Transcript by Melissa Herzig:

“People of the Eye— Community of Vision”

San Diego ASLTA welcomes Ella Mae Lentz who will be presenting “People of the Eye, Community of Vision” on Feb. 24^th. We’re honored that she will be presenting in San Diego! Ella Mae has dedicated most of her passion to the field of ASL and Deaf Culture—taught multiple ASL classes, trained people to be effective interpreters, and taught us to appreciate ASL poetry. She also was one of three who developed the Vista Curriculum, “Signing Naturally” series. She has been a pioneer in this field. Now, this time, she is redirecting her attention and energy towards Deaf people. Ever since, she was inspired by Paddy Ladd does Deafhood model— she is interested in promoting empowerment among Deaf people. Ella Mae’s leadership is admirable and we are thrilled she is now investing her time in Deaf people and promoting the pride amongst ourselves!

The workshop will focus on the need for Deaf people to shift away from the deficit model of “deafness” and to embrace their identity as Deaf people. This workshop would probably be inspiring and thought-provoking for many Deaf people. However, this workshop is not only for Deaf people, but also for any interested individual in Deaf community including interpreters and ASL students. Hopefully this workshop would inspire people within Deaf community to be proactive in removing oppression and to move away from the vision of deafness as a deficiency.

This workshop would take place at Deaf Community Service. The parking is limited, so try to be there early. There are metered parking spaces as well, but do not let that discourage you from coming. Also, only up to 75 people will be admitted in the room, so try to be there as early as possible to get in the workshop. It would be worthwhile for anyone especially Deaf people to attend!! The workshop starts at 9am ‘til 12pm, but the registration begins at 8am. *No interpreters are provided.

I would like to acknowledