Good job, everybody, for all the hard work put into contacting the media and getting them to come to the rally!

MDC members Freida Morrison, Melissa Rich, and Jeannette Johnson were present at the rally with Freida representing MDC, Melissa representing MDA, and Jeannette representing herself.

Here are the links to the media and please let us know if we missed any.

Lansing State Journal, December 4, 2009: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20091204/NEWS06/312030006/-1/correction

The State News, December 4, 2009: http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/12/students_faculty_gather_to_show_support_for_deaf_education_program

Detroit Free Press, December 5, 2009: http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=45305578@N05&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

WILX.com, video, not captioned: http://www.wilx.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4359154&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Melissa & Jeannette were interviewed by Darren Cunningham, WLNS TV channel 6:
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=11623637

closed caption version: http://foxyurl.com/Mv5

Thanks to Bill Creswell for his volunteering to caption the video.

UPDATE: Flint Journal, December 10, 2009: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/12/swartz_creek_fourth_grader_you.html

Additionally, we now have a flickr account for the Michigan Deaf Community and the photos taken by Darren Brown are up for viewing:
MSU Rally – Save Deaf Education/ASL Classes

Please also note that we now have another section for flickr on this page (bottom on the right corner).

Best,
MDC Committee

The Board of Trustees will be meeting on Friday December 11th at 9:30 AM in the Board Room on the 4th floor of the Administration Building. If you wish to make comments to the Board you need to fill out a form. See below. Note that interpreters can be requested.Public Participation in Meetings

Request to Address the Board

General Procedures

The Board regards the opportunity for expression of public views on issues before the Board as an important part of its deliberations. The Board generally hears remarks without comment. However, if, after a presentation to the Board, Trustees choose to ask questions of, or briefly thank, the person or persons who made the presentation, the Board will limit such questions and remarks to a total of five minutes.

To accommodate such expression, the Board reserves a portion of its regular meeting for individuals and groups who wish to address the Board. A completed Request to Address form should be submitted to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees prior to speaking. The presiding officer will recognize persons who have provided the required information. To ensure the proper recognition of speakers, any change in the original information should be provided to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees as soon as possible.

Individual presentations are limited to 5 minutes and the total time for presentations on any item or topic is limited to 15 minutes unless an extension of time is approved by the Board. When a group of persons shares the same interest, it is recommended that a representative be chosen to present its point of view. When the Board believes that adequate public input has been obtained on any issue, testimony may be closed by majority vote.

Required Information (Please type or print)

1. Name:

Telephone Number:

Address:

2. Relationship to the University (please check the most appropriate category):

___Student ___Faculty ___Staff ___Alum Other (Please specify)

3. Name of Group (omit if not applicable):

4. Topic on which you wish to speak:

Please indicate if you will speak ___pro ___con or ___neutrally on this topic.

5. List the University units with which you have discussed this topic previously and the action taken by each office.

6. If you have written statements or position papers you would like Board members to receive, please provide 13 copies to the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, 450 Administration Building, for distribution.

Do you have materials to be distributed to Board members: ___Yes ___No

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees by 12:00 noon the day prior to the Board meeting, or the Michigan Relay Service at (800) 649-3777. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees
450 Administration Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 353-4647
Fax: (517) 355-4670

Transcript:

Hello everyone, I am Freida Morrison. There is 4 generation of Deaf in my family. I went through 3 different methods of Deaf Education when I was growing up.

• Self-contained classroom (that time period – all oral – no sign language program
• Mainstreaming without interpreter
• Residential school (MSD)

How did it affect us the deaf people?

(For example) I struggled to read and write English at the appropriate age. When I finally understood English a little better, I taught myself to understand English better by using my native language, ASL.

Research show Deaf children from Deaf family learn fast and succeed in adult life- Do you know why? It is because of ASL.

95% of Deaf children come from hearing parents- Only 5% of those hearing parents know sign language. This mean 90% of Deaf children have lifelong struggle learning. Do you know why? It is because of lack of exposure to sign language when growing up. Growing up without or minimal sign language often result in emotional /behavioral problems- Do you know why? Because of lifelong struggle-they become frustrated and angry when no one understands them. These issues can be easily prevented by using ASL at very early age.

I would like to comment about the letter from Dean, Dr. Carole Arnes. It amazes me she has no clue about the differences between EMU and MSU despite of her PhD. You can’t compare EMU with MSU when their philosophy is the opposite. EMU strongly believe in oral method while MSU train teachers based on sign language method.

We are currently in 21st century. It is sad that we, deaf community still have to re-educate her and other people about the differences between oral and sign language. I am asking you, the deaf community to look around and our state. Are you getting tired of having to re-educate them again and again? Do they really listen to us?

NO DEAF CHILD LEFT BEHIND! It is very important for our future deaf and hard of hearing children.

I HAVE A DREAM by MLK
We, the Deaf community have a dream…. all deaf and hearing communities respect each other and can communicate with no barrier! How to do that? Currently, we have a better method of education for our deaf and hard of hearing children by teaching ASL/English Bilingual Education. That way, we can be united in many ways.

