NAD Conference
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Conflicts Between Interpreters and Consumers: When You've Tried Everything
David Bowell, Matthew O'Hara, and Pamela Whitney
There are situations where deaf people or even interpreters themselves want to make an ethical complaints against interpreters who are members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). The presenters discussed several strategies and emphasized mediation as an essential solution to ethical complaints. Some interpreters are unsure of what they are expected to do, because some deaf people like to voice for themselves. What do you do in situations like that? RID suggests you ask, whether you are the client or the interpreter, what the expectations are. Some interpreters do fabulously on the day of their certification testing, but in general they are not so swell. In situations like this, they may be re-tested to validate their qualifications. For more information, email ethics@rid.org.
Current State of Affairs - School Boards and Schools for the Deaf
Philip Bravin, Alexis Kashar, Chris Wagner, and Sonny Wasilowski
This panel of officers and members of various school boards across the country addressed communication, literacy, and budget issues. Kashar mentioned that at her school, New York State School for the Deaf, only 1.9% of her students have deaf parents. Other schools have similar statistics, and have issues with teacher-to-student ratios. Ratios at each school are determined according to their budgets, and the people who "control the pursestrings" are the ones to address -- namely, the state governments. The panel also discussed how they recruit more deaf members to sit on boards of deaf schools.
Whose Voice Is It?
Darlene Goncz Zangara
First, what is voice? Voice is our ability to communicate our cultural identity. Sustaining our voice takes some work, but we must continue to share our stories that resonate with people. The deaf community cannot stand alone -- we must build allies and relationships with hearing individuals and organizations. Only then will our stories have an impact on them, and our Deaf voices will find a place in the mainstream paradigm. To do this, deaf people must reconstruct our cultural lens and our history to express our stories in a language that mainstream society (hearing people) are accustomed to hearing. We must first know and understand ourselves before we can express our voice in mainstream society.
After our first wonderful day at the National Association of the Deaf Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, a lucky few were able to head to the Ohio River a few blocks away from the conference and board the Kentucky Spirit, a wonderful old-fashioned steamboat that had the bragging rights of being the oldest steamboat in Kentucky, for the Kentucky Association of the Deaf Steamboat Cruise. The line for the boat was huge! People were excited to get on even though it was blazing hot outside- who can blame them when given the chance to ride up and down the Ohio river? As people started to board the boat, there were some people staying behind saying farewell - it was a touching moment even though the boat returned a few hours later.
On the boat itself, several events were going on, especially with our Miss Deaf America contestants. Most of the attendees stood outside, enjoying the beautiful view of the city and the surrounding areas, not to mention the breeze. Once the fireworks started, it was a reminder of how America fought valiantly for its freedom, and for the deaf community as well since we are constantly continuing to fight for our rights across the country. This was a inspiring time to recall why we all came to the NAD Conference- to give our support and continue to break down the barriers deaf people face. If you are getting a little jealous of this amazing event, then consider coming to the 2014 NAD Conference!
Ever notice how we are able to express an concept in a much easier and more detailed manner through ASL than a simple cinematic film? In this Blockbuster: Cinematic ASL workshop, Windell "Wink" Smith, displayed a great sense of humor and had a very interactive approach, along with a genial personality. He started out with covering the basics of American Sign Language and led his presentation into how a conversation or story expressed in sign language is a lot like a film. Like movies, stories in sign language often have shots, scenes, and close ups. Deaf persons can paint a scene by describing its surroundings in a much detailed format than a movie- and we are able to pick up the tangents of our stories in a much more streamlined manner. We are also able to describe emphasis in color- such as the intensity of its hue or brightness. Smith also pointed out that a person's eye is the camera itself, and that is even more true for deaf folks. Drawing parallels between deaf culture, ASL and film, this workshop combines the three in a beautiful trifecta.
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Watch even more of the Opening Ceremonies from July 3rd right here, right now! The Louisville Slugger Stadium hosted the NAD Conference Opening Ceremonies on July 3rd, complete with performances from internationally known deaf actors like Warren "Wawa" Snipes, Sean Forbes, Jeremy Quiroga and Ryan Lane. The Opening Ceremonies also included crazy antics by "Dummy" Hoy, appearances by the Miss Deaf America contestants, and some amazing baseball. Watch for NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins as she throws out the first pitch for the Bats vs. Indians game!
The Opening Ceremonies were only the beginning- we'll include even more details and interviews, so stay tuned!
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Did you know that 55% of the delegates here at the 2012 NAD Conference are first-timers? This week has been an eye-opening experience for everybody, working with multiple perspectives and diverse backgrounds! Today, on Wednesday July 4th, the fourth session of the Council of Representatives was held. A proposal was carried to have an Open Forum for all NAD members this afternoon, to ensure individual members could provide further input on priority proposals.
In the KICC Conference Theater, the public was welcome to watch the discussion of several proposals as well as discuss the scheduling of NAD Board Candidate presentations.The delegates felt it was important that the individual members' perspectives be seen and included. A honest, open discussion was held about each proposal, and the point about diversity and transparency was a driving force behind the debates. It was suggested that the NAD Election Committee schedule the presentations at a convenient time where the general public can attend and learn more about individual candidates. The Committee is currently working on this and plans to make an announcement shortly. Twenty-one proposals were narrowed down to only 10 proposals by the end of the forum. Several proposals were reviewed that will be voted upon in the next Council of Representatives meeting. You can view all the proposals and read the 2012 Delegate Manual here.
More Council of Representatives information is on its way- keep your eyes peeled for updates!
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The kick-off to the Conference Week saw more than 1,250 NAD Conference attendees enjoy steaming-hot weather at the Louisville Slugger Field! Emcee Warren "WaWa" Snipes enchanted the audience with his personality, introducing Jeremy Quiroga as “Dummy” Hoy who gave a brief performance about the history of Hoy’s career in major league baseball. Quiroga encouraged people to sign a petition for Dummy Hoy's induction into the baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 and instilled a sense of pride in each one of us- particularly because we were all at a baseball field, and could get a real sense of Hoy’s experience!
Colin Allen, president of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), was the esteemed keynote speaker, sharing his thoughts on the WFD's collaboration with the NAD, and how both organizations strive to protect the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf people. Allen thanked the members of NAD for making it possible for the WFD board to have their 100th meeting in Louisville.
Sean Forbes of www.deafandloud.com set the tone for the week with his fabulous song, "Nothing About Us, Without Us!" created exclusively for the NAD conference. Forbes had the audience sign along the words and clap their hands, creating an exchange of positive energy to begin the week!
The NAD presented three awards to honored members, including the History Preservation Award going to Jack and Rosalyn Gannon, the Media Advocacy award going to Linda Bove, and the Frederick C. Schreiber Distinguished Service Award, going to Dr. Larry Fleischer posthumously.
After the opening ceremonies concluded, attendees enjoyed the catered buffet where they had time to settle in and chat with new and old friends -- then the game between the Louisville Bats and Indianapolis Indians began!
Sharon White, president of the Kentucky Association of the Deaf (KAD), has been heavily involved in the preparation for welcoming you all to Louisville. "We have about 100 volunteers working to help us coordinate everything effectively. They have been a huge help," Sharon said. "I'm really looking forward to the KAD Benefit Steamboat Cruise tomorrow night, and then I'll be free to enjoy the rest of the week!" she added.
Come and visit us today at the Exhibit Hall- and be sure to stop by the KAD booth too!
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Today was the first session of the Miss Deaf America preliminaries! The action-packed Preliminary I was held at the Hyatt Regency South from noon to 2 pm. Remember, this year will be the 40th annual- and the very last- Miss Deaf America competition- so watch the remaining two preliminaries before the Finals and Live Auction on Friday night!
Today's Miss Deaf America Preliminary consisted of three main events: the presentation, the artistic expression and the presence, poise and interview. The women are split in three groups and will be rotating among the three events leading up to the finale on Friday!
The women that presented today gave great insights on certain things such as volunteering, advocacy and being able to do more for your community. The artistic event was full of contestants who decided to express their art by translating music and every contestant inspired the audience members. During the final event, the women dressed in their best attire, while demonstrating their presence and poise to the crowd and answering several questions. One question was what qualities they felt the next NAD President should have. "A great sense of leadership and a deep understanding of deaf culture," said Chanel Gleicher of Maryland. Other contestants shared similar answers and all felt that the next NAD President should be aware of the needs of the community and strive to meet those needs. The room was full of Miss Deaf America enthusiasts and admiring family and friends who cheered from the beginning to the very end!
Congratulations to all 14 Miss Deaf America contestants- we’ll be seeing more from them throughout the week!
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For a video update on the Council of Representatives Session I, please visit our YouTube page.
The Council of Representatives has met three times during the National Association of the Deaf Conference, and will have two more meetings before the week is out!
On the second day of the Council of Representatives, NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins began the State of the NAD by encouraging members and delegates to support one another as the NAD grows as an organization. The NAD has focused on ensuring that diversity is properly represented within the Board over the last few years and has seen an increase of diversity on the basis of race, age, sexual orientation and more. During 2010 through 2012, half of the elected and appointed Board members were women. Now, in addition to ensuring diversity is present, the NAD Board is focusing on encouraging more individual involvement in the activities and goals of the NAD. Scoggins then summarized the accomplishments and work the NAD has done over the past two years, including heavy involvement at the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) conference, the recent landmark decision in the NAD v. Netflix lawsuit and advocacy for communication access at hospitals. President Scoggins topped off her speech by stating that the “NAD is here to stay!”
The Interim Director for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Matthew O’Hara, spoke about upcoming changes to the NIC certification, which included providing feedback to interpreters who failed the certification exam and delivering scores to test takers at a faster rate. More information can be obtained at the RID exhibit booth and online at www.rid.org.
