Download - Imagine! Inspire! Ignite! - ASLRT 2013
Welcome to the 7th Annual
American Sign Language
Roundtable!
Hosted by
Delaware School for the Deaf
Newark, DE
November 6-8, 2013
With the support of
Delaware Statewide Programs Association
and
Gallaudet University Regional Center
Southeast
Welcome to Delaware!
A Message from the Director of DE Statewide Programs for Deaf,
Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Students:
Greetings !
All of us here are pleased to welcome you to the Delaware School for the
Deaf. As part of the Statewide Programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-
Blind children, DSD prides itself on supporting educational opportunities for
children that focus on their becoming balanced bilingual individuals. It also
strives to become a resource for individuals in the area regarding educating
families and children with hearing loss. A cornerstone to both of these goals is
the competency and fluency of instructors of American Sign Language. ASLRT
is reputed to be an incubator of cutting edge ideas and professional practice in
the field of teaching ASL. We welcome you to our LITTLE state and hope you
leave here with BIG ideas !
Dr. Della Thomas
Scan this QR code to see a video about DSD!
A Message from Delaware School for the Deaf’s School Leader for K-12:
On behalf of the staff and students at the Delaware School for the Deaf, I welcome
you to Newark (and DSD) for the 7th Annual ASL Roundtable. I thank GURC
Southeast, DE Statewide Programs Association, and Karen Martin along with her
committee for planning this event. We are hoping you find all the workshops
informative and the opportunity to share ideas beneficial. I know as educators we
are always on the lookout for new innovative ideas so if you wish to observe/visit
any classes, please don’t hesitate to ask. Welcome to DSD!
Marianne Belsky
Welcome to DSD!
7th Annual ASLRT Planning Committee
From Left to Right: Marianne Belsky, Lauren Sforza, Katy Reinhold, Della Thomas, Laurie Kettle-Rivera, Daphne Werner, Mary
Hicks, Candy Yoder, Jeanne Evans, Karen Martin, Roger Phipps, Emily Wise, Kristin Kellett, Eva Hartmann, Kathy Shea, Matthew
Bezaire, Richard Pelletier, Dan Foley, Nicole Laszczynski, Kathi Riley Not pictured: Tara Kelly, Christy Myhren & Valerie Ward
THANK YOU to the DSD Blue Hawks who worked so hard to bring it all together for this,
the 7th Annual American Sign Language Roundtable, here at the
Delaware School for the Deaf!
2013 ASLRT Presenters
M. Diane Clark earned her Ph.D. from
the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in 1985 with a
specialization in cognitive developmental psychology. She
has published three edited volumes (with Marc Marschark)
and is involved with the NSF funded Science of Learning
Center on Visual Languages and Visual Learning at Gallau-
det University (VL2), since its inception, focusing on the
integration of research and education. In addition, Dr. Clark
has published articles related to deaf individuals’ memory
and how they become skilled readers. She has recently pub-
lished the Visual Communication and Sign Language Check-
list with Laurene Simms and Sharon Baker as well as the
Beliefs and Attitudes about Deafness Scale with Sharon
Baker, Tom Allen, and Song Hou Chen.
Dr. Melissa Herzig is the Education
and Research Translation Manager for VL2 and Associate
Director for Ph.D. in Educational Neuroscience program at
Gallaudet University. She is responsible for leading assess-
ments and evaluations of resources within VL2 and for work-
ing with schools. Her role is to facilitate two-way communi-
cation between researchers and educators. She co-founded the
new interdisciplinary PhD program in Educational Neurosci-
ence (PEN). She earned her bachelors in Biology at Gallaudet
University and her masters in ASL-English Bilingual Educa-
tion and doctorate degrees in Teaching and Learning at Uni-
versity of California, San Diego (UCSD). She worked at Salk
Institute and San Diego State University as Scholar Research-
er and was a postdoc at UCSD. She was also a teacher at a
mainstreamed school for 8 years. She worked as a supervisor
for student teachers at UCSD and was a lead supervisor for
student teachers and interns at National University (NU). Her
areas of interest are in ASL/English bilingualism, literacy,
and reading motivation. She also is a part of the K-12 ASL
Standards Development Team.
Todd Czubek is finishing his PhD studies in
Applied Linguistics at Boston University. He has served as project
coordinator for Office of Special Education Research and Institute
for Educational Sciences grants designed to improve teaching and to
describe the implications of ASL proficiency for Deaf children’s
academic achievement. While working on his dissertation (studying
discourse proficiencies in American Sign Language and their impli-
cations for academic success and second language development) he
maintains the role of instructor in Boston University’s Programs in
Deaf Studies. Todd’s interests also include exploring how the modal-
ity and affordances of ASL, and ASL Literacy, can contribute to
rethinking texts, composition, genre, and academic programming for
Deaf children.
Dr. Patrick Boudreault received his Ph.D in
educational psychology from University of Manitoba, Winnipeg,
M.Sc. in Communication Sciences & Disorders from McGill Univer-
sity, Montreal, and B.A. in Linguistics from Université du Québec à
Montréal, He is a native signer of Langue des Signes Québécoise
(LSQ), and fluent in American Sign Language, French, English. He
is currently a visiting professor in the Graduate School at Gallaudet
University. In addition, he is also a co-principal investigator on a
federally funded grant from NIH (www.DeafGeneticsProject.org) on
implementing Cancer Genetics Education in ASL on-line to increase
the Deaf community’s access to culturally and linguistically appro-
priate materials conjointly with Dr. Palmer of University of Califor-
nia, Los Angeles. His areas of academic interest are language assess-
ment such as developing and implementing various signed language
psychometric assessment tools, American Sign Language, Deaf in-
terpreting with multiple signed languages, with semi-lingual individ-
uals, translation, and academic visual-media production.
Dr. Charlotte Enns is a Professor at the University of Manitoba
in the Faculty of Education. Her research is focused on language and
literacy development in deaf children.
Kyra Zimmer is a graduate student at the University of Manitoba,
and currently taking courses at Gallaudet University. She is also an
instructor in the ASL/English Interpreter Program at Red River Col-
lege in Winnipeg, MB.
Dr. Chris Kurz is an associate professor for
the Master of Science in Secondary Education for Students Who
Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He has 16 years of extensive
experience in mathematics and science teaching in K-12 and
postsecondary education. With expertise in mathematics educa-
tion, ASL in STEM, and deaf history, he has published papers,
made numerous presentations, conducted workshops and devel-
oped educational media materials for K-12 teachers of the deaf.
His research interests include ASL discourse in STEM class-
rooms; ASL in Instructional Delivery for Subject Contents; and
shared screen technological software programming for instruc-
tion and information proximity.
Karen Martin, born and raised in the state
of Delaware, is a Bilingual Literacy Specialist at the Delaware
School for the Deaf. She earned her undergraduate degree in K-
12 Deaf Education from Trenton State College in 1991, and her
graduate degree in Elementary Deaf Education with a special
focus on literacy development from Western Maryland College
in 1999. Karen has worked at the Delaware School for the Deaf
since 1991. She has been a Bilingual Literacy Specialist since
2000; before that she taught 1st/2nd Grade, Preschool, and was a
Resident Advisor in the dorm for Middle School boys. In the
spring of 2012, Karen published an article in Odyssey Magazine,
entitled “In Search of Best Practice: A Professional Journey.”
In addition to working as a Bilingual Literacy Specialist at DSD,
Karen teaches during the summers in McDaniel College’s Grad-
uate Program in Bilingual Deaf Education and serves as a bilin-
gual literacy consultant and trainer for other programs for the
deaf. She is the site coordinator of this year’s ASL Roundtable.
Marianne Belsky is the K-12 School Lead-
er at the Delaware School for the Deaf. She earned her under-
graduate (Elementary Education) and education specialist
(Change Leadership) degrees at Gallaudet University in 1987
and 2011 respectively. Her graduate degree in Deaf Education
was obtained at Western Maryland College in 1990. Marianne
taught for a total of nineteen years at three programs: Kendall
Demonstration Elementary School, Dearborn, MI public schools,
and lastly at the Delaware School for the Deaf. She served two
years as the Administrative Designee of the Secondary Depart-
ment before becoming the K-12 School Leader - a position she
has held for the past 2 years.
Janet S. Weinstock is entering her 33rd
year at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center in
Washington, DC. She is currently the K-12 literacy/language arts
content specialist. She taught ASL/English and Deaf Studies
courses to students of diverse backgrounds at MSSD. As a pre-
school teacher-researcher at Kendall, Weinstock participated in
the Signs of Literacy project. She served as grade 1-5 lead teach-
er. She leads the ASL Content Standards and Benchmarks action
plan committee working with a group that focuses on the devel-
opment of research-based standards. Since 1985, Weinstock has
developed and conducted a variety of workshops and presenta-
tions. She taught a variety of courses at Gallaudet University and
Western Maryland College. She and her husband are parents of
two adult Deaf sons, one of whom has Asperger’s Syndrome.
Tawny Holmes is an Equal Justice Work
Fellow sponsored by Bingham McCutcheon, LLP. For the fellow-
ship, she will spend two years as a staff attorney at the NAD,
focusing on the legal rights of deaf children to an equal education
including training and education for parents. She is the chair of
the Education Strategy Team and coordinator of the Educational
Advocates program for the NAD. Tawny recently graduated from
the University of Baltimore Law school and during law school,
she was a family educator at the Maryland School for the Deaf-
Columbia. Before that, she earned her M.A. in Deaf Education
and bachelors' degrees in Deaf Studies/Sociology from Gallaudet
University and gained experience in teaching all grade levels at
the National Laurent Clerc Center. Tawny grew up in the South
with a third-generation Deaf family in south Florida and graduat-
ed from the Alabama School for the Deaf. Tawny is passionate
about volunteering, and has done so for NAD for over 15 years,
starting with her days as a Jr. NAD leader and includes her time
as the Youth Strategy Team Chair from 2008-2012. She is also
the proud godmother of Avant (10), and Leilani (7), who current-
ly attend the Illinois School for the Deaf.
2013 ASLRT Presenters, cont’d
Petra Horn-Marsh, PhD graduated with
a BA in Secondary Education and History from Gallaudet Uni-
versity, a MA in History from Utah State University, a PhD in
Sociology from Utah State University, and completed a Deaf
Education certification program at the University of Kansas.
She is currently an Early Childhood/Elementary School Princi-
pal as well as an AEBPD bilingual mentor at the Kansas State
School for the Deaf in Olathe, Kansas, in her 10th year at KSD.
Before that, she was a Bilingual Specialist and also an AEBPD
lead mentor for CAEBER. She served as a school administrator
at Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, a bilingual charter school in
Riverton, Utah, for a year, and at California School for the
Deaf, Riverside for a year and a half prior to coming to KSD.
She also has been teaching a variety of American Sign Lan-
guage and Deaf Culture courses for 20+ years. She is Deaf with
two Deaf children and 3 hearing children. Finally, she co-wrote
an article, "Bilingual Students Publish Works in ASL and Eng-
lish", with Kester Horn-Marsh in the spring 2009 issue of
the Odyssey magazine. In Fall 2012, Petra and Kester were the
co-chairpersons of the ASLRT hosted at KSD.
Kester L. Horn-Marsh received a
BA in English education from Avila University and an MA in
Deaf Education from the University of Kansas. He was a high
school language arts teacher at the Kansas State School for the
Deaf in Olathe, Kansas for 7 years before becoming the Bilin-
gual Specialist. He is also an AEBPD bilingual mentor in his
eighth year at KSD. He taught ASL courses in the foreign lan-
guage department in Lawrence public schools for 7 years prior
to KSD as well as at the University of Kansas for four years. He
is also a freelance interpreter and works for Sorenson as a video
relay interpreter. He is an OCODA with two Deaf children and
3 hearing children. Finally, he co-wrote an article, "Bilingual
Students Publish Works in ASL and English", with Petra Horn-
Marsh in the spring 2009 issue of the Odyssey magazine.
Wanda Riddle is a faculty member
of the Department of ASL/Deaf Studies at Gallaudet Universi-
ty. She received a BA degree in ASL Studies, and two Masters
degrees in Sign Language Teaching Concentration and in Linguis-
tics, all from Gallaudet University. Ms. Riddle is currently pursu-
ing a doctoral degree in Critical Studies in Education of Deaf
Learners at Gallaudet. Additionally, Ms. Riddle has done several
ASL translations for research test: for Francois Grosjean’s article
titled, "The right of deaf child to grow up bilingual" on Deaf Stud-
ies Digital Journal (DSDJ); and for other ASL materials (such as
Master ASL, published by Jason Zinza). Outside of her working
and studying hours, Ms. Wanda Riddle enjoys gardening, travel-
ing, camping, hiking and the outdoors.
Dr. Mark M. Rust hails from Mil-
waukee, WI, and is currently the Coordinator of the Deaf Educa-
tion Bilingual program at McDaniel College. After teaching at the
Maryland School for the Deaf (Frederick) for 22 years, he made
the switch to higher education and has been the Coordinator of
McDaniel’s Program for the past 11 years. Mark is involved in
establishing an ASL Certification teaching degree for the state of
Maryland as well as working with the Dominican Republic Spe-
cial Education office in improving their educational delivery sys-
tem for Deaf children. Mark began his three-year term as Presi-
dent-Elect for the American College Educators for the Deaf and
Hard-of-Hearing this past February and is program chair for the
next conference held at Gallaudet University in February 2014.
4:15pm Shuttles run from hotels to DSD
4:30pm Conference Registration opens (at DSD)
5:00-6:00pm Social Hour: Heavy appetizers, networking
6:00-7:30pm
Opening Remarks : Dr. Della Thomas
Imagine! Inspire! Ignite!
Research Updates from VL2
Dr. Diane Clark and Dr. Melissa Herzig
7:30-8:00pm Housekeeping
8:00-8:30pm Shuttles back to hotels
Program: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Dr. Amy Hile joined the Department of
Education as a faculty member at Gallaudet University in Au-
gust 2006. Originally from Minnesota (Twin Cities area), Dr.
Hile taught at the elementary level at the Metro Deaf School
MDS), the nation’s first deaf ASL/English bilingual charter
school, in Saint Paul, MN from 1993 to 2000. Dr. Hile received
her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009.
Her doctoral studies center around the areas of ASL Develop-
ment/Acquisition, fingerspelling, and K-12 ASL/English bilin-
gual education.
Dr. Genie Gertz is Dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences at Gallaudet University, a liberal arts uni-
versity in Washington, DC. In this role, she oversees eight aca-
demic departments and two academic programs. She serves as a
member of the university’s Academic Affairs Management
Team and the President’s Cabinet. Genie Gertz was previously
Dean of the Deaf Studies Division at Ohlone College in
Fremont, California, and a faculty member in the Department of
Deaf Studies at California State University at Northridge.
Genie Gertz earned a bachelor’s degree in communication arts
from Gallaudet, a master’s degree in human resources manage-
ment and organizational development in higher education from
New York University, and a doctorate from UCLA in cultural
studies within education, with a concentration in racial and eth-
nic studies.
Genie Gertz has presented nationally and internationally, and has
served on the governing boards of Deaf Women United and the
National Association of the Deaf.
7:15am Shuttles run from hotels to DSD
7:30-8:45 Conference Registration (at DSD)
7:30-8:30 Breakfast served
8:30-8:45 Housekeeping
Opening Remarks:
Welcome to ASLRT! From the ASLRT Steering Committee
Welcome to DSD! From Ms. Marianne Belsky, School Leader
8:45-10:15 Morning Session:
“Apprenticeships to Patterns: Linguistically Dense Texts”
Todd Czubek, Boston University
10:15-11:15 Workshop:
“Academic ASL for STEM Content”
Dr. Christopher Kurz, National Technical Institute for the Deaf
11:15-11:30 Break (refreshments in the cafeteria)
11:30-12:30 Workshop:
“Setting Up an ASL Workshop and Using the ASL Scale of Development
in Your Classroom”
Dr. Melissa Herzig, VL2
12:30-1:30
Lunch & Networking
DSD Tours: 1:00
1:30-1:45 Group Picture!
