Seeking out evidence!
In relation to my recent post, “The DBC Hercules and the AGB Hydra“, “Candy” asked to see evidence of what AGB has done. In response to this, I am going to set up a “clearinghouse” center (as a category “Extra Reading” [for lack of a better title at this moment] on this website where I will make available copies (Word/PDF) of any articles or information relating to AGB’s actions against the well-being of the Deaf culture and community. These articles can be research, financial data, political/legal, etc. but MUST be verifiable. Any other information that you have to share (but might not be related to AGB itself) that you think might help towards enlightening the “doubting Thomases” out there will be welcome, as long as it meets the VERIFIABLE standard. Send the files to me at DrDonG@deafhooddiscourses.com and I will post them, subject to approval and verifiability.
Mishkazena said,
July 7, 2008 @ 9:25 am
That is a terrific idea. It’s long overdue, to be honest with you. With this kind of information, the parents will get a better idea what kind of organization they are dealing with.
DT said,
July 7, 2008 @ 11:00 am
And in what form will this “verifiability” be comprised of?
DrDonG said,
July 7, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Verifiability will mean based on research (with sources), links to reliable sources of information, actual copies of source material (such as financial data or legislation), and so forth. No unfounded accusations or personal stories (unless there are pictures to accompany them as proof). Get the idea? Basically, it should be something that if you wanted to check out for yourself, you could find it too.
Lindsay Dunn said,
July 7, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Does this mean that there isnt any verifiable data at this particular moment and we basically need people to provide that/
DrDonG said,
July 7, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
Hi Lindsay –
Been a long time. I’m glad to see you’ve done well since we knew each other since way back when. I think there is data out there, but it’s either scattered in random bits and pieces so people don’t know where they all are (why I want to establish a central location for finding it) or people haven’t gone out and looked for it yet.
deafmommie said,
July 7, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Hi,
Gee, when I was selecting books on deafness through the library website to read during the summer, your topic came up. I picked a book about deaf/oralism as the recent topics on AGB and DBC was on my mind for the last few days. Here are the books that I selected and are on reserve from the local library:
Forbidden Signs: American Culture/campaign against sign language written by Douglas C. Baynton
Voices of the oral deaf: Fourteen roles models speak out by Jim Reiisler (published in 1958)
Hand, heart & mind: the story of the education of America’s deaf people by Lou Ann Walker
Growing up deaf: issues of commnication in a hearing world by Rose Pizzo
Damned for their difference: the cultural construction of deaf people as “disabled”: a sociological history by Jan Branson
Deaf empowerment: emergence, struggle and rhetoric by Katherine Jankowski
Keep in mind, I have not read those books yet, I am putting all of these books on reserve at the library but however, I am putting out the list of the books in hopes that maybe this will help us find information that we need to know.
Candy said,
July 7, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
There is one thing I’d like to point out, and that is, we know that goals and mission of AGB has changed over the years with the times. With that in mind, I don’t think it’s a great idea to obsess about past trangressions. I think it’s wise to focus on the past decade or so. Something more recent that has more impact than something that happened a century ago.
Joseph Pietro Riolo said,
July 7, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
I hope that you will accept sources that put the association in positive light so the association will be viewed in a more balanced way.
The readers should keep in mind that the association changes over the time. Old sources may not be relevant to what the association is doing now. In other words, always put the sources in the proper context.
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Public domain notice: I put all of my expressions in this post in the public domain.
DrDonG said,
July 7, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
Candy and Joseph,
The organization has changed, but in my mind, not by all that much. I would agree that maybe going back more than 50 years would be too much, but the last 20 years would not be. Whatever is found will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
deafchipmunk said,
July 8, 2008 @ 5:47 am
Hi DrDonG
Excellent idea!
It is very important to document AGBell’s action all the way back to its first day. Yes we do know some of AGBell’s old action may be irrelevant today. However, it helps us understand AGBell and its purposes and why AGBell has done to parents and their children.
We want to know if AGBell does not oppose ASL, we need to know what is the reason for AGBell saying that. We know AGBell does not support ASL based on its strong commitment on AVT that does not support ASL.
We need a centre to access documents of AGBell.
Keep up with your good work!
Deafchip