To Fulfill a Dream: Graduate Study at Gallaudet University

By Ana Kristina Arce

It had always been my dream to study at Gallaudet University, an academic institution known for its prestige as an institution committed towards excellence in Deaf education and the first and only Deaf University in the world. My dream finally came true when I became the first Filipino to be awarded the World Deaf Leadership Scholarship to study at Gallaudet in 2012. I completed a master's degree in Deaf Studies: Cultural Studies and graduated in May 2014. I would like to share a brief story with you on how I lived and survived the academic challenges at Gallaudet as a graduate student.

Ana received the University diploma with Gallaudet University President Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz

My initial expectation about Gallaudet is that it is just like my school in college from our home country. I was surprised to find out that Gallaudet had all these video relay service booths, round tables in the cafeteria, and that the University is an ASL/English bilingual environment. The University's facilities from the cafeteria to the classroom were all the way of deaf beings. The University is a wide campus of accessibility for deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and deaf students with disabilities. I did not expect that there would be a lot of written assignments and projects. I lived in the campus dormitory for four semesters and I saw that everyone including the staff, faculty, and students use sign language. I felt like I am one of those who belong to the majority because I did not experience any communication barrier. I also learned that hearing students are accepted in some programs such as Deaf Studies and Interpreting undergraduate programs as well as other graduate programs in the University but they have to learn sign language because professors in all courses taught students in American Sign Language (ASL). If I may exaggerate a bit, speaking people or those who use verbal communication in the campus are frowned upon by Deaf students.    

My fellow MA classmates

Two things I found difficult to adjust to were the new environment and American culture where I experienced a cultural shock. In the past four semesters, I reflected on why I choose to study there. I had to learn ASL, adjust to the new academic environment, educational system and American culture. Being a new student in a diverse, multicultural academic institution, I had to do self-reflection and learned to embrace and appreciate other diverse cultures. I also learned a lot of new perspectives on social justice and listened to people of color’s voices, which led me to teach “Dynamics of Oppression” course for my graduate internship under my South African professor Lindsay Dunn who had experienced in his Social Justice movement.

South Korean Seung Shin, Ana Arce's classmate and South African professor Lindsay Dunn

From Left to Right: Allara (Chad), Dae-Kun (South Korean), Ana,
-Kun's friend, Ikumi (Japanese) and Dana (Mali)

In graduate school, writing academic papers drove me crazy, plus a big project like the MA thesis. There were tons of scholarly articles, journals, and other publications from the course requirements I have to read to write papers and other written assignments. I fell in love with the Gallaudet library and archive and frequently visited them to do reading, writing assignments and projects.  Time flew fast, and I now completed the two-year graduate studies. Before the end of the program, I had mixed feelings-happy for I am now armed with an M.A. degree but sad because I left the campus, a place where I lived and learned and where signing is a way of life. I benefited a lot from the program, seminars/workshops, mentoring and trainings at the University. I also acquired a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Deaf ways-of-being. I went home with the aim to help improve the lives of the Filipino d/Deaf in my home country. The count down began after my graduation.

Graduate Class of 2014

In the University’s Graduate Hooding and Awards ceremony, I was totally surprised to receive two awards –  the George W. Veditz Award, which recognized the impact I have made and will continue to make in the field of Deaf Studies and the Graduate Writing Research Award for having completed an outstanding research study in my academic program. Both awards were presented by the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies and Graduate School. I told myself, “Incredible, I made it, dint  I?” with my big eyes when receiving the awards. I also joined the University’s Sesquicentennial Commencement Exercises and marched proudly carrying the Philippine flag.

Ana received two awards - George Veditz and Graduate Writing Research Award.

Ana Arce received a Master's hood from the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies.

I am deeply thankful to the Nippon Foundation of Japan and Gallaudet University for the WDL scholarship. It is an amazing opportunity for me to prove my worth studying at Gallaudet to further enhance my skills and help improve Filipino d/Deaf lives – in education, employment and preservation of deaf culture in our home country.

International Coordinator of WDL team Danilo Torres presented the certificate of achievement to Ana Arce from Nippon Foundation of Japan making me part of the Nippon Foundation Group Alumni Society.

I also wish to thank Dr. Rosalinda Ricasa, my WDL mentor and Dr. H-Dirksen Bauman, thesis adviser and graduate academic advisor for the awesome mentorship. 

World Deaf Leadership (WDL) mentor, Dr. Rosalinda Ricasa (first Filipino sign linguist) who mentored me in my WDL project for the Philippines to improve lives of Filipino d/Deaf people.

My parents, Ana Arce and Dr. H-Dirksen Bauman, chair of the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies

My special thanks to my friends Seung Sook Shin, Thuy Tien Nguyen, Lindsay Dunn, deaf Friends, Arlyn Penaranda, Peter Ji, Le Toudjida Allara, professors of Department of ASL and Deaf Studies, fellow WDL scholars, WDL team of Gallaudet University, my parents’ friends Gani Penaranda, Leny Santos, Victoria Vaughan and Jeffery Bowden for their wonderful encouragement and support. 

My fellow MA classmates, MA Cohort 2012-2014

Ana Arce with Dr. Gemma Gabor (former SDEAS teacher)

My deepest gratitude to my loving parents, Ramon and Vilma Arce for their wonderful support and inspiring me to strive for excellence in everything I do.

From Left to Right: Tita Leny (my mom's best friend), Ana, Ramon, and Vilma (my parents).

Ana Arce carried the Philippine flag that represented the "Proud Filipino"
and wore the special graduation stole with the national flag and Nippon Foundation logo. 

The Deaf Awareness and Human Rights: A Journey

Several years ago, thousands of people were hungry to know about what its like to be deaf. The School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's program started to advocate a Deaf awareness and human rights seminar based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is related to the SDEAS's mission: to nurture among Deaf and hearing people the understanding and appreciation of the unique history and culture of the Deaf community.

Even in the other parts of the world, Deaf leader-advocates and educators share the same important information of Deaf Awareness and Human Rights. SDEAS's journey began working with universities and medical schools, organizations, governments, companies and businesses in the Metro Manila. 

From outside Metro Manila, we were happy to invite the speaker of Deaf awareness and UNCRPD seminar in Rizal through Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc. This program and orientation was shared to parents of children with disabilities.

Recently, we've invited to the said activity the parents of deaf children and government employees, staff, and sectors through Mirana Medina, Independent Advocacy Film and campaign for Filipino Sign Language films, her nephew Hon. Jose Angelo Dominguez, Municipal Mayor, Castellijos, Zambales, and his wife, who organized this program last January 22, 2014, a whole day for helping the members of Zambales government to understand the meaning of Deaf.

  

Leah Osido, a Deaf Facilitator, shared some inspiration regarding Deaf awareness to 102 various participants using sign language which was voice interpreted by Giselle Montero. We explained to them how it is perceived as a positive advantage the way deaf people interact and bridge communication with the hearing world. 

We also taught how to communicate using the Deaf and Filipino Sign Language words to the parents of deaf children and government sectors and staff. Even if they had a hard time in practicing the hand spelling, they enjoyed learning in the FSL activity.

 

The event was not only about awareness because Mackie Calbay, a Deaf Facilitator, also gave a seminar on human rights advocate which is called the UNCRPD. It helped them understand why Deaf's needs are important and how the environment sector and local government can support the accessibility of the Deaf and PWDs to the society to make their lives better. 

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” - William Arthur Ward

While Leah taught the basic alphabet, sign language, name and identity, she also enjoyed a Filipino game with deaf children and the expression of deaf children's life stories. "Teach to learn, Learn to teach." ~ Anonymous

After the seminar, the open forum received many questions from participants, especially from parents of deaf children, about how deaf children can reach the success of the Deaf and what can parents do to support their deaf children and to give them better education. 

 

It is not only the Deaf leaders who inspired the deaf children, but the deaf children also inspired the Deaf leaders to follow that dream. “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

 

Happy picture with Hon. Jose Angelo M. Dominguez, Castillejos, Zambales, parents of deaf children, teacher and the community.

Article by: Mackie Calbay

Deaf Advocacy Coordinator
DLS-CSB SDEAS
Edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes

The Deaf Leadership Forum: "Inspire One Another"

Monday afternoon of December 2, 2013, the first Deaf Leadership forum, which was hosted by the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) in partnership with the Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), was held at the School of Design and Arts Amphitheater,  SDA Building, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. PFD invited several DDW Filipino and American delegates to be panelists of the event. The aim was to share the experiences of the cross-cultural exchange in EMPOWER Program of DDW, and the inspirational messages of leaders to the audience. 

Eleven American delegates of DDW visited the Philippines as part of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs cooperative EMPOWER grant, which supports cross-cultural capacity building exchanges projects from November 15 - December 4, 2013. This is in partnership with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, Inc. (PFD).

