Greetings to the folks in blog and vlog land:
As a result of new interest in AFA (Audism Free America), I have decided to enlighten this matter with local schools that practice audism for decades. We have tried to request changes and put them on the right track. Yet, it is the hearing people who continue to be selfish, stubborn and disrespectful.
Today, we viisited the schools and marked them according to AFA's mission. So today was perfect with nice weather and good time to review and visit those schools who are not up to the par with the deaf community.
As part of AFA's mission, this is an example of audistic program run by Central Institute For the Deaf. They do not have 51% deaf on board, they do not have many deaf staff and they promote oralism. Now they are promoting cochlear implanting. Why do they keep sending children to Missouri School For the Deaf? Something is wrong!
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf practices audism since 1934. It was set up by Sisters of St. Joseph in 1837 using sign language. The school is under catholic church and the board does not have 51% deaf on the board, no deaf staff and spreads lies about its programs. They have used barbaric methods to punish children not following oralism.
The Moog Center is another example of on-going audism in St. Louis area. St. Louis may be the audism capital of the world. Jean Moog had reputation of ignoring reporter's question when asked about a new postage stamp saying "ILY". She has history of looking down on deaf adults. She runs the program here and in few cities.
Here is yet another example of on-going audism practiced in St. Louis. This place rejected a deaf child who preferred to use ASL. This program only accept oral babies and children from oral program. This is where they interact with hearing children. Yet, they do NOT allow ASL. This is infringement on the rights of deaf children.
With the continuing audism and abuses, they are responsible for the mental health problems of many deaf people from coast to coast. All kinds of problems point back to those oral schools who continue to ignore the facts and truth.
It is recognized according to many organizations such as NAD, MoAD, DBC, AFA and the following groups who are now gearing up to support the change.
It is fully agreed that oralism is recognized as child abuse.
It is a fact that oralism systematically deprives Deaf children of a fully accessible language and socialization.
It is a fact that oralism benefits the professionals and harms the child and families.
It is a common knowledge that oralism comes in various disguises and has a "vicious cycle" that CAN BE broken.
It is time for us to be collective and vigilant.
As for Jean Moog, she was disrespectful to a deaf person who was well known. His initials was C. V. He was famous deaf poet and he stopped by to visit that school (CID). While he was observing the class, Ms. Moog was rude and asked if the deaf students wanted to be like him that he cannot talk. This is a pure example of audism.
There are many stories about what happened at those schools. You can interview and ask many former students of those schools. They have stories to tell about the abuses that happened. Yet, the hearing people continue to sweep those under the carpet.
There is one story about a principal from St. Joseph who continued to abuse deaf children for more than 50 years. When it came out to public, they gave her a retirement party to hush up. This is an example of audism of how they wanted to cover up. That principal should have been thrown in slammer.
There is another story about a mean teacher from oral school. She tended to slam ruler on deaf children. I was a victim. I hated her to this day. She is now dead and no one even her family did not come to funeral.
There are more stories about those evil teachers who abused poor deaf children since AG Bell started it and how the teachers voted to remove sign language from classrooms on September 11, 1880. That day is in infamy and a burning reminder of the abuses that continue to this day.
It is time to turn tables and put the audists out of business now! AFA (Audism Free America) is the answer to our issues in our town.
Just like Eileen Schowalter (Forrestal) mentioned in her thesis in 1970, St. Louis Deaf Community is suffering from the nutshell syndrome.
For information on AFA, go to http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-afa-and-mission.html
Sincerely,
Paul Kiel
St. Louis, Missouri
March 31, 2009
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