Comments on The ASL-Cochlear Implant Community: DBC and AGB positions on ASL and CIs

Hm. One of the points I tend to make is that you ...

2008-07-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

Hm. One of the points I tend to make is that you want to have all deaf children, implanted or not, learn sign language in tandem with anything else (except, of course, an exclusively AVT program), BECAUSE implants are not 100% successful. Every hearing person that I know, except for a small handful, thinks that CI is a cure for deafness. They are surprised to learn that CI's are more like HA's

I support DBC's mission that all deaf babies shoul...

2008-06-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

I support DBC's mission that all deaf babies should be exposed to sign language but some of the DBC members seem anti-CI and that may make parents uncomfortable. If they have a positive attitude towards CI, then maybe hearing parents would hear them out and consider ASL for their implanted children in addition to their native language, spoken English.

I am a new member of AGBell for

On the AGB website, under "communication options" ...

2008-06-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

On the AGB website, under "communication options" you'll see:

American Sign Language(Bilingual/Bicultural)

Early Intervention Best Practice Model you'll see:

c. Bilingual/Bicultural (ASL/ESL),

http://www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=EI_Best_Practice_Model

Agreed and excellent analogy there with the Native...

2008-06-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Agreed and excellent analogy there with the Native Americans.

Here's my two cents... there are extremists within an organization,

for instance, 24/7 AVT proponents, and members vying for a total ban of ASL

and members who are against tools such as CI's, iPods, hearing aids and would encourage people not to use them and/or to remove these because of their "audist"

Native ASL/CI parent and child -Ah, when pigs fly....

2008-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Native ASL/CI parent and child -

Ah, when pigs fly... ;)

But I do agree that they need to do that...

Just ain't going to happen.

KLOh wow, yes, love ur idea of AGB reaching over ...

2008-06-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

KL

Oh wow, yes, love ur idea of AGB reaching over to the deaf masses with an apology for their past wrongdoings.

The US Government did that for the Native Americans and African Americans.

This is such an important topic. On the surface, ...

2008-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

This is such an important topic. On the surface, I fully embrace what DBC stands for, but scratch the surface, and it seems to be anti CI at every turn. It is sad to see their actions not match their words.

I also would like to see AGBell try to reach out to the people who feel damaged by them in the past. The healing would go a long way.

This isn't a war, and it should not

Amy says it very well :)

2008-06-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Amy says it very well :)

ALYou are right on target. AGB Convention also at...

2008-06-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

AL

You are right on target. AGB Convention also attracts deaf adults. I attended one some time ago. People were friendly and respectful that I needed an interpreter. There, I learned so much what my child needed.

DBC, I honestly doubt they'll be flexible considering the fact that the core members are anti-CI. I can understand their experience as an oppressed minority. <

Quotes from an online newspaper about the AGB conv...

2008-06-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

Quotes from an online newspaper about the AGB convention:

--Murphy stressed that the convention had provided sign language interpreters and had exhibition booths devoted to American Sign Language.

"A.G. Bell's position is that we're not against sign language," she said. "We're for choices."--

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=6/29/2008&id=42398

I'm

ALAGB is just an organization where parents seek f...

2008-06-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

AL

AGB is just an organization where parents seek for oral education support. If they want to seek for sign language plus CI/AVT support, they could probably turn to Hands and Voices for further referaal. AGB would give them the signlang referral, no problem!

What we really need is a Deaf bilingual organization that advocates ASL with or without CI. I was totally on my

Actually I do disagree with AGB's stance on ASL. ...

2008-06-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Actually I do disagree with AGB's stance on ASL. As an organization, they have done a lot to damage ASL's credibility in the hearing community. I support DBC's mission to have all deaf babies learn ASL, but I am concerned about their stance on CIs.

YES! It should not be CI vs ASL. That is so rid...

2008-06-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

YES! It should not be CI vs ASL. That is so ridiculous!!!!
A kid with a CI could either go purely oral, go TC, or ASL.

A CI is for the profoundly deaf as a hearing aid is for the hard of hearing and those with functional residual hearing. It is just that t he prfoundly deaf can enjoy sound as a hardof hearing child whether at a residential school for the Deaf or in the

Speaking of DBC's position on CIs, I checked the D...

2008-06-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

Speaking of DBC's position on CIs, I checked the DBC website and found one reference to CIs in the testimonials webpage- and it was a negative one, from a hearing parent who opted not to "drill a hole" in her deaf child's head. If there is anything else about CIs on the DBC website, please let us know.

public relations is what it is... public...and rel...

2008-06-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

public relations is what it is... public...and relations with the public.

ella (and possibly other DBC members) obviously need public relations training -

regardless of how long an interview is, it should never include negative rhetoric, period.

it's time for DBC to come clean on their position when it comes to cochlear implants.

The newspaper writers cannot be controlled. They c...

2008-06-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

The newspaper writers cannot be controlled. They can pick and choose quotes from a long interview.

There's nothing wrong with what Ella did and nobody missed any boats. There already is a strong emphasis on bilingualism. Check on the June 6 press release.

Ms. Lentz's comments are laced with words like aud...

2008-06-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ms. Lentz's comments are laced with words like audism, racism, and with the erroneous perception that "only a small percentage of deaf people are successful at [speech]" based on rather outdated research. Those negative comments are going to be misread or misinterpreted by anxious hearing parents trying to sort thru information on deafness and the different communication modes for their deaf

No, no. You are placing your own interpretation of...

2008-06-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

No, no. You are placing your own interpretation of Ella's words that she (Ella) herself did not intend.

The second quote from Ella is not talking about CI's. It's talking about focusing on speech.

Amen! That is what I am concerned about. It is ...

2008-06-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Amen! That is what I am concerned about. It is not about CI vs. ASL.

That is the 'framing' I did not want to see, it just drives many parents away.

CI are here to stay, and we need to make ASL as an attractive option to the bilingual model for the deaf child.

Adding ASL comes with tremendous benefits, and it does not impede English (spoken, reading and written), it