ANEWMSD

Please check the following link for information about an ongoing protest...

http://starvingforaccess.blog.com

Forum	Description	Time Frame
http://www.geocities.com/deaf_michigan	A website that includes all of the initial efforts to bring about change at Michigan School for the Deaf	2003-2004
Town Hall http://anewmsd.blog.com anewmsd@hotmail.com	Group meetings generating options for improving the school. See comments for minutes and other related information.	2004-present (12 meetings, two events, and one upcoming event to date).
ADEN (Alliance for Deaf Education Now) http://www.aden2005.blog.com	Group meetings (town hall format) in Detroit. They, too, are generating options for improving Detroit Day School for the Deaf among other things.	2005-present
MSD Students Create a Blog http://michsd.blog.com	Blog created by students who are actively involved with advocating for improvements in Michigan School for the Deaf	2005-present

October 31, 2005

Hello All,

An email has been sent to Ms. Cecelia Winkler (MSD Principal) asking for the date, time, and location of the next State Board of Education meeting that has on their agenda MSD's Communication Policy.

Previously, there was a request on behalf of Ms. Winkler for representatives of the Town Hall group to meet with Ms. Steenwyk, Ms. Thompson, and Ms. Winkler. The Town Hall group requested that a videocamera be included in the meeting for the purpose of documentation (since a tape recorder would be moot, for obvious reasons).

Ms. Winkler consulted with Ms. Steenwyk and their response was this: "Per the office of Spec Ed, it is not appropriate to to create a video archive of a non-public meeting. I would be happy to meet with your designees sans video."

Because in the past, statements have been made and then later retracted or were denied, the Town Hall representatives did not feel comfortable proceeding with a meeting without objective documentation of the proceedings. Therefore, there has not been a meeting to review the feedback sent in regarding the Communication Policy draft and discuss possible changes. The Town Hall group has no knowledge of MSD staff or alumni being offered such an opportunity.

The Town Hall group now waits for a response from Ms. Winkler regarding the Board of Education meeting and will keep you posted so that you may attend should you desire to do so. This will be discussed more in depth at the next Town Hall Meeting.

June 17, 2005

As you know, Mrs. Winkler has given the community the opportunity to review and offer feedback on MSD's current communication policy (a draft). The deadline was June 7th. Several people sent in feedback, and we appreciate your taking the time to do so. If you would like to share your feedback here, or raise any concerns-- please do so! Thanks!

Check this out:  http://www.wfdcongress.org/video/esp/wfd.wmv

This is why we are so passionate about sign language.  Deaf people from different countries have their own sign language.  British Sign Language (BSL), Italian Sign Language or Lingua Italiana dei Segni (LIS), and Costa Ricans' Lengua de Senas de Costarricanese (LESCO) to name a few. 

Despite efforts to eradicate sign language, Deaf people have carried on their language throughout the centuries.  Until 1965, Sign Language has been viewed as the "monkey language."  Dr. William Stokoe took upon himself to prove that ASL is indeed a language in its own right, natural and autonomous.  He succeed and now it is among the most studied language within the linguistic community. 

Now is the time for us to take upon ourself and fight to ensure that ASL has a permanent place within the Deaf Education.  To ensure that each and every employee working with Deaf students are evaluated via ASLPI (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview) prior to appointment.

The premise is simple: When ASL is being compromised, a Deaf child has been denied an education.

Due to the format of this web blog, a creation of stand-alone blog is necessary for links only. When you post "comment" .. type in the title of your link below "Name" then in the "Url", adhere the actual web address. Then in the comment area, you can write a brief about the contents of the link itself. Happy linking! :D

Welcome to the new blogspot! Share your thoughts, concerns, feedback, or resources such as website links/ books here! We are bonded by one common goal: To enrich Michigan School for the Deaf for the future generations. Todd Morrison gave a moving presentation tonight at MSD graduation and shared one quote by Gandhi with us, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." I daresay, you must be the change you want to see at MSD! Begin posting! :)