Successful Diverse Deaf Individuals: Who Are They?

1. Successful Diverse Deaf Individuals: Who Are They? Transition Service: Preparation and Training for Teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Kent State University Dr. Pamela Luft Laurie Sutherin and Chrissy Williams OSERS Funded Grant Project

2. Introduction • Many programs have “Deaf Awareness” activities, and there are months for Black History and Women’s History • Rarely are these combined to exhibit successful diverse deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals • The following information can be used to help promote pride and self-esteem in students, many of whom struggle with identity and self-esteem issues.. Transition Services Preparation & Training

3. Deaf Women who dare to challenge the WORLD Kitty O'Neil • Kitty O’Neal, the world’s fastest woman, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and became deaf when she was 4 years old. At the University of Texas she studied the methods of teaching deaf children and received her degree in Education. Through teaching children, she founded “School Listening Eyes” in Witchita Falls. As well as performing stunts in movies such as “Bionic Woman” and “Wonder Woman”, Kitty has participated in a number of vehicle races and driving competitions. One of her greatest accomplishments was being listed in the Guinness Book of World Record for traveling at the speed of 512.710 miles per hour. For more information on Kitty O’Neil http://www.the-rocketman.com/kitty.html http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/holland/spindrift/kitty.html http://p3.csun.edu/p3access/Calendar2001/0301facts.html Transition Services Preparation & Training

4. Deaf Women who dare to challenge the WORLD Organizations • DEAF WOMEN UNITED, an organization that is of, for and by Deaf women is at the forefront of these changing times. • http://www.dwu.org/ • Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS) is committed to providing services to Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. The mission of ADWAS is a belief that violence is a learned behavior and it should not be tolerated. • http://adwas.org Transition Services Preparation & Training

5. Successful Deaf African Americans Fred Beam • Fred Beam, an avid dancer and actor, has become a star in the Deaf community. Beam was born near Atlanta, Georgia. He was hearing until he was three years old when he developed chicken pox and mumps at the same time. The illnesses left him deaf.Beam is a dedicated member of the National Black Deaf Advocates. He is the founder of Invisible Hands Inc., which is made up of a number of different companies including: The Wild Zappers, an all male deaf dance company which has toured nationally and internationally; National Deaf Dance Theatre, a mainstream dance company for both deaf and hearing communities; and I Didn’t Hear That Color, a deaf African American touring theater troupe. For more information on Fred Beam http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/WorldAroundYou/sep-oct2001/wild-zappers.html Transition Services Preparation & Training

6. Successful Deaf African Americans Organizations • National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) is a national organization for African American deaf and hard of hearing people. • http://www.nbda.org/index.html Resources • http://www.deafweb.org/bdahistory.htm • http://www.deafamerica.com/DeafOrganizations.htm Transition Services Preparation & Training

7. Successful Deaf Latinos Angel Ramos, Ph.D.Executive Director of Angel Ramos Foundation, Inc. • On August 1, 2001, Dr. Ramos, at age 51,  was named superintendent of  the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind. He was also a Fulbright Scholar, author, and chairman of  various deaf organizations and projects. He was also the founder of  the National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Washington, D.C.  Angel Ramos chaired the Deaf President Now fund. His participation in the DPN movement led to his book, “Triumph of the Spirit: The DPN Chronicle”. For more information on Dr. Angel Ramos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Ramos_(educator) Transition Services Preparation & Training

8. Successful Deaf Latinos Organizations • The Hispanic Deaf Club represents people working together toward a common goal. Their goal is to help those around them understand their culture and what it means to "be Latino". • http://www.rit.edu/~hdcwww/ Resources • http://deafness.about.com/cs/subcultures/a/hispanic.html • http://www.imageone.com/goya/index1.html • http://www.manoamano-unidos.org/ Transition Services Preparation & Training

9. Successful Deaf Native Americans Damara Goff Paris,President of IDC • Damara Paris is of Cherokee/ Blackfoot decent.She is not only a part of the writing team for Circle of Unity, but also participated as co-editor on Step Into the Circle. She has published six books since 1997 and owns her own publishing company, AGO Publications. Paris received her MA in Rehabilitation Counseling and graduated in 1994 from Western Oregon University. She then managed a community based rehabilitation center for the Deaf in Salem, Oregon. For more information on Damara Goff Paris http://www.deafnative.com/Damara_Paris.htm Transition Services Preparation & Training

10. Successful Deaf Native Americans Organizations • Intertribal Deaf Council (IDC),IDC provides information about their heritage, traditions, and cultural issues as well as serving as an advocate for Deaf Native American Rights. • http://www.deafnative.com/ • The Circle of Unityis a publication designed to improve rehabilitation services to American Indians and Alaskan Natives who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing. • http://www.uark.edu/depts/rehabres/AmIndian/AImain.htm Transition Services Preparation & Training

11. Successful Deaf Asian Americans John Yeh • John and his family moved from Taiwan in 1962, when he was 15, so that he and his sister, who are both deaf, could receive a better education. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Gallaudet University and then his master’s in computer science at another college. He founded a software company with his brother called Integrated Microcomputer Systems, Inc. (IMS), which they eventually sold. Two years later John founded Viable Technologies, Inc., which offers real-time captioning transcription services to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. He has served on boards such as the National Captioning Institute, the National Asian Deaf Congress, and the National Deaf Business Institute. For more information on John Yeh http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/products/Vol5%20SuccessBriefs/SSB-Vol5-Iss01-JohnYeh.pdf Transition Services Preparation & Training

12. Successful Deaf Asian Americans Organizations • National Asian Deaf Congress, (NADC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to define and address the cultural, political and social issues experienced by the Asian Deaf Community. • http://www.nadc-usa.org/ • The Asian Deaf Clubis located at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and the Asian Pacific Association is at Gallaudet University in Washington D. C. • http://www.rit.edu/~adc/ Transition Services Preparation & Training

13. For more information… Additional information including complete powerpoint presentations for each cultural group can be found at: http://www.educ.kent.edu/fundedprojects/TSPT/grant.htm Transition Services Preparation & Training