Please invite your friends and family! There is an event created on Facebook that you can also share and invite your friends! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115411001832121&ref=mf

Please come and support Deaf Youth Camp while enjoying yourself with delicious dinner and a fun show!! See you there!!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

From Katie Hosmer:

TOMORROW, Tuesday, April 20, from 8 – 9 a.m. in room 443 of the Hannah Adminstration Building, a few members of the Deaf community are meeting with DEAN Carole Ames and PROVOST Kim Wilcox – the two people ultimately responsible for making the decision to cut the programs. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

“Your support by showing up and standing in the background will speak loud volumes.” – Natalie Grupido, MSD teacher, Deaf community member

Please, please come to this meeting. It’s time we were given answers, and this is where it’s happening. (Please arrive a few minutes early so we can maximize our time in the meeting)

Also, for a brief summary of the Board of Trustees meeting and rally this past Friday, please click on the “Discussions” tab in the group, Keep Deaf-Ed Major at MSU.

Thank you and I truly hope to see as many of you as possible join us tomorrow morning!

Thank you, Dale, for taping the interview!

Note: Jeannette Johnson has posted a blog about her mother being interviewed: http://deafpundit.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/interview-about-msu-deaf-education-program/

Katie:

Everyone, the time has come to make drastic changes in our campaign to save deaf education and American Sign Language at Michigan State University.

As I’ve said before, MSU administrators seem to have made up their mind. They have already begun closing American Sign Language courses DESPITE the fact that we were told they would be open at least another year. Is it because of low enrollment? NO! ASL classes at MSU are overflowing with students!

Signs are posted all over campus saying, “Take a Less Commonly Taught Language at MSU!” with Tagalog, Thai, and Uzbek as just a few of the options. So if they claim that they cannot afford ASL because of low enrollment… I think we’ve got some issues here.

Oh, and did you know? Rumor has it, MSU officials are claiming that American Sign LANGUAGE is NOT a “real” language. As we all know, ASL IS INDEED a “real” language that is rich in cherology (phonology), morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. ASL is able to show past tense, negation, questions, and commands. It has the capacity to be acquired naturally and express and thought or idea. Therefore, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IS A REAL LANGUAGE!!

Not to mention, American Sign Language is the THIRD most commonly used LANGUAGE in the United States. THIRD.

So if it’s not about money…how many people use ASL… or whether or not it is a “real” language…then WHAT IS IT ABOUT?!

I’ll tell you what.

INJUSTICE. DISCRIMINATION. IGNORANCE. AUDISM.

We’re done asking MSU, “WHY?” We know why. It’s time to show them what a HUGE MISTAKE they are making.

So where will you be on the morning of Friday, April 16, 2010? Please, join us in our FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE!

ALSO!! – On Tuesday, April 20, from 8 – 9 am we will be meeting with Provost Kim Wilcox and Dean Carole Ames, the people ultimately responsible for the decision to close the program. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Thank you everyone!!

This calls for urgency actions from the Deaf Community and Deaf Organizations, as well as attending the ASL rally at MSU this Friday to show our concerns and objections to their ignorance and misinformation on our language and culture, as well as shutting down the Deaf Education Program/ASL classes.

Jeannette Johnson explains in details, both in ASL and English on her v/blog, “National Trend Of Eliminating ASL Classes?“

Download the ASL Rally Flyer: ASL Rally Flyer. Please share with your friends and family. You may make your own posters and bring your friends to the rally!

ASL Rally on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=340858637335&ref=mf

ASL Rally at MSU:
Date: Friday, April 16, 2010
Time: 8:30am
Where: Hannah Administration Building, MSU Campus
East Lansing, MI

Any questions or concerns regarding the rally, please feel free to contact Kassandra Darling, freedarlingkas@gmail.com darlingkas@gmail.com

If you cannot open the document:

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOB FAIR FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
SPONSORED BY U.S. ARMY TACOM LCMC

DATE: April 7, 2010
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb Intermediate School Dist.
44001 Garfield Rd, Clinton Twp 48038
SE Bldg Entrance, 1st floor

Click here for directions to MISD.

Candidates should bring:

• 20 copies of your resume
• Certification of eligibility for ‘Schedule A’ federal appointment. from a vocational rehabilitation counselor at Michigan Rehabilitation Services or U.S. Department

Additional Information:

• Detroit-area federal agencies will be recruiting
• Sign Language Interpreters are available
• Education requirement: Associates Degree by end of semester

In partnership with the Detroit Federal Executive Board & Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Point of Contact: Helen Vasser at 586.282.6400 or email: helen.vasser@us.army.mil

Day: Thursday, April 1, 2010
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: MSU (exact location TBA)
Cost: FREE!

