My Interview with The Empty Closet Newspaper - July 2011

Meet Ashley Shaffer, new Gay Alliance intern (By: Susan Jordan)

Ashley Shaffer of NTID/RIT has joined the Gay Alliance staff as an intern this summer to create graphics and help with deaf access. To schedule an ASL interpreter for a Pride event, email DeafAccess@gayalliance.org .

*What are you studying at NTID and do you have a good idea of what you want to do?

I have been enjoying studying my major -- graphic design since three years. Being a graphic designer is not the only idea I want to do professionally. There are so many things I love to do, like interior decorator, paint, fashion decorator, craft, countless others. Art is something I want to do for the rest of my life. Creativity is my passion.

*What will you be focusing on at the Gay Alliance this summer?

I am planning to focus on making graphic design things; advertisement, brochure, logo and others for any kind of awesome event and include Rochester Pride 2011. I am also planning to helping to improve deaf access for the deaf community at Rochester Pride 2011. Everything I have to work at as much as I can to reach my gal to make the Gay Alliance community bigger.

*Where is your hometown?

Baltimore, Maryland

*Do you think non-profits, and other groups and agencies, can do more to make their services accessible to the deaf community?

Yes, they should do that because the deaf community is more than ready to enjoy themselves anywhere that would provide better deaf access. If instead, there is no deaf access, then it would make the deaf community step back.

This is not what I want to see in the deaf community. All I want to see the deaf community do is to get recognized, with more motivation and be more involved around non-profits, other groups, and also agencies with hearing people. All of us are not different people.

*Do you think that ASL should be taught in elementary and / or high schools as a regular part of the curriculum? Would that make sensitive and aware, and able to communicate more effectively?

Yes, I absolutely think hearing people should do that if they are interested to learn how to do American Sign Language. It's cool for them to learn their second or tenth language to communicate with deaf people.

There are a lot more deaf people around the world than hearing people ever imagine. American Sign Language is such a beautiful language.

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