Dear Deaf Scholars:
We want to share with you that there will be an international conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in summer 2010. The conference is the “International Congress on the Education of the Deaf”, also known as the ICED. We noticed that, over the years since the conference in Gallaudet University in 1993, the ICED continued to provide workshops and information sessions that mainly focused on oralism and auditory-verbal technologies.
That brings us to write this letter to share our concern with you, in hope of collaborating with you to share your expertise in the Deaf Educational field at the conference in 2010. Our objectives include the following:
- Deaf Education must be improved and expanded all over the world.
- All countries must be take accountability to ensure that all Deaf children acquire their natural language, which is sign language.
- Audiologists and doctors must be educated about the importance of early literacy in Deaf children and making appropriate referrals to Deaf professionals.
- Cochlear implants are not educational tools; therefore, they should not be one of the vital topics in the Deaf Education field.
- Research findings and success stories about Deaf children and the benefits of sign language must be broadcasted.
- Research studies related to Deafness must be validated by Deaf professionals.
- Deaf professionals should be part of all Deaf educational organizations that exist all over the world. At least, one Deaf professional shall take one of the leading roles within the organization.
Our goal is to have more Deaf professionals take part in the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf conference and bring back to the Deaf communities to increase awareness of the significance of sign language in Deaf Education. We want to see Deaf communities throughout the world unite. Together, we must work together, stand up, and protect all Deaf children for their future education, and free Deaf children from the restrictions to their literacy development in using their natural language, sign language.
Sincerely yours,
John Mans and friends
