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.
Two De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde members recently attended the 2nd International Conference of the World Federation of the Deaf. I, Mackie Calbay, Deaf Advocacy Program Coordinator representative from the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, sponsored by DLS-CSB and Raphy Domingo, Education Access for the Deaf Coordinator representative from the Center for Education Access and Development, sponsored by Pre-College of Educational Network and DLS-CSB as well, were participants in a three-day conference in Sydney, Australia from October 16-18, 2013. The theme for the conference was “Equality for Deaf People”. Pressing issues and trends were discussed and there was a huge opportunity to meet Deaf leaders from other countries. There were various presentations, discussions and different side events. As the host country, Deaf Society of NSW, Sydney, Australia will share their own experiences from their local contexts and this is an excellent opportunity to share and discuss how to continue our important work to achieve equality for deaf people based on the international treaty – United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Attendance to the WFD conference by an SDEAS representative provides the school an opportunity to push further its own education and language agenda at the same time create a worldwide network. I, as the representative, can gain insights from the presentations and exchange during the conference following Equality in Language and Linguistics Part 1 and 2, Equal Recognition of Sign Language, Advocating for Equality Part 1 and 2, Equality in Youth and Education Part 1 and 2, and Advocating through Equal Representation in Politics. More importantly, the conference will also provide the school and the college with the connection to the Deaf groups internationally.
World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Ordinary Members Workshop, October 16, 2013
Ms. Jenny Nilsson, President, WFD Youth Section, shared the info of Youth Ordinary Member and Deaf association-youth partnerships
Dr. Markku Jokinen, WFD Honorary President, Deaf Organization-Disability Organization partnership, with attention to UNCRPD Article 24 Education
Justin Smith, who worked as Facilitator in DLS-CSB SDEAS, is now working in Cambodia
We met Philip Waters, Monitor CBM Australia Funded Projects and Colin Allen, President of
World Federation of the Deaf
Welcome Reception
Board Members of World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section
Opening Ceremony, October 17, 2013
Florjan Rojba from Albania, and Karin Hoyer (Hearing) from Finland, works on the Sign Language work Manual- A Concrete Tool for Enhancing Equality for Deaf in Developing Country Context.
Sarah Klenbort (Hearing) from Australia, shared about Deaf children without a language
Mr. Colin Allen, President of WFD, introduced the Official Conference Opening
Rag hav Bir Joshi from Nepal, shared the presentation on Equality for Deaf People
World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
Jaana Aaltonen from Finland, Board Member, Finnish Association of the Deaf, presented on how to advocate better Sign Language Legislation:
the Finnish Example.
Raphy Domingo from Philippines, Coordinator, Education Access for the Deaf, Center for Education Access and Development in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, presented the Advocacy Campaign on Filipino Sign Language.
Dr. Valery Rukhledev from President, Russian Federation of the Deaf, presented on Recognition of the Russian Sign Language is the Big step to equality of the Deaf in Russia
Joseph Murray from America, Board Member of World Federation of the Deaf, presented on Framing linguistic human rights: how to argue for sign language rights.
Side Event at the 2nd International Conference of the World Federation of the Deaf
The Finnish Association of the Deaf: 25 years of Global Partnership
Asa Henningsson from Sweden, presented on Accessibility through sign language- Interpreting the UN Convention and the language ACT and learn to apply them in regional and local work.
Della Goswell and Breda Carty from Australia, presented on Deaf students - access to questions in interpreted mainstream classroom: Is "Equality" possible?
Drisana Levitzke-Gray from Australia and Luba Douziech from Canada, presented on Frontrunners: An Internation Deaf Youth Leadership Training Program
Meg Aumann and Sophie Li from Australia, presented on Hear for you: A unique mentoring program for all Deaf and hard of hearing teenagers across Australia and New Zealand
Dr. Adam Kosa MEP from Hungray/European Union, presented on Advocating through Equal Representation in Politics - A European Union Perspective and Challenges
Hon. Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen MP from South Africa, presented her experiences advocating through Equal Representation in Politics.
Jenny Nilsson, President of WFD Youth Section, works on Disability Rights, Human Rights Watch
International Deaf Festival, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
I am happy to see Dr. Liisa Kauppinen, Honorary President, World Federation of the Deaf
Some topics of the presentations are supported by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s new vision and mission: the College is committed to build a just and humane society by being at the forefront of innovative education that is accessible to the poor and diversely-gifted learners and;School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies's vision is to be a leading learner-centered educational institution in Deaf education that promotes equal access to opportunities and addresses the diverse needs of its students and professionals. It develops leader-advocates who are capable and committed in making positive contributions to their communities and the nation at large; and ensures that Deaf heritage is preserved and Deaf culture is valued and nurtured. On the return of the delegates, Raphy and I shared the contribution of learning sessions in Deaf Festival 2013, last November 20, 2013, at PEN-Multi Learning Center, CSB campus. The topics are following Inclusive Education, Equality for Deaf People, How to advocate better Sign Language Legislation: the Finnish Example and Equality in Youth and Education: "Hear for you".
Raphy learned the Inclusive Education workshop through Dr. Markku Jokinen, WFD Honorary President, Deaf Organization-Disability Organization partnership, with attention to UNCRPD Article 24 Education shared. He realized that "both bilingual and inclusive education are the same for Deaf students. Inclusive education for all is equitable and accessible!"
What I learned the most is that Leader- Advocate is very important in making people change the attitude and emphasize on inspiring and serving the deaf people and community through cutting-edge research, education, employment, advocacy, awareness and youth-leader. The Advocates saves our language and identity, it preserves worthwhile Deaf cultures, fights injustice, resolves conflict, and keeps the human rights movement active in the nation at large and around the world.
DLS-CSB SDEAS and CEAD continually advocates and creates equal access for the Filipino Deaf in the areas of education, employment, information and policy development to foster and sustain a nurturing and committed community of Deaf and hearing professionals that promotes and upholds the holistic development of students and graduates.
When you follow the dream in your heart, you're energized, inspired, and motivated.
~Dr. John F. Demartini
"Nothing About Us, Without Us."
~ UNCRPD Slogan
Article by: Mackie Calbay
Deaf Advocacy Coordinator DLS-CSB SDEAS Edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes
