Never Underestimate the Power of Vlogging

I would like to share a letter from a deaf mother, Rachele, who used my vlog (http://deafprogressivism.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-can-asl-help-english-developm­ent.html) on "No ASL Left Behind, Chapter One" that was produced last winter talking about biliingual concept on how ASL plays a role in enhancing literacy. LIttle had I known that it would be used in a mediation hearing to convince the school district to keep her deaf son at a school for the deaf. I can't help but burst in tears (of joy) that it helped changed their mind about the value of ASL in education. This is an emotional moment for me. I am still working on developing more chapters on NALB in the coming fall.

Thank you, Rachele, for granting your permission to publish your letter. I am so happy to learn that my vlog helped saved your son from transferring to a mainstreaming program that is against your will and his. Good luck to you all!


Wednesday, June 20, 2007


Hello Barb,


My name is Rachele Buckendahl I am deaf myself and I watched your video about NALB and realized I need this video to show my Mediation meeting today. I showed your video to the school district board and their attorney they learned something about this. Why? I have been struggle with them for about three month the district want to place my son back to his old mainstream school the district decided with their statement said my son don't fit deaf school. Because his hearing test show he have some hearing and can hear if using hearing aid and they felt MSD isn't properly placement for him because he missed a lot of speech. I told them my son sometime want to learn speech depending on his interest and his mood feel like to talk but he don't speak like hard of hearing he is profound deaf.


District also said want my son to be in hearing culture and ASL not important they feel ASL is wasting time learning that is not true! They said speech and English sign is not enough for my son and expect him in hearing class with interpreter full time. I told them no I prefer my son stay MSD because he have peers there and he learned so much there. MSD also provide speech so my son can learn both way ASL and learn speech too. I don't allow district remove his ASL! So when I showed them I wish you add the voice speaker with the video but interpreter watch your video and talk at the same time so they heard everything what you explained in the video.


District understand clear now they never knew and never understand why I disagree with them in past few month. Your video did helped my case today and I won the mediation my son will go back to MSD this fall I am very grateful to have your video to show proof!


And I have a question do you have cd copy to sent me one? I know I am not allowed to copy the video because it is copyright. I would like to have the chart you explained in the video because hard to read the chart also need your explain NALB in the video cd. Because I feel I need this in case in the future to help deaf parents who might struggle with their district and I willing to advocate them.


Rachele


Hi Rachele,


I am inspired to learn that my video clip has made an impact in helping hearing individuals gain a better perspective on the benefits of ASL instruction to enhance English literacy and even speech in the school district team. I have to admit that when I read your e-mail, my tears came out rolling.


This fall I will focus more on developing bilingual theory models and applications. I have already made several clips on bilingual application videos to help people understand the concept. I definitely will consider adding voice over in a series of video clips on NALB. I am not even past Chapter 1 as this is only the beginning. For now you have my permission to share my vLogs as long as credit is given. I strongly believe in community sharing where we all can help each other to achieve common goals.


Now I would like to ask for your permission to publish your letter (it is up to you to use your full name or just first name or none at all) on my vlog to explain to the deafies that this is an example of impact of vlogging especially about deaf educational issues. This will encourage the others to consider about advocating ASL in deaf children's education. There are
a lot of myths and misconceptions among hearing people and I feel that it is our job to eradicate these false
perceptions and replace it to factual information based on activities and research.


Thank you for letting me know about your son. May he continue to thrive in MSD.


Best regards,


Barb

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• deaf
• education
• IEP

[smap19541]

Barb..to me, your vlogs always very powerful enough to share with hearing people who are not familiar with the needs for the deaf people at schools or community. I always love yr vlogs because it's very effective information and educational. Keep up post more vlogs. Thumb up!

[avbria]

@smap19541 Thank you! I try my best every time to make an impact for someone who may need it. Nice to read your comments to inspire me :-)

[minakamal123]

that was very horrible! oh my god, lol

did anyone understood anythin?

[avbria]

Ok, you obviously don't know ASL, right? Just read the transcript provided. I don't understand what's so horrible about it?

[Good2beGay]

hey! you were at DBC right? Anyway! I would like to use your orginal vlog in my HoH baby's IEP. But I clicked on url and it is a not working? Can you help!

[MusicMan53100]

Thats a great story! (although I did need the transcript provided for some of it, I'm in college to be an Interpreter)

[vikingwoman73]

I would like to learn more about asl compare see sign langauge in sentence.I am deaf.use asl.But I notice see sign langauge in sentence better than asl .deaf kids wrote better from see. I think see first then grow old can use asl later. what you think? I didnt mean hate asl no!I mean write in sentence. not communication.I know asl is better in communication not in sentence. look different two way. i hope u understand me clear.

[DeafSweetMind]

Congrats for your success to help Deaf parents that we need it badly everywhere in Deaf America and Deaf INTL world as well.

If I know Hearing children can merge with Deaf children in Deaf school that I would have send my hearing children to this kind of Deaf school with ASL. No doubt! :)

I feel that Deaf Educator should be the one who can advocate Hearing people first before AUDISM's rules. No more hidden Deaf well educated people who have a Deaf heart of the Deaf community.

Thank you vm. :)

[bluchicdotnet]

I don't understand ASL but this is very interesting. I've never seen ASL on YouTube yet. Thanks for tha transcript.

[bricecharms]

Hi Barb Bravo Rachel!!! The vlog is more postive to give many deaf people to get all information from you and your ideal. I am deaf myself and have 4th deaf generation famiy and Rachel is my niece in law which her husband is my nephew. I appaud you so much and keep your pursuit of this vlog in the future. Again Thanks for everything to help us

[deafcuban]

Hi Barb, I understand why the mainstream school district wanted to keep the kid in their school. It is because the school received funds from their state such as $10K per special education student. They don't want to lose the fund. I am glad Rachele used your video clip as a good example of deaf related rights. Your vlog is powerful. Keep up and continue your pursuit of this vlog.