Program: Thursday, November 7, 2013 AM
Program: Thursday, November 7, 2013 PM
1:45-2:45 Workshop: “The American Sign Language Receptive Skills Test”
Dr. Patrick Boudreault, Gallaudet University (presenter)
Dr. Charlotte Enns, University of Manitoba
Kyra Zimmer, student of graduate studies: University of Manitoba /
Gallaudet University
2:45-3:45 Workshop:
“ASL Instruction and Assessment in the Time of the Common Core State
Standards”
Karen Martin and Marianne Belsky, DSD
3:45-4:00 Break (refreshments in the cafeteria)
4:00-4:15 Update: ASL Standards for K-12
Janet Weinstock, Clerc Center
4:15-5:15 Workshop:
“VL2’s Translational Products”
Melissa Herzig, VL2
5:15-5:30 Update: NAD Education Strategy Team / Educational Advocates
Tawny Holmes, National Association of the Deaf
5:30-7:30 Networking! (refreshments in the cafeteria… you are welcome to take
over the cafeteria and “show off” what you’re doing at your school to your
colleagues!)
5:30pm
6:30pm
7:30pm
8:00pm
10:00pm
Shuttle runs from DSD to hotels
Shuttle runs from hotels to Main Street
Shuttle runs from DSD to Main Street / from DSD to hotels
Shuttle runs from Main Street to hotels
Shuttle runs from Main Street to hotels (last pick-up)
Thursday Night Out!
Shuttles will run to Newark’s famous
“Main Street” in the heart of the
University of Delaware!
Restaurants!
Shopping! Historic Sites!
7:45am Shuttles run from hotels to DSD
8:00-9:00 Breakfast served
9:00-9:15 Housekeeping
9:15-10:45 Morning Session:
“Imagine: Inspired by Seeds of Language: Dx and Rx for Language
Deprivation and Disorders are Ignited”
Dr. Petra Horn-Marsh and Kester Horn-Marsh, KSD
10:45-11:00 Break (refreshments in the cafeteria)
11:00-12:00 Workshop:
“The Critical Relationship Between Language Acquisition of Deaf Children
and Theory of Mind”
Wanda Riddle, Gallaudet University
12:00-1:15 Lunch/Networking
DSD Tours: 12:45
ASLRT Steering Committee Meeting & Work Group:
“ASLRT : Next Steps”
Dr. Genie Gertz, Gallaudet University
Dr. Amy Hile, Gallaudet University
Dr. Mark Rust, McDaniel College
1:15-3:30
3:30-4:00 Closing Remarks / Housekeeping
ASLRT EVALUATIONS: How to complete the evaluation and get your
certificate of attendance / access to presenters’ materials
Program: Friday, November 8, 2013
Presentation Abstracts
Thursday
“Apprenticeships to Patterns: Linguistically Dense Texts” (Todd Czubek, Boston University)
This presentation will focus on:
How we can better understand the important role of creative American Sign Language texts in programming for Deaf
children.
Exploring the implication of dense ASL texts in the development of working memory (especially as it applies recalling,
comprehending and predicting).
Recognizing a unique opportunity to apply innovative instructional approaches designed for visual (Deaf) learners.
(We will close with time for applications and group work)
Showing how limited notions about modality, meta-linguistic abilities and linguistic density contribute to inequalities in
outcomes in Deaf children (especially related to working memory, as well as literacy skills).
Exploring the possibilities of action research, recognizing how evidence of varying types can be used for tackling some of the
persisting issues around Deaf under-achievement and illuminating innovative resolutions.
Ultimately, the goal of this presentation is to illuminate many theoretical and practical ideas that can help us re-think assumptions
“Academic ASL for STEM Content” (Dr. Christopher Kurz, National Technical Institute for the Deaf)
This presentation is specifically designed to discuss issues for presenting K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) material in and through ASL. It’s likely you will work with elementary teachers who may not have sufficient training in
Academic ASL for STEM contents. Strategies to enhance ASL instructional delivery by the teachers to their students in order to
help them grasp abstract STEM concepts effectively will be shared. Lastly, the presentation will also discuss multiple issues about
the use of ASL as part of Common Core Learning Standards STEM-related testing accommodations.