On behalf of Michigan Deaf Community (MDC), we are in full support of continuing Deaf Education program and ASL classes here at MSU.

Thank you to Katie Hosmer, the rally host
Thank you to the crowd….show the support
Remember, we are not done…..keep fighting and be a watchdog.

As most of you know this Friday is the rally in front of Hannah Adminstration building at 10am. Katie Hosmer sent out a message to everyone early today asking you wear as much green as possible. Of course we wish everyone could be there but understand that this might not be possible. However, if you are unable to come to the rally you can still show your support by wearing green on friday wherever you may be!

Katie Lynne Sweers
MSU Student, Deaf Education Major

As of now, this is the list of confirmed Deaf speakers (in random order):

David Sanderson – MSD-State Admininstrative Manager
Sheryl Emery – DODHH Director
Natalie Grupido – teacher at MSD
Tyler Naeyaert – MSD student
Melissa Rich – Michigan Deaf Association representative
Cathy Leonard – prospective Deaf Ed student
Mary Klein – Deaf citizen
Trent Wade – Deaf citizen
Jahan Farzam-Behboodi – Deaf citizen

Confirmed hearing speakers:

Katie Hosmer – Deaf Ed Student
Sarah Clark – Deaf Ed Student
Cidney Alexandra Goldston – Deaf Ed Student
Marianne Tritten – ASL Living- Learing Option floor mentor
Mitch Holaly – President of Signing Spartans
Brandy Jensen – Housing contact at Snyder Phillips (works with ASL LLO)
Cece Winkler – principal at MSD
Harold Johnson – Co-director of Deaf Ed program

I, (Katie Hosmer, Deaf Ed major) will start off the rally. We are hoping to alternate Deaf and hearing speakers.

If your name is NOT on this list and should be, or you would like to speak, please let me know as soon as possible.

SPEAKERS: If you are able to arrive around 9:30am, that would give us time to organize the order. If you are unable to, don’t worry, just come up to the front and we will squeeze you in

Let me know if you have any questions!

Katie Hosmer
email: hosmerka@msu.edu
FB contact: http://www.facebook.com/hosmerka

I just received received an email stating:

“The Provost will not allow the vet tech program to close due to the massive “push back” from the community and all around the world”

KEEP PUSHING!! WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE TO COME AS POSSIBLE!!!

If they have a chance, SO DO WE!

– Friday Updates –

I realize we’ll need to dress warmly, but if you can, please wear your ASL Floor t-shirts (if you have them), or as much green as you can!

Also:

Here is a map of MSU campus and the Hannah Administration Building (Click visitor parking on the left for parking options)

http://maps.msu.edu/interactive/index.php?location=hab

Thanks!

Katie Hosmer

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder that our rally is THIS FRIDAY AT 10AM!!! Please contact me if you have any questions or need directions.

Please, PLEASE spread the word to as many people as you possibly can this week.

This will be an event you will not regret attending! We have people coming from all over the United States to show their support.

We have over 550 confirmed guests who should be receiving this message right now… Are you really coming? Are you committed to saving education for deaf children in Michigan and throughout the United States?

I can only hope your answers are yes. If we have 550 Facebook supporters on top of everyone else that is coming… just imagine our strength!

Thank you again for your continuous support. Each and every one of you is vital to this campaign! — I cannot stress that enough.

Hope to see you Friday!

Katie Hosmer
November 29 at 9:00pm
email: hosmerka@msu.edu
FB contact: http://www.facebook.com/hosmerka

Rally Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186125242180
Join KEEP DEAF-ED MAJOR AT MSU! group on FB: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=180527046260

UPDATE: As of today, there are 667 confirmed attendees for the rally this Friday! And 2,499 members of the group!

UPDATE II: As of 7:45pm EST, 678 confirmed attendees and 2,519 members!

Keep it coming and spread the word!

Hope to see you at the rally!

Facebook link: RALLY TO KEEP DEAF EDUCATION PROGRAM AND ASL CLASSES AT MSU

To join: KEEP DEAF-ED MAJOR AT MSU!

Date: Friday, December 4, 2009
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Hannah Administration Building
City/Town: East Lansing, MI

Please join us as we campaign against MSU’s proposal to cut the Deaf Education program and ASL classes.

We’ve got one shot – this is it. If you care about education…if you care about children…if you care about the state of Michigan… COME. This is our chance to be recognized! WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE OPPRESSION AND IGNORANCE ANY LONGER!

Deaf Education and ASL may not seem to affect you directly, but please, we NEED you.

The media has been contacted… we must make this MONUMENTAL.

Please, the children are waiting on you.

Dear Michigan Interpreters and Interpreter Rules and Regulations Committee:

Upon reading the draft for the proposed rules and regulations for the Michigan Interpreter Law, I had several concerns. I have heard many interpreters responses after reading this Draft and many of them are frustrated to the point of talking about moving out of state or leaving the profession. These are good interpreters we cannot afford to lose. There is already a shortage in our state. While we are all in agreement about wanting standards for interpreters to improve, I believe we must take care in how much we are expecting realistically from Michigan interpreters to continue in this profession.

