Transcript from the AB 2072 hearing

Here is an excerpt from the transcript of the AB 2072 hearing last June 23rd -

Transcript of comments by Senator Gloria Romero during Wednesday's proceedings of the Senate Health Committee of the California state legislature

　
SENATOR ALQUIST: Senator Romero.

SENATOR GLORIA ROMERO: Thank you, Madam Chair. I have looked at this bill and I am urging the--I'd like to urge the Assemblyman to consider the amendments and to adopt the amendments that have been brought forward by the opposition.

Madam chair, I appreciate the work of the committee, some of these I think I can share, but others I do have concerns about. As a psychologist and educator myself, I do think that it sends--intended or not--an unintended consequence that by moving this out of Department of Education into DDS [Department of Developmental Services], it clearly establishes this in the medical model. If we keep it within the Department of Education, I think it reaffirms that language is learned. And in looking at American Sign Language, this is not just a popular language, this is the third most popular language in this country.

[Applause]

SEN. ROMERO (cont.): I think it is--

SEN. ALQUIST [to audience]: Excuse me, we will have no clapping. The sergeants are here. We will have it quiet, so we can all [pause] understand what is going on. Thank you very much.

SEN. ROMERO: So as I approach--and as I have learned quite a bit from both the opponents and proponents, and from mothers who I know in my own life--the question that I start with asking is: [pause] What are we trying to fix? That's the question that I have to ask: What are we trying to fix? Are we trying to fix deafness? And I would have to answer--if that is the question, then I would say: No. [pause] Because, American Sign Language is a language--maybe one that maybe many of us are not familiar with, but it is a language. It's recognized. And if we start from the premise of asking: What are we trying to fix? then I would have to ask: How far are we willing to go? Are we going to fix gay children? Are we going to fix dark-skinned infants and give brochures to parents saying: "This is how you can bleach skin"? Are we going to fix the curl of the hair?--I mean, I must honestly ask this question, because I think these are some of the concerns. And I'm not saying it's intended in this bill, but if we're talking about fixing, those are questions, even in the history of this state, that I think--look at this beautiful mural [gesturing], but there's another mural that we could perhaps paint of California.

So that's the question: What are we trying to fix? [pause] In terms of looking at the amendments--and that's what I fundamentally believe that by moving it to DDS it clearly establishes it in the medical model in need of fixing something, as opposed to the Department of Education, which maintains that this is a linguistic skill, ability and opportunity to continue to oversee. I think, just a--So I would ask the author [gesturing to Assemblymember Mendoza] to consider that [gesturing to the Chair] and the Chair as well, my views.

In terms of the question of the audiologist, I do believe that this is an inherent financial conflict of interest, and I would not feel comfortable by having the audiologist, with a clear financial interest, to be the gatekeeper to parents for information on issues related to hearing.

In terms of--I mean, there's other issues as well that we can raise--The advisory committee that's been proposed I think is balanced and fair, from the opponents. I would ask us to look at that, but I go back to that fundamental question [said with emphasis]: I do not understand what we are trying to fix.

And it does become a question of understanding and embracing the culture of deafness, a language which exists, a language which is the third most popular in this country--a language which I've tried to learn, in fact, as well, and haven't been good at it. So I would ask the author, I appreciate your efforts. I understand, I think [gesturing toward Assemblymember Mendoza] good intentions in bringing this forward, but I am compelled by the [arguments of the] opposition--and would ask you to consider adopting the amendments that have been offered by the opposition.

[Transcript is unofficial.]
　
LINK TO VIDEO (00:58:37 to 1:03:10):

https://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewvideo/1541

DE Shared More Details What Happened at the AB 2072 Hearing

David Eberwein (DE), the current principal of the California School for the Deaf via Fremont, shared many details what really happened at the AB 2072 hearing on June 23, 2010 on his vlog posting.

From Eberwein's ASL version of the AB 2072 hearing was pretty accurate with the observation of the AB 2072 supporters which showed their TRUE COLORS. He done the good job of summarizing the hearing process with Part One and Part Two vlog entries.

Part Two vlog will be showcased first, then Part One vlog -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9xNWhlFlTc&feature=related

Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR3pd2oa8ak&feature=related

ASLize yours,

Robert L. Mason (RLM)

Minnesota CBS-TV News Report on Deaf Reaction to iPhone 4G

The Minnesota CBS-TV station reported on the news of the iPhone 4G presence brought such happiness to the deaf communty with mobile video callings -
http://wcco.com/local/deaf.community.iphone.2.1771212.html

POST-AB 2072 HEARING MEDIA REPORT

The Captiol Weekly, the online newspaper cover the California government and politics which feature the main story on the post-AB 2072 hearing by Michael Panush. It covered all issues what the opposition against the AB 2072 bill and mentioned two past attempts by the California Coalition and the Option Schools with different state senators turned down the legislative request.

Here is an article -
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=yxqh98bursdfju&xid=yxq0977eu5lupn&done=.yxqh98burt1fju

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

Surreal Incident with Deaf Latino and Rep. Mendoza

What a surreal experience for the AB 2072 opponent bumped into Rep. Tony Mendoza at the Pyramid Brewery restuarant after the hearing! That was Elena Ruiz, deaf Latino clicked very well with Rep. Mendoza and chatted for awhile. Mendoza felt connected with Elena due to their similar ethnic hertiage. Politics surely make a strange bedfellow!

Here is Elena Ruiz's own words -

Elena M. Ruiz we were all gathered at pyramid brewery, and it just so happened that mendoza came in with a troupe of his own. thanks to sharing a pitcher of IPA beer with some friends, i felt bold enough to wave to him-- apparently, he recognized me from last week when i passed by him on the street wearing my yellow anti-ab 2072 shirt, shooting him a haughty look. so he came over to me, shook my hand, and we started chatting.after introducing myself as a Latina Deaf woman with parents in the field of bilingual (Spanish-English education,) I was really blunt to him. i told him i felt he was letting down us Latino Deaf people, and that he was contributing to the oppression of us. I told him that his bill reminded me of Prop 227, and he instantly said "i'd never do that, i'd never do that." i also said that i hope we all can work together to make sure that Latino Deaf children dont have to have hearing aids on their ears or stuff implanted on their skull to feel like complete human beings, that they can be ASL users and still be a total part of both the hearing Latino community and the Deaf community. He kept agreeing with everything I said. Then I went on to ask if he had had a change of heart today, and he said yes and that he really wanted to work with us. the convo was prob around 10-15 mins long, and it was photographed and videotaped. i'm sure i'm leaving some more details out, but those are definitely the big points...thank god for that IPA buzz for giving me the ganas to do that.

ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason
RLMDEAF blog

Inspirational Message for the AB 2072 Detractors!

This inspirational message are for the naughty deaf naysayers undermine the attempted unity and teamwork of CDNIS (Deaf California) to bring such joy, community-building, elevate the deaf child's educational opporunity to the fullest potentials and sparks within our enriched language, American Sign Language free from the destructive pathological medical viewpoints.

Happened to stumble into one of the website which surely bring the inspiration to many of us -

Dr. Martin Luther King said this in a 1957 sermon: " An individual has not begun to live until he can rise above the horizons of his particular individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Every person must decide, at some point, whether they will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"

Look forward to sit together with all of you, deaf naysayers and drink and eat merrily together and embrace the real community unity in the name of Deafhood and Deaf Empowerment and Deaf Unity.

ASLize yours,

Robert L. Mason (RLM)

RLMDEAF blog

LOONEY TUNES, THAT'S ALL, KOOKNUT PUNDIT

Mikey McConnell aka the KOOKNUT PUNDIT often CENSORED my comments on his blog for past two months while he allowed the factual errors and loony comment by the Freezepop about the AGBad not responsible for the decline of quality of deaf education after the Milan Conference 1880.

Look at the Kooknut Pundit moderator never took any action to correct the Freezepop's comment -

Anonymous said...
John Egbert,
Before you go any further, there was no evidence that AG Bell was responsible for
destroying ASL for the last 50 or so years. Milan Convention during 1880 did not
ratify from US Senate and it was never brought to a Senate floor. US Education has
never been affected by Milan Convention.Since 1880 to 1980, state schools with sign
language grew 50 which includes Fremont School for the deaf, Riverside, New Mexico,
Colorado Springs, Vancouver, etc. Sign Language grew thousand fold during 100 years.
Did AG Bell destroy it? Not really. They never bother them, NEVER! They ran their own
business and minding their own business. They have over 30 private schools including
Clarke Schools. Clarke has expanded to 7 private schools. Vincent Cerf is the father of
internet who happens to be a member of AG Bell. AG Bell members have been front runner
of technology like TTY and relay system. Sprint, Purple, other relay companies still
sponsoring AG BELL. AG Bell has a yearly camp for the kids and they do have sign l
language counselor. You haven't seen it since you're biased with information.Audiologist
and pathologist who are member of AG Bell do believe ASL to teach their students to
speak effectively. AG Bell has been open minded about every sources and they do believe
that once a child can benefit from hearing devices will do well in speech. John, look up the
word called "Fanatic" and that's who you are. We cannot change your mind or subject. You
refuse to see what AG Bell has to offer. Now, with AB 2072...it's effortless for supporters of
AB 2072 because you guys acted like a fool. More parents will move away from the deaf
that...you did.Good luck with dying breed because the opposition of AB 2072 didn't make
any sense and it does die itself.
Adios.Freezepop
2:49 PM

Someone intelligent like Mikey McConnell should know better to be a responsible blogger to ensure the accuracy of historical fact like the Milan Conference 1880s do not require the U.S. Senate to ratify the Milan Conference 1880 accords. Or Mikey really being a dishonest and untrustworthy blogger to avenge his own ideological points by allowing the White Ghost (Karl White???), Barry Sewer of the Hooliganism, Russell the Deaf Larry Flynt and Gina Sutton aka the Candy Stripper and CENSOR someone like me.

Freezepop just admitted that he justified for the private companies to exploit deaf children as part of marketplace commodity, not the educational subjects to fatten the pockets of audists and impose the unworkable ideology upon vulnerable parents of deaf children and babies.

I guess that I would say "Looney Tunes, That's All, Kooknut Pundit!"

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