My Wonderful DBC Experience
by webmaster on Jul.01, 2008, under ASL
I want to inform you that we had a great moment at DBC convention last weekend. It is the only best convention I have ever had in my 30 years of convention participation.
We just got back home from Wisconsin last night. I looked forward to reading blogs and watching vlogs. I was very pleased that there are a number of people who made positive comments about DBC convention. To my dismay, that people made unreasonable negative comments about DBC. That is not what I saw last weekend. It is really sad. So we have to get our light brighter to reach out people regardless of their backgrounds.
During the DBC convention, I met many new and old friends as well as vloggers and bloggers. We all really enjoyed the convention and 6 wonderful presenters (Dr. MJ Bienvenu, Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Dr. Barbara Kannapell, Dr. Genie Gertz, Dr. Patrick Boudreault and Dr. Marlon Kuntze) They gave us so many opportunities to learn more about us, our history, our language, our language development and our political activities. All is about language for Deaf babies and children.
I want to congratulate to DBC core members for their hard work and their true “GRASSROOT” approach. They did not even say I am the leader, but they said we all are same and treated equally. They are sweet and friendly people who were really opposite of other people who claimed otherwise. They are John Egbert, Ella Mae Lentz, David Eberwein, Barbara DiGiovanni, David Reynolds and Tami Hossler. They deserve our respect and they are working damn hard to make it possible for everyone. I also wanted to say congratulations to many people who made the convention successful are members of DBC Wisconsin and other people as well.
Of course nobody is perfect but the convention is still the CHAMP!
Deafchip
30 Comments for this entry
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Canada
July 1st, 2008 on 3:29 pm
Hello DeafChip, thanks for sharing your experiences at the conference. I can imagine it was an educational experience for both of you. I picked my friend up at airport late last night and learned AGB was not accessible to those who want to enter. Sign language booths were hidden in dark lower level from general view. What they said in the media doesn’t not relate to real life events. Any way, I’m curious, were there any interpreters provided to non-signing parents or people at the DBC conference?
July 1st, 2008 on 3:45 pm
Hi Mike
Yes DBC provided interpreting services during convention. We were not able to attend AGBell convention due to their “WALL” attitude so we had no idea at all.
We are very proud of DBC for their accessibility and warm and hospitality. We really look forward to it again in the near future.
Deafchip
July 1st, 2008 on 4:16 pm
Dear David,
Thanks!! for sharing your experience with us!
deafk
July 1st, 2008 on 4:22 pm
David,
I had a good time talking to you and you are a great man!
John Egbert
July 1st, 2008 on 4:23 pm
Hi Mike and our Canadian friends.
I took interest in your vlog because I’m a frequent visitor in British Columbia and Ontario where we have farm properties. I am a US Citizen and I live in Arizona. I’m always glad to hear from our Canadian counterparts.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at DBC. Good to know that it was well received by Deaf people. Glad to know this. Unfortunately the media saw differently, which tells us that our message became lost during the process. It is also my understanding that the message did not connect with hearing parents who ultimately decides the fate of deaf children. We need to do realize that “one size fits all” message does not work. I am with you on everything. I agree with you and your message. We’re selling the message to Deaf people with success but unfortunately hearing parents, general public and the media are not buying into our argument. We need to do better and do more even though you really enjoyed yourself at the conference.
Keep the positive messages coming. We have the duty to make sure DBC sticks to its original message. Unfortunately the message became lost when it was relayed to hearing parents, general public and the media.
Regards!
July 1st, 2008 on 5:23 pm
A former teacher at Gallaudet. I am 92 and still agree with your message.
July 1st, 2008 on 5:35 pm
Thanks DeafChip for info, it is good that DBC provided an ACCESSIBLE convention as compared to AGB conference planners who hired security guards that did “communicative profiling” (like they did in VA) and verbally talk down the very people that they knew very well of whom cannot speak or hear. A security guard did that to my friend who took a picture of him talking to his shoulder walkie-talkie. Also mentioned how AGB attendees gawked from their windows to the crowd. How distant and paranoid they are. So AGB claims in the media they’re about access and choices? COUGH!!!
