Deaf Latinos
America’s most rapidly growing
minority group among the
deaf population.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Deaf Hispanics of Today

The nation's deaf Hispanic (or
Latino) community is continuing to
grow.

Deaf students of HispanicAmerican heritage are the most
rapidly growing minority group
among the deaf population. In
fact, from 1988 to 1998 there was
a 7% increase of Deaf Hispanic
students in the United States
(Christensen, K., 2000).

Despite this increase, the national
organization that used to serve
this population (National Hispanic
Council of the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing) is inactive.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Current Organizations
Hispanic Deaf Club
Founded 1995 at Rochester Institute of Technology
The Hispanic Deaf Club represents people working together towards a common
goal. Their goal is to help those around them understand their culture and
what it means to "be Latino". As an organization they provide programs that
stimulate the interests of deaf students from all backgrounds. They also
attempt to create a system of support and guidance for deaf Latino
students. They are a student organization, whose primary purpose is to
educate and increase cultural awareness among all deaf students.
In addition to the support network provided, HDC sponsors various events
geared towards cultural enrichment, invites speakers to increase the
awareness of current Latino issues, participates in community services
projects, and holds fund-raisers and social events in an attempt at
unification.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Current Organizations
Mano a Mano
National Multicultural Interpreting Project (NMIP)
The first conference took place in 1999 under the
direction of Ms.Mary Mooney of El Paso
Community College. Additional conferences
followed in Orlando (2001) and Chicago (2003).
There motto is “Unidos y Adelante” meaning
united and moving forward. They are dedicated to
working with sign language interpreters who work
with Spanish communities. Among many things
they provide professional resources, community
forums, new events and net working.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
European Individuals
Spanish/European
Francisco Goya
1746-1828
Goya became established as a portrait painter to the Spanish
aristocracy. He was elected to the Royal Academy of San
Fernando in 1780, named painter to the king in 1786,
and
made a court painter in 1789. A serious illness in 1792 left
Goya permanently deaf.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
European Individuals
Spanish/European
Juan Fernandez De Navarrete
1538 - 1579
Juan Fernandez De Navarrette spent several years
traveling around Italy. In1565, he returned to Spain
and was made a court painter to Phillip II. The rest
of his career was spent primarily on painting altar
pieces for the Escorial.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Robert R. Davila, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, CSD
He is the first and only deaf person to have held the position as
assistant secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services. The former President George Bush appointed him in 1989.
He is the first deaf person to serve as president of the Council of the
Education of the Deaf, the Convention of American Instructors of the
Deaf and the Council of Educational Administers Serving the Deaf.
Dr. Davila has dedicated his life to advocating for people with
disabilities around the world.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Mark D. Apodaca, MBA
Director of Finance, CSD
Mr. Apodaca is also the founder and president of Finlion, Inc., a business
and management consulting firm. Mr. Apodaca was appointed to the
board of directors of the National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing (1992 to 1996), founded the California Latino Council of the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 1996 and SignSource in 2000. He was
appointed to the National Association of the Deaf Board of Directors
where he was appointed Treasurer for three terms (1999-2005). In
2004, Mr. Apodaca was elected Vice President of NAD.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Angel Ramos, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Angel Ramos Foundation, Inc.
On August 1 of this year (2001) Dr. Ramos, at age 51, was named
superintendent of the Idaho School for the Deaf and the
Blind. He was also a Fulbright Scholar, author, and
chairman of various deaf organizations and projects. He
was also the founder of the National Hispanic Council of the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Washington, D.C. Angel
Ramos chaired the Deaf President Now fund. His
participation in the DPN movement led to his book, “Triumph
of the Spirit: The DPN Chronicle”.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Tomás García, Jr., Ed.D.
Tomás Garcia has eight years of experience in the field of education.
Over these eight years, Dr. Garcia has served on the following
boards: Gallaudet Universities Department of Educations
Collaboration Council; Gallaudet Leadership Institute; California
Department of Rehabilitations DHH Advisory Committee; Holy
Angels Church of the Deaf; National Association of the Deaf
Captioned Media Program; and CSU, Northridge's DHH Credential
Advisory Committee. Dr. Garcia is a renowned keynote speaker,
presenting on integrating technology into classroom, using the
Captioned Media Program, using the Internet to enhance the deaf
education curriculum, family values and deaf children, multicultural
issues
in deaf education, as well as various transition topics.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Marta Ordaz
Office Coordinator - San Leandro Office, DCARA
One of Marta’s biggest achievements was advocating the Deaf
and Disabled Telecommunication Program (DDTP) in order
to provide English to Spanish relay services through
DCARA's Latino Program. Today such service is provided
by Sprint. Ms. Ordaz has served on numerous committees
and boards including the National Hispanic Council of the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing as a board of director and the
California Latino Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
as the vice president.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
American Individuals
Leticia Arellano
ASL Diagnostician - Center for ASL Literacy
Ms. Arellano was an employee of the United States Postal Service for
six years. After earning her degree from Gallaudet University she
became a deaf educator. Leticia has taught Deaf children at New
Mexico School for the Deaf, Metro Deaf School, Texas School for the
Deaf and Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. She is currently
employed at the Center for the ASL Literacy at Gallaudet University
as a diagnostic assessment specialist. Leticia was selected for
leadership training from National Council Hispano Deaf and Hard of
Hearing. She has traveled to various countries around the world.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training
Resources and References

http://www.deafvision.net

http://www.rit.edu/~hdcwww/

http://deafness.about.com/cs/subcultures/a/hispanic.html

http://www.imageone.com/goya/index1.html

http://www.manoamano-unidos.org/

http://wwar.com/masters/n/nadarretejuan_fernandez_de.html

Christensen, K.. (2000). Deaf plus: A multicultural
perspective. San Diego: Dawn Sign Press.
Summer 2005
Transition Services Preparation & Training