“Setting Up an ASL Workshop and Using the ASL Scale of Development in Your Classroom” (Dr. Melissa Herzig, VL2 at
Gallaudet University)
Dr. Herzig will share tips on how to establish an ASL Workshop in your classrooms. Through the ASL Workshop, the students go
through a process similar to writer’s workshop when they create their ASL stories. An overview of the ASL Scale of Development
Assessment Tool will be also shared during this seminar. The ASL Workshop was field tested at a school for the deaf, and ASL
Scale of Development field-tested with the graduate students and cooperating teachers from the Educational Studies Program at
University of California, San Diego.
Wednesday VL2: Research Updates (Dr. Diane Clark and Dr. Melissa Herzig, VL2—Gallaudet University)
In the past eight years, the National Science Foundation’s Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) has made some
key findings that will revolutionize the way we think about the role ASL has in children’s lives. Dr. Herzig will share an overview
of our research discoveries, three main themes that emerged, and the implications they have in our society and our schools.
Dr. Diane Clark will share an overview of the ASL Assessment Checklist that her team developed (Drs. Simms, Baker and Clark),
based on this current research.
Thursday, cont’d “The American Sign Language Receptive Skills Test” (Dr. Patrick Boudreault, Gallaudet University)
In order to monitor the success of bilingual deaf education programs, and in particular to monitor the progress of children acquiring
signed language, it is essential to develop assessment tools of signed language skills. Although researchers have developed some
checklists and experimental tests related to American Sign Language assessment, the American Sign Language Receptive Skills
Test (ASL RST) is the first standardized measure of ASL. This presentation will discuss the process of developing, pilot testing, and
standardizing the ASL RST. This test was adapted from the Assessing British Sign Language Development: Receptive Skills Test
(Herman, Holmes & Woll, 1999) and was developed to measure the understanding of ASL grammar in children aged 3 to 12 years.
The ASL RST includes a vocabulary check of 20 words, three practice items, and a total of 42 test items. Eight grammatical catego-
ries are assessed through these items, including negation, number/distribution, noun/verb distinction, spatial verbs (location and
movement), size/shape specifiers, handling classifiers, role shift, and conditionals. The presentation will discuss the adaptation pro-
cess, results of item analysis from the pilot testing process, and give a demonstration of the test procedures. The results of recent
normative testing with over 200 children will also be outlined.
“ASL Instruction & Assessment in the Time of the Common Core State Standards”
(Karen Martin & Marianne Belsky, Delaware School for the Deaf)
The Delaware School for the Deaf is a Bilingual School for Deaf/HOH children throughout the small state of Delaware. We are in a
unique position as a school for the deaf in many ways: we function under the jurisdiction of a local school district; Delaware does
not have a large Deaf Community; the area does not typically attract culturally Deaf professionals; and the large majority (109 out
of 116 total) of our students come from hearing families and are the very first deaf individuals their families have ever met. As a
member of the local school district, we must follow their curriculum initiatives. As a school for deaf /HOH children with very few
natural peer language models, we must purposefully create environments and contexts in which we can provide for ASL acquisition
and learning. This year, full implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is occurring. How does a small bilin-
gual school for deaf/HOH children teach and assess ASL in this time of the CCSS? At DSD, we have structures in place to help
ensure that we continue to address ASL as our students’ primary language. During this session, we will share those structures for
instruction and assessment: the overall plan for ASL instruction and assessment for the entire school, as well as specific examples
from each level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, & 9-12), and the impact they’ve had on our assessment results. We will also share ways we are
processing the changes in instructional approaches in light of the new CCSS.
Update on the ASL Standards for K-12 (Janet Weinstock, Clerc Center)
Work continues on the ASL standards and benchmarks. The development of research based standards for the first time is much
more complex than we ever imagined. We recognize the importance of this work and the strong need among educators and fami-
lies and while they won't be ready for the round table, the Clerc Center remains committed to the completion of research-based,
rigorous, high-quality standards. We also know the investment of time and resources is necessary to achieve the desired result and
will be well worth it in the long run. As of now we anticipate that work will continue through 2014.