July 1st, 2008 on 6:13 pm
i love a frosty glass of beer.
nice post.
July 1st, 2008 on 6:19 pm
Dr. Hocokan,
Maybe it is because DBC is more of a movement, grassroot group.
If you have the skills in Public Relation Media, why not do it. Set up your own organization for what you believe in.
Let DBC do their strategy and you do yours. As they say, It Takes Two to Tango.
Please don’t worry about what DBC is doing, YOU do what you can do for Deaf Babies and once you start up a PR Media group, please do let us know and hope you can do much as DBC did in 11 months.
July 1st, 2008 on 6:42 pm
HI David,
It was nice meeting you in flesh! The conferenece was awesome indeed! This is only just the beginning since it is a moment for the Deaf community members to gather and understand more about the issues. This first conference may not have many hearing parents attending to the workshops but it helped us to organize our thoughts and strategies to market the concept of bilingualism. This is what the Deaf community needs to do first by having a greater understanding about the structure of how bilingual approach works so that we can better explain to the parents.
However, I have noticed that there were more than several parents from AG Bell coming over during the rally questioning about our points of views. To me, this is just a beginning that DBC has gotten their attention to inquire on why bilingualism is important. I have seen several hearing parents in the workshops though but the number will increase in future conferences. Let DBC grow into a wealth of information to share to the world about nothing but the truth.
Mike, yes there were interpreters for all keynote speakers.
Dr. Hocokan, this vlogger is not Mike but David so you know. I was involved in interviewing the media and stressed the importance of bilingualism. I have stressed numerous research documents that children who have ASL as a strong language foundation are found to be taught a lot easier when bridging to English and even to spoken English. Although I have witnessed the reporter writing down everything what was said, unfortunately, the reporter didn’t include these information. However, we all should know that relying on the media alone doesn’t mean there are all facts there. It is a blessing that we are able to continue to promote our cause through other sources.
There are many stories that you don’t know what really happened during the conference.
Overall, I feel good about the conference knowing that we had been successful to make hearing parents to question and investigate about the issues. I was amazed that there were several hearing parent advocates and individuals who strongly shared their passion during the conference and the rallies. One of them was a former AG Bell member who shared her story with the media and some of the AG Bell participants. Remember, this is just only the beginning and we look forward to build more bridges with them.
July 1st, 2008 on 7:21 pm
Deafchip,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and I look forward to hearing more from others who were there. Without question, it was a huge success and they definitely have many things to consider for next conference. I am mostly thrilled that the conference was accessible for anyone for no cost! I look forward to DBC’s progress and give our support as much as we can!
Upward we go!
July 1st, 2008 on 7:23 pm
David,
Thanks for bring info about your experience through pay visit at DBC in wisc, Ill. Really, I didn’t know you’re attend which I’ve search for car pool and going to DBC. By the way, I can wait until another year and to have another date. Where I live closer to you area within 2 1/2 hours away.
July 1st, 2008 on 7:27 pm
Hi David,
Thank you for gratifying and positive experience about your recent trip to DBC Convention. From what I learn from you, it deeply made me sad to see the whole AGBell organization closed their heart, mind, listen, and hands without the transparency communication gap through the dialogue from DBC’s willing to talk with. Their main reason is FEAR! They don’t want the invasion of American Sign Language epidemic. They are morally wrong! Language is essentially to access into the communication tools for everyone. This language will walk and lead toward the whole spectrum of path such as learn to speak or to listen or to visual such as human spirit that God gave us his beautiful gift. Why can’t AGBell see the whole HUMAN that can collaborate the beautiful thing in our life system?
I applauded DBC with their exceptional effort to patient and to endure our education toward the hearing parents upon the options of language development. The more we will pressure AGBell to open their minds and to dialogue with DBC organization to exchange wonderful and innovate ideas for our future deaf babies to access the language essentially.
From what I viewed the recent vlogs, DE made good points about not about everyone include me to decide for the deaf and hard of hearing children. Exclusively on deaf babies’ rights to learn the important language before he/she can speak or listen or visual.
I shared with my family about the article from my alumni newsletter through yahoo groups recently and I received the email message from my hearing stepmother. Not wicked one! Chuckle! She emphasized that parents have their own decisions for their children. I plan to debate with her in my personal email upon my childhood experience and others.
From the previous comments, the media gave the wrong messages to the public. That reminded me of UNITY FOR GALLAUDET protests. The media cloudly sent the wrong message and the readers and viewers confused the idea of the situation. Despite of the media, we, DBC, will endure and send the positive and clear message to the public.
Lastly, I agreed with you all the way especially DBC. MAY THE DBC FORCE BE WITH YOU!
Thank you again, David for the continous positive message loudly.
Cheers,
Nick Vera
P.S. Happy Birthday to Canada, my neighbor!
July 1st, 2008 on 7:31 pm
By the way, I will attend the next DBC conference to show my heartest support for deaf babies with the language accessible.
July 1st, 2008 on 8:10 pm
Hello from the pretty Ozarks (Missouri,USA)’s greetings, #1 Sir !
Dear David,
Yes, we really enjoyed watching you on your vlogs with your simple sign language. I wish I could meet you in person, of course ! High five from your huge Laurent Clerc fans and friends, our lucky deaf doctors and best ASL educators !!!!!
Respectfully yours, Samuel Edward Dorsey
July 1st, 2008 on 8:44 pm
Wonderful to see how inspired you were as an attendant. We thank you for sharing your message with us who have been watching from home. Like Mike above, I had wondered if terps were provided. Glad to know they were. How do we get this message out to hearing parents of deaf babies though? What’s the next step I wonder? Would captioning our vlogs help? Makes me think….
~ LaRonda
July 1st, 2008 on 8:50 pm
An excellent point! The bottom line is LANGUAGE for the future of the Deaf and HH childen (with or without hearing aids and/or cochlear implanted. It is so sad that your wife was not warm welcomed to the AGB conference! We, the members of DBC, welcome everyone to attend the conference. I wish I had attend to the conference unfortunately I am from Boston and I am broke! Glad you had a blast time! Again I had met you many times at the Cogwell Hall during our college time! Thanks for sharing with us your wonderful experience at DBC!
July 2nd, 2008 on 12:09 am
Hi everyone,
I will try to answer each of you tomorrow. It is really late tonight.
All I want to emphasize you is that DBC convention did not even mention anything about Deaf Power. It always discussed about BILINGUAL. English language has been dominating our society including Deaf community. Many people already know English but not enough ASL hence more time on ASL awareness. We have never seen anyone who want to suppress English to lower level. All we want is to push ASL up to the level of English Language equally.
Deafchip
July 2nd, 2008 on 1:00 am
I also attended DBC Conference and I can confirm Deafchip’s statements. It was a very positive experience! The hearing parents are starting to get DBC’s message that bilingualism is important, that Deaf babies and children NEED to start with ASL to have a lifetime of success. It’s just a start, DBC is still young but the message is getting out there! I agree we need to reach more hearing parents, educators and medical professionals – DBC is not going to stop, we have to keep going, keep rallying, keep communicating and demonstrate that language starts in the mind, not the ears! To develop the minds of Deaf babies and children ASL is the best way!
July 2nd, 2008 on 2:02 am
What a great presentation that you made.
a very refreshing and someone anew.
a Canadian one – wow1 half American aren’t you indeed/ ha.
we need more new folks and leading us, not the same same so called leaders. old tires.. i do not mean that the Californians are lousy ones but we just got tired of them. we know their backgrounds too well and oh well – enough said.
negativism and postivism – to hell with that wording. be realistic and go forward with the real proofs and tools. just don’t be too wishy-washy.
a suggestion – find some real and proven materials (well documented) that a lower IQ deaf kid being in the ASL world can fare well ahead of a similar level deaf kid that stay in the oral world. Why? i often find a higher IQ deaf kid could barely fare OK in the oral world as well. not fair. suppose that high IQ kid went into the ASL method, s/he would zoom off – obtaining higher level of the skills. Even the gestures by the Hearies work much better than the lipreading effort. ha.
July 2nd, 2008 on 8:42 am
I attended the DBC conference, and agree. I saw the same things Deafchip and Deafsky saw. It was all about bilingual education, the history behind it, the parallels with the Hispanic experiences, NAD and EHDI screening, literacy through ASL, and how the brain works in language acquisition from birth till 5 years old. ALL presentations were excellent.
Shelley
July 2nd, 2008 on 11:32 am
There is proof that deaf babies who learn and use ASL at a very young age are the most successful deaf adults. Look at those deaf persons who were born to deaf parents. Why not advertise this proof. I remember the first time I experienced ASL and how I felt. It was a great moment in my life and I think AGBell has no business not allowing deaf babies to use it. AGBell is destroying the lives of deaf children. Sad but true. DBC, keep up the good work and save those deaf children.
July 2nd, 2008 on 12:30 pm
Deafchip
I am very glad that your positive expression and experience of the DBC conference is an important message for all people including myself who did not attended that conference.
The main reason I made a comment is that I am really tired of hearing negative comments against the DBC. Even worse, all of the negative commentors have NEVER attended the DBC conference.
Finally I trust your commentary because you fully attend the three days conference.
July 2nd, 2008 on 1:27 pm
Hi Deafchip,
Marvelous Story in your video!! Thanks for sharing to update news about DBC vs AGB Wars. I agreed there are proof deaf babies are learn fast and early stage deaf children using ASL. AGB can’t destroy deaf children in lives. I believe that history will change this year than 100 yrs in past. I’m sure that two representatives from WA state who went there and will hear their stories what going on this happen smile.
July 2nd, 2008 on 2:08 pm
Hi David,
Oh yes, I just watched the vlog of DBC and I saw you on it too. I am really impressed with your presentation and others too. I wish to be there! Of course, we need more leaderships like you and me but we have to educate Deaf people to stop negative all the time because it will not help hearing community to unerstanding our community. Why not we should set up a workshop of leadership or positive things toward hearing community.. What do you think!
hope to see you this summer…
Take care, Ronald Dans
July 2nd, 2008 on 4:03 pm
to win hearing parents, we show them deaf community?
July 2nd, 2008 on 4:48 pm
Smile … I am pretty sad that ASL is not my first language (mostly homemade signs with my family)– I know myself as an intelligent person. I had missed out a lot in the damn hearing environment — until I was born to Gallaudet as a Pride Deaf woman who finally learned ASL in ‘84. Damn AGB and hearing educators (or followers). I don’t blame my wonderful hearing parents as they didn’t receive the information about the Deaf Education back then which is nearly 40 years ago. AGB is to be blamed. Let’s roll — Go DBC! If the organization needs my help — ask away! This is who I am today … because of AGB. Been struggling with my emotional unstability — been neglected by many people thru my life time in the hearing world. No Deaf peers, communication deprivation and so on. Well DBC is a year old this summer and I wish the organization a Happy Birthday! – Sane time for Canada and America (July 1st and July 4th)
July 2nd, 2008 on 5:14 pm
Hi Kathy,
You’re welcome.
Hi John,
You are great and we appreciate your leadership for advocating language for Deaf babies and children.
Hi Dr Hocokan,
I just want to let you know that DBC is a very young organization and give it a chance. DBC will grow out of its experiences and will do well. Yes there are some disagreements. It has been grown rapidly even internationally. Deaf community from other countries are setting chapters. I find that amazingly.
Hi dogfood,
Thanks for your kind word on my post.
Hi Barb DiGi,
Sure thing, glad to meet you in person. Yes I agree we are learning how to outreach parents and we need their input to improve our network, outreach and resources that parents need the most for their own beloved Deaf babies and children. It is just the beginning. DBC convention was successful and it is just the beginning.
Hi Joey Baer,
Thanks for your kind word and of course we are looking forward to next DBC convention. It is a challenge but we will overcome it when we learn from inputs and feedbacks from people.
Hi Terri,
It will never too late and there will be next DBC convention somewhere. Sorry you could not make it last convention.
Hi Nick,
You have made many good points and I agree with you. Next time you will make it. Smile
Hi Samuel,
Sure I am glad you like my clear communication. I will continue that. Thanks for your input.
Hi LaRonda,
Thanks for your kind word. I am not sure what they are doing with that. Perhaps we will find out about that. Yes we all agree it is very important for all parents to be aware of bilingual approach that is benefit for all Deaf babies and children. DBC is a very young organization and is working very hard to meet needs of parents of Deaf babies and children.
Hi Diane,
You got it. Yes it is all about language that Deaf babies and children need the most. You are right no question asked!
Hi Deafsky,
YES you have shared same experience with me. So are many others. My wife love it and many others love it too. We are looking forward to it in the future. DBC is still on the roll!
Hi Sir William
Yes I am Canadian and my relatives are all over Canada, USA, British Isles and Norway! We still need many new people but we still need experienced people from Califorina. We need a team of new and current participants/activists.
Hi Shel,
Glad to meet you in person and YES, we share same wonderful experience. It was a great moment. Despite of criticism, we know we are on the right track and some on the track will be bumps and we will learn how to smooth it by learning from people’s inputs. Well done!
Hi Alice,
Yes there are so many Deaf babies and children are deprived of ASL or other Sign Languages. A large number of them have faced language barrier.
Hi David Ennis,
Thanks for your kind word. Yes I agree negative unconstructive discussion will not help Deaf babies and children and their parents. We need constructive discussion for the sake of Deaf babies and children and their families.
Hi Deafhaibut,
Thanks for your kind word and you will hear wonderful news from two reps soon! I look forward to it!
Hi Ron,
Good old friend, and thanks for your kind word on my performance. Yes we need more help and support from everyone. Anything is possible and there is no limit. I have never thought about DBC until last weekend that impacts me positively. Anything is possible!
Dogfood,
We all know that many members of Deaf community have been victims of strict oralism, AVT approach and Signed English and other English sign communications. Parents need to be aware of that. Yes they should be shown to the Deaf community. They will see the difference.
Hi Diane,
Yes you have made a great point and shared your experience. No one blames parents. Parents are wonderful and they are as victims as Deaf people. They are hurt and upset. I met them. Almost all of them said they wished they learned Sign Language. They feel failure. I feel them. Yes DBC will celebrate its first year soon! Thanks about Canada’s 141 years old!
Thanks to you all for sharing your views with us and support.
Take care
Deafchip
July 2nd, 2008 on 6:18 pm
Hi David,
Wonderful to see you in person at DBC during long weekend in Milwaukee. Awesome that we had you and other Candaian people attended the DBC.
While I was at a rally, I’ve witness some of AG Bell members stood in the windows upstairs (and on other side), video recording on DBC people. They are feeding bunch of lies to a hearing parents of Deaf children, their attendees and to DBC constantly while they were at the convention.
Yes, I’ve seen a blockage skywalk connection from AG Bell (Midwest Airline Center) convention to Hyatt hotel from access to workshops. I stayed at Hyatt hotel, happen saw a sign in front of the slide door at the skywalk was still there on June 30th afterwards.
Kudos to you for a title for our DBC.
JungleForest
July 3rd, 2008 on 8:12 am
Hi Margaret Keys,
I really appreciate your support on Deaf babies and children to learn through bilingualism. Thank you so much!
Hi JungleForest,
Yes it was great to be there to be with you and all as an unity. Thre is no question that it was our great moment and will have it in our own memory (history!). Thanks so much for your kind word
Deafchip