"Mom!...Dad!...
I found a scholarship on the internet that will help us put me through college and it's sponsored by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing."
Now, imagine the excitement Crystal and her parents felt when they discovered a specific scholarship that will help pay for college tuition and expenses for someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing. You see, the Clear family was barely getting by with Dad working as a janitor at the church across the street and Mom as a cashier at the local dollar store. Crystal had been worried since her junior year about finding a means to support herself through college. As an adept and studious pupil, she was determined to receive an education beyond high school. What a surprise it must have been for her to come across a scholarship that supports the Deaf and hard of hearing!
YET...
As they read the first criterion for eligibility to receive the scholarship, their excitement was immediately replaced with disappointment.
[Spoken communication must be the applicant's primary mode of communication.]
Crystal responded with grave concern, "But I am Deaf? Why is it so important that I must speak? I thought the AGBell Association was supportive of the Deaf and hard hearing."
She was very upset to find that such a scholarship was solely for those eligible, those who could speak and she found it rather perplexing to see them discriminate her on the basis that she was a signing Deaf person.
Hmmm...
Well I'll be....
I reckon it is CRYSTAL clear that the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and hard of hearing does not aim to support the signing Deaf population in pursuing a post secondary education.
But didn't they claim to include and support ASL among their membership?
Didn't they???
Please help me understand their reasons for only supporting Deaf and hard of hearing individuals who speak rather than sign?
Didn't they say they support the signing Deaf?
Didn't they???
Please show me why they do not want to support those who sign when they declare that those who don't are also members of the Deaf Community.
C'mon,..help a guy out, will ya?
Bonus Questions:
If "AG Bell does not believe that ASL should be prohibited or restricted as a choice, nor does AG Bell advocate against learning ASL as part of a child’s overall development if that is what the child’s parents desire", why are they discriminating parents of Deaf children who opted to raise their kids with ASL as their primary language?
AND
Would Gallaudet be considered a "mainstream" university?
URLS:
http://nc.agbell.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=493
http://nc.agbell.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=542
Now excuse me while I go out to get some fresh air. Hypocrisy stinks!
Hmmm. Pretty selective in their criteria, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteGoes to show that they don't consider Deaf folk who use ASL as their primary language (I refuse to call it mode of communication as it demeans ASL as a language)good enough, or intelligent enough to go to college.
That is the implicit message the association is imparting to parents and students. "If you speak you get money to better your lot. If you don't, you're out of luck. Sorry."
Second class citizenship treatment, to be sure.
TSK TSK... Lip service is no longer acceptable.
Shel
Unfortunately, scholarships given by organizations can be limited to membership, children of employees, members of a religion, even just those who play a certain sport, practice a certain skill or speak a certain language. The list is long and incredibly specific in conditions, and often not based on academics or need. As a result, many are never awarded.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I wonder what AGBell is trying to do: raise the lot of the deaf community or further its own goals? Perhaps in awarding these scholarships based on communication preference, they are gathering examples of successful oralism.
Hopefully parents don't tell their kids to avoid ASL in order to qualify for scholarships.
Looks like AGB association is advancing its own goals.
ReplyDeleteAGB the man himself stated his ultimate goal:
"Let us forget that they are deaf, and teach them to forget that they are deaf."
The criteria issued for that scholarship is certainly aimed to accomplish precisely that.
Shel
A "crystal clear" blog! I want to see the NNNs try to dance their way around this one!
ReplyDeleteD-rez --
ReplyDeleteGranted, any organization can establish whatever criterion it wants to make for its scholarships. That is not the issue. Jeff's point, which I think he makes "crystal clear" (love that pun!) here is that AGB claims to be "for" Deaf people and wanting to see Deaf people "advance". Yet, they deliberately exclude a large segment of the Deaf population because that segment does not act "Hearing enough" (i.e., speaking).
What's that? AGB and their Deaf supporters cry foul when they perceive that some Deaf people are being viewed as "not Deaf enough", yet AGB is allowed to get away with saying that a Deaf person is "not Hearing enough"?
As he says, HYPOCRISY! Let's expose it!
Instead of Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
ReplyDeleteIt should be:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Oralism Only.
Back in the old days, Deaf people were punished for using Sign Language and AGBell is still punishing the Deaf for not able to speak like hearing and being bilingual.
But seems it is legal for AGBell to be abusive towards the Deaf that can't speak.
Jeff...
ReplyDeleteI've heard those horror stories from a couple of deaf friends. I was stunned and somewhat shocked. All they care about giving out to Deaf/hard of hearing who are talking *EUREKA, THEY'RE TALKING! OMFG!*. They'd reject any Deaf who uses ASL and ANY kinds of sign languages (of course tools of communications, heh). They only care to teach Deaf/hard of hearing to forget they're ever Deaf to begin with. They ensue that they have gone through AVT. *gasp, AVT, whoopeee dee doooo* It's sufficient for them to hand out those "convert prizes" to C.I. with AVT (GASP! WHOOPEEE AVT, WOWEEEE)
Who gives a flying fuck about AVT?!? Only AGBell....only AGBell!
Gallaudet should do the same....for ASL Deaf ONLY and let's see who's making the noises? Eh?
InsaneMisha
all commenters,...muchas gracias for your sharing,...all anonymous,...get a name,....
ReplyDeleteeveryone: see whats coming your way?
it is coming on...
Dear Crystal and family:
ReplyDeleteVerity is clarity and its a real shame they say you are not in the game cuz that is just lame. You sing pretty fine to me. I see ur fingers all a flutter. U is beautiful child. Don't believe a thing they be slinging.
Rise & Shine.
See ya in July Crystal and company.
We wanna make visible to the folks at AG Bell et al just who exactly they have been excluding all this time.
Peace,
Patti, a fellow traveler
Jeffrey - yes indeedy it is a comin' on. thank u for being a mighty big part of the truth campaign.
and geez - why is it they cant ever seem to:
1. answer a bloody question
2. get their own name right?
who's dependent?
ODD, eh?
peace
patti