I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MOVING THE TABLES.

At the end of class today, the teacher for the next class (not Deaf Studies) in that room was already at the door.  As we packed up, she stood and announced to us, "I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MOVING THE TABLES!" which we had not done.

Every week we have to move the tables and chairs out of rows and parallel to the walls.  Since we use ASL in class, we need to sit an a semi-circle or "U" shape so that we can see each other signing.  Another student remarked that for that teacher to expect us to move the tables was audism.

Audism is having a superior attitude based on one's ability to hear or having a negative attitude toward the Deaf.  It's like a prejudice and results in oppression.  Tom Humphries, who made the term popular, said that audism is to Deaf people as racism is to black people (lifeprint.com).  Closed-captioned movies serve as an example of audism.  There are so few showings of movies with closed captions, and they are often held at inconvenient hours like a weekday in the afternoon.  So only Deaf people without jobs can see the movie, then?  Most people go to the movies on Friday or Saturday nights.  But this is like saying that black people can't go to the movies on Friday nights because that night is reserved for whites to go to the movies.  Deaf people do not have full access to enjoy the movie theater as hearing do.

Do you think it was it audism for the teacher to expect us to move the tables back into rows? 

It would be kind for us to move the tables back, to leave the room as we found it.  But is it fair, just because the majority of the world likes to sit in rows in the classroom?

I don't want the Deaf community to have a bad reputation.  But I feel like we have a point to make.  We use the able bodies that make up our class to arrange the room how it suits us best, because it isn't that way when we get there.  Just because hearing people like to hold class in rows doesn't mean it's the only RIGHT way.

International Day of Sign Language

Thursday, September 30th, was the International Day of Sign Language.  To celebrate American Sign Language, there was a big gathering at the Capitol Building in Sacramento!

On Thursday morning we found out that the governor decided to VETO AB2072!!  Great news!

The "Spirit People" got everyone excited for ASL, the natural language and right of Deaf people!

This piece of art is so cool.  The top hand is making the handshape used to represent a person standing, and the bottom hand is making the handshape to represent a surfboard.  The paint further illustrates the story told by the hands.

People from different counties in Northern California held signs to show their support of ASL.

The head pastor from Sacramento Bible Church for the Deaf in Carmichael came to pray for the event!

In the middle is Lisalee Egbert, the faculty advisor for Sac State's ASL Club!

"Sign language is a human right, not just an option!"

This was really interesting, and something I had not gotten to witness before.  The woman on the right is both Deaf and blind.  The woman on the left interprets for her by watching the presenter and signing everything they sign.  The Deaf/blind woman receives the message by placing her hand over one of the interpreter's hands.  That must take a LOT of skill!

Melissa, ASL Club photographer, celebrated ASL by getting her leg painted at the Sierra College ASL Club's booth : D

I had an awesome day at the ASL Celebration, even though the temperature was HOT!  It was so great to see everyone come out, excited to support ASL!