TRANSCRIPT:
Title Screen:
Before the video starts, we want to provide you with some important details about how the information will be presented. When the video transitions to the training segment, there won’t be any captions or interpretations. The audio will feature the CSDB trainer speaking, accompanied by an ASL interpreter translating. However, we will include both audio and captions for our commentary on the topics that concerned us.
*A link to access the full training video is provided in the description area below.
[Visual Description: The commentator is a bearded man wearing a gray polo shirt with five horizontal white stripes across his chest. He is signing this information.]
We’d like to start with a metaphor. CSDB is like a garden. We would like to understand the impact of the seeds that have been planted at CSDB since then. The CSDB Board has decided to host a training because some board members are interested in gaining a better understanding of the Deaf and Blind communities, their cultures, and identifying the essential qualities they are seeking in their next superintendent. The CSDB staff is responsible for providing training for the Blind portion of the school. Shall we take a stroll through the garden?
Robin attempted to discuss how the loss of visual information affects the Blind community, which is indeed valuable information. Our Deaf community can wholeheartedly empathize with this, as we grapple with the absence of auditory information. However, what a Deaf individual mentioned was undeniably accurate. Blind students have complete access to communication. Yet, for Deaf students, this isn’t always the case. The Deaf person’s statement was truthful and precise. So, we find it perplexing that Robin would target the Deaf individual in this manner. This is what we want to bring to your attention.
Our stance is that ableism is a troubling issue within this training, and it has been surprising to observe the level of acceptance of this issue among key participants in this training. It’s important to note that the Deaf community often highlights audism, which falls under the umbrella of ableism.
Considering that the state of Colorado encompasses various agencies, including CSDB, it becomes crucial for CSDB to set an example of inclusivity and equality. We strongly disagree with the notion that we require an “able-bodied” staff, or someone with full physical or sensory capabilities, to lead.
This is an aspect we can certainly agree on: the CSDB Board and its board member selection process require improvement. Currently, out of the seven board members, only one is deaf, and only one is blind. This lack of representation does not align with the demographics of the institution’s community.
Together, we can work towards changing this situation. I’d like to share how our community feels about previous board outcomes, specifically discussing two voting results that left our community feeling marginalized.
The most recent superintendent selected by the board was Nancy Benham, a choice that our community did not view as the right fit. Our board representative voted against it, but the final tally stood at 6 to 1 against our community’s preference.
Similarly, the board recently made a decision regarding which agency should lead the search for the new superintendent. Unfortunately, the chosen agency was perceived as lacking proven experience in the field of education, particularly in serving the Deaf and Blind demographics. The final vote ended up being 5 to 1, which does not reflect effective collaboration between our communities and board members.
We hope to see positive changes for the future.
We just watched two short clips. Regarding the first clip, we want to express our gratitude for recognizing our leadership in past years, with Deaf alumni members managing and operating CSDBAA. One aspect of Deaf culture that we cherish is maintaining connections with our alumni members. This is how we show CSDB how much this institution is valued.
Next, I want to thank Ida for her unwavering commitment and hard work on the board. We know that finding a new superintendent is no easy task.
However, it was concerning to see Cheryl ask the person in charge if she could continue her training. The appropriate person to respond to that would be Ida. We are disappointed to see this oversight, and we hope it won’t happen again in the future.
Yes, we agree that it is important to establish guidelines for effective communication in meetings involving diverse community members. However, we didn’t see the need for you to express negative feelings about working with interpreters. Interpreters are absolutely essential for our community and culture as they enable us to access the hearing world and interact effectively.
We urge you all to demonstrate greater tolerance, inclusivity, and equity at CSDB.
Our Deaf community views the current state of CSDB as a garden with a few flowers but overwhelmed by weeds. During the training, we witnessed audism and ableism on display. However, what’s even more concerning is what may be lurking beneath the surface, which can be worse than what we see.
The roots of this issue can be traced back to past leaders who cultivated such a culture. Our mission is to deconstruct and eliminate the negative aspects of the current campus culture and reshape it for the better. We believe that CSDB has the potential to venture into uncharted territories.
What we need is the right leader, not chosen based on physical or sensory capabilities, but someone with the right mindset to bring both communities together and drive positive change. To initiate a dialogue between our communities, we invite you to visit our website at www.deafway.co. Additionally, we would appreciate it if you could take the time to watch the short video linked below, which showcases what Deaf individuals are truly capable of. Furthermore, we believe that blind individuals can achieve much more than the world often assumes. The world loves letting us know what our limits are.
And we love proving them wrong.
[End screen: Visual description – A QR code is available for your phone to scan, leading you to an edited video of Dr. Valente’s presentation at TEDx.]