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"Developing Language for developing cognition: The role of early language experience on spatial cognition" 

Dr.Amber Martin

Dr. Martin’s work focuses on the relations between language and cognition in development. In particular, she examines the effects of early language deprivation in deaf children on cognitive abilities. To answer questions about how language and cognition are intertwined, she studies the ways that learning sign language early in life supports spatial cognitive abilities such as people’s ability to imagine objects from different perspectives, or to imagine the viewpoints of other people. In this talk, Dr. Martin will discuss her work with users of American Sign Language, a language that is over 200 years old, and users of Nicaraguan Sign Language, a young language that has been emerging in Central America over the last 40 years.

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“My Alarm Clock Has Four Legs and A Wet Nose”

Cara Miller

How do hearing dog partnerships shape, influence, and impact people’s experience of deaf identity, and vice versa? Dr. Miller weaves together the personal, academic, and professional while sharing insights from the assistance dog industry. She will discuss findings from her research on attitudes related to hearing dog partnerships among D/deaf and hard of hearing people, including perceptions of partnership, the challenges and rewards of partnership, and perspectives on hearing dog use as an assistive technology.

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“How Comics Saved My Life”

Carlisle Robinson

A lot of people consider reading comics a low-brow activity, and/or think it is only for kids. In this presentation, Carlisle Robinson will debunk this myth backed up with researches and studies, and their personal experience as well. Carlisle will discuss about how huge difference comics can make in people’s lives, especially deaf people. Deaf people are very visual people, so it is no brainer to use comics to educate deaf people. Come to this presentation to learn how comics benefit people, especially deaf people, and even especially deaf students!

 

Deaf Education Panel 

Clare Sanders, Dana Hoover, Nicholas Lalanne

Claire, Nick, and Dana will discuss their different perspectives and experiences with Deaf Education within the US. Each will share a bit about their personal educational backgrounds. This will include information on communication methods, assistance technology and additional services, itinerant teachers and teaching methods. They will discuss their opinions on the various methods of Deaf education today - bilingual education, auditory-oral education, mainstreaming, etc. Finally, each will provide feedback on what they would change in Deaf education, and share their thoughts on the future of Deaf education. 

 

"Sign and Slime"

Rita Child

Come and discover a whole new world of slime, putty, and satisfying goo! Learn how to create beautiful, fidgety manipulatives with basic ingredients. You will love it so much you will go home wanting to make more. Great for the stresses we ALL have and need to release! It will be good for you, trust me.

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Expressions Art Bar

Presentation Description Coming Soon!

 

Keynote Address

Hayden Kristal

This keynote address explores what it means to live life at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities and why acknowledging the complex and multifaceted nature of human identity is critical to any kind of social justice work. An abridged version of this keynote was presented as a 2016 TEDxMU Talk.

 

"GaySL"

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.

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"Code-switching and Social Identities"

Kellynette Gomez

Since communication is the most important part of defining and structuring our identities, a recent phenomenon had emerged which has been called linguistic identities. As the name suggests, there is no single identity in terms of communication and interaction. In this presentation, I will share how my linguistic identities are formed; and by what means are my multiple identities are being constructed, revised and shaped.

 

Family Discussion

Presentation Description Coming Soon!

“Finding A New Deaf Identity”

Rikki Poynter

This presentation includes stories about how a child was diagnosed as hard of hearing, then continued to be mainstreamed through her hard of hearing teenage and then deaf adult years. Those who attend will learn how she grew up with hearing loss, how she dealt with it, how she finally accepted herself, and how she finally found Deaf culture all the while turning it into her life and career as an activist and entertainer.

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"Deaf Folklore: Deaf People, Identity and Culture"

Dr. Simon Carmel

A survey of culture and folklore of the American Deaf Community will be introduced.  Some important genres (types) including deaf jokes, legends, "signlore" (stories and traditional forms of sign play), riddles, deaf cartoons, deaf animals, and other popular stories that have been traditionally carried on from a deaf storyteller to another, will be demonstrated in the lecture presentation.  The  analyses and interpretations of some stories will be explained.  This folklore reflects the values, attitudes, and the same personal-experiences and identity of Deaf persons

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“Adventures of a Deaf Farmer”

Stuart Soboleski

Stuart will share his journey of wonders and challenges living and farming in Switzerland and Vermont. Find out how he started farming in a tiny village high in the Swiss Alps and his exploration into sustainable living as a young man and now as a father of a deaf child. Come and join him in his footsteps in creating communities across languages and cultures.

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"Win's Stories about his Life"

Winchell Moore

Winchell Moore's presentation will be about his experiences growing up in schools for the deaf, private day school, public high school and colleges/universities. He learned sign language at Gallaudet College. He will share what life was like in the past as compared to now. He will tell how he became interested in rocks, gems, art and silversmithing, also fishing/growing vegetables and stories about his life.