The Council of Representatives meeting was buttressed by award announcements. John Patrick Evans presented the Andrew J. Foster Teaching Excellence Award to Dr. Roslyn “Roz” Rosen (Sherman Oaks, California) in recognition of her tireless work in cultivating deaf education methods in ASL.
The Knight of the Flying Fingers Award recognized commitment to volunteer service and was given to seven dedicated individuals from all over the country. These individuals are: Chuck Baird (posthumous, Austin, Texas); Ella Eakins (St. Louis, Missouri); Dr. Henry “Hank” Klopping (Fremont, California); Julie Bourne Lockhart (Frederick, Maryland); Kim Bianco Majeri (Carmel, Indiana); Lissette Molina-Wood (Miami, Florida); and Michelle Rathswohl (Garden Grove, California). To find more information about these volunteers and the work that they do, go to our awards and recognition page.
Colin Allen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, stopped by to encourage members to interact with WFD Board members who are attending the 100th annual WFD Board meeting on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency, adjacent to the Kentucky International Convention Center.
NAD Board members, along with some delegates, are currently wearing “Child First” pins provided by CSD to symbolize one of NAD’s top priorities: that every child has access to ASL as part of their education.
That’s just a peek into a few of the issues your delegates cover while they meet at the Council of Representatives!
We are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, a NAD Conference event will be streamed live online! Wednesday’s plenary session with Dr. Ronald Stern will be available for the world to view with live captioning on the NAD website.
As current superintendent of the New Mexico School for the Deaf and president of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, Dr. Stern will share the vision and plans for the Child First campaign during the plenary session. The Child First campaign is an initiative led by Dr. Stern and the CEASD in partnership with NAD, to prioritize quality education for all deaf and hard of hearing children.
Please keep in mind that as this is the first time NAD is streaming a live event online, you may experience some difficulties. We will strive to make this experiment as pleasant a viewing experience as possible!
Starting at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, July 4 you can view the livestream at: http://www.nad.org/louisville/livestream, which will continue until 5:15 pm.
For folks in Louisville, Dr. Stern will be presenting in the Kentucky International Convention Center Cascade Ballroom AB, which is just to the left of the registration booth. The Exhibit Hall will be open and you will be able to stop by and see exhibits before and after Dr. Stern's plenary session!
Our deepest gratitude goes to Google, a Vision Sponsor of the NAD Conference, iDeafNews, an Advocacy Sponsor, and NTID/RIT, one of our Diversity Sponsors, for pooling their resources to make this live stream possible.
We'll see you online, and at the Conference!
For one night at least, everybody can be a fan of the Louisville Bats! Today's Opening Ceremonies will include a high-stakes baseball game between the Louisville Bats and the Indianapolis Indians. Both the Bats and Indians play in the Minor Leagues, and this competition will be fantastic to watch!
The Indians are first in the International League standings, while the Bats presently reside in 5th place. The Louisville Bats are the highest minor-league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, while the Indianapolis Indians are part of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, so Reds and Pirates fans, rejoice! Did you know that the Louisville Bats are ranked #7 among the most valuable minor league baseball organizations, according to Forbes?
One exciting, young player who will be batting for the Louisville Bats is Cody Puckett, who was named the International League Batter of the Week after helping his team continue their 8-game winning streak. Puckett’s efforts are supported by a stellar bullpen, along with experienced Major League veterans Joey Gathright and Willie Harris. After a rather rocky start to their season, a eight-game winning streak (as of June 26) is getting the team back on track. Check out their roster and the league scoreboard, as well as the website for the Indianapolis Indians.
Check out the official site for the Louisville Slugger Stadium, including a map. Bring a printout or load it up on your electronic tablet, and you’ll be all set for the Opening Ceremonies! The Stadium is within easy walking distance from the Kentucky International Convention Center and downtown Louisville. Be sure to bring your walking shoes for the Opening Ceremonies, and you'll be walking the few blocks over in style!
To learn more about the Louisville Bats, so you can decide which team to root for, visit the Louisville Bats news page.
International League West Conference Standings (as of June 26, 2012)
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Away | L 10 | Streak |
| Indianapolis Indians (PIT) | 47 | 30 | .610 | - | 27-10 | 20-20 | 8-2 | W1 |
| Columbus Clippers (CLE) | 38 | 40 | .487 | 9.5 | 21-16 | 17-24 | 7-3 | W3 |
| Toledo Mud Hens (DET) | 31 | 47 | .397 | 16.5 | 15-28 | 16-19 | 1-9 | L6 |
| Louisville Bats (CIN) | 30 | 49 | .380 | 18.0 | 15-21 | 15-28 | 9-1 | W8 |
We'll see you at the Opening Ceremonies- don't forget, Colin Allen of the WFD, "Wawa" Snipes, Sean Forbes and Jeremy Q will light the whole stadium on fire! Be there or be square.
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