Note: You can look at original letter and as well as vlog at their
\nwebsite, <\/p>\n
please go to http:\/\/blogs.nad.org\/president\/?p=14<\/p>\n
February 7, 2008 <\/p>\n
Karen Youdelman, President <\/p>\n
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing <\/p>\n
3417 Volta Place, NW <\/p>\n
Washington, DC 20007 <\/p>\n
Dear President Youdelman, <\/p>\n
On behalf of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Board of
\nDirectors, staff, members, and supporters, I am responding to the
\nrecent letter that you wrote to PepsiCo representing the Alexander
\nGraham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AGBell).
\nSpecifically, I want to express our disappointment. <\/p>\n
In 1880, the NAD was established by deaf leaders who believed in the
\nright of the American deaf community to use sign language, to
\ncongregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests
\nrepresented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this
\nday, with American Sign Language (ASL) as a core value. As a
\nconsumer-based nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to
\npromote, protect, and preserve the civil, human, and linguistic
\nrights of deaf Americans. <\/p>\n
The NAD represents children and adults who are deaf, hard of hearing,
\nlate deafened, or deaf-blind. We welcome all people who value ASL, and
\nwe promote opportunities for the acquisition and use of ASL in
\naddition to English in its various forms, with or without the use of
\nhearing technologies, to enable successful participation in all
\naspects of American society, including the deaf community. <\/p>\n
We are disappointed with the negative tone of your letter and obvious
\nlack of respect for deaf people who use ASL. We are also sensitive to
\nthe fact that many members of the AGBell deaf and hard of hearing
\nsection know and use ASL. We find it deplorable that AGBell continues
\nto perpetuate the myth that the use of ASL isolates deaf people from
\nmainstream society, a stereotype that is far from the truth. We know
\nthat this is not the first time that AGBell has reacted in this
\nmanner to high-profile use of ASL, which AGBell may perceive as
\ndetracting from its exclusive focus on speaking and listening. As
\nsuch, we are not surprised that AGBell continues to close its eyes to
\nsuccessful deaf ASL users as positive role models. <\/p>\n
In the view of the NAD, every deaf person has a unique place in
\nAmerican society, with basic human rights with respect to identity,
\ncultural affiliation, and self-expression. This viewpoint, with
\nemphasis on diversity and inclusiveness, forms the foundation for our
\nexistence as an organization and as a community. <\/p>\n
We expect the same respect from AGBell on behalf of the community we
\nrepresent. <\/p>\n
Sincerely, <\/p>\n
Bobbie Beth Scoggins <\/p>\n
President<\/p>\n
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Note: You can look at original letter and as well as vlog at their website, please go to http:\/\/blogs.nad.org\/president\/?p=14 February 7, 2008 Karen Youdelman, President Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 3417 Volta Place, NW…<\/p>\n