A Georgetown University Reflective Engagement in the Public Interest Project
November 15, 2013
Honored Guests
November 15, 2013
Honored Guests
Growing up as a hearing son of Deaf parents, John Schuchman, a graduate of Georgetown Law School, developed oral history interview techniques for use with deaf persons who use sign language. His documentation of individual biographies and the social dynamics of this under-represented group, and the eventual publication of Hollywood Speaks, Deafness and the Film Entertainment Industry and Deaf People in Hitler’s Europe, have provided infrastructure and a foundation for humanities research in sign language communities.
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Honored panelist, Dennis Cokely pioneered an ASL teacher-training text and model curriculum for ASL where highly technical literary and linguistic topics on sign languages were effectively shared as part of a modern language curriculum. He also served as the president of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and was instrumental in refining the organization's certification and testing program. Through the company he co-founded, Sign Media, Inc., Dennis has produced and/or directed over 250 video programs focusing on American Sign Language, Deaf Culture, and Interpreter Education.
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Born deaf to Deaf parents, Barbara Kannapell (Georgetown Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Bilingualism) advocated for human rights among deaf persons and promoted bilingual education for deaf children. Throughout her career she has taught, published, and presented widely on American Sign Language (ASL), deaf history, cross-cultural communication, language choice, and language policy. She collects stories of Deaf Americans participating in the World War Effort and has made plans to create a DVD on this topic.
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