Friday, July 3, 2009

NAD stop talking start DOING-then I will believe you !

Attention Barb Raimondo and Bobbie Beth Scoggins I would not expect you to say anything less than "we value all deaf children" And people should not kick dogs, harm animals, beat their kids and drink and drive. But human beings do what they know they will get away with and do whatever it is that makes them feel empowered. Same with deaf education.
I have written both of you and told you that schools for the deaf practice discrimination and that this practice should cease. It continues. I have written NAD and requested the help of NAD to get PEPNet activated to do what they are mandated to do within their current Federal funded contract and still nothing.
NAD is aware that schools for the deaf only educate the college bound and that 99% of federal and state money goes to 10% of the deaf population. And still NAD does nothing.

So, I don't believe anything that you say I only see what you do and in my book that makes NAD part of the lying liars
join hands NAD with CEASD
but then you already are one in the same
Posted by at 7:28 PM

25 comments:

  1. A little bitter, aren't we?
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  2. Good post. I got e-mail then a mail membership reminder "Open your heart" $40 due. I am too discouraged especially after seeing some worthless accomplishments like crying for interpreters - close captioning at some super football games SOOOO WHAT!

    NAD really need to be more focused on Deaf education programs and start watching out for Deaf ASL workers losing their jobs soon.
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  4. Over 30 years, NAD had done nothing for us.
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  5. For the past 24 years I've observed NAD close enough to know that there no shortage of clueless people within the organization. Your blog pretty much summarized it all.
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  6. Yea! Thanks for this blog entry! We need more deaf people to kick the NAD's asses around to make something worthy happen!!

    Why the misguided priorities for the captioning at the sport arenas? Huh?

    Deaf sport attendees surely do not have time to pay attention to every captioning words at the sport events. Don't you, all agree?

    Deaf Education is very, very, very important!!! Or we will end up like the pool of intellectually deprived souls wandering around like zombies?

    It's time for us to *crack whip* the NAD into doing the necessity of life!

    Robert L. Mason (RLM)
    rlmdeaf@hotmail.com
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  7. Not surprised cuz NAD officers are oral. They went to public schools & oral schools so they've no understanding about res. schls f/t deaf.
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  8. NAD has NO CONTROL over that! Haha, although it is cute of you to think that they do. Special Education is very expensive. Each student is required to have an IEP, which is a legally binding document that mandates the involved parties to follow the agreed upon educational plan. If you want a better education for a student in special education, then put it down in their IEP. NAD has NO CONTROL.
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  9. Robert Alfred HawkinsJul 4, 2009 07:46 PM
    I acknowledge President Scoggins dutifully sending missives on behalf of specifically the NAD to state governors about deaf schools yet NAD hardly send the same to local education agencies throughout the U.S. pleading with them to try improve deaf education and to incorporate American Sign Language in the environment. Inform if I'm wrong here.
    I'm ignorant. Educate me here. Is the above called "selective" advocacy?

    A certain deaf person of heavily grassroots orientation vented in a vlog about the NAD. Next thing the NAD brought that person halfway across America to their headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. Her input was taken but I'm not sure if action was implemented. Given the pattern which I've been long familiar with in regards to deaf schools finding themselves in a predicament regarding pupils with special needs I'm positive the NAD will bring Mrs. Biesecker to NAD headquarters for some in-depth talks.
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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.
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  11. I welcome a meeting with NAD but would include Sen Harkin Sen Enzi to name but two. The meeting would have a direction of "solving the problem" by establishing a committee to develop demonstration projects within the Senate Bill approved exactly for this purpose. NAD and CEASD (Barb Raimondo) will be at this meeting and neither will be able to run and hide or lie about the over looked under served not represented deaf special needs and low functioning deaf. I will request an investigation of my son's case at American School for the Deaf and CT Bureau of Rehab Services CT BRS as his story represents thousands of deaf that have been kicked to the curb being told that they are not deaf. Yes, that is a meeting I am looking forward to scheduling.
    My mission is all about taking this to the National News. The country needs to hear that 99% of tax dollars are being spent on 10% of the deaf population. Further, the country needs to hear that schools for the deaf do not educate the deaf students that attend these schools despite the HUGE tution that states pay for deaf students.
    Yes, there is a story of corruption and fraud.
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  12. What?

    I contacted the NAD a couple of times regarding the issues with rights and they did a nice job. I guess they're pretty much unsung heroes which their deeds go unnoticed by many like you.

    R-
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  13. Nope, NAD is not a collective group of heroes, rather, NAD is a group of people that believe that there is only one type of deaf person that should be called deaf, at the exclusion of any other deaf person that has a secondary disability.
    That my friend is called discrimination.
    Good for you that NAD helped you out. Pat yourself on the back.
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  14. Angie,

    I agree with the comment that there is a lack of attention to Deaf people with special needs. I am not clear on exactly what your goal is. Do you have a specific curriculum you want people to adopt? Do you want a national drive spearheading the development of this curriculum? If so, then you absolutely need deaf schools and deaf institutions, because such a curriculum would need experienced people to "work it." Yet, your blog cries out against schools like Gallaudet and NTID. For the record, Gallaudet was not the cheapest of the colleges I applied to, and offered me the least financial aid. They were fair and offered it on the basis of ability. I received no free check from them (and in fact went to a hearing college where I received a full scholarship.)

    Is it fair to yell at Gallaudet and NTID - when they are having enough trouble satisfying Congress that they are accomplishing their chosen mission?

    Is it fair to yell at Congress - when thousands of programs from VESID to FEDCAP have been established to help people with secondary disabilities to get jobs, programs often staffed by Gallaudet graduates?

    Is it fair for you to say that people trained to work with Deaf people should also be fully trained to work with people with functioning disabilities?

    Who are you really targeting here?

    No offense, but it seems like you have a lot of anger with no real direction. You are targeting the Deaf community because the person you represent, Evan, who is autistic, is also deaf. You could easily target services that work with autistic children and ask "What are they doing to serve autistic Deaf people?" If you focused your anger and had a clearer goal, you would obtain far more support. I think many Deaf people are concerned about our brothers and sisters who need more help to be independent. I know MANY Gallaudet and RIT graduates who work with mentally disabled Deaf adults after graduation and set up agencies to help those adults, or join government agencies to help those people.

    Yours, Joseph
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  15. Joseph, thank you for reading and commenting on my blog. Gallaudet and NTID both receive a substantial amount of Federal tax dollars (appropriations) to educate deaf adults. Further, there is a substantial amount of Federal money, be it Dept of Education or the National Institute of Health and various NIH programs (still federal money) to research best education for deaf, and other issues regarding individuals who are deaf. The problem is within deaf culture deciding who is valued as a deaf person, who benefits from education, who is welcomed as a deaf person within deaf culture. This is the BIG issue. BIG because schools for the deaf DO NOT educate deaf special needs or non college bound deaf.
    DO you SEE the problem.
    I have no problem with Gallaudet and NTID existing without FEDERAL money as stand alone colleges for the deaf.
    I have no problem with schools for the deaf only enrolling or accepting the very "clean" deaf students that they want to educate.
    DON'T enroll deaf special needs for the money and just warehouse them. This is in- excusable.
    This is my stance:
    If you are deaf and able to make it into college then don't wave the disability flag !! Don't take voc rehab money to attend college Don't take SSI money and Voc rehab money and go to a federally funded college.
    This is wrong wrong wrong.
    Joseph, are you now seeing the real problem??
    The money flows only one way.
    Congress believes that both Gallaudet and NTID are doing the right thing for all deaf.
    Congress is not aware that schools for the deaf are not educating deaf special needs. Congress and State governments are not aware that Voc Rehab does not recognize deaf that have special needs as no longer being deaf.
    You see, Joseph,every school for the deaf is aware that if you have a secondary disability and happen to be deaf you are no longer recognized as deaf first.

    Are you aware of the "clean" or "vanilla" deaf label?
    I am. In fact I was told by many people at Gallaudet and American School for the Deaf that there is discrimination against deaf special needs and that I ought to get used to it.
    So, I am taking on this issue.
    It is not OK with me that Robert Davila and Al Hurwitz are on my taxpayer payroll.
    It is not ok with me that many deaf attend college on Voc Rehab state and federal tax dollars and collect SSDI.
    Not OK because there is nothing in place for my adult deaf/autistic son.
    He is deaf and he communicates in sign language.
    The reason behind Gallaudet and NTID???
    Sign language communication.
    So, Joseph you are saying that autism services should now be all about sign language communication for my deaf/autistic son??
    Deaf is Deaf Sign language is communication for deaf individuals. If tax dollars are supporting a college and research department based on a commuication method then it is to be for all deaf regardless of the secondary disability.
    This is what is supposed to be in place at the Laurent Clerc Center.
    And it is not being done. That is a big problem within the mandate of the Educ of the Deaf Act.
    I believe I am clear about what needs to be done.
    Follow the money and look at who is being served.
    So far, only college bound deaf.
    And that my friend is my clear message. Discrimination is no longer acceptable.
    Federal tax dollars should not be supporting both deaf institutions NOT when there is nothing in place for the larger deaf special needs population that has nothing.
    Many college are opening their doors to learing disabled, intellectually disabled, autistic adults, and here both Gallaudet and NTID which receive a larger share of Federal funding than other colleges sit back and do nothing. And believe me all they would have to do is pick up the phone and contact Sen Harkin.
    It is that easy. And Robert Davila and Al Hurwitz choose to ignore this.
    So, let the funding stream be directed to where it needs to be.
    Karma
    Angela Biesecker
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  16. I understand your frustrations with the uneven distributions of the federal funds. However I think you are barking at the wrong tree as NAD isn't responsible for the financial distributions of the federal funds. Neither are Gallaudet and NTID. You should be discussing this with the organizations distributing these funds, like Dept of Education, Dept of Human and Health Dept and Congress, etc.

