ASL Advisory Board Minutes

    Monday, November 17th, 2008

    4:30pm – 6:30pm

     

    In attendance at the November ASL Advisory Board meeting were:

     

     

    EPS ASL Teachers:

     

    Ellen Carpentier – worked as sign language interpreter throughout meeting

    Susan Tapert – worked as note taker throughout meeting

     

     

    ASL Advisory Board Members:

     

    Ana Jensen

    VJ Advani

    Peggy Lee LeFors

    Nick LeFors

    Linda Bontrager

    Robin Appesland

    Deborah Jones

     

    Guests

    Sign Language Interpreter

    Lauren Hadley

     

     

    Questions:

     

    As a volunteer, what makes you feel valued?

     

    Tell us about your job. What is your expertise/what do you bring to the table?

     

    Why did you get involved on an advisory committee?

     

    Trends - what is the occupational outlook in your field?

     

     

    VJ – Tends to be a giver. Is willing to encourage and help develop the Everett Public School’s ASL program.

     

    Ana – Want to bring input from the Deaf Community. The Deaf view is that we MUST have Deaf in the classroom!

     

     

    VJ - Believes just because someone is Deaf does not necessarily mean they’re a good teacher. Education and qualification is more important, hearing or deaf.

     

    VJ - Wishes he had an ASL lab, adding things each year.

     

    Deborah Jones (Counselor from Mukilteo, disabilities) - Daughter took ASL in High school, continued in college, surprised to learn how much time is required to connect with community outside of class.

     

     

    Robin - concerned that students are not going to Deaf events.

     

    VJ - suggests establish something in the Lake Stevens and Granite Falls area.

     

    Ana - Some students don’t want to visit with older Deaf at the mall. They might prefer to interact with younger Deaf, maybe age 25 at Red Robin.

     

    Peggy Lee - There are many Deaf at the Everett Mall, but most were mainstreamed (only Deaf in all hearing school).

     

    VJ - That is similar to one black child in an all white class.

     

    Linda - Deaf Education options - Hearing parents lack knowledge of what is best for the deaf child.

     

    VJ - Parents need education on Deaf culture, cochlear implants. One example - a deaf salesman with an implant was bothered by environmental sounds, couldn’t focus on signing with Deaf customers.

     

    Peggy Lee - Values hearing signers in the community. Dr. Office, dentist, stores,etc.

     

    Linda - Wants high school students to know what to expect at the college level.

     

    Nick - Lives close by, wants to help extend the Deaf culture and community.

     

    VJ - Tends to use sign language to discuss various subjects in class.

     

    Ellen - Are students signing ASL or PSE? Discuss the continuum.

     

    Ana - My register varies depending on who I’m communicating with. Notices hearing students attitudes have changed. They’re more warm, friendly and willing to communicate through sign language in the community (places of business).

     

    Peggy Lee - Encourages more students to become interpreters.

     

    VJ- Many interpreters are flocking to VRS(Video Relay Service). Now there is a shortage of interpreters in the community.

     

    Peggy Lee - Believes only Deaf should teach ASL She can’t understand hearing jokes, and hearing people can’t understand Deaf jokes.

     

    Lauren - Occupational trends. Technology, things not here five years ago. Economy, can’t afford interpreters to drive to Seattle to hospital or to see captioned movie. Video relay.

     

    Linda- Read an article about a Deaf patient in a hospital bed trying to communicate through a VRS interpreter. The interpreter couldn’t see the Deaf patient’s signs. This was not appropriate. The Deaf patient complained and sued.

     

    Linda - Deaf students will always need sign language interpreters.

     

    VJ - Small towns do not have interpreters, so they will type words for the Deaf like a court reporter. TV captioners earn $100 per hour. Court interpreters can earn up to $200 an hour on the east coast. It’s more like $90.00 an hour in Seattle.

     

    Nick - High school ASL exposes students to basic skills level and Deaf culture.

     

    Ana - High school exposes students to facial expression. Grew up in Puerto Rico, I grew up miming, gesturing expressions. Came to America, nobody understood me. I had to learn ASL.

     

    VJ - World language teachers feel threatened by ASL. Spanish is lessening. ASL is expanding. Prefers class size of around 15-18.

     

    Linda - Students think ASL will be easy. They find out otherwise.

     

    VJ - 3,000 Deaf people live in Everett alone. We need a center for the Deaf.

     

    Deborah - Husband is black, two daughters are multi-ethnic. Someone said daughters would not be good interpreters because of dark skin.

     

    VJ - I’d be thrilled to have more multi-ethnic interpreters!

     

    Ellen - Small towns don’t have many dark skinned people. They’re used to white.

     

    VJ - Not all ASL users have great expression. We need more male interpreters.

     

    Deborah - excited to be here. Most people she works with have other Disabilities. Did take one sign class but I cannot remember the signs.

     

    VJ - Edmonds won’t hire Deaf DHH (Deaf and Hard-of-hearing) teachers. We’re still dealing with discrimination as we did in the past.

     

    Linda - Edmonds has a new program manager with a different approach.

     

    Ana - We need to discuss current issues. Dr. Brian Kilpatrick, Deaf speaker, grew up oral, switched to ASL.

     

    VJ - Suggests asking Barbara Hayes to set up a workshop with Brian Kilpatrick. Many high school teachers could be involved.

     

    Ellen - What would the topic of the workshop be???

     

    Ana - We need to research it more.

     

    Ellen – Next meeting January 12, 2009 at CHS. Susan to host.

     

     

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