Black Deaf Culture through the Lens of History
Recorded On: 02/27/2019
This presentation discusses through a historical lens: the culture, education, and sociolinguistics of Black Deaf people. The era of social marginalization contributed to the development of Black ASL and at least in part, intertwined with the formation of the National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. (NBDA). This session also discusses experiences of the use of sign language interpreters by Black Deaf people and how the cultural intersections of the greater Deaf community and hearing African-American community impact upon Black Deaf people’s identities.
1) Participants will define the concepts of culture and sub-culture within the Deaf community and its impact upon Black Deaf Community.
2) Participants will analyze chosen cultural identities by Black Deaf people based on the cultural intersections of Deaf community and hearing African-American community.
3) From a sociolinguistic standpoint, participants will become familiar with the disparity of deaf educational segregation system during the segregation era contributed to the development of Black American Sign Language through lecture.
4) Participants will become familiar with the formation of a national black deaf organization that advocates for civil rights and equal access to education, employment, and social services on behalf of the Black Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the United States through lecture.
5) Participants will become familiar with a diverse of Black Deaf consumers that require effective communication in the context of cultural diversity and/or socio-economic factors through lecture.
*Please note that the references to the presentation being voice interpreted only applied to the live webinar - the archived version is presented in ASL only*
Benro T. Ogunyipe, MPA is a Senior Accessibility Specialist for the State of Illinois, Department of Human Services (IDHS), Bureau of Accessibility and Job Accommodation in Chicago, Illinois. He directs and administers the bureau’s program and training activities to ensure department compliance with Titles I & II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the department’s legal obligations under the Illinois Human Rights Act. He served as President of the National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. from 2011 to 2013, and served as Vice President and Chairman of the Board from 2007 to 2011. In 2014 and again in 2016, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Benro to the National Council on Disability. Benro was also appointed by three different Illinois Governors to public bodies including twice as a Commissioner of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. He is the current Board member of the National Association of the Deaf. Benro received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gallaudet University and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the School of Public Service at DePaul University.