    Personally NAD had always been helpful with me, long before I became well known as a blogger. I am also aware that they have been helping others, unknown to the Deaf Community due to confidentiality reasons. The open captioning requirement of the media in the stadiums is significant and far-reaching as it's not confined to sport arena alone. I am sorry people still don't realize the long term ramifications of this landmark case.
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  17. Whoa, Angie. I'm sure if you made an effort to contact Nancy Bloch, the Executive Director of NAD -- she'd refer you to the ones that handles this matter which you wished to convey your message.

    And in DC, there is a great non-profit organization that basically focuses on Deaf individuals with secondary disability such as mental illness, mental health and mental retardation -- it is called Deaf-REACH. I used to work for DR and I really enjoyed it very much. It is quite rewarding experience for me to work with Deaf people whom has other disabilities.

    Trust me, they are not stupid as they seemed to be.

    R-
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  18. NAD is just one piece of the whole pie that is deaf education, legislation and the gas that drives this engine Federal Funding.
    NAD is part of the problem. NAD could have- should have- made a federal case out of so many discriminatory issues: Schools for the deaf NOT having an educational curriuculum, schools for the deaf not addressing the transition needs of the deaf special needs, schools for the deaf abusing deaf special needs kids, then move forward to Vocational Training: Voc Rehab removing the primary diagnosis of DEAF from an individual??? What about that?? Is that not an issue? According to NAD this practice has been in place for quite some time.
    A case that is very personal to me is my son being denied vocational training at American School for the Deaf, where he attended for four years, the on campus voc training program Print Works Inc. Connecticut Bureau of Rehab Services stated that my son was not deaf he IS on his case file non verbal. I contacted NAD and they said this is common place. CT BRS and ASD denied my son voc training at the on campus program run by the school paid for by CT BRS. This was deliberate and intentional. I have the paperwork. I could not find an attorney willing to deal with this because it would entail a great deal of man hours to investigate, a lot of money, and lest we forgot we are talking about special needs adult issues. I get it. But NAD not wanting to deal with these issues all these years?? Come on.
    Now, if NAD is aware of the dismal state of deaf education, they are aware that there is indeed discriminatory practices taking place at all levels from school through transition and voc rehab and all NAD can focus on is captioning??
    Because that is the priority. Because NAD can sue the Big Money and not take on their own.
    Further, Barb Raimondo is involved with NAD, CEASD, and other deaf groups.
    It is a small world. The players rarely change.
    As you probably are aware everyone is indeed in everyone's business. Gossip is wild fire.
    I know.
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  19. R- thank you for reading and commenting. I really do appreciate people reaching out with acts of kindness. Thank you.
    I have written Nancy Bloch, I have written Bobbie Beth Scoggins, I have written Barb Raimondo, I have written Robert Davila, Dept of Education Arne Duncan. As well, I have contacted OSERS Dr Pepin.
    Several years ago I called and spoke with a couple of people at Deaf-Reach. These individuals were kind and honest. I appreciate honesty. Not much to offer. They too wished there was a more cooperative & collaberative spirit coming out of the deaf community. And of course, everyone could work more efficiently if there was funding available.
    I thank you
    Angie
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  20. I wonder if you have a specific goal in mind: such as a completely new training institute specifically for autistic Deaf people, patterned after the Model Secondary School for the Deaf? One with a dedicated focus on vocational training?

    Would it be more positive and more feasible to attain this than to try to fit the autistic Deaf into existing schools that already have difficulties meeting special needs students of all kinds?

    Never underestimate the power of parents with kids who aren't getting what they need from existing systems. They spark new endeavors. Perhaps this is the route to take, rather than criticizing or attempting to take away the funding of existing institutes.

    Devote your energy to gathering up all the data: who are the autistic-spectrum Deaf, where are they, what are their immediate needs, what can be done to bring them to higher functional levels and independence? Can more identification be made to increase the numbers in order to attain funding?

    Ridor is correct in saying that it is rewarding work and many Deaf professionals are eager to work with this challenging group of people.
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  21. JenDreamBig aka DreamBigzJul 5, 2009 11:38 PM
    NAD cut budget on Jr. NAD. OUCH BAD MOVE. Where is our future young leader for our community??

    I don't support NAD. They even want my $40....?!?! I not going to pay $40 without Jr. NAD and other many reason.

    JenDreamBig aka DreamBigz
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  22. Angie,

    But that's not the GOAL of regular Deaf schools. The point of regular Deaf schools is to educate students to go to college. Yes, in sign language, as you so clearly mention. But a person who is deaf and autistic has different needs from a person who is deaf alone, and needs a different structure, staff with different qualifications, and maybe even a special environment, depending.

    No, I'm not saying you should blame one specific service. I'm asking what you did on the autistic front. You seem to want schools designed to educate Deaf students without disabilities, to suddenly be equipped to handle your child. They're not, just like services for autistic children probably aren't equipped for sign language. I'm curious: what happens when you ask for access in the autistic services community? Do you get any response at all? Do they know specific people who work with Deaf autistic children?

    Now, if these schools advertised themselves as places capable of taking care of your child, then said, "No, we don't want him," that would be one thing. But they have not. So that line of argument is out for you, unfortunately.

    You raise a great point about other colleges setting up services for autistic children like your son. Do you have examples? Are there trained Deaf adults with college degrees who can run such programs? (And please don't say 'they have to be there' - there's still not many trained signing staff in America. I know. I'm a teacher, and we're desperate for more.) What I've seen online - and I looked, because this issue concerns me - is that most vocational programs for autistic children require totally different kinds of curriculae for their specific needs. Even in college, tons of counselling and support hours are necessary.

    I agree with others on this comment sheet. What is needed is a school or task force geared towards this specific population, and we need research on the size of the population. I believe your energy could be better spent on helping things be established rather than by creating lawsuits, however. Instead of trying to take a piece of a shrinking pie, apply for funding for a specific, different group. It would be a lot of work. I see no easy answers and wish you the best of luck in trying to find the way through this thorny path. As a former social worker who has worked with autistic people, I feel for you. I also know that social services all over the US including vocational training is being cut like nobody's business.
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  23. Robert Alfred HawkinsJul 7, 2009 06:24 AM
    I want to clarify something. I'm concerned that NAD (or whoever else who should do this) may or not be doing enough to address the need for better exposure of Deaf awareness and ASL the mainstream setting where deaf pupils are educated. We need to be resigned that we cannot possibly fit the 80-90% of our deaf pupils along with the 20-10% already placed in deaf schools. Some state-run and other deaf schools are just too pitiful beyond all recognition. They're neglected because the "better" deaf schools don't rally behind them nor really share resources. It's ego. Deaf schools unify to back Gallaudet but not each other on a larger scale other than few instances. The "better" ones are getting richer while the "worse" ones are getting poorer and I'm not only talking about finances but in terms of greed towards human resources and competition fueled by raiding and favoritism in hiring. It's a pity. Any instance of state-run deaf schools discriminating against the deaf special needs is a legitimate concern. Many deaf persons are leery of coming forward on this topic as they fear trouble for deaf-on-deaf special needs tactics. I hope for some clarity in this that can be applied throughout the country so we can just move on and focus on restoring dignity to the deaf people. NAD needs to realize that I haven't seen public missives of concern about the deaf pupils in the mainstream and doing so without bias. So many of my deaf friends, colleagues are from deaf schools but I'm fair and objective. Hint.
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  24. Ms. Biesecker,

    I must wonder if you have ever met or spoken directly with Barbara Raimondo or the other fine and dedicated people who work at the NAD Law Center. I can tell you from my own experience that these are individuals who have dedicated their lives to deaf education and deaf children. They put in long hours and are paid very little. Ms. Raimondo has two deaf children of her own and is very well respected in deafness and disability advocacy circles. She has put her law degree to work trying to improve the lives of deaf people when she could have gone off and made a pretty nice living in the private sector. To call these dedicated people liars and compare them with people who abuse children and animals seems to me not only disingenuous but down right malicious, even evil.

    While we may disagree about policies and approach, I wonder if there is a way to do so without trying to assassinate the characters of hard-working, good hearted people, who are in fact trying to make the world better for deaf people and people with disabilities through positive action.

    I am curious about what your contribution has been other than engaging in the "wild fire" of gossip as you acknowledge.

    Is it me?
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  25. Joseph ..

    You said "Deaf schools" exist solely to send students to college.

    That is not true. That is not even official public policy in terms of education. The standard for public education is the word, "graduation." They want students to "graduate" into the real world with a minimum of skills, such as reading, math, welding, art, and MTV.

    Additionally, since you believe in audism, you appear to support discrimination against deaf people with autism with your claim that "Deaf schools" exist solely to send "properly deaf" kids to college, while autistic deaf students are sheeeet-out-of-luck.

    Joseph .. have you ever been to India? If you haven't, you should probably go there sometime and check out their caste system - it is right up your alley.

    As for NAD, I agree - they are a HUGE part of MANY, MANY problems affecting the deaf, autistic and not.

    :o)

    Paotie
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