“What is Black Deaf History? Why Is It Important? ” - Adrian Foote
The purpose of Black Deaf history is to remind people that black people in the past and in our lifetime have made substantial contributions to our culture, our nation, and to the entire world. The contributions can be arts, scientific works, educational practices, economic theories and application, sports; anything. We need to remind ourselves that black people are also human beings who have skills, intelligence, and love to give.
“ASL: A Golden Opportunity - Bruce Bucci and Andrew Bottoms”
ASL has become increasingly politicized over the years. We will step away from the controversy surrounding the language and focus instead on the benefits and opportunities the language provides. We will highlight the gains, both linguistic and societal, that come from learning ASL. Users of this minority language have a unique understanding and appreciation of social justice and diversity.
ASL has been widely researched, from its structure to its literature. Deaf children who have access to ASL develop spoken English proficiency more readily. It is in this light that we see ASL as additive, but not only for Deaf users. ASL can benefit anyone with an open heart and mind. Alongside Deaf people, parents of Deaf children, Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs), medical professionals, educators, artists, and those in other fields enjoy the richness of the language.
In recent years, we have seen a rise not only in the amount of research about ASL, but also in the vibrant role ASL is playing on social media. As ASL and Deaf people become more visible in this widely used and accessible domain, we see a broader recognition and acceptance of the language. We invite you to join us in discovering how ASL can unite us across the divide. Seize this golden opportunity!
“Passing: My Journey of Acceptance through Making Art” - Randy Garber
My powerpoint presentation shows the evolution of my artwork as I have explored how to visualize what I call the “space between silence and sound.” I will talk about how my exploration in making visual art has enriched my understanding of how we all—Deaf, deaf, hearing impaired, or hearing—wrestle with the complexities of decoding what is encoded.
“ASL 101” - Dana Hoover
An introduction session to American Sign Language. Come learn your first ASL signs!
“Queer Panel Discussion”
A panel that explores the intersections of living with both queer and d/Deaf identities. Panel members include Adrian Foote, Marlene Coleman and Laurel Sack.
"Allah Earth: The Cycle of Life" - Sabina England
A solo multimedia performance art show about the cycle of life and death told with ASL, dance, mime and video. 45 minute long, with closed captions, voice over, and ASL. There will be a Q&A afterward.
“A Special Transmission Outside of Words and Signs: ASL in an American Zen Community”
- Fugan Dineen and R. Liam Oshin Jennings
In Zen Buddhism, hearing is considered the primary sense vehicle for spiritual awakening. Hearing the sound of chanting, a lecture on Buddhist scripture, a bell ringing, or even a twig snapping are all opportunities for realizing one’s true nature. The functioning of a Zen community is also based on hearing. Bells signal when to wake up and when to sit meditation, clappers tell students when to start and stop walking meditation, a drum marks the start of meals and guides the tempo of chanting. What does the centrality of hearing mean for Deaf/deaf Zen practitioners? As Chinese Buddhist Master, Dongshan Liangjie (807-869), puts it, “If you use your ears to listen, you’ll never understand–– Only when you hear in your eyes will you know.”
Over the past five years the Village Zendo, a Manhattan-based Zen community, has been responding to Dongshan. Led by R. Liam ÅŒshin Jennings, the first Deaf American Soto monk, the (mainly hearing) community has been incorporating ASL into its liturgy. In this presentation, ÅŒshin and Fugan Dineen (another monk from the community) explore the history of this innovation in Zen, what it means for members of the Zendo, how fits in the larger Buddhist community, and how this action functions as a (spiritual, physical, and embodied) response to audism. Their research is based in ethnography and participant observation. Following this model, and in the spirit of Zen practice, their presentation brings the world of Deaf Zen into you in practical, a hands-on fashion.
“Climb and Sign!” - Kaitlin Millen
Try Hampshire's climbing wall while signing with your DEAFinitions conference friends! We will have two hours during which you can swing by the climbing wall in the Robert Crown Center (RCC). You can try climbing or just hang out and watch. Climbing harnesses will be provided along with trained belayers who will belay while you climb. Come for a short time or the whole two hours!
“Had I Said It With My Hands:” A Reading & Talk with Poet Meg Day on Rejecting Reasonable Accommodation
Where is the poetry written in both English and ASL? Using the premise of Implant Poetics—a transgressive poetics of interference that describes the oppressive and tokenizing contemporary approaches to d/Deaf and disabled poetics—poet and scholar Meg Day talks about the betweenity of hyphenated bodies; the challenges of merging page and stage; and the complexities of living & teaching with a name sign no one uses anymore. The talk will include a poetry reading of work from Day’s first book, Last Psalm at Sea Level, & newer poems written while traveling abroad on the Amy Lowell Traveling Scholarship for Poets.
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“Storytelling & Creative Expression Workshop” - Sabina England
This workshop is a fun, interactive workshop presented by Sabina who will give improv games to people and challenge them to think quick about performing and telling stories. It's a great workshop for anyone who wants to think outside the box and try something new. No theatre or acting experience required!
“ASL Confidence” - Ruth Moore
Ruth Moore will discuss how ASL students can develop confidence in using ASL at various situations including the deaf community. Concerns about this will be shared in the group, and a list of resources will be given during the last part of the workshop.
CANCELLED “GaySL: A Crash Course in LGBTQ American Sign Language” - Hayden Kristal
This highly interactive, variable, and hilarious workshop teaches its participants LGBTQ-related American Sign Language signs while fostering a group discussion about Deaf culture, intersectionality, accessibility and more. During the presentation participants will be encouraged to sign along as we learn the signs for GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, GENDER, ALLY, COMING-OUT, PARTNER, BINARY, DRAG KING/QUEEN, IDENTITY, RAINBOW, PRIDE, etc., as well as requested signs. The signs serve as jumping off points for discussion about the intersection of Deafness and Queerness. (Example: ALLY- how does Deaf culture perceive LGBTQ people? How are the Deaf received by the LGBTQ community? What can you do to be a better ally to both groups?) The goal for this workshops is not that participants will leave fluent in ASL. The point is to get people thinking about Deafness, disability, and the struggles faced by LGBTQ people who are also Deaf or disabled; to inspire people to learn more, and create accessibility to allow ALL LGBTQ people to utilize their resources and participate in their events.
“Endnote Presentation” - Dana Hoover
Dana Hoover will close the conference with notes from the weekend.
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