AG Bell Association’s Conscious Denial?

Amy Cohen Efron noticed AG Bell Association did not acknowledge this Wed’s PBS’s premiere, “Through Deaf Eyes”.

READ THIS FIRST, then scroll down for the VLOG done by Amy Cohen Efron.

Help me with one thing…

Can you check Alexander Graham Bell Association’s website : www.agbell.org and please tell me if they ever published a press release acknowledging about the “Through Deaf Eyes” documentary.

Kudos to Grant Laird, Jr. for finding AG Bell’s press release on their website. Read below:

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“Through Deaf Eyes” Addresses Perspectives on Deafness
Several AG Bell Members Featured in Film

“Through Deaf Eyes,” a two-hour PBS documentary exploring deafness in America over the last 200 years, will air on PBS stations nationwide on Wednesday, March 21, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Narrated by Stockard Channing, the film includes interviews with former AG Bell Executive Director & CEO, K. Todd Houston, Ph.D.; board member Irene Leigh, Ph.D.; Alan Marvelli, Ph.D.; filmmakers Kimby Caplan and Adrean Mangiardi; and members David James and Sally Taylor, among others.

The film presents experiences of American history – family life, education, work and community connections – from the perspective of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Several segments of the film explore the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and the work of Alexander Graham Bell to help people understand that children with hearing loss could learn spoken language and participate in mainstream society. The film also explores the controversies around hearing technologies such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, and underscores the importance of providing parents whose children are diagnosed with hearing loss comprehensive information about hearing loss and the full range of communication options available to them.

(Amy Cohen Efron here, see the politically correct language written by AG Bell Association vaguely emphasizes that “the full range of communication options available to them” – then why AG Bell strongly advocates Auditory Verbal Therapy programs as indicated on their website?)
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Please compare with National Association for the Deaf’s press release about this documentary:

NAD Looks at the Past and Envisions the Future “ Through Deaf Eyes”
Posted March 2007

To refer others to this page, please use:
http://www.nad.org/partnerdeafeyes

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is pleased to be an outreach partner for Through Deaf Eyes, the first comprehensive film about deaf history that will be broadcast nationally on March 21, 2007, at 9 p.m. (EST), on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Check local listings for your area.

Through Deaf Eyes is a two-hour documentary exploring nearly 200 years of deaf life in America. The film presents the shared experiences of American history “ family life, education, work, and community connections“ from the perspective of deaf citizens. Interviews include community leaders, historians, and deaf Americans with diverse views on language use, technology and identity. Bringing a deaf cinematic lens to the film are six artistic works by deaf media artists and filmmakers.

This groundbreaking documentary encourages respect and understanding of the rich history, culture, and contributions of the deaf community, said Bobbie Beth Scoggins, president of the National Association of the Deaf. Through Deaf Eyes also highlights the work of the NAD since 1880, and our focus on issues such as American Sign Language in educational settings, employment opportunities, and telecommunications access.

Scoggins also said that the documentary does not hold back any punches; it is powerful in all of its messages. Perhaps the strongest message is that American Sign Language continues to be the thread that runs through deaf history and how its presence or absence has impacted and continues to impact lives.

Looking back into our history, American history, deaf history, and NAD history, there are parts that are painful. We make no excuses, only apologies and commitment to change, for things that cannot be justified, even when they happened decades ago.  This reference by Scoggins is to the first half of the 20th century, during which time the NAD did not accept people of color as members. Scoggins continued, The NAD is open and inclusive in its membership, Board of Directors, staff, programs and overall efforts to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of all deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States. We continue to strive to improve all that we do.

(Amy Cohen Efron here, NAD consciously acknowledged that they did not accept people of color at the first half of the 20th century, and NAD PUBLICLY announced that they are open and inclusive! – that’s big of NAD to say this!)

Through Deaf Eyes is powerful in its message that the work of the NAD must continue to ensure the brightest future possible for current and future generations of deaf Americans.
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Check the PBS’s website: http://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/ – and read the print under the picture:

THROUGH DEAF EYES is a production of WETA Washington, D.C. and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, in association with Gallaudet University.

Major funding for THROUGH DEAF EYES is provided by
the National Endowment for the Humanities,
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,
PBS,
the Annenberg Foundation and
the National Endowment for the Arts.

The outreach campaign is funded in part of:
the Sign Language Associates
and Richard and Gail Elden.

Outreach partners are:
the National Association of the Deaf,
Gallaudet University,
the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology,
and California State University – Northridge.

Hello??? AG Bell Association?
Why you are not supporting this? Did you know that this documentary will tell a story about your ‘founder’ and his so-called contributions to the Deaf History?

Why you didn’t acknowledge this? Why you didn’t help with funding this show?

Are you consciously denying this?

Mmmm… (please forgive this quality of the video – I hadda to make it in a haste…. focus the message please!)

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