Rumors About NTID/RIT In Wing To Take Over Gallaudet University

 Unfounded rumors for months among handful of deaf people about the National Institute of Technology (NTID)/Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the wing to take over Gallaudet University due to the growing financial difficulty and MSCHE accreditation status.  

  If the Gallaudet University do not meet up to the MSCHE's satisfaction by next November 2008. The U.S. Congress would be not likely to provide any kind of federal funding for Gallaudet University if it lose the MSCHE accreditation status. NTID/RIT is totally ready to take over Gallaudet University. Is that make any real sense? 

  Gallaudet University already face the declining student enrollment rate since Fall 2007. 

  Such speculation among the NTID/RIT alumni and other deaf individuals why Dr. Alan Hurwitz named the "President" of the National Institute of Technology (NTID), instead of the usual title like "Director" among the past NTID directors. RIT already have her own president. 

 Why two Presidents of both "separate" universities on the same campus - NTID/RIT? 

  Necessity to put this rumor to rest or what?  There is already the federal law regarding the dictation of both educational institutions how they spend the federal subsidies nor engage in any commerical directives like real estate, etc. 

   How will be realistic for NTID/RIT buying out Gallaudet University to expand its educational facility? That would be seen as some kind of "mind-boggling" incentive for NTID/RIT to co-operate Gallaudet University. 

  Or another pastime among deaf individuals cropping up the gossip mill about what is going on with the NTID/RIT and Gallaudet University? 

  How interesting about Dr. Alan Hurwitz being the former graduate of the Central Institute of the Deaf (CID) school in St. Louis, Missouri! Dr. Hurwitz is well-known for supporting the American Sign Language (ASL) as a true language. 

ASLize yours,

Robert L. Mason (RLM)

Q's About Bilingualsim At Gallaudet University In Response to Oscar Serner's Vlog

There are many excellent bilingualism resources (published materials) on bilingualism and bilingual education on Gallaudet University website -

http://www.gallaudet.edu/x4970.xml for the related bilingual education discussions from

H. Dirsken-Bauman's "What is Inclusive Bilingualism?"
Richard Clement's "Bilingualism and Multilingualism"
Lewis Perser's "The Bilingual University - General Reflection on Its Origins, Mission, and Functioning: Higher Education in Europe"
and other more.

I applaud Oscar Serner for stressing the importance of equal footings for the usage of ASL and English written language among Gallaudet University students. I am kinda surprised that some Gallaudet faculty members somewhat downplayed the necessity of mastering the written English language which they surely shortchange handful of Gallaudet students' English fluency for going into the competitive employment market.

The low expectation for Gallaudet University students to be fully fluent in the dominant language (written English) of the society at large, should be not tolerated in any way. At least, Gallaudet University finally embrace and elevate the American Sign Language (ASL) to the respectable level which the visual language itself richly deserve very much.

My following questions - I don't see any enclosed links what Oscar Serner, deaf vlogger mentioned on his vlog presentation.

Other excellent links to Gallaudet University's bilingualism policy -

"Questions and Answers about ASL/English Bilingualism at Gallaudet"
http://www.gallaudet.edu/x557.xml

"Bilingualism and Identity in Deaf Communities" nonfiction book
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/BIDC.html

"Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities Series" (excellent links to various books)
http://gupress.edu/socio-series.html

Oscar Serner, current Gallaudet student, expressed such concerns about Gallaudet University's commitment to the rigid educational studies. He need to enclose some links to support his argument about the questionable stance of Gallaudet University faculty members and support staff's commitment to the bilingualism of ASL/English.

I could not view the enclosed video comment on Tayler's vlog regarding the video reply to Oscar's vlog presentation on "Bilingualism at Gallaudet University". That is not very first time for me not able to view any video comments on Tayler's DeafVideoTV.com.

Look forward to receive Oscar Serner's following reply. I have no way of leaving comment on Oscar's vlog presentation loaned on Tayler's "DeafVideoTV.comn". I have to write this blog posting to inquire Oscar what he really meant.

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)

"Introducing the Hamill Movie" Website

Every of you, the DeafRead viewers and readers could have an opportunity of viewing actor Eben Kostbar in his so-called ASL fluency, Hearing film director Joseph McKelheer, Deaf co-producer, Oshina Blagd and real pathetic terp whatever her name is.

Here is the new Matt Hamill movie website just created yesterday, May 21th, 2008 -
http://www.hamillthemovie.com/

Please let me know what you really thought of actor Eben Kostbar and everyone else on the Hamill movie website.

This website call the upcoming Hamill film- a new genre to Hollywood - Deaf Foreign Film!
Could you believe it? Because of the subtitle uses? For G O D's sake, this film is an American product with the English-speaking cast. Our linguistic usage of ASL is not really foreign on our American land. *rolling eyes in disbelief*

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)

Retract Statement Regarding Aidan Mack

My comment on another vlog came to my own attention regarding Aidan Mack. I seems make some misstatement on my part since Aidan Mack did not delete my particular comment about the comparsion of Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington, both black and hearing actors.

I made a honest mistake of assuming that I wrote the particular comment on Aidan Mack's vlog comment forum . I realized that wasn't on Aidan Mack's vlog . I was going to retract my statement after I realized about my own mistake last Tuesday night, 5/12/08. I was in real hurry. I don't have an access to the Internet on late Tuesday night. I keep putting it off til today, Thursday, May 22nd.

I want to apologize to Aidan Mack for my careless comment on the other vlog. I am very horrified about such unnecessary personal attacks on Aidan Mack. I somewhat feel responsible for the path of vicious and malicious attacks on Aidan Mack. I accept the full responsibility regarding the chain of events on "comment" matter.

I do find Aidan Mack's desires of having her vlog in positive direction without any demeaning comment(s) from anyone is a perfect ideal of civilized conversation. I respect her for that.

ASlize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)

DC-Area Examiner Newspaper Took Swipe at Deaf and HOH ....

According to the DC-area Examiner (The Examiner) free newspaper's 5/12/08 article took the swipe at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government Employment and Technology Forum and accused the federal government's so-called "colorblind" government training program(s) a JOKE!

Melanie Scarborough, the DC's "The Examiner" columnist blasted the federal government's wasteful spending on 800,000 federal nonessential employees being sent to the training conferences. Her exact quote - "our taxpayer money send them (nonessential government employees) to training conferences that are worse than nonessential" Huh?

Why lump our own deaf federal employee's cultural and linguistic minority status- "Deaf and HOH in Government Employment and Technology Forum" with other racial minority like the

Society of American Indian Government Employees,
League of United Latin American Citizens,
Federally Employed Women,
Blacks in Government,
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council and other more .. ????? Huh?

In fact, Deaf Federal Employees are truly the endangered species nowadays within our national government. More and more deaf federal employees have been recently bought out with early retirement incentives or laid off without any advance notices or being transferred against their own wishes to another department or agency. Any deaf federal employees being forcibly retired early and get less with their pension values or laid off without being provided with the follow-up assistance worthy of their cultural and linguistic minority status.

The Bush II (Dubya) administration have been aggressively shrinking the hard-working and dedicated federal employees to be replaced with high-salaried contractors whose really f**ked up our national government operations more than anyone could do. Many government contractors simply sit out and do nothing and mess up things by assigning different private firms with contractors every time. All dirty works simply lump on many federal employees! Hired contractors greatly benefited President Bush and his cronies to fatten up their earnings after leaving the White House in January 2009.

Look at the Iraq War - most privatized war ever enacted in the history of the United States! Ever the U.S. Government have to hire the private contractors to provide the security protections and daily accommodations for our overly exhausted and weary soldiers like the water showers and laundry errands thru containmed water uses!

The Library of Congress in Washington, DC used to have more than 30 deaf employees within their facilities back to last 30 year s ago. Very few deaf employees left in the Library of Congress (LOC) right now. *sigh*

Deaf and HOH Federal Employees greatly have been benefited from the annual Deaf and HOH In Government Employment and Technology Forum for their career tips, feedback, evaluations, career reinforcement lectures and social interactions with their own fellow federal employees in their same language usage (ASL) and greater accommodations for other HOH federal employees.

Deaf-owned enterprises also brought greater access to the annual federal training programs of deaf federal employees with their newest products and accommodations unlike the regular government training conferences for federal employees in general without meeting any specialized needs for deaf and HOH federal government employees. Many deaf federal employees found the private-funded exhibitions within deaf-owned enterprises truly effective and time-saving.

This year's Deaf and Hard of Hearing In Government Employment and Technology Forum took the place at the new U.S. Department of Transportation building unlike swanky resorts as what the Examiner reporter speculated. The after-hour social event took the place at the Lulu Bar, private-owned bar in the Gallery Place-Chinatown area. The deaf federal employees and other deaf visitors paid for their drinks and meals out of their own pockets, not the federal government monies. The conference committees were consisted of deaf volunteers (federal employees) out of their own time preparing and scheduling the forums and lectures.

Melanie Scarborough, DC Examiner columnists last quote in her following column - "Indeed. And Americans hungry for unity are ill-served by a federal work force trained in the culture of division". Huh? This reporter obviously did not done her reporting legwork very well and made such assumptions without checking out various federal government training conferences to see all for herself. We ought to take her press credentials away. Don't you agree?

Here is the link to the DC Examiner article by Melanie Scarborough -
http://www.examiner.com/a-1386368~Melanie_Scarborough___Colorblind__government_a_joke.html

or www.dcexaminer.com and type Melanie Scarborough on the search column for this latest article written by Melanie Scarborough. Okay?

This article found on the page 13 under "Commentary" on the DC Examiner newspaper.

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog

Fascist Thugs at the AGBell Conference!

Someone deaf told me few weeks ago about the Alexander Graham Bell Association of the Deaf (AGBAD) hired the security firm. ex. security guards to keep the peaceful rally participants within the Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC) from entering the conference site and AGB HQ hotel (Jack Barr's own term). The ABAD did post their official announcement about hiring the security firm for this year's conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The related information somewhat disappeared into thin air on the AGBAD website lately.

One of the deaf acquaintance really got annoyed with me, RLM, replied about "That will be real good for the DBC!" Why???? AGBAD's decision of hiring the security guards will be to our true advantages which the professionals and parents of deaf youngsters will see the TRUE COLORS of the AGBAD!

Parents of deaf youngsters will see the real openness and open arms of the DBC to welcome anyone whose willing to get their eyes wide-open what the DBC is all about! WHY the AGBAD have to hire the security guards?

Some rumors about the AGBAD got ahold of the DBC's casual plans from "neighbor" state associations of the deaf, ex. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. Don't forget the DBC's no-cost conference!

This year's Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC) "counteroffensive" rally will be the biggest deaf event of the year. Please donate $$ to the DBC to cover the expense of the FREE conference as you possibly could. We are doing for the best interests and long-term future of DEAF BABIES AND YOUNGSTERS! Of course, the medicine ethics regarding the non-consented practices on thousandths of deaf babies and youngsters should be considered heavily!.

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)

Does Hearing People Introduce Themselves That Way?

In response to Joey Baer's vlog posting - "First Name JOEY Last Name BAER".

I often got real annoyed with anyone deaf and hearing signers everywhere by signing "My first name JOHN OR JANE (pause) Last name SMITH" I simply lost having a conversational interests with that deaf or hearing person. I was supposed to remind anyone deaf or hearing that wouldn't be necessary to sign and fingerspell "first name, (pause) last name, but someone would have such difficulty of understanding me what I was trying to say.

I will say "TIME OUT" whether anyone deaf or hearing sign "first name, then last name". That will bring every deaf and hearing individuals to more logical and approriate way of introducing hirself without taxing our own precious time/social time.

Does the hearing people in general, introduce themselves that way? Nope! That is very PATRONIZING way to introduce hirself by "first name and fingerspell hir own first name, then last name and fingerspell. Most people usually introduce themselves by their first name unless someone request what is hir last name.

I am really glad that someone like Joey Baer bring up this delicate issue facing our deaf community. I never have a chance of viewing Joey Baer's vlog posting due to technical difficulties. Most important of all is using common sense for social and formal introduction!

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)

What's Going On With Amy - Skullchick's World?

Amy's latest vlog posting (Skullchick's World) is very irrational and illogical to call any deaf people "hyprocrite" whom not considerate themselves "disabled" and draw the monthly SSI benefits.

Deaf people in general, must NOT allow the society at large to define what and who we are all about. Pathologize anyone with such definition or societal label is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

What's matter with the general society to call us "deaf", instead of drizzling on "hearing-impaired", "deaf with CI" or "hard of hearing" or "person with disability"?

Seem like that Amy do not really understand the language power of definition and label. Didn't Amy read various academic-style books like "Language of Oppression" how the language definition/label could be a powerful impact on the societial perspective of particular minority.

Amy of "Skullchick's World" needs to understand that many of us, deaf people rather seen as just individuals than lumping us altogether with "disability" label.

Let's deconstruct the meaning of "disability" within the general masses!
DIS-ablity or DIS-abled term lend to the concept of deaf people as physically incomplete or incomptent. Our inability to hear just overshadow the existence of culturally and linguistic-vibrant minority NOTHING to do with any severe physical disabilities.

Amy of "Skullchick's World" have to embrace the necessity of "cultural and linguistic" identification to our own existence as deaf people than let others pathologizing us for who and what we are all about.

Amy needs to provide the statistical information about HOW MANY culturally deaf people are on the SSI or "disability insurance". Many culturally deaf people are emotionally-balanced with excellent EQ (emotional intelligence) and interpersonal skills than anyone drilled with CIs.

The disability community at large DO NOT NECESSARILY SEEN us, deaf people as one of them. This very same disabled community keep us, deaf people from fully achieving our socioeconomic and political powers like the implentation of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) law. The disability community didn't endorse the concept of full accessibility for deaf people at the movie theatres.

No questions about many and many disabled individuals look down on us, deaf people or not seen us as "DIS-abled" individuals, because the large numbers of deaf people are able to WALK, RUN, JUMP, WHOOSH, NOT SPEAK THEIR SAME LANGUAGE AND WHATEVER ANYTHING YOU HAVE IN MIND.

How an interesting experience with one Gallaudet student whom refused to pay the disabled fare for the bus ride, because she rather treated as an equal one than being perceived as "disabled".

Sadly, the American society at large, still have societial prejudices and misconceptions about deaf people. Some of the deaf people turned to the safety net like the SSI benefits.

WHY the society at large ought to pay A LOT of $$$ on cochlear implant surgeries and devices, then let the cochlear implantees keep defining themselves "disabled"?

We must mobilize for the federal legislation to de-certify all cochlear implantees as non-disability. So the cochlear implantees could not possibly decline the armed services - "front lines" or draw any kind of disability benefits. PERIOD!

The American society at large still fail us, deaf people in many ways like the shoddy educational system of the deaf and socioeconomic inequality due to the existence of "AUDISM".

Deaf people in general, MUST be seen as "cultural and linguistic" minority than letting the society at large to define and label us according to the disability status. That is up to each deaf individual whom wish to identify hirself.

ASlize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog

Hot Off the Press from "Communication and Video Accessibility Act" Hearing, 5/1/08

The U.S. House of Representative's' House Commerce and Energy Committee held an entire morning hearing from the panelists variously among consumer advocates, daily technological users and industry providers on Thursday, May 1st, 2008.

House Commerce and Energy Committee Chairperson, Rep. Markley and several House committee members frequently grilled the industry providers why they could not possibly embrace the timeline development within accessibility means for the disabled technological users and the deaf community at large. The industry representatives spurred with technical responses and not able to explain why the entire technological industry fail to make any simple accomplishments to accompany the "disabled" and deaf-blind and deaf technological users' needs.

Many deaf-blind users within the Internet access, usually get frustrated from the cluttered information appeared on the web pages in general, ex. many articles and banners intertwined on very one web page. The cluttered part of the web pages made such an impossible task for the deaf-blind Internet users to absorb the written information without being overwhelmed (difficulty of reading the submitted information from another existing article or headline or banner). The American Association of Deaf-Blind representative made his presence in the committee room.

Seregant Asocto, a recent Iraqi war veteran, got blinded from the roadside bomb. His life was radically changed from the visually-abled person to legally blind with a snap of finger (terrorist bomb). Ascoto served our country's military service more than 30 years. Asocot was largely frustrated with the inconsiderable society at large for not accompanying the "disabled" war veterans and other blind technological users on daily basis. Asocot pointed out his 1984 Chrysler "Le Baron" car with excellent audio notifications thru beep noises - "You left the car key. Please take it out", "Oil level low" and "Please put on the seat belts". That was the 80s car with ability of audio notifications, not the latest technological options! Ascoto blasted many private sectors only focus on the margin of excessive profits and marketability of technological products, not the vested interests for citizens having the full technological access within one of the richest nation in the history of humankind.

The entire House Commerce and Energy Committee members nodded in agreement about the disabled, deaf-blind and deaf constituency being largely deprived of technological and socioeconomic progress in many ways. The committee chairperson pointed out why the Bush White House haven't been a great advocacy watchdog for the disabled, deaf-blind and deaf Americans for past seven years. One Republican committee member made the following comment - "The government could not regulate everything to implemente the private industry into immediate actions.

The entire committee members and chairperson and panelists discussed on the issue of "private rights of action" regarding the remarkable technological process on the part of the private enterprise and individuals "tweak" the existed technological product(s) to accompany themselves to be fully benefit from technology in general.

Celebrity witness, Deaf Actor Russell Harvard made his first public testimony before the congressional hearing. Harvard recently appeared in "There Will Be a Blood", a major film feature with Daniel Day Lewis and "CSI: NY" television show. Russell Harvard expressed his usual frustration with the complicated technological access like turning on captions for the deaf via tv remote control. He had to look up the menu options and looked and looked and looked for the caption option about fifteen minutes, then gave up. Harvard's friend just completed the caption right away. Harvard electrified the entire House committee with his testimony thru ASL signings. All eyes surely glued on Russell Harvard's presence.

Al Sonnethral, deaf consumer advocate, dutifully notified Harvard about how the entire committee reacted to Russell Harvard's testimony. That put the smile on Harvard which he made a gracious presence among the general public. Harvard emphasized the simplification of technological devices for the society at large.

The entire House committee members turned to the industry providers what the private technology sector will do about the aspect of "universal design" within technological access. The industry providers wholly agreed on the importance of simplifying the technological access without frustrating any disabled, deaf-blind and deaf users.

The House Commerce and Energy Committee will spend few days from today for the provision on the language written into the legislative draft which will be probably available for next seven months for the full legislative votes. This legislative draft into the active bill probably not survive this election year or be voted on.

You, the deaf-blind and deaf constituency could mobilize the nationwide campaign to support the "Communication and Video Act of 2007" legislation come true for all of us leading more technological access on daily basis.

The remaining question whether this legislative draft will make the real impact on deaf vloggers to be required to caption their vlogcasts.

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason
RLMDEAF blog