An Administrator’s Journey
Into the Deaf-World
Leah Subak
Amy Quillin
Shannon Cowling
Olivia Krise
Guess the admin?!
???
Who we are: Leah Subak
Captain Ken
Sassy
Who we are: Amy Quillin
Katie & Bean
Who we are:
Shannon Cowling
Who we are: Olivia Krise
My soldier
Serenity
Welcome!
Journeys…
We will glimpse an
administrator’s on-going
journey in learning about
Deaf-World culture due to
interaction with
deaf/Deaf/hard of
hearing students and with
ASL/English interpreters
Use of term: Deaf-World
culture (D-W)
The People of the Eye: Deaf Ethnicity and Ancestry
2010
Harlan Lane, Richard C. Pillard and Ulf Hedberg
George Veditz, 1913
“We possess and jealously guard a
language different and apart from any
other in common use – a language
which nevertheless is precisely what
all-wise Mother Nature designed for the
people of the eye.”
Housekeeping/what would be
helpful to have…??
Cell phone or pager (with unlimited text messaging)
Some familiarity with deaf/Deaf/hard of hearing students
Access to handouts for this session (if you would like to take
notes)
Polling: polleverywhere.com
Will answer questions – similar to voting on American
Idol, etc.
We can help each other with this
Service is secure
Texting rates may apply
Get your phone ready…
Polling Question #1
What we’re here to do…
Explore attendees knowledge and understanding of DeafWorld culture
Explore potential impact of Deaf-World culture on campus
constituents
Provide information from past and current research relative
to Deaf-World culture and interpreter biculturalism
Suggest ways to navigate ‘the journey’ from an
administrator’s/interpreter’s perspective
Polling: Audience
Demographics
Questions regarding polling?
Now that you know what we’re doing, we want to know who
we’re talking to…
Polling Question #2
Polling: Audience
Demographics
Currently working in higher education (community college,
public/private university)
On average, how large is your D/d student population
A.
B.
C.
D.
0-5
6-10
11-20
20+
Bringing cultures together
Deaf
World
American
Mainstream
Higher Education
Disclaimer
Our objective is not to give one definition of Deaf-World
culture, but to acknowledge its existence and it give an
example of an administrator’s journey.
Amy’s Journey… Part 1
Once upon a time…
In awareness
Artifacts
Behavior
Visible
Norms
Beliefs
Out of conscious
awareness
Assumptions
Values
Invisible
Poll: Cultural Values –
Administrator
What cultural values do you hold as an administrator?
Examples
Integrity
Fiscal responsibility
Poll: Cultural Values –
Administrators
Do you reflect on Deaf-World culture within
your office?
Is it something that is present in your
environment?
Poll: Cultural Values Interpreter
Do you reflect on D-W cultural values in
your work as an ASL/English interpreter?
Are they something that are present in
your work?
Poll: Deaf World values
Values
D-W cultural values (Mindess,
et al, 2006)
Re: Communication
Direct
communication
Information
sharing
Clear access to
visual
communication
Re: Collectivism
Group loyalty
Reciprocity
Group decisions
Importance of
getting together
Bringing them all together
Case study
Poll question
Would your office provide both captioning
and interpreting services?
Amy’s Journey Con’t…
Interpreters – between two
cultures
Interpreters and biculturalism
Research Q - What are expert Deaf and
hearing interpreters’ understandings of
ASL/English interpreter Deaf-World
cultural competence?
Baker/Cokely, 1980
It’s complicated
Interpreters and Deaf identity?
Case StudyLesson’s learned:
“D-W culture is either continually revealing itself and/or
continuously evolving such that we who aren't in the D-W
culture (or aren't born to it) are continuous learners of the
culture, and for you interpreters, you may be both continual
learners and mediators of the culture.” Amy Quillin, 6/12
True example of how far we’ve come on the journey…
Our student population
The Balancing Act
Apple, oranges and icebergs
Bottom line- we have a job to do
HOW?
Interpreter Gems
What is your current coordination structure and is it working?
Interpreters; time to learn HE culture
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – “begin with the end in mind”
Do you current policies align with your values?
Change- Some like it- many don’t
Interpreter Gems
Know your settings- look around!
“Excellence In Action” What’s your tagline?
Know the language to navigate the end result
Narratives
Charts & Graphs – examples
Prioritize & Plan
Goals/Outcomes/Reporting- Keep DATA
Strategize
Adjunct positions/Graduate Assistantships/Professional Development
Contract Interpreters- investment
Interpreter Gems
That awkward moment when someone says "Hello!" and you say
"Good thanks!”
That awkward moment when someone says they love everything
about their job except working with interpreters.
- The reality of it all
- The EQ Difference: A Powerful Plan for Putting Emotional Intelligence
to Work by Adele B. Lynn.
Administrator’s Gems
Regular meetings
Ask questions
Advocate
Go to their classes, attend events – willingness to be out of
your element.
Higher Ed Culture 101
What speaks?
Administrator’s Gems
D-W collectivist, HE traditionally fiefdom-oriented
There’s a big picture, too
Using HE language to advance the student/interpreter
agenda
Be willing to look the fool
Discussion
PEPNet/AHEAD
Interpreters
IT/AT ppl
Others?