UPDATE on Location & time: The event will be held in 118 Psychology on MSU’s campus. Doors open at 7pm.
Hat-tip to commenter Cidney Goldston

CJ is CEO, producer, director, writer, actor, comedian, musician, and motivational speaker. He has traveled with the National Theatre of the Deaf and toured with “Children of a Lesser God” on Broadway. He has also appeared on NBC’s “Frasier,” ABC Family’s “Lincoln Heights,” the PBS television shows “Sesame Street” and “Rainbow’s End,” and was the host of “Happy Hands Kids Klub.” His latest job was a “voice over” for a Deaf Indian (played by a hearing actor) in a movie called “PathFinder” from 20th Century Fox. (From his website at www.CJJoneslive.com)

Hat tip to Katie Hosmer, MSU Deaf Education Major.

Please attend this important meeting on Thursday Friday if you are able to because it is related to the procedures and regulations of the new interpreter law and your input/comment are critical for them to hear from you during the public comments – as well as sharing information with the Deaf Community on what went on during the meeting.

Thank you,
MDC

Click to download the flyer (pdf format): DODHH – March 26 Rules Meeting Public Announcment pdf doc

If you cannot open the document:

DATE: March 17, 2010
TO: Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing, Interpreter and Hearing Community
FROM: Sheryl D. Emery, M.A.
Director, Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing
SUBJECT: DODHH Rules and Regulations meeting – March 26, 2010

Meeting Announcement – DODHH Rules and Regulations

DODHH Rules and Regulations committee meeting for
PA 204, The Deaf Persons’ Interpreter Act

** Meeting documents will only be available for download at www.mcdc-dodhh.org in the “Events” section **

****New Location & Time****

Date: March 26, 2010
Time: 8:30AM – 2:00PM
Location: Peckham Headquarters
2nd Floor – Beech/Oak rooms
3510 Capital City Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48906-2012
517-316-4000
info@peckham.org
** Located on the grounds of Lansing Capital City Airport**

Public comment will be heard on the afternoon agenda, time limits for comments will apply.
**Please note that public comment for this meeting is not the formal public comment that will occur during the formal public hearing of the rules draft.

Please be aware that there may be limited public seating at the meeting location and the committee lunch hour is closed to the public. There is a full service cafeteria onsite.

Sign language interpreters and real time captioning (CART) will be provided. Should you need additional reasonable accommodations for the meeting, please contact the DODHH at 877-499-6232 no later than March 23, 2010.

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Flint Association of the Deaf
4156 Holiday Dr
Flint, MI 48507

Click here for directions to FAD.

Feel free to come and observe. Public comments also will be allowed (in the afternoon, after the old business and officers’ reports).

Hearing Loss Awareness
Day at the State Capital
Speaker’s Library – Room 252 at The State Capitol in Lansing
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from 8:00 am – 2:45 pm

Advocating for Issues Important to People
Who Are Hard of Hearing, Deaf or DeafBlind.

Sponsored by:
Hearing Loss Association of Michigan, Michigan Deaf Association and Self Help for Independency in Michigan Equalizing DeafBlind. In Partnership with Deaf and Hard of HearingServices, Deaf Community Advocacy Network, Michigan Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, ScreenLine, L.L.C. and V.O.I.C.E., Inc. of Michigan.

For additional information contact: Hearing Loss Association of Michigan
at info@hearingloss‐mi.org or DEAF C.A.N.! at deafcan@deafcan.org

The fifth annual Hearing Loss Awareness Day at the State Capitol will be held on Wednesday,
May 12, 2010. This is an annual event to create awareness of the needs of Michigan citizens with hearing loss, and make our legislators aware of issues important to us which relate to our communication difficulties. The 2010 event will be held in conjunction with the Michigan Legislative Disability Caucus monthly meeting. May will be proclaimed Hearing Loss Awareness month in Michigan with resolutions being offered in the Senate & House on the day of our event.

2010 Issues of Importance to People with Hearing Loss:

1. 21st Century Telecommunications
2. Federal Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act
3. State Income Tax Credit for Hearing Aids
4. Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids
5. Dementia Misdiagnoses in the Elderly
6. Children’s Special Health Care Services

Cost of Event: Registration is free. Your only cost is transportation and parking.

Event Access: CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation), Interpreters,
Telecoil Loop, and FM Listening Systems will be provided.

Lunch: A free box lunch will be provided to all attendees who register by the
April 23, 2010 deadline. Invite your legislators to join us!

Find contact information for legislators by going to the following websites:
Michigan Senate: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/FindYourSenator/michiganfys.asp
Michigan House of Representatives: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

If you will be meeting with your legislator or representative, please request
accommodations directly with his or her office.

Registration Deadline: April 23, 2010.
Please return registration form to: DEAF C.A.N.!
2111 Orchard Lake Road #101
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320