Florida: Calling All Deaf Advocates!

[Cynthia M. Sheppard-Johnston, CSC]

Can you post this one for me? I receive the posts. However, I am not able to
post to SLL. :(

Has anyone thought to invite a Deaf ASL Linguist? Dr. Ted Supalla, University
of Rochester, Dr. Sam Supalla, somewhere in Arizona, Byron Bridges... and the
list continues. These are academics with credentials and publications behind
their assertions. The added bonus is that they are Deaf. These are the caliber
of Deaf individuals, I believe would hold credence with your regents. Hearing
people want statistics and publications; not anecdotes and emotions.

I am sure that a collection can be taken up quickly to purchase a ticket for
one of these individuals, if they are able to come on such short notice. In my
humble opinion, they would be more influetial than anyone else. Dr. Robert
Davila just retired as the Vice President of NTID. He may be another option.
Contact NTID's Vice President's office, Alan Hurwitz is the current VP. That
office should know how to contact Dr. Davila.

Cj

Quoting Dan Parvaz <dparvaz at MAC.COM>:

>  From the UCF undergraduate handbook:
>
> Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement
> (Bachelor of Arts Degree)
>
> Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree must demonstrate
> proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to one year of college
> instruction. This requirement may be met either by successful
> completion of the appropriate college-level course or by examination.
> Languages that may be used include those taught at UCF and any others
> for which the University can obtain standardized proficiency tests.
> Students who have previously received a baccalaureate degree are exempt
> from this requirement.
>
> The implication, at least, is that any (a) language for which (b) a
> standardized test may be found (SCPI, ASL-PI, etc.) should qualify. The
> curricular and political questions, as outlined by Theresa, are almost
> certainly where the sticking points are.
>
> The Mission of UCF, inasmuch as mission statements mean anything,
> includes the following bit of highfalutin rhetoric:
>
> The University of Central Florida is a public, multi-campus,
> metropolitan research university, dedicated to serving its surrounding
> communities with their diverse and expanding populations
>
> Which leaves room to debate whether or not relegating a language used
> and needed by the "surrounding communities" to second-class status
> helps further their mission. As members of said communities, comments
> from the Deaf might be relevant. I do not think, however, that they
> will be persuasive.
>
> Sigh. Once more into the breach...
>
> -Dan.
>



Interpreter
NTID-RIT