The Deaf Way: Perspectives from the International Conference on Deaf Culture

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The Deaf Way Conference and Festival opened with a performance funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, celebrating the common bonds uniting deaf people around the world. Actress Phyllis Frelich (U.S.) during the opening performance. Gallaudet University's President I. King Jordan uses the Gestuno (international) sign for STRONG FRIENDSHIP to emphasize the importance to deaf people of international solidarity. Deaf Way coordinator Merv Garretson sees a future ofglobal cooperation among deaf people. U. S. Senator John McCain, chief cosponsor of the Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988, addresses Deaf Way participants. Dr. Zaid Abdullah AI-Moslat (Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia-far left) also participated in this symposium, moderated by World Federation of the Deaf President Yerker Andersson (Sweden/U.S.-center). American Sign Language (ASL) and Gestuno interpreters provide translations. President 1. King Jordan greets Prince Bandar bin Sultan AI-Saud, Saudia Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. and member of the Deaf Way Honorary Board. Abdul Aziz Al-obaid (back, right) arranged this historic meeting heralding Saudi Arabia's commitment to quality deaf education. The enormous space in the Omni Shoreham Hotel's Regency Ballroom made videoscreen enlargement of presentations and interpretations a vital part of communication accessibility. Applause was made visible-the Deaf way. Greg Hlibok (U.S.) describes the Deaf President Now movement in ASL while real-time captions in English and Gestuno interpreting appear on the large screens. Spoken interpretations in English, Spanish, and French were available to hearing participants through headsets, and deaf groups that brought their own interpreters had access to the presentations in their own national sign languages. Many participants had never seen or used telecommunications devices for deaf people (also known as TTYs) until The Deaf Way. Britta Hansen (Denmark) presented her paper in spoken English, which was translated into ASL for deaf Gustuno interpreter Marie Philip (U.S.). An unprecedented number of deaf interpreters worked alongside hearing interpreters at The Deaf Way. I. King Jordan poses with winners of the deaf students' history contest. The theme of this Deaf Way contest was "Deaf Heritage." The Society of Deaf Adults in Quito, Ecuador (Fray Luis Ponce de Leon) sent a delegation to The Deaf Way. A Brazilum group gathers around l. King Jordan, inspired by his declaration that "Deaf people can do anything!" A hearing participant learning to sign, "Nice to meet you!" Deaf-blind participants experienced The Deaf Way through their sense of touch. In this photograph, actress Marlee Matlin (U.S.) communicated with Art Roehrig (U.S.), while Phyllis Frelich (U.S.) waits her turn. Reflecting the role of deaf clubs in deaf communities worldwide, the International Deaf Club tent became the social hub of the Deaf Way experience for many participants. Socialization at the International Deaf Club tent included family members of all ages, as is common in most deaf clubs. Deaf Way participants renewed their energies and spirits in the International Deaf Club tent. Cross-cultural communication was an essential element of the Deaf Way experience. Participants enjoyed comparing signs from different sign languages and leaming about other cultural traditions (see facing page). Even T-shirts played a role in promoting cultural and linguistic awareness. Deaf participants proudly showed many attributes of their homelands' national cultures through traditional costumes and dance. Nipaporn (fum) Reilly performed a traditional Thai dance at the international dance night. ...