“Exciting Translational Products Updates from Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2)!”
(Dr. Melissa Herzig, VL2 at Gallaudet University)
The National Science Foundation’s Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2), a Science of Learning Center at Gal-
laudet University, have been working on many exciting research and projects. At this interactive seminar, VL2 will be sharing up-
dates about our products, current projects and future goals. Specifically, I will share more information about VL2 Storybook Apps,
Parent Package, and ASL Toolkit. At this interactive session, participants’ feedback and input are welcome!!
Updates on National Association of the Deaf Initiatives: Education Strategy Team and Educational Advocates
Tawny Holmes, National Association of the Deaf
In the past three years, members of the National Association of the Deaf have specifically made ASL-English bilingualism and
promotion of ASL standards priorities of NAD which we have been working on. To assist us in this effort, we have established a
national Education Strategy Team and a Educational Advocates program because we believe strongly in collaboration and working
with the community. This presentation will tell you more about those efforts and update you on our progress to date!
Presentation Abstracts
Presentation Abstracts
Friday
“Imagine: Inspired by Seeds of Language: Dx and Rx for Language Deprivation and Disorders are Ignited”
(Dr. Petra Horn-Marsh and Kester Horn-Marsh, Kansas School for the Deaf)
Imagine seeing deaf and hard of hearing students having early access to language needed for academic readiness and learning in a
cognitively demanding and decontextualized classroom. Inspired by case studies of several deaf students representative of those
with early access to language, language delays and or deprivation are identified through diagnostic assessments. They illuminate
the adverse effect of late access to language on deaf students’ learning as well as language development, sometimes resulting in
primary and/or secondary language disorder. Kansas School for the Deaf takes the responsibility to accommodate the prescriptive
needs of deaf children’s language development based on their cognitive abilities by igniting the provision of various services.
“The Critical Relationship Between Language Acquisition of Deaf Children and Theory of Mind”
(Wanda Riddle, Gallaudet University)
This workshop presents a brief overview of critical relationship between the critical period in sign language acquisition and Theory
of Mind. Cognition in deaf children boosts at early sign language exposure. It is essential to incorporate Theory of Mind skills in
teaching that promotes deaf children’s cognitive abilities and language development. Group activity included.
“ASL Roundtable: Next Steps” (Steering Committee Meeting & Workgroup)
(Dr. Amy Hile, Gallaudet University; Dr. Genie Gertz, Gallaudet University; Dr. Mark Rust, McDaniel College)
Results from the surveys collected (from the participants who attended the ASLRT in Kansas last year) will be shared with the cur-
rent participants. During the workgroup, the following will be discussed:
Determining next steps for ASLRT based on information and recommendations drawn from the survey results, and
the professionalization of ASL education for K-12 L1 learners.
Open during lunch and
Networking hours
Be sure to check out the
Sterck/DSD Museum!
Room 301
Sponsors
Several organizations provided support through donations of materials; manpower
(and woman-power); time; in-kind services; and organizational help for the
ASL Roundtable this year. Many thanks!!
Special THANKS to Gallaudet University Regional Center, Southeast (Karen Sheffer); Delaware Statewide Programs
Association (Kathy Shea); and the ASL Roundtable Steering Committee Members (Genie Gertz and Amy Hile) who worked in
collaboration with DSD to make this ASLRT possible!
Conference Evaluation
In order to receive your certificate of attendance and access to the
presenters’ materials, you will need to complete an Evaluation of the
7th Annual ASL Roundtable through SurveyMonkey®.
At the conclusion of the conference, you will be sent a link to the evaluation. Once
complete, you will receive an email with your certificate attached, along with
instructions on how to access the conference materials .
Safe travels home—we hope you enjoyed your time in the First State!
Delaware School for the Deaf
If you’re still in town Friday evening… catch an
ASL Film at DSD!!
Hosted by the
Delaware Association of the Deaf (DAD) &
the Deaf Historical Society of Delaware
Friday, November 8th
DSD Auditorium, 7:00pm
Admission: $11.00
(Tickets can be purchased at the door)
Contact Joe Drexler for more info -
Proceeds benefit DAD and the Deaf Historical Society of Delaware