAD’s legal work. A legend 40 years in the making, he is considered the Father of Deaf Law. Despite having filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing people, he is humble and does not seek attention. His name is Marc Charmatz and he is still working at the NAD!
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MARC CHARMATZ
Marc’s dedication to filing complaints has led to a number of very important, public decisions bringing attention to the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people.
From his start at the NAD in 1977, Marc was involved in the earliest cases on disability rights. He immediately saw opportunities and took daring risks to bring new legal challenges to the courts. Marc carefully selected cases to create landmark decisions, working tirelessly to seek the best results for his clients. He has spent many long days and nights working on cases that advanced not only the interests of his individual clients, but also that of the deaf and hard of hearing community as a whole.
he turn it down. Fred asked Marc why he wanted to work for the NAD, and Marc responded: “I want to file complaints.” He wanted to sue. Knowing how deaf people needed to challenge the system, Fred told Marc, “you’re hired!” True to his word, Marc has been advancing the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people across the country by filing lawsuits in federal courts for four decades.
“I want to file complaints.”
Marc’s dedication to filing complaints has led to a number of very important, public decisions bringing attention to the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. He has been prolific in his filings, and a review of federal court cases with Marc filing an appearance shows he has been involved in at least 100 federal cases over these 40 years! He has filed cases in at least 24 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, and nearly all of the federal appellate courts!
Marc often proudly recounts the story of how he came to work at the NAD. He graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 1972 and became licensed in Maryland the same year. He worked as a union lawyer for a few years, but he wanted more time in court and was looking for another job. In 1977, he saw an ad posted by the NAD seeking an attorney. He applied and met Fred Schreiber, the first executive director of the NAD. Fred interviewed Marc in his car with the car radio blasting, but Marc was too embarrassed to ask that
Marc began filing cases promoting rights under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. His first cases often involved universities and departments of vocational rehabilitation refusing to provide sign language interpreters for college classes. Marc even got involved in a case early on that went all the way to the Supreme Court, arguing before this highest court in his second year with the NAD. This was the 1978 case of Davis v. Southeastern Community College, in which a deaf person was denied the opportunity to enroll in nursing school because the Supreme Court
He is well known at the NAD and among his peers and friends for his incredible intellect, remarkable recall of legal precedents, witty wisdom, and profound parables.
NADmag | Spring 2017
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MARC CHARMATZ
Marc shares advice for the clinic.
justices unanimously did not think a deaf person could be a nurse. Marc did not give up and prevailed in cases proving that deaf individuals have the right to be nursing and medical school students in several cases including the 2013 case of Argenyi v. Creighton and the 2014 case of Featherstone v. Pacific Northwest University. His cases on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing individuals have covered every aspect of life including: the rights of deaf parents to have access to school meetings involving hearing children; deaf
prison inmates seeking the right to interpreters and videophones; deaf truckers seeking to obtain CDLs to drive trucks; employment discrimination; football stadium access; refusal of hospitals to provide onsite interpreters (and forcing the use of VRI); and communication access in courts for deaf persons who are the party, a spectator, or the lawyer. Throughout all of these cases, Marc has handled complaints with humility, never talking about his extraordinary body of work.
[...] He fully understood that the NAD was about deaf leadership, and he voluntarily stepped down in 2002 from the position of director so that a deaf lawyer could lead the center. 18
MARC CHARMATZ
A common scene in the conference room involves the clinic taking notes from Marc.
“I like it when Deaf people are in charge.” Marc was a trailblazer for the NAD as its first lawyer, creating new law from the cases he filed. Under his direction, as the director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center for more than 25 years, Marc oversaw many law students and lawyers – deaf and hearing. However, he fully understood that the NAD was about deaf leadership, and he voluntarily stepped down in 2002 from the position of director so that a deaf lawyer could lead the center. He has mentored many deaf lawyers including, but not limited to: Sheila Conlon Mentkowski, Kelby Brick, Suzy Rosen Singleton, Claudia Gordon, Michael Stein, Debra Patkin, Andrew Phillips, Zainab Alkebsi, and Anna Bitencourt. Since he started with the NAD, he has reported to deaf executive directors starting with the very first
one, Fred Schreiber, through Al Pimental, Gary Olson, Merv Garretson, Charles Estes, Nancy Bloch, and Howard A. Rosenblum. “I like it when young people make decisions.” Marc is a strong believer in fostering the next generation to promote the civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. With these words and his commitment, Marc ensures that each generation of attorneys passing through the NAD gains the experience they need to grow and excel. As a professor responsible for the disability rights clinic at the University of Maryland Law School for many years, he has taught and mentored countless law students who are now practicing law across the country. He has used this clinic to provide hands on experience to several law students each semester, NADmag | Spring 2017
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MARC CHARMATZ
which in turn has educated many current attorneys about the civil rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. With Marc’s 40 years of experience, he could take the lead role in most cases, but he does not. Rather, he consistently insists that he take a back seat and allow young lawyers to gain experience drafting complaints, conducting discovery, drafting briefs, arguing motions, and more. In a recent trial, Marc chose to sit in the spectator area and support his protégés, Mary Vargas and Caroline Jackson as they engaged in a two-week trial resulting in a victory for a deaf client. Marc stood behind the entire legal team every step of the way, but seeking neither attention nor accolades for his long hours and tireless work. “I like working at the NAD!”
Marc has constantly expressed how much he enjoys working with the NAD staff and striving to fulfill its mission. No words can express our deep gratitude, but we say thank you and congratulations on your 40th anniversary! It is with honor that we proudly recognize Marc’s unbelievable dedication, professional accomplishments, and inspiring influence he has had on all of us. We look forward to many more years of legal contributions from Marc and his 50th anniversary with the NAD! Editor’s Note: this article was put together with the help of former NAD intern Jenelle Bloom, former NAD attorneys Mary Vargas and Michael Stein, and the NAD Law and Advocacy Center.
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Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq. has served as the NAD Chief Executive Officer since 2011.
NADmag | Spring 2017
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FEATURE
Our Experience as Hearing Mothers of a Deaf Child
BY KRYSTLE CURLEY & CLAUDIA HERNANDEZ Coming from opposite directions in New Mexico, the Curley and Quiñonez families met for the first time in Santa Fe at the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD). The families met while the Curley family was on campus for a tour of the Family Housing Program that provides free campus housing for a year. In return, families agree to volunteer and take ASL classes. When Elias Curley was born, Krystle, his mom, was excited to have a child to share life’s experiences with, to accomplish milestones together, and enjoy the bond of mother and son. Elias “failed” his newborn hearing screening and was given false hope by professionals that it was just fluid in his ears. She was reassured that her baby could hear. A month later, Elias had his first audiologist appointment and failed again. Krystle was in tears; she felt it was her fault. For his first two years, Elias’ family kept his deafness on a “need to know basis” for immediate family only. Krystle felt empty and lonely. Every day, she would stare at Elias and wonder how she could communicate with him. 22
Krystle is from the Four Corners area and is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is of the Big Water people clan, born for the Mud People clan. Her maternal clan is the Towering House clan and her paternal clan is the Mountain Cove clan. In her Navajo culture they have teachings and prayers that are done to realign thoughts and remind her of who she is, her role as a female, and how important it is to take care of her family. Still not fully accepting his deafness, but as a result of her culture’s teachings, Krystle did realize that at the age of two, Elias needed language. After one of his many audiologist appointments, Krystle was referred to Early Childhood Services in Farmington for home visits and playtime and to learn ASL. Krystle didn’t know any sign and was embarrassed trying to learn. To be honest, she didn’t want to spend the time to learn. She felt like giving up, but was reminded that this was for Elias. In September, 2012, Elias turned three, and started receiving services at the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe. Over the next two years, he had
HEARING MOTHERS OF DEAF CHILDREN
Still not fully accepting his deafness, but as a result of her culture’s teachings, Krystle did realize that at the age of two, Elias needed language.
nine different support specialists come into his home and they eventually became “part of his family.” They had class at the dinner table, played games, and shared their stories and experiences. That’s when Krystle knew she wasn’t alone and that everything was going to be alright. In August 2014, the Curley family was accepted in the Family Housing Program at NMSD. It was tough to leave their family and friends in Farmington, but they knew this was for the best. Elias started preschool at NMSD and is now on his way to finishing up first grade! They spent two years in the program and met their goal of transitioning to Santa Fe and making this city their new home. In the beginning, Krystle thought their milestones would never be met and her bond with Elias could be broken because of the language barrier. Now her eyes are open to a new perspective in life where she can tell him how much she loves him and SHOW him. Angelique Quiñonez was born deaf on April 15, 2007 to hearing parents, Claudia Hernandez and Luis Quinonez. Angelique has two younger brothers, Jason and Damian, who are also hearing. Her mother wondered how she would communicate with Angelique. She started to do research after doctors gave her false hope and pushed for cochlear implants. Claudia was worried because she had never met a deaf person and lived in a very small town in the southwest
Elias Curley with his mom, Krystle.
Angelique Quiñonez participates in the Spelling Bee.
part of New Mexico where there are very limited resources. In her research, she found a program that would help her learn sign language to communicate with her child. At the age of 18 months, Angelique started preschool at the Las Cruces branch of the New Mexico School for the Deaf. NADmag | Spring 2017
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HEARING MOTHERS OF DEAF CHILDREN
Elias and his parents during sign language class.
At the school, Angelique picked up sign language fast; it was so natural for her. In 2010, a deaf mentor from the AmeriCorp was assigned to the family to teach them how to interact with their deaf child. Luis was not very thrilled about learning a new language; he really thought it was a waste of their time. It wasn’t until after a few mentoring sessions that he finally realized how important ASL was. The Quiñonez family continued to learn and attend events in the deaf community. In 2012, Angelique’s family moved to Santa Fe so that she could attend NMSD. Angelique is now 10 years old and has made great strides while attending NMSD. She excels in math and English. Her communication and language skills are constantly improving, as well as her selfconfidence. She is involved in many extra-curricular activities like volleyball, soccer, swimming and hip-hop, ballet, and Jazz dance classes. Angelique loves to read and enjoys learning. She wants to go to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC to become a math teacher and a professional volleyball player! Angelique’s two younger brothers, Jason and Damian, are trilingual and love being able to communicate with her. Luis fulfilled his dream of becoming a police officer and during his graduation ceremony at the police academy, he signed the national anthem. Claudia is attending a community college to pursue a degree in Spanish while
Angelique smiles with her parents and her two younger brothers, Jason and Damian.
working full time as the Referral Specialist for the Interpreting Department at NMSD. They are also proud homeowners in Santa Fe and are very involved in the deaf community. Claudia and Krystle love seeing their children interact and communicate with others and being so involved in the deaf community. They are grateful for the community’s acceptance of their families, and continue to further their ASL skills. The barriers that they faced are now blessings in their lives, giving them new points of view as moms of their deaf children. They both know that learning with their deaf child is the best way to stay connected and help with their education, self-esteem, and growth.
Krystle Curley is from Kirtland, New Mexico. With her husband, they have only one son, Elias Cole, who is 7 years old and he currently attends the New Mexico School for the Deaf.
Claudia Hernandez was born and raised in Southwest, New Mexico and is now living in Sante Fe, New Mexico as a mother to three amazing children.
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FEATURE
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its Impact on Deaf People BY BRIDGETTA BOURNE-FIRL
Before passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, it was legal to discriminate against deaf people. Imagine that? Today’s younger generation probably would say, “No way!”
Life before the ADA Prior to 1990, staff meetings, even emergency procedure-related training, would not be accessible to deaf employees. Telecommunication relay service did not exist until the late 1980s, and even then the service was only available during limited hours by generous community service providers. During this time of 26
limited relay, there were long waits before we could place a phone call. Doctors, hospitals, and medical offices were not required to provide interpreters. Deaf persons had to bring their own or be forced to write back and forth with the doctors and medical staff. I remember when my worried husband waited a long time in front of his TTY until he was connected to a
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volunteer relay agent so that he could call a parent of a student when he was a dorm supervisor overseeing 40 boys at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, DC. Deaf people had almost no rights before 1990. The exception was the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which required that all programs that receive federal funding be accessible to deaf people and people with disabilities. This law was the beginning of access to places such as universities, hospitals, employers, and many other places. Between 1973 and 1990, deaf people did have a way to remedy discrimination, but only if the program received federal funds. Advocates United to Lobby for a New Civil Rights Law From 1988 through 1990, advocates from every part of the disability community came together and knew that they needed to work to pass a new civil rights law for people with disabilities. Each disability group brought issues and concerns that they wanted to be addressed under this anticipated new civil rights law for people with disabilities. There were many meetings prior to introducing the bill for this desired law. The deaf community was represented at these meetings by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) as well as the National Center for Law and the Deaf (NCLD) that used to exist at Gallaudet
University. I had the privilege of observing those meetings in 1989. Gary Olsen, NAD Executive Director, Fred Weiner, NAD Special Assistant, and Marc Charmatz, NAD attorney, participated in those meetings as well as others who supported us, such as attorney Karen Peltz-Strauss. Each group was asked to bring four issues to the meetings. The NAD and NCLD brought up areas of concern relating to: access to emergency services (including 911); employment; telecommunications; and the qualification of interpreters. At that time, the most challenging issue for the disability community was transportation access for persons who use wheelchairs. All of the disability groups were able to come together and support full access for each other through new language in the proposed civil rights law, calling for full access in the areas of employment, access to state and local governments, access to private businesses, and telecommunications. This proposed civil rights law would become known as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and was built upon the already existing framework for civil rights from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin, and other protected classes. The ADA went beyond these laws and prohibited discrimination on the basis of
The ADA went beyond these laws and prohibited discrimination on the basis of disability in almost all parts of life. This law was the first of its kind in the world. NADmag | Spring 2017
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“Once the ADA was enacted, deaf people were hungry for information about how the ADA applied to their lives in specific contexts.” disability in almost all parts of life. This law was the first of its kind in the world. Fred Weiner, currently the assistant vice president for administration at Gallaudet University, recalled, “It was a very exciting time to be involved in Deaf issues. The Deaf President Now movement just happened and the ADA was a very important issue in Congress and the White House. As a result, today, we have much better access to information and employment opportunities. That being said, we still have much to accomplish and must continue to fight for our civil rights.” After the Law Passed, Regulations Were Developed The passage of the ADA in 1990 did not mean that everyone had to follow the law right away. Most of the provisions of the ADA did not take effect until 1992, and many of the mandates required regulations to help explain what people needed to do to comply with the law. For example, the law required the provision of “qualified interpreters”, but it was the regulations that defined what this phrase meant. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) held hearings across the country to seek comments for those regulations. At the time, I worked as a Program Specialist with the Professional and Community Training unit in the National Academy (which was housed in the College for Continuing Education at Gallaudet University) in the 1980s and 1990s. I 28
attended these hearings with my former supervisor Susan Karchmer and between the two of us, we split the work to educate the public on the proposed regulations that would define “qualified interpreter.” DOJ deaf attorney Robert “Bob” Mather helped with the drafting of the regulations, including the definition of qualified interpreters and other aspects that directly affect deaf and hard of hearing people. He was and continues to be instrumental in making sure that communication access and other rights of deaf and hard of hearing people are considered in the application of the ADA. Training Across the United States to Empower Deaf People “Once the ADA was enacted, deaf people were hungry for information about how the ADA applied to their lives in specific contexts. Does the ADA require employers to provide interpreters for me even though I’ve had the same position for a long time without an interpreter? What about my doctor, he told me that we have been communicating just fine and that we do not need an interpreter. What can I say to receptionists when I stay at hotels and would like a TTY in my room so that I can communicate on my own?” reflected Jeff Rosen, another deaf attorney who was working at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at the time. While I was working at the National Academy, I asked my supervisors if I could take some time
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studying the law and regulations to develop and create training materials specifically to educate deaf and hard of hearing people on what the ADA can do for them. When this was happening, Dr. Roslyn “Roz” Rosen was the NAD President and she valued and completely supported the idea of providing training to the deaf and hard of hearing community on their rights under the ADA. At that time, Dr. Rosen was not only the NAD President, but was also the Dean of College for Continuing Education at Gallaudet University. Given her unique position at both the NAD and Gallaudet, I was able to serve as a trainer on the new law. I was fortunate to be able to work alongside other trainers including Pam Holmes from Ultratec, as well as deaf attorneys such as: Bob Mather, Sheila Mentkowski, and Jeff Rosen. We traveled across the country and provided trainings in 10 major cities from New York City to Honolulu through the support of the Gallaudet University Regional Centers (GURCs). Altogether, the trainings reached 10,000 deaf and hard of hearing people and educated them on their new civil rights. Jeff Rosen explains, “The ADA training was an incredible unlocking of deaf people’s sense of taking control of their lives in striving for equal opportunity in ways that they themselves can determine.” Included in the population we reached through those trainings was Howard Rosenblum in Chicago, who was at the time a deaf attorney in practice and is the current NAD CEO. Training on the ADA was provided at the NAD’s regional and national conferences, and at the NAD’s national state association leaders’ meetings. Gallaudet University did a train-the-trainer session so that there would be more presenters knowledgeable on the ADA around the country.
After these tremendously successful training sessions, our deaf community became more prepared, knew what to advocate for, learned how to do it diplomatically, and knew how to file complaints. After that, there was no turning back. Deaf people have advanced professionally, and have gained access to medical care, communication, to colleges and universities, and to telecommunications via video relay service. Status of the ADA in 2017 The promise of the ADA is not yet realized. Many deaf and hard of hearing people are still facing discrimination. This has spawned a grassroots movement within the deaf community – Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM). DGM has focused on three main issues: employment, communication access, and education. I have met people who have told me that they have tried applying for numerous jobs, but are not even being called in for interviews. People do not know what to do when faced with such discrimination.
Seattle was one of the stops as a part of the ADA tour across the country. After the training, Sharon Bruton (Bridgetta’s cousin who worked at the restaurant at the time and later became an interpreter), Bridgetta, and Danny Delcambre (a DeafBlind restaurant owner/chef) after a training session in Seattle, Washington.
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It is now 27 years after the passage of the ADA, and it continues to be important for deaf and hard of hearing people across the country to learn and be aware of their rights under this law. With the passage of years, the ADA has been applied to a greater extent in new areas. For example, the 9th Circuit, the federal Appeals Court found that the ADA requires schools to provide communication access to deaf students, and this represents a new understanding of our rights under the ADA. In addition, the NAD made sure that the ADA applies to the Internet through its Netflix lawsuit.
Brigetta Bourne-Firl is one of the four student leaders for the Deaf President Now movement and a former Americans with Disabilities Act trainer working with the National Association of the Deaf and Gallaudet University. After being in California for nearly two decades, she returned to the Washington DC area and is currently the Director of Training, Products & Dissemination at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center.
It is now 27 years after the passage of the ADA, and it continues to be important for deaf and hard of hearing people across the country to learn and be aware of their rights under this law. More training is needed. As a part of transition before graduation from high schools, deaf and hard of hearing students should receive training on their legal rights. Deaf and hard of hearing adults looking for jobs should receive training on their civil rights so they are prepared to address discrimination, if they encounter any. “We must forge a new chapter in providing much needed civil rights and human dignity to a historically ignored community,� explained Dr. Angela McCaskill, associate professor within the Department of Government and Public Affairs at Gallaudet University. Our work is far from being done. We need to give our people opportunities to learn their civil rights so they can experience equal opportunities in schools, in the workplace, in the government, in the public. NADmag | Spring 2017
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FEATURE
Civic resistance can begin with one person or a group of people. Claudette Colvin was one who resisted bus segregation. Kathrine Switzer was one who broke barriers and became the first female marathon runner. The death of Trayvon Martin, one tragic life lost, sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. Two hundred Native Americans rode on horseback to Standing Rock to protest the Dakota Pipeline. Residents brought tote jugs of discolored water to a community forum to bring attention to the Flint Water Crisis. Amy Rowley and her parents sued her school district to obtain an interpreter. The NAD demanded Internet accessibility and won a lawsuit against Netflix, securing 100% captioning of its streaming media.
SHOWING UP BY LIZZIE SORKIN
NAD LGBT Section and Florida Association of the Deaf hosted a memorial for the Orlando Pulse Club during #NAD2016.
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We must become vigilant, not just for ourselves but for others. Civic resistance was also the basis of the founding of the NAD in 1880, with the intent of combating oralism. Since that time, our mission has focused on preserving, protecting, and promoting our civil, human and linguistic rights, and to support this founding principle of the NAD. We wanted to collect photos that highlight the intersectionality within our community as we engage in civic resistance. Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Our initial call for photos prompted input from the community asking that the spread also include photos from the board and staff of the NAD. We agree that as employees and volunteers of the nation’s premier civil rights organization for deaf and hard of hearing, we must also commit to the mission and show up for civic resistance as individuals.The idea of a photo spread also sparked a monthly training series for the Headquarters staff. It is important for the NAD to remain committed to resistance and this training series will support that. As employees, we must continue to learn about others, unpack our privilege, and serve our community. Awkward and uncomfortable conversations must be had amongst us, only to understand ourselves a bit more than before. If we do not know their story, how will barriers be broken? With over 100 photos submitted, it was tough deciding which ones would be included in the NADmag! The photos really illustrated how intersectional our community is. Our acts of resistance at various protests do affect change. I’ve
learned that people can “show up” in various ways. Sometimes it is physically showing up at a protest or sending tweets to your representative from home. Sometimes it is sending money to a non-profit that covers daycare services for families. Sometimes it is having a conversation with your family and friends about racial injustice. Sometimes it is asking yourself what your privileges are. Sometimes it is making a new friend that is different from you. Sometimes you have to ask questions. But in the end, it always starts with you. America has often progressed only when its citizens are engaged in civic resistance. Breaking barriers require changing the status quo. For instance, the NAD is finally led by its first president of color after 136 years. There are many challenges within our deaf community including fragile schools for the deaf, inaccessible hospitals, and dangerous interactions with law enforcement. While we must address these issues, let’s not limit ourselves to the problems that exist for the deaf community. This photo spread shows that many of us are just as committed to other movements as our own. Our intersectional identities remind us that we must care about all issues affecting us. We must become vigilant, not just for ourselves but for others. Resistance can be achieved by showing up and telling people, “This is not okay.” Tweet, vote, write letters to your federal and state representatives, join your state association, march, let people know what is injustice and show them what is. You too can resist injustice and oppression; tell us, what will you do to resist.
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NAD Staff Tawny and Maine Education Advocate Roxanne Baker resist together in front of the U.S. Capitol after the Women’s March.
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Herstory Protest in Rochester, NY on January 21, 2017; photo provided by Cat Cassidy.
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Pinky Aiello protests in Berlin, Germany for the Day of Equality for People with Disabilities in May 2016.
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NAD Board member Holly and other Arkansans, Kitsonia, Shannon, Sonja, Melaine, and Xylophila resist in Little Rock.
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NAD Board members Linsay Jr. and Richard commented during a protest in 1998 for the Nebraska School for the Deaf to remain open.
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Deaf Grassroots Movement-Illinois share comments at the State Capitol in May 2016.
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Deaf Grassroots Movement Oklahoma rally in Oklahoma City, May 2016.
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Signage demands Clean Water; photo provided by Michelle Mcauliffe.
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The NAD joins many others to ask for a Deaf President Now in 1988; NAD archives.
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Black Lives Matter at Gallaudet University; photo provided by Bethany Weiner.
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Kyle Amber Clark and other Deaf Women of DC, a DWU affiliate, march together in the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
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Nikki and Bailey Surber believes that Muslims are always welcome.
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ASL Protest in Ohio in 1989; NAD archives.
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Rochester people stand with refugees in New York; sign made by Sarah Gordon, photo by Julie Oldfield.
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Deaf Grassroots Movement-New York in May 2016; photo provided by Robert Tawney.
SHOWING UP
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Julie Hochgesang and her two sons resist in D.C in 2017.
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Audism Free America members Mark, Melly, Patti, Karen, Ruthie and Shawn (not shown) take a stand during their sit-in that happened during their 3-day rally in, D.C., 2011.
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Michelle GersonWagner cannot be silent at a “Stand with Planned Parenthood” protest in Rochester, NY in Feb. 2017.
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Persian-American Nassim Navi recreated this photo in response to the Muslim Ban and the Women’s March. Nassim is a deaf Iranian who became a U.S. citizen at 21. Photo inspired by ritzdesign.
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Some NAD Staff members and community members Fatima, Michael, Smitha, and Adam protest the #MuslimBan near the U.S. Supreme Court. This led to setting up the Show Up In ASL Facebook page.
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People resist during the LGBTIQA Rally and March in St. Louis, Missouri in February 2017. Photo provided by Randal Pituk.
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NAD Staff Anna, Allie, Zainab, Jazzy, and Howard march together at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
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A group of women stand together at the Women’s March in Ohio on January 21, 2017; photo submitted by Dawn Watts.
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NAD Board member Alicia and wife Susan LaneOutlaw don pink hats, knitted by a DeafBlind community member, moments after Alicia taught an estimated 100,000 marchers an ASL sign for “UNITY” in front of the Minnesota State Capitol.
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Native Yupi’k Eskimo from Napakiak, Alaska John Smart stands with Deafatives at the #NODAPL water protectors camp; John (with a green Seahawks beanie) is currently a Junior at the Washington School for the Deaf.
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NAD President Melissa teaches the audience how to sign “WOMEN” “RIGHTS” “YES” during the Women’s March in Philadelphia.
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Signage demands Clean Water; photo provided by Michelle Mcauliffe.
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NAD Board member Jenny reminds people, “Nothing about us, without us.”
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Stand-off between the Water Protectors and Morton County Law Enforcement in Standing Rock, October 2016. Photo provided by J.J. Bechhold.
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FEATURE
Overcoming Barriers as a Deaf Female CDL Trucker BY BRENDA PALMIGIANO & ZAINAB ALKEBSI
Brenda Palmigiano was fortunate to have been part of the very first group of deaf and hard of hearing truckers to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the Department of Transportation (DOT). However, her journey as a female deaf trucker was not without its battles. The DOT sets the safety standards for obtaining a CDL. These safety standards are called “Physical Qualification Standards.” The DOT’s Physical Qualification Standards currently require drivers to be able to hear. These requirements state that drivers have to be able to hear “a forced whisper at not less than five feet in the better ear with or without a hearing aid, or cannot have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid” (49 C.F. §391.41(b)(11), also known as “forced whisper test” or “hearing test”). Brenda went to two different DOT locations for her hearing test and received two different hearing results. She passed one of the hearing tests and failed the other. This made her suspect that the hearing test equipment is not reliable. However, the NAD and many deaf and hard of hearing people, including Brenda, have opposed 46
these safety standards for many years. There is no need for the hearing test. Deaf and hard of hearing people are just as capable as hearing people to be CDL truckers. Research shows that deaf and hard of hearing drivers have better perception skills than hearing drivers, in fact. With the NAD’s help, Brenda founded the Deaf Trucker United (DTU) group with the goal of advocating for the rights of all deaf and hard of hearing truckers across the country. DTU and the NAD approached the FMCSA with the goal of convincing the officials to repeal the hearing test requirement. While the NAD and DTU continue to advocate for the repeal of the hearing test, the DOT granted part of their request for the time being. On February 1, 2013, the DOT agreed to grant exemptions to drivers who are deaf and hard of hearing and who meet the other standards for the CDL. In doing so, the DOT agreed that deaf and hard of hearing people are safe drivers. In reaching its conclusion, the DOT relied upon an Executive Study that found that there is no increased crash risk with respect to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. That same Executive Study, commissioned by the FMSCA, also questioned the validity of the “forced whisper test.” With the assistance of the NAD, the first 40 deaf and hard of hearing applicants were granted exemptions from the hearing test requirement.
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
When Brenda first entered this profession, all the instructors were male and they looked down on her as a weak and ignorant deaf female trucker, but in spite of this, she has succeeded as a trucker. However, gaining the exemption was only the first step in a long fight to CDL equality. The next battle was the written test and the road test. The DOT refused to provide Brenda with an ASL interpreter because they were unfamiliar with the Code of Ethics and they felt that the interpreter could help her cheat on the test and also because they believed having an interpreter inside the cab would be a safety hazard. After some back and forth, Brenda was provided a 5x10 mirror inside the cab so that she could see the interpreter sitting behind her and to see the instructor indicating left/right turns ahead of time. Brenda has faced doubts not only as a deaf person but as a woman in a male-dominated trucking profession. When Brenda first entered this profession, all the instructors were male and they looked down on her as a weak and ignorant deaf female trucker, but in spite of this, she has succeeded as a trucker. Brenda passed the road test with flying colors on her fourth try! Brenda failed three previous road tests because of the lack of clear communication. Having an interpreter present to facilitate communication made all the difference. However, even though Brenda and other deaf truckers have been able to obtain their CDLs with the assistance of interpreters, the DOT has made some unfortunate changes in their policies. ASL interpreters may still be used for classes and road training. But the DOT has recently banned the use of interpreters during the road test. The NAD has been strongly advocating to DOT officers to repeal this interpreter ban.
Through her own advocacy and the NAD’s diligent efforts, Brenda achieved her dream of becoming a truck driver with a CDL. In October 2014, Brenda joined the NAD in a round table negotiation with the FMCSA to discuss ongoing discriminatory issues in the trucking business to increase awareness within the FMCSA regarding the communication and access needs of deaf and hard of hearing truckers. For those who are interested in obtaining a CDL – go for it! Various trucking companies have expressed concern regarding a shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. You can fill these positions. There are plenty of opportunities out there for truckers and you can work alone with minimum supervision. We need more deaf and hard of hearing truckers out on the road! If Brenda can do it, you can too. References available at: nad.org/deaf-female-cdl-trucker
Brenda Palmigiano is an advocate for issues facing deaf and hard of hearing truckers and has collaborated with the NAD and FMCSA on such issues.
Zainab Alkebsi is the Policy Counsel at the NAD and is responsible for providing analysis, recommendations, and counsel on policy issues affecting people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind.
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Interested in obtaining a CDL? The NAD has been advocating with the DOT to remove the hearing test requirement, and the DOT is considering doing so. In the meantime, if you are interested in obtaining your interstate CDL, the exemption program has grown from the first 40 deaf and hard of hearing drivers to now 477 drivers, and more are welcomed! Individuals who have safe driving records and want to obtain a CDL are encouraged to apply for exemptions from the Physical Qualification Standards. These written exemption requests should be mailed to: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590-0001 And you should keep us informed by sending a copy to us by email to CDL@nad.org or mail (certified) to: NAD — CDL Waiver Program 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820 Silver Spring, MD 20910
An exemption request should include the following: (1) a completed copy of the application (found online at our website) (2) a completed copy of the Medical Release of Information form (found online at our website); (3) a legible copy of the front and back of your valid driver’s license; (4) a recent, official copy of your driver abstract (driving record) from your state department of motor vehicles; (5) your recent audiogram. Please be aware that the FMCSA may take many months to process your application. Also, please be aware that if the FMCSA grants you an exemption, you will be required to apply for a new exemption every two years.
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FEATURE
Deaf Youth Perspective:
Understanding & Ending Mass Incarceration of Deaf & Disabled People BY DEREK J. LANDIS, LEGAL INTERN Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities (HEARD)
As a fourth-year culturally Deaf student majoring in Criminal Justice at the Rochester Institute of Technology and an intern for Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities (HEARD), I have a unique perspective on the effect of mass incarceration on deaf and disability communities. The importance of HEARD’s all-volunteer advocacy cannot be understated; and we need our community to support HEARD and join in HEARD’s fight against mass incarceration now, more than ever before.
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... one of the most overlooked factors contributing to mass incarceration is criminalization of disability ...
MASS INCARCERATION? In 2014, I was part of the group of six Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing Youth to develop some of the American Sign Language signs to introduce mass incarceration to the community. I was largely unaware of mass incarceration until I took a course called Disability and the Law with one of the founders of HEARD, Talila A. Lewis. Once I learned about the impact that mass incarceration has on deaf and disability communities, I was immediately compelled to get involved as a Deaf Youth Advocate to do my part to advance deaf justice and disability justice. Mass incarceration is the term used to refer to the United States’ ahistorical imprisonment of an unseemly number of people in local jails and state and federal prisons—mostly for non-violent crimes. To put this in perspective, consider that the rate of imprisonment in the United States has increased by eight hundred percent during less than four decades, despite the fact that crime is at historic lows. The United States makes up only 5% of the world’s population, but has 25% of all incarcerated people on the globe, easily taking the shameful title of being the world’s incarceration capital. Some of the major contributors to the growth of mass incarceration in the United States are the government’s insistence on use of harsh and disproportionate punishment instead of prevention and rehabilitation; creation and use of “tough on crime” sentencing legislation; profiling of race, class, and ethnic minorities; and privatization of prisons and prison contractors; among others.
However, one of the most overlooked factors contributing to mass incarceration is criminalization of disability, including lack of access to education for deaf/disabled students, and the severe lack of deaf and disability cultural competence within the entire criminal legal system. Relatedly, since most of our incarcerated population is imprisoned for non-violent drug-related offenses, we should be providing rehabilitation for people with addiction disabilities, not harsh punishment. In addition, deaf and disabled people have been killed, assaulted and arrested for deaf/disability-related behaviors that were misunderstood by law enforcement. HEARD created a Living Log of Police Brutality to help track these incidents and also worked for more than five years to locate deaf incarcerated people all across the nation. In fact, HEARD created the only national database of deaf incarcerated individuals to try to provide the necessary support and advocacy for our incarcerated community members, most of whom have disabilities. The school to prison pipeline is yet another huge problem that is directly related to mass incarceration. The school to prison pipeline describes the disturbing trend of funneling our school children out of schools and into the juvenile legal system. Schools have instituted “zero tolerance” policies that punish children for being children and/or for having disabilities. One suspension exponentially raises the likelihood of a child going to prison. Studies show that this “zero tolerance” approach is not effective and decreases educational outcomes, weakens relationships within school, and diverts funding from education to the carceral system. NADmag | Spring 2017
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HEARD
Importantly, race, class and disability play a big factor in mass incarceration and school to prison pipeline. For example, NBC News spent two years analyzing school discipline data of more than 95,000 schools across the nation. Among other things, they found that a black teen with disabilities was sixteen times more likely to be arrested in school than a white teen without disabilities. Other studies have shown that students of color, LGBTQI students, and students with disabilities are disciplined more harshly than their peers. People with mental illness also are arrested and locked away simply for having a disability—often being punished within the prison for behaviors that are directly related to their disability. These individuals need support and treatment, but because the U.S. has developed, within our population, a false sense that people who use drugs and people with mental illness are a “threat,” very rarely is sympathy shown or support provided to these individuals. Prisons were never designed as places for people with disabilities or deaf people, and yet that is the largest minority population found in jails and prisons today. Shockingly, people with disabilities make up twenty percent of our population, but represent 60-80% of jail and prison populations. Not to mention that many of the people who do not receive necessary support in the community are swept into the criminal legal system for status offenses; “crimes of need;” after they are wrongfully convicted; or after pleading guilty (over 90% of cases are resolved through guilty pleas).
Lastly, there is the issue of prison privatization, privatization of prison industries and of prison labor. Prisons are being operated by private companies who reap enormous profit from incarcerating people. Since many prisons are run for-profit, it is in the best the interest of prison corporations and prison industries to keep people in the prison system as long as possible. Thus, the companies with the most lobbying and financial power have a vested interest in keeping people incarcerated instead of rehabilitating them. In fact, their jobs depend on it. We have seen these companies lobby for more strict laws that require longer sentences and more laws, overall. This is all so these multi-million dollar companies can make even more profit off the backs of the most marginalized people in American society.
HEARD, THE DEAF ACCESS TO JUSTICE MOVEMENT, AND YOU! HEARD was founded in 2011 after disabled, deaf and hearing young people began working on deaf wrongful conviction cases but could not get support from large organizations that served deaf, disabled or wrongfully convicted individuals. These youth have been at the forefront of the effort to bring about disability/deaf justice and disability solidarity, while fighting against mass incarceration of all our communities. Since then, HEARD has investigated deaf multiple wrongful conviction cases; created a national database of deaf detainees and prisoners; supervised
... they found that a black teen with disabilities was sixteen times more likely to be arrested in school than a white teen without disabilities. 52
HEARD
HEARD volunteers and Attorney Amber Farrelly after the Baton Rouge, Louisiana HEARD day-long workshop, ‘The Crisis of Deaf Access to Justice and Deaf In Prison.’; L-R: Scott Huffman, Talila A. Lewis, Derek Landis, Amber D. Farrelly and Tina Banerjee.
over fifteen Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled Youth leaders (including myself); trained law enforcement, attorneys and legislators across the nation; fought to get videophones installed in prisons across the nation (this fight is ongoing for six years now); organized teach-ins and other events to educate our own community; and much more. Our all-volunteer organization has done all of this with no office, no staff, no attorneys. HEARD volunteers have a lot of heart and the strong will to see a change for the better for all of our communities.
thing you do to support this effort goes a long way. Here are some of the things I have done in just two years. Hopefully this gives you ideas and proves that every little bit helps.
Over the years, I have attended and presented at HEARD Deaf Access to Justice workshops. After these presentations, people often report feeling overwhelmed by the scope of this problem. Many feel like they do not know where to begin. In response, I would just encourage you to share that every little
In addition to helping create some of the ASL signs for mass incarceration concepts, I developed vlogs to explain these concepts in ASL and posted them online to help the community understand mass incarceration and all of its related issues. A vlog is a blog that contains video content.
I correspond with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing incarcerated people through traditional mail and will soon have opportunities to correspond with some of them via videophone in the prisons where HEARD has had success in getting videophones installed.
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HEARD
I was involved in a prison handbook translation project where we helped translate the English content of Monroe County (Rochester, New York) Jail regulations into American Sign Language to try to help deaf arrested/detained people in Monroe County understand the procedures and processes. Does your local jail or prison have information that is accessible for our community? I have conversations with my friends, professors, and family members about this topic and all I have witnessed through my work with HEARD. I host online conversations about these topics using #DeafEd, #DeafAccessToJustice and #DeafInPrison. Using these hashtags raises awareness and helps spread information. For example, even one short and simple Facebook or Twitter post using #DeafInPrison helps our effort. Related to that last point, I want to emphasize the importance of using social media to gain support for different causes in our communities. HEARD has created ASL videos to explain Twitter, but in brief, it is a free online social networking service that enables people to send and read text messages up to 140 characters in length called “tweets.” You can also upload video and photos—which obviously has even more benefits for our communities. HEARD has used this as a tool for uplifting our communities and highlighting important issues. In addition to hosting monthly #DeafEd Twitter chats, we also created #DeafInPrison and #DeafAccessToJustice to raise the profile of our community and our issues. I actually moderated HEARD’s very first #DeafEd twitter chat back in the fall of 2014!
and deaf in prison, but I also live tweeted the discussion using our hashtag so people who could not attend could participate and learn as well. So, if you want to help the community and take action, one of the ways to do it is hosting or participating in these or other Twitter chats and by using our hashtags to share information. Follow us on Twitter @behearddc to get the latest news on deaf education, deaf access to justice, deaf in prison, and much more. I end this article with a call to action. Please, for the sake of future generations, do something to help combat mass incarceration. To fight injustice, we must all work together to ensure that students; disabled community members; community members from marginalized racial/ethnic backgrounds; low and no income community members; and our incarcerated community members have access to resources they need to survive and thrive. We can’t do it alone. Join the Deaf Access to Justice Movement! References available online at nad.org/incarceration-ofdeaf-disabled-people
Derek Landis is a Deaf Youth Advocate from Frederick, Maryland. He strives to improve Deaf and Disabled people’s lives through advocacy, by building bridges so that marginalized people are able to live balanced lives and experience justice.
You also can use Twitter to engage people in events when they cannot attend. For example, I attended HEARD’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana workshop called “The Crisis of Deaf Access to Justice and Deaf in Prison.” While I was there, not only did I give a presentation on the issues of deaf access to justice NADmag | Spring 2017
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DEAF CULTURE TODAY
DeafGrassrootsMovement BY LIZZIE SORKIN
How did DGM become reality?
Prior to establishing the Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM), a Deaf Protest was held in September 2015 by seven core members. The term Deaf Protest was perceived as negative, so Wesley Arey, one of the seven core members came up with a new name for the movement, Deaf Grassroots. Since its inception, Deaf Grassroots Movement has thrived across the U.S., gaining chapters in different states to lobby at the state level to gain rights for communication access, education, and employment. DGM aims for better lives for deaf and hard of hearing people. This interview will provide some insight on how beneficial DGM is for our community and to help you understand how you can support its movement.
How many DGM chapters are there? How do you communicate with them?
There are 38 active DGM groups in the movement that collaborate by sharing Communication, Education and Job goals (CEJ). We communicate by sharing updates through vlogs or posts, mostly on a DGM National Forum. In addition, there is a National DGM Facebook page where state representatives meet, discuss and share ideas, then the state representatives share the information/ message with their state on their DGM State Facebook pages.
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DEAF CULTURE TODAY
NAD Board participates in a DGM rally in October 2016.
What are three of DGM’s short term goals?
Why do we need DGM?
1. Planning our 2018 National DGM Rally in Washington, D.C. 2. Developing ties with various organizations and movements, strengthening our mission for equal access for Deaf people. 3. Raising awareness of oppression within our Deaf community.
DGM is a vital grassroots community. It is the ‘other community’ not involved with state associations or the NAD. Often, these individuals endure the most discrimination when it comes to finding jobs, understanding their rights regarding communication needs, such as interpreting services or using VRI in medical settings and getting an appropriate education with the concentration of language acquisition.
What are three of DGM’s long term goals?
1. Deaf people’s lives are equal without barriers. 2. DGM will become a more political and social movement that is known worldwide. 3. Deaf people involved with politics will have tools and expertise to fight for our rights. What are the misconceptions people have about DGM?
The most common misconceptions people have about DGM are that it will not last long, that the leaders are uneducated, and that we refuse to work with leaders of other organizations. These are misconceptions. We have lasted two years and we are still going strong. Grassroots people are not uneducated. We are people who have experienced lifelong oppression and we share similar experiences. We want changes for the better. As for the other organizations, we need them. We want to be a bridge for all people from all walks of life.
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How can someone become involved with DGM?
You can contact your state representatives found on the DGM (state) Facebook page; check our website (www.dgmnow.wix.com); or send an e-mail to DGrassrootsM@gmail.com. How does DGM work with the NAD? And vice versa.
The NAD is the oldest and largest deaf organization in the US. DGM is a movement. We both share the same goals and to improve the quality of the lives of Deaf people. It’s best that we work together, support one another and create bridges with other organizations/movements. What are some of DGM’s strategies that readers should know?
DGM strategies are to bring awareness of oppression and to share stories about how Deaf people have endured to the attention to our government.
DEAF CULTURE TODAY
We are people who have experienced lifelong oppression and we share similar experiences. We want changes for the better.
Numbers speak loudly. We want to bring Deaf people together and to voice our frustrations and desires for changes. We need to band together and to get our language, ASL, recognized as the native language of Deaf people as well as our abilities to fight for equal access to communication, education and jobs. What are some achievements of DGM?
We conducted a nationwide rally on May 4, 2016. iDeafNews/Gallaudet BisonTV and DTV News covered the rally. We had a DGM Corner Rally on October 20, 2016. We are aiming for a much bigger rally in March 2018, as well as to have training/ workshops prior to the rally. Wesley Arey, the Father of DGM, our well-known vlogger, has been with the movement from the day one ever since the Deaf Protest in 2015. He has brought a lot of attention to DGM. He was invited to Boston University to give a presentation about DGM in April 2016; to the Rochester School for the Deaf as the Class of 2016 Graduation Keynote Speaker; the Deaf Digital Library at the Library of Congress in DC invited him to share a story about Laurent Clerc; and he was invited to the Connecticut Deaf Expo to tell a story on the stage. He’s going to attend Deaf Focus - I LEEAD DBA’s 5K Walk/Run/Sign event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 20, 2018 as one of the storytellers. DGM was one of partners of the Women’s March. These are DGM’s achievements since 2015.
If someone wants more information about DGM, where do they go?
They can visit our website, which currently is being upgraded, our public Facebook page, DGM National Forum and/or visit their DGM state Facebook page. They can contact their DGM state representatives, assistant state representatives and activists. They usually are listed on their DGM state Facebook page. If they need more information, they may contact national representatives, Wesley Arey, Dawn Schriver, and Philip James by e-mailing DGrassrootsM@ gmail.com for assistance or information or check our website; dgmnow.wix.com.
Lizzie Sorkin is the Director of Communications at the NAD.
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DONOR LIST The list below recognizes donations made by individuals and organizations to the NAD from July 2016 - February 2017. 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 Anonymous, FON Sherry Atkinson, S Ricky Bailey, S Julia Becker, P Joshua Beckman, BVI Suzann Bedrosian, BI Ursula Bellugi-Klima, BII Sara Bianco, P Jay Blumenfeld, FON Carl Brininstool, BIII Daniel Brown, FON Meredith Brown, FON Jennifer Buechner, BI Lawrence Buonaguidi, FON Frank Burckardt, FON Teresa Burke, A D. Lamar and Evelyn Cason, BI Mirtha Castellano, A Marc and Betty Charmatz, BII Ed Cohen, FON Seth Cohen, FON Jacob Comer, FON Jack and Ann Cooper, BVII James Crites, BI Gina D’Amore, S Robert and Donna Davila, BVI Jean Davis, A Zachary De LaRosa, FON Tom Dowling, BIV Kathy Dunaway Estate, P John Dunleavy, S Susan Dupor, A Jason Eastman, C 60
Allie Elkhadem, FON Elizabeth Fazzolari, C Megan Floyd, FON Daniel Frame, C Dave and Audrey Frank, BI Steve Frank, BI Curtis and Lori Fuller, P Lisa Furr, P John Godich, FON George Gomme, S Harvey and Astrid Goodstein, BXXV Kathie Gray-Plotkin, BI Patrick Graybill, BII Charles Grote, BII Marie Rose Guillermo, A Adam Handwerker, FON Denise Hanlon, BIII Charles and Marilyn Harbison, BI Thomas and Kathryn Harbison, BI Judith Harkins, BI Theodore Huber, A T. Alan and Vicki Hurwitz, BXXVI Catherine Ingram, C Lisa Jacobs, BII Timothy Jaech, P Barbara Johnson, A Rae Johnson, BIV Judy Jonas, BII Priscilla Jones, S Evelyn Kamuchey, BVIII Nancy Kanta, S Alexis Kashar, BVIII Nathan Katz, BIII
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
Peter and Nancy Kensicki, BII Holly Ketchum, BI Dan and Mary King, FON John Kirsh, FON Henry and Bunny Klopping, BV Donald Kovacic, P Lee and Bonnie Kramer, BII Margaret Kreiser, FON Angie Kubiak, A Mary Lynn Lally, C Alicia Lane-Outlaw, P LaDonna Larsen, P Betty Lawson, BI David Leitson, P Danielle Levandoski, FON Jackie Lobland, S William Lockard, S Glenn Lockhart, BI Brian Loffman, FON William Ludwig, BI Betty Lynch, BIII Daniel and Joyce Lynch, BV James Manning, FON Sasha McArthur, FON Pat McCullough, P Michael McKee, FON Sheema Merchant, A Lewis Merkin, P Kunal Metkar, FON Lucy Miller, BXVII Robin Mills, S Betty Moers, BIV Winchell and Ruth Moore, BI Terry Morrell, S Harold and Mary Mowl, BV
Jerry Nelson and Nancy Bloch, BLI Ken Norton, BV Jelica Nuccio, S Gina Oliva, BII Donald and Agnes Padden, BV Dipak Patel, FON James and Susan Pedersen BXXXI Matthew Pella, FON Brian Perry, BII David Peterson, BII Stacey Pollard, FON June Prusak, S Nancy Rarus, BXV Khadijat Rashid, P Ms. Rashmi, FON Scott Ratafia, FON David and Alyce Reynolds, BXXI Hilda Ritchey, BI Rhonda Ricks, FON Brian Riley, S Cynthia Rome, FON Joseph and Kay Francis Rose, BVI Allan and Judith Rosenblum, BII Howard Rosenblum, BXIII Byron Rowe, BI Ms. Saraj, FON Jonathan Scherling, BII Davin Searls, P Patrick and Dorene Sell, BIV Kellie Shanahorn, P Grace Shirk Emmons, S Nancy Shugart, P
DONOR LIST
Lynn Sien, BI Jenny Singleton, S Hunter Small, FON Steven Smart, S Krystalina Soash, S Ronald Stern, S Rachel Stone and Ray Harris, BIV Peggy Sugiyama, BIII Mark Sullivan, BI Ronald and Agnes Sutcliffe, BXX Evalyn Taylor, FON Hartmut Teuber, BIII Scott Trachtenberg, FON Mike Truesdell, A James Tucker, BIV Joan Tunick, FON Edward and Betty Van Tighem, BXIV Linda Vandeloop, P Gary Viall, BII Katie Voss, BI Chris and Staci Wagner, BXV Andrew Weitzel, FON Barbara White, BII J. Sterling and Lucie White, BXXXII Veronica Williams, FON Sharon Wilson, S Allon Yomtov, C Jorge Zayas, FON Dan Zigmond, FON Robert and Diana Zunino, BI Amazon Smile Donations, FON American Charities, FON ASL Interpreter Referral Services Inc., OA Captel, Inc., FON Cardinal Capital Management, Inc., FON Chambers Family Foundation, OA Chaminade College Preparatory, FON Comcast Corporation, OA Communique Interpreting, FON Convo Communications, OA Deaf In Government, OA Gallaudet University, OA IBM Corporation Employee Services, FON
Illinois Association of the Deaf, SA Iowa Association of the Deaf, SA Lamar University, FON Maine Association of the Deaf, SA Montana Association of the Deaf, SA Mozzeria, FON Network For Good, FON North Dakota Association of the Deaf, SA Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, SA Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, FON Purple Communications, OA Rochester Institute of Technology, OA Sharon School - Sam and Ms. Biondi’s Class, FON Sign All Technologies, OA Sorenson Communications, OA The Clerc Foundation, FON Ultratec, Inc., OA Nancy J. Bloch Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship Glenna Ashton, BVI Gerard and Judy Buckley, BIX Clark and Rosalee Connor, BII Hal and Pat Deuel, BI Donna Drake, FON Anita Farb, BXI Roggie and Sally Gardiner, FON Andy and Kelly Lange, BXXI Robert and June McMahon, BII John and Brenda Mitchiner, BI Marcia Oja, FON Jeanne Prickett, BI Joseph and Kay Francis Rose, BVI Marianne Sasseen, A Peter and Debie Seiler, BII Sherry Shaw, FON John Smith, A Shuning Wang, FON
Frank R. Turk Youth Leadership Scholarship
Annual Fund Campaign – Youth Leadership
Harvey and Mary Ann Corson, BXXI Peter and Debie Seiler, BII
Jeffrey Dobrinsky, FON Allison Fassinger, FON Jan Fried, A Shellie Fry, FON Wililam Gordon Jr., BII Katie Gray-Plotkin, BI Eric Gregory, FON Robert and Pat Herbold, BII William Johnson, BIX Alexis Kashar, BVIII Margaret Kreiser, FON Linda Lytle, BI Kathy Say, P Frank and Marlene Turk, BXI Kenneth Wells, FON Juanita Wolfe-Waters, FON
Annual Fund Campaign – International Lisa Helminski, FON
Annual Fund Campaign Law and Advocacy Christopher Alexander, FON Jean Andrews, C Phil and Judith Bravin, BXVI Gerard and Judy Buckley, BIX Heidi Burghardt, P Howard Chabner, FON Shane Feldman and Julie Tibbitt, BI Steve Fenton, A Harvey and Astrid Goodstein, BXXV Caroline Holmes Partin, P Pamela Holmes, BIII Helen Jackson, FON Katherine Jankowski and Karen Goss, BIV Nancy Kanta, S Margaret Kreiser, FON Diane Lessing, BIII Katharine Lind, FON Vicki Lowen, BI Neil McDevitt, P Jon and Julie Mitchiner, BIII Sharon Morency Bryant, BI Larry and Alice Obray, BIII Brian Perry, BII Gary Rafiq, BIV Lisa Roth, A Marianne Sasseen, A Kellie Shanahorn, P James Womack, P
In Honor… Deaf Culture and History Kathryn Harrington, A Michele Mulligan, FON Kelly Wells Abbott Kenneth Wells, FON Tigran Avettissyan Patricia Wild, FON Todd and Carole Ann Bader Anonymous, FON Alyssa Barzach’s 21st Birthday Maria Flanders, FON Maxwell Bradney Lisa Durie, FON Cindee Calton Christine Calton, FON John Calton, FON Quince Carr Allison Fassinger, FON Sam Coleman Margaret Kreiser, FON
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DONOR LIST
Donalda and Diane’s 25th Anniversary Donalda Ammons, BIII Deaf Culture and History Ronald and Melvia Nomeland, BVI Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico Dorinda Roybal, FON
Linda Jackson Shelley Mayer, FON Kendra Jansson Jasmine Babcock, FON Jim and Carol Kent Jane Greer, FON
Daniel De Los Reyes Matt Edmunds, FON
Sarah Lundquist Natalie Chrien, FON
Disabled Citizens Victoria Dufresne, FON
Maggie Murray Lori Title, FON
Linda Drattell Eric Drattell, FON
Jeff Okun Brianna Wilson, FON
Education Stephen Hlibok, BIV Peter and Debie Seiler, BII
ProTactile Training Lauren Bain Millikin, C Ryan Barrett, C Violet Blake, C Andy Foster, S Michelle Gerson-Wagner, C Christine Sun Kim, C Onudeah Nicolarakis, A Stacy Nowak, C Rebecca Rydstrom, A Elizabeth Sorkin, P Adam Stone, A Liz Stone, C Jess Thurber, C Florence Vold, C Eyob Zerayesus, FON
Equality and Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Andy Cid, FON Larry D. Evans William Johnson, BIX Tony Fanchi Christine Calton, FON Fernanda Franco Tania Wolf, FON Daniel Goldman Matt Edmunds, FON Ashling Gregory Eric Gregory, FON Sarah Hamilton Deborah Jones, C Marie Hamrick Vicky Hamrick, FON Theodore and Joanne Hines Paul Hines, C Darwin Holmes Caroline Holmes-Partin, P
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Caroline Jackson Helen Jackson, FON
Herb Rosen’s 80th Birthday Joseph and Kay Francis Rose, BVI Ronald and Agnes Sutcliffe, BXX Howard Rosenblum Howard Chabner, FON Shane Feldman and Julie Tibbitt, BI Julian and Bernice Singleton’s 60th Anniversary Dwight and Beth Benedict, BII Phil and Judith Bravin, BXVI Harvey and Astrid Goodstein, BXXV
Robert and Pat Herbold, BII Albert and Peggy Hlibok, BX Lisa Jacobs, BII James Tucker, BIV Thomas Stangl and Family Charles Brough, FON Agnes Sutcliffe - Queen Mother of the Proud Primroses Annette Black, C Kay Burrhus, FON Joyce Leitch, BI Virginia Luke, BII Diane Munoz, FON Melvia Nomeland, BVI Andrea Panella, BI Kay Francis Rose, BVI Roz Rosen, BXXIV Millie Russo, FON Robert ‘Tad’ Taylor Donna Taylor, FON Emily Thomas Mark Thomas, FON Jo Ann Waide Wunschel Nasya Al-Saidy, FON Brett Wagner William and Emily Wagner, FON Chris Wagner Joshua Beckman, BVI Jennifer Buechner, BI Sherri Collins, BIII Alicia Lane-Outlaw, P Steve Lovi, BI Jerry Nelson and Nancy Bloch, BLI Kyle and Kaitlyn Wenrich Andrew Weitzel, FON Kristoffer,Kaitlin,Sylvan and Marlow Whitney Jessica Martucci, FON
In Memory… Yerker Andersson Anita Farb, BXI Kathie Gray-Plotkin, BI Richard Melia, BI Michael Berger Kathie Gray-Plotkin, BI Fleet Bowman Herb and Roz Rosen, BXXIV Christine Buchholz Dorinda Roybal, FON Leon De Rosa Anthony and Rita Consalvi, FON Henry Lee Dorsey Joseph and Kay Francis Rose, BVI Ronald and Agnes Sutcliffe, BXX Minnie Glazer JoEllyn Poster, FON Amy Hile Robert Harris, BXVI Clara B. Ingram Jane Brooks, FON Mary Butler, FON Elaine Daniels, FON Robin Kennedy Harvey and Astrid Goodstein, BXXV Jose Martinez Chelsea Szmania, FON Paula Ball Mathews Thomas and Nancy Gallagher, BI Alvin Mayes Joseph and Kay Francis Rose, BVI Tom Mayes Robert and Donna Davila, BVI
DONOR LIST
Martie McCullough Deborah Jones, C Marquerite Morris Carol Guitar, FON Bill Morris, S Hilary Wissermann, FON Andy and Pat Zajac, FON Robert and Nancy Neill Annette Audi, FON Joel Outlar Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Fields, FON Lynda Foskey, FON Frank Gorley, FON William Pascoe Harvey and Astrid Goodstein, BXXV Herb and Roz Rosen, BXXIV
Lillian Garcia Peterkin Richard and Luisa Soboleski, P Mr. Ritchie Shellie Fry, FON Benjamin Rosen Susan Bunte, FON Susan Renklewicz, FON Herb and Roz Rosen, BXXIV Mike Sandoval Dorinda Roybal, FON Roger Scott William and Alyce Stifter, BVIII Xuemin Shen Shuning Wang, FON James Souza Jan Fried, A
Frank Sullivan Baum Chevrolet Buick, FON Robert and Donna Davila, BVI Clinton Community High School, FON Clinton Community Unit Esther Swartz School District #15, FON Richard and Nancy Horowitz, BVI Howard Watson Jim Hamilton and the Velda Taylor Optimist Club of Miami Lynnette Taylor, C Lakes, FON James Van Valey Jr. Robert and Sherry Chapman, FON Neil and Teresa Cooper, FON Savannah Hopkins, FON James and Glenna Rogers, FON Jaime Van Valey, FON James and Shirley Weikel, FON Larry and Jeanette Winebrinner, FON
Amanda Kay Welling Mike Craig and Jill Fahy, FON Thomas Garrett Wells Joyce Holder, FON Clift and Ann Carol Houston, FON Kenny Luck, FON Cathy and Stacy Wilborn, FON Juanita Wolfe-Waters, FON
IN MEMORIAM Yerker Andersson, Benefactor XVI Fleet Bowman, Benefactor II Leon De Rosa, Friend of the NAD Henry Lee Dorsey, Benefactor III Minnie Glazer, Friend of the NAD Amy Hile, Sustaining Member Leonard O. Hull, Benefactor II Clara Ingram, Friend of the NAD Robin Kennedy, Advancing Member Pamela Kovash, Advancing Member Jose Martinez, Advancing Member Paula Ball Mathews, Benefactor I Alvin Mayes, Benefactor III Tom Mayes, Friend of the NAD Martie McCullough, Friend of the NAD Marquerite Morris, Friend of the NAD Joel Outlar Jr, Friend of the NAD
William Pascoe, Benefactor III Lillian Garcia Peterkin, Advancing Member Benjamin Rosen, Friend of the NAD Mike Sandoval, Friend of the NAD Xuemin Shen, Friend of the NAD James Souza, Friend of the NAD Frank Sullivan, Friend of the NAD Ester Swartz, Friend of the NAD Deanna Taylor, Advancing Member Velda Taylor, Advancing Member James Van Valey Jr., Friend of the NAD Howard Watson, Benefactor III Lynn Ballard Weiner, Benefactor III Amanda Kay Welling, Friend of the NAD Thomas Garrett Wells, Friend of the NAD Glorita Wright, Friend of the NAD
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8630 Fenton Street, Ste. 820 Silver Spring, MD 20910
NAD Board hosts a town hall meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 2017.
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