The new BEI test sounds like a good, sound test and a good replacement for the Michigan QA exam. However, I am concerned about the equivalencies being made with national certifications from RID and NAD.

Many of the interpreters who have worked very hard to achieve national certification from RID or NAD are feeling frustrated that their certifications on this Draft, are being placed in a lower class than interpreters passing the brand new BEI State testing. Interpreters have worked for years at becoming nationally certified, while using state testing as a stepping stone towards that goal. Being asked to take a State test after national certification seems like going backwards.

I have 23 years of interpreting experience and spent several years doing community interpreting full time which included extensive mental health and legal interpreting and yet, according to the proposed draft, I would be excluded from these two areas. My concern is that someone who might have a “class 3″ credential may be excluded from “class 4″ assignments and yet may have experience and specialized training in that area. Whereas, someone who has just passed the BEI at a level 3, will be allowed to interpret anything and that interpreter may have no experience or training in either mental health or legal interpreting.

RID has recently put in educational requirements to sit for the national testing, or they offer an alternative pathway in lieu of the degree requirements which is pretty extensive in taking experience, education and training into account. Where does education and experience fit into the proposed rules and regulations as far as the BEI candidates go?

I would like to suggest adding in NAD IV with greater than 5 years with that certification be made eligible for Class 4. I would like to suggest an NAD III with greater than 5 years with that certification be made eligible for Class 3. This would reflect the skill levels of many interpreters in the community holding these certifications.

I have a concern about the BEI test that, to my understanding, there is no portion of the test that tests a candidates’ knowledge of the RID/NAD Code of Professional Conduct or Ethics. As seen in the Interview portion of the NIC test, RID/NAD have made demonstrated knowledge of the CPC of paramount importance in becoming certified.

I have great concern over the K-12 Educational interpreting requirements. According to the Rules and Regulations draft, someone with the lowest level of a State test (BEI I) would be considered qualified to interpret for K-12. I think higher standards should be looked at–requiring EIPA, national certification, or the higher levels of BEI. We should endeavor to provide the best possible interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing children of Michigan.

Many interpreters already feel overextended financially. We are also affected by the current economy in Michigan. We have to pay considerable amounts of money to take the NIC tests, EIPA tests if we work in an educational setting, pay our RID/NAD membership fees annually, pay to go to workshops to earn CEUs to maintain our credentials, pay for education/student loans, pay the State of Michigan registration fee, pay our local MIRID dues, and now the State of Michigan seems to be asking to add on the BEI testing as well. This seems like an undue burden on Michigan interpreters.

For example, currently, as an NAD IV certified interpreter I am required to pay $195 per year in RID/NAD dues and the Michigan Registration fee. I have just taken the NIC performance test ($325). I have very recently returned to work in an educational setting, and I am scheduled to take both the elementary ($60) and secondary EIPA tests ($310). It is costly to work as an interpreter. I feel like taking interpreting tests is consuming all my time and resources.

These are just some of my concerns as a long time Michigan interpreter. I hope other interpreters and Deaf and Hard of Hearing people will also offer feedback to the Rules and Regulations Committee on their proposed Draft.
I have endeavored to find the email addresses of all those on the Rules and Regulations Committee to send them this email but have been unsuccessful. If any of the members of the Committee would kindly pass my concerns along, I would appreciate it very much.
I would love to hear what others have to say, so please email me…..

~Christine Alexander

Download the memo: Memo Interpreter Test Now Open

Memo from DODHH Director Sheryl Emery

DATE: 10/23/2009

TO: Interpreters, Partner Agencies, and Members of Deaf Community

FROM: Sheryl D. Emery, M.A.

Director, Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing

SUBJECT: Interpreting Test Now Open

Nearly one year ago on October 30, 2008 our Quality Assurance Test (QA) was suspended. For many years the QA screening tool served our needs but it was not designed to serve as a state mandated test. As incoming Director I made a personal vow to have a new screening and assessment tool in place within a year. With the help of a great many people I have been able to keep this vow.

Effective today, I am announcing that DODHH Interpreter testing is now available and is no longer suspended. The Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing is unveiling for the general public the new Michigan Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Test (MI BEI). Developed by the University of Arizona, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), the test has been proven valid, reliable and legally defensible. The test is being leased from the Texas DARS – Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. As part of the leasing agreement our state will have reciprocal certification recognition in any state where the BEI is used. Currently that is in Texas and Michigan. We anticipate there will be others.

In the upcoming weeks we will be hosting forums to discuss the BEI and interpreting standards, we encourage all members of the community to attend these free forums as we anticipate there will be great changes coming to Michigan’s Deaf and Interpreting Community. Please see the list of the various forum sites at our website homepage (www.mcdc-dodhh.org) in the Events section.

Henceforth effective with this memo, interpreters that were granted an extension dated January 1, 2010 and/or thereafter are required to now take the BEI before the expiration date listed on their interpreter card.

No additional extensions will be granted for cards expiring on or after January 1, 2010. Application for testing, the BEI Guide Book, dates for the Test of English Proficiency (TEP) and the Performance test will be posted on DODHH webpage (www.mcdc-dodhh.org) by the first week of November.