DDW American delegates who visited the country learned many splendid things, resources, and cultures, and they were also able to understand the disability rights issues in the Philippines. During the Deaf Leadership Forum, the delegates shared what they learned during the learning sessions, deeply discussed, and contributed ideas on how to  improve education, organization, and leadership for the Deaf people and community in the Philippines.

Davin Searls, Executive Director of Discovering Deaf Worlds, delivers a key message for the Deaf Leadership Forum.

Leonides Sulse, Chairperson, Center for Academic of School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

According to Leonides Sulse, "Proactive leadership is about being an empowering leader, a coach and about establishing strong performance standards, the leader who can lead and support with heart to the community and actively work together with actions on their goals."

Rey Alfred Lee, President of Philippine Federation of the Deaf, hosted 

the Deaf Leadership Forum.

Jamie Munro, Past President, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims and Manager of Programming Operations, Harris Interactive. 

Jamie Munro said in his message, "as an EMPOWER participant, this experience has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. The US team is comprised of nine amazing individuals with diverse backgrounds. We really teamed up well with the Filipino deaf community members, especially with the leaders from the PFD group. Together, I have come to realize that the fight for deaf human rights and accessibility is truly a universal cause and we are in this together. We in the US may be further along, but we also need help from our friends around the world to advance their cause as well. Also, I have found the Filipino Sign Language to be a truly beautiful language that stands on its own. It is unique and separate from the American Sign Language that we use in the States. In fact, it has made me more appreciative of different languages and the need to preserve our cultural right to our own language."

                  Allie Rice, Youth Programs Coordinator, National Association of the Deaf

Yvette Apurado-Bernardo, Vice-President of  Philippine Sports Federation of the Deaf and Filipino Deaf Women’s Health and Crisis Center

Patrick Bryan Ablaza, Core Team of DDW-PFD, active supporter of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section, said "The Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) works to have equal human, linguistic, cultural and legal rights for Deaf people in the Philippines. But these cannot be attained by PFD alone. We need your help and support. Stand up for your rights now."

Heather Harker, Director of Consulting and Executive Transitions, Third Sector New England and Board Member of Gallaudet University. 

Heather Harker also shared her sincere thoughts. "The two key points that either happened during the forum or in the discussion afterwards are the following: 

1. the Philippines should not simply replicate and copy ideas from other parts of the world (whether it be a deaf education curriculum or something else), rather, it is ideal to learn from what has worked best in different places around the world and then create something NEW that will work best for the Philippines and the unique history, culture and situation in the Philippines; and 
2. the best thing about a cultural exchange is the relationships that emerge from the experience because it is social capital that strengthens deaf communities and organizations around the world, and relationships 'live' beyond any program or grant. Hope that helps! and I guess one more thing is that there are things that the Philippines is doing better than the US and I hope to bring some of those ideas back to my work and deaf community here in the US. One example of that is the dedication of the leaders and also the collaboration and consideration of other cultures' leadership," she said.

George Lintag, General-Secretary, Philippine Federation of the Deaf

Julie Schafer, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

Raphy Domingo, Coordinator, Education Access for the Deaf, Center for Education Access and Development, said, "Being a leader is not about having the same person on top but having the same vision and passion for the Deaf community." He emphasized that leaders must inspire one another and support PFD's goals.

Sarah Houge, International Development Worker and Certified Deaf Interpreter, and Christie Ong, Contract Administrator, Defense Contract Management Agency, are sharing about their reflection and learning in the cross-cultural exchange.

Rowella Tanjusay-Par, Deaf Faculty and Mackie Calbay, Deaf Advocacy Coordinator are also sharing about their reflection and learning in the cross-cultural exchange.

SDEAS Silent Steps showed the Filipino dance "Niyog-Niyogan"

Successful DDW Filipino and American Delegates 

Lastly, Deaf Leadership forum emphasizes the important words to the audience that they must keep in their minds and hearts,"leader does not only lead but must also be willing to serve the Filipino Deaf Community." Those who serve towards people change, who nurture the values of the Deaf children and youth, and who give positive attitudes and influences for the issues and awareness, make good Deaf leaders; they guide groups and communities and encourage teamwork as well. Their strength as leaders is not for fame nor power but for being great role models. 

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams

Article by: Mackie Calbay

Deaf Advocacy Coordinator
DLS-CSB SDEAS
Edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes