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DeafBlind Leadership NOW, 5th edition
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýDeafBlind Leadership NOW ? Fifth Edition July 30, 2024 167 signatures as of 8 p.m. Including: 5 current DeafBlind HKNC employees ? This is a special kind of petition, signed only by DeafBlind. If you identify as DeafBlind and would like your name added to the petition: ? Please email jlc@... with: ? Your name Your credentials, such as degrees and certificates--optional Your current or former jobs or roles¡ªoptional ? Hearing and sighted friends and DeafBlind alike are encouraged to spread our call for signatures and public statements of support. Anyone wishing to speak directly to Helen Keller Services Board of Trustees can write to Larry Kinitsky, Chair, at lkinitsky@... ? A new, updated, and numbered edition of this petition will be circulated every day for eleven days as it gathers more and more names. Signatures are accepted until August 5, 2024, when the latest version will be sent to HKS Board of Trustees and the U.S. Department of Education. ? Feel free to forward, post on Facebook and via other social media, discuss our cause across all media, and initiate a variety of other actions. Organizations and agencies, whether DeafBlind-related or -adjacent or in solidarity, are urged to consider making public statements. ? Thank you for your support! ? The Petition ? We, the undersigned members of various DeafBlind communities, are fed up with Helen Keller National Center continuing to be controlled by hearing and sighted people. HKNC¡¯s mission is to serve DeafBlind, yet has always resisted DeafBlind representation and leadership. ? Helen Keller Services, HKNC¡¯s distant parent entity, recently selected yet another hearing and sighted person to be HKNC¡¯s next executive director. Qualified DeafBlind candidates, including the top finalist, were passed over. HKNC has never had a DeafBlind person hold the position. ? The current HKS Board of Trustees has only one DeafBlind representative. ? Qualified DeafBlind leaders had expressed interest in the director position or applied for it since at least 1956, when HKNC was known as the Anne Sullivan Macy Services federal pilot program. There have been protests before. In recent years, HKNC made unspoken but clear promises that a DeafBlind director would be hired ¡°next time.¡± ? Enough is enough. It¡¯s time. ? We make the following four demands: ? First, a DeafBlind person is appointed executive director of HKNC. ? Second, HKNC is separated from Helen Keller Services (for the Blind), so that HKNC becomes its own, autonomous entity. ? Third, HKNC¡¯s newly created Board of Trustees is made up of 70 percent or more DeafBlind members. ? Fourth, HKS and all of its subsidiaries will not retaliate against any HKS or HKNC employee, family member, or student for any civil action related to the selection process or related issues. ? With this petition, we are also taking the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little, to demonstrate how diverse and talented we are. HKNC has no excuses. ? The HKS Board of Trustees has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our first demand and begin legally binding transition processes toward fulfilling the next two demands. Failure to do so will prompt the second stage of our movement. ? Signed, ? Five current DeafBlind HKNC employees Requesting anonymity ? Lisa Ainscough ¡°³§³¾¾±±ô±ð!¡± ? Carolynsue M. Alflen Founder and former president, Missouri DeafBlind Association ? Bryan L. Alkire, J.D. Former HKNC student ? Nicole Alleman Former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Xayan al-Amin Student, College of the Sequoias, Fashion Design and Merchandising ? Annie LeJeune Arabie Loving housewife ? Dan Arabie Founder, National Association of the DeafBlind ? Jorge H. Aristizabal ¡°I vote for this petition!¡± ? Heidi Aulenbach Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind ? Karen Bailey, L.M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Michigan ? Jennifer Baratta Former job seeker from Helen Keller National Center ? Denis Bardet France? ? Laurie Barnes President, Alberta Society of the DeafBlind ? Jeremy Best Co-founder, DeafBlind Social of Central Florida ? Nandani Bhowan ¡°Keep in touch!¡± ? Ed Borrone Master woodworker ? Erin Bradford Librarian ¡°DeafBlind Can!¡± ? Tashi Bradford, Ph.D. candidate Linguistics, Radboud University; owner, Totaal Languaging ? Morgan Breese, M.A. Manager, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind "No thanks to benevolent ableism" ? Becca Brenowitz, M.P.A. Protactile Theatre actress; secretary, barista, and line cook ? Esty Brenowitz, Ph.D. candidate Gallaudet University ? Hayley Broadway, M.Ed. Co-principal investigator, Protactike Kids grant, National Institutes of Health; owner, Touch Seeds ? Maria V. Brook Never misses a meeting or an event ? Scott Burch, B.S. President's Scholar, Gallaudet University ? Roberto Cabrera, M.S. Former Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor ? Christian Call Podcaster, volunteer, France ? Emili Capili, M.A. Public relations coordinator, DeafBlind Community of Texas ? Dr. Francis Casale Former candidate for the position of executive director of HKNC ? Caroline Cerilli Research Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center ? Aimee Chappelow Program Specialist, Missouri SSP-CN Program; former V.R. counselor; past president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Lisa Chiango Assistive technology trainer, Perkins School for the Blind; vice president, DeafBlind Contact Center ? Fanny Chopot Product Owner Cybersecurity, France ? John Lee Clark, Ph.D. candidate Author of ¡°Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays¡± ? Keith Clark, M.A., C.P.A.C.C Marketing manager; former director, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind ? Vincent Clark, M.A. Retired DeafBlind specialist; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Debra Cole Educator, Lexington School for the Deaf ? Jason Corning Accessibility consultant ? Iris Cruz-Whidden Loyal member, Florida DeafBlind Association ? John Cunniff Retired employee, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center ? Nykkolas C. Dauzyn? ProTactile educator and mentor; Dialectical Behavioral Therapist;?Certified Trauma-Informed Care Peer ? Mindy Dill, M.A. Retired school counselor; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Melissa Doty Former HKNC student; all-around DeafBlind services ? Marsha Drenth, C.V.R.T., C.A.T.I.S. and T.V.I. in process Access Technology Instructor; Social Worker; student, Salus-Drexel University ? Rhonda Eernisse, B.A. Leader, Texas DeafBlind Camp; former case manager, Access Alaska, University of Alaska-Anchorage ? Jackie Engler-Morris Interpreting and Professional Services Manager, DeafBlind Service Center ? David Ernest Ennis, B.S. Artist ? Kristeen Elliott Giraffee and cat lover ? Ridge G. Euler "Peace and many thanks!" ? Lisa Ferris, M.Ed. Curriculum specialist and co-owner, Miles Access Skills Training, LLC ? Lisa Flaherty-Vaughn Vice president, DeafBlind Support and Access Network ? Zachary Fox, B.A. Historian ? Jon Gabry Jr., B.F.A., M.A. Fine artist;?educator; former HKNC student ? Erick Gallegos Website accessibility specialist ? Laura Godbold, M.A. Former adjunct professor, University of North Florida and Carolina University ? Divya Goel Former HKNC employee; co-founder, DeafBlind Social of Central Florida ¡°This is my voice¡± ? Alberto Gonzales Protactile Mentor ? Sarah Goodwin, M.S. Adjunct instructor and doctoral student; board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas ? Andy Granda Amateur endurance athlete ? Heather Grizzle Horticulturalist, gardener, writer, mother of two young children, wife of a fellow DeafBlind ? Bryan R. Grubb ¡°I, Bryan R. Grubb, sign this petition¡± ? Suzanne ¡°Suzi¡± Guimond, M.A. Former HKNC Regional Representative, Region 5; owner, Embrace Within LLC ? Diane Plassey Gutierrez Retired guidance counselor ? Antonia Venesse Guy, B.A. Certified Professional Astrologer; owner, Astro Woke; board member, Deaf Women United ? Thor Halvorsen, B.A.? ? John Hamilton, Jr. HKNC student ? Cristina Hartmann, J.D., M.F.A. Writer ? Casey Hassett Founder, Tucson DeafBlind Social; chairperson, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf ? Adrienne Haugen Past president, Minnesota DeafBlind Association; co-founder, Minnesota Speaking DeafBlind Group ? Guinevere Head-Allen Associate teacher and paraprofessional; student, Gallaudet University ? Jennifer Hess, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling; president, Board of Trustees, DeafBlind Service Center ? Mike Higgins Director, Linda Laurie Associates ? Chris Holbrook ¡°DeafBlind need to be on the board!¡± ? Donna Huff Former coordinator, Pittsburgh DeafBlind Gathering ? Amanda Lee Huston Former HKNC student ¡°You can¡¯t put us in one mold¡± ? Sarah Idler, C.D.I. ASL interpreter ? Katherine Inman, B.A. Graduate student, T.V.I. in process ? Tracie Fields Inman Writer; former first vice president, National Federation of the Blind Deafblind Division ? Tara L. Invidiato, M.Ed. Former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind; Tactifying Language Integrations ? Ashley (AJ) Jackson, M.S.W. Recent graduate, Gallaudet University ? Ronald Jackson ¡°MY name is Ronald Jackson¡± ? Timothy Jackson Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? James Jensen Former HKNC student ? Najma Johnson, M.A. Director, Multicultural Student Programs, Gallaudet University; owner, Grow Touch, plant shop tailored for DeafBlind ? Debra Kahn President, Washington State DeafBlind Citizens; Braille instructor ? Melissa Kosa ¡°I support this 100 percent!¡± ? Jaimi Lard Retired spokesperson, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center ? Jon Leitzke Student, Rochester Institute of Technology ? Riss Leitzke, M.B.A. candidate Accessibility Coordinator, Wilderness Inquiry ? Sheila Loos ¡°Proud DeafBlind mother and grandmother in Kansas City, Missouri!¡± ? Craig MacLean Creator, Five-Star Disability blog ? Christopher Magliocchino Retired IBM employee; proud sibling; cat lover ? Victoria Magliocchino, M.Ed. Retired teacher, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; past president, Florida DeafBlind Associaton ? Steven McCoy Producer-Journalist, Sessions with Steven ? Sarah K. McMillen, M.A. Educator ? Anne McQuade Director, DeafBlind Access of the South ? Kelly Monahan Founder, DeafBlind Escape Cruises ? Victorica D. Monroe, PhD candidate Author of ¡°Swishing¡± ? Morrison, M.Ed. Accessibility Consultant and Trainer? ? Lea E. Moynihan, M.A. Former employee of ?the State of North Carolina ? Teresa Myers Missouri ? Katie Noel Mail inserter, Tandem ? Ryan Ollis, B.A. DeafBlind Program Coordinator ? Angie C. Orlando, M.F.A. Author of ¡°Through the Tunnel: Becoming DeafBlind¡± ? Sonia Orsingher France? ? Patrick Pallies, M.S.W. DeafBlind Specialist, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired ? Angela Palmer, M.A. Artist ? Karen Park, B.A.? Certified Horticulturist and Consultant; founder, Ecological Horticulture of Deaf; former coordinator, DeafBlind Communuty Class ? Heather Lee Pavey, B.S. DB YEA! Mentor; retreat director, DeafBlind Community of Texas? ? Angele Periard "Thank you!" ? Randall Pope President, North Carolina Association of the DeafBlind; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Guillaume Portalier Vocational rehabilitation counselor, France ? Samantha Porter Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Diane Poulin Protactile Educator ? Kim Powers Dynamo ? Lenore Pressley Vice President, Northern California Association of the DeafBlind ? Concetta Pucci, PhD., L.I.C.S.W., L.C.S.W. University Professor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker? ? Richard Putt Former HKNC student; retired fiscal employee ? Timothy Putt Former federal government employee ? Cheryl L. Rhodes Co-founder, Florida DeafBlind Association ? Jay Rhodes Graduate student, Gallaudet University ? Elio Riggillo Protactile Educator ? Jayce T. Romero Former HKNC client ? Yashaira ¡°Yash¡± Romilus Protactile Educator; co-founder, Protactile Theatre; former HKNC student ? Amy Rowson, B.S. Educator; former trainer, Missouri SSP Program ? Trudy Ryall Australia ? Marc Safman C.E.O., Safman Consulting; co-founder, New York DeafBlind Advocates ? Winfield Sainpreux Artist; founder, Florida DeafBlind Events ? Jane Sayer Chairperson, Mantioba Deaf-Blind Association ? Heather Schoenwald, M.S. Johns Hopkins University; Liberty Resources Inc.; former director, Oregon Commission for the Blind ? Barry R. Segal, M.A. Instructor, Saint Paul College ? Faruqee Sikder ¡°¸é±ð²õ±è±ð³¦³Ù´Ú³Ü±ô±ô²â¡± ? Robert T. Sirvage, M.A. Design researcher ? Anna Slye Co-founder, DeafBlind Social of Central Florida ¡°Make sure you add my name to the petition¡± ? Allyson Snow Protactile mentor ? Sidney Snow? Board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas? Debbie Sommer Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind ? Nancy Sommer Former Independent Living Skills instruction, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind ? Thomas Soret President, Unanimes France; co-chair, French national task force on deafblindness ? Jesse Stanley President, DeafBlind Support and Access Network; director, DeafBlind Retreat of New England ? Patty Starr Cai Steele ¡°The irony is I¡¯m (a student) here at HKNC right now¡± ? Angela Theriabult Executive Director, DeafBlind Service Center ? Andr¨¦ Thibeault, M.A. Ancien charg¨¦ de cours, Facult¨¦ d'¨¦ducation de l'Universit¨¦ d'Ottawa; Ancien vice-pr¨¦sident, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Qu¨¦bec ? Jennifer Thompson Former HKNC student, 2011 ? Tonilyn Todd Determined ? Jesus Valdes Former HKNC student, 2023; board member, DeafBlind Contact Center ? Soline Vennetier, Ph.D. candidate Co-founder, R¨¦seau National des SourdAveugles ? Bruce Visser, M.A. One of three DeafBlind siblings; master craftsman; access technology trainer ? Rhonda Voight-Campbell Protactile Educator; owner, Two Fronds Consulting ¡°DeafBlind Know Best!¡± ? Angeli Wahlstedt Former software developer ? Liz Walker ¡°I¡¯m a supporter of the whole DeafBlind community!¡± ? Lara Rose Wall President, Florida DeafBlind Association; founder, PT Dream Adventures and DeafBlind Voyage ¡°It¡¯s time we kicked HKNC¡¯s butt¡± ? Ann Warren Vice president, Georgia Association of the DeafBlind; art director, DeafBlind Access of the South Retreat ? Annmaree Watharow, Ph.D. Researcher, University of Sydney ? Krista Webb Wood-burning artist ? Theresa Wells Former HKNC student; founder, Breezin¡¯ Bytes, LLC ? Arizona Welsh Former treasurer, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Molly Wezel-Peterson President, Minnesota DeafBlind Association ? Brett Wilhelm HKNC student and intern; president, Sight and Sound Impaired of St. Louis; manager, Missouri and Nebraska SSP programs ¡°Time has long since come to spread a positive example¡± ? John Winstead Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind ? Kathryn Zarate Former HKNC employee; current vice president, Florida DeafBlind Association ? Caterina Zorrilla Artist; former HKNC student ? ? ? |