Legislative Agenda #3 (Hardest)
This one is actually the simplest, but in my opinion, the hardest to achieve because of the way our society is structured. But, I think it is achievable when built upon the previous legislative actions described in #1 and #2. And if we can succeed, just imagine the possibilities!
Jean Boutcher said,
June 18, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I cannot agree more on one of your points which holds it that America “is very strong English.” Samuel Houston was and still is despised by some researchers because he forced some people in Texas to Anglicise their surnames. A professional genealogist, who wrote a book on one of my mother’s lineages, discovered in a research facility in Utah that my ancestor Toliver was anglicised from Taliaferro! I would not be surprised if Samuel Houston still lived in the 21st century he would staunchly support AGBell and would be anti-ASL!
Jean Boutcher said,
June 18, 2008 @ 10:22 am
Post Scriptum:
The USA is called a monolingual and xenophobic country by other countries around the world. From various printed matters, I see that
more and more hearing Americans are semi-monolingual. It should upset AGBell to learn that many Deaf people are bilingual.
David Ennis said,
June 18, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Yes that’s true our country strongly support “English Only” because they believe the official one language can help uniting the one nation together.
In my own opinion, most hearing Amnericans do not understand that Deaf children need visual-based education as opposed to sound-based education hearing children learn with.
I know that the concept of the Bilingualism is not popular in our society but most American still misundestand many Deaf educators who support the Bingualism Approach.
Just suggestion that someone who is willing to educate hearing people that Deaf children are visual learners so they need visual-based bingualism that primarily covers their children’s native language (ASL) and English literacy (reading and writing).
That’s really much different from the Bingualism (English and Spanish). I wonder if the title of “visual-based bingualism’ or “visual bingual;ism’ is helping the hearing Americans to understand clearly that Deaf children are visual learners. What do you think?
David Ennis said,
June 18, 2008 @ 11:12 am
I forget to tell you that your commentary is so definitely interesting except my comment is poor legible. The color font of my comment needs to be upgraded from light tan to dark blue or black that helps the future DR readers. Please keep to work with your creative discourses that empower our Deaf Renaissance movement.
freddy said,
June 19, 2008 @ 7:24 am
I agree with you but remember, America is still not recognized English as an official language. There’s no law with official language in the US. If you see Spanish language on booklets and packets etc from the Federal Government, we can start proposing ASL language on packets and booklets with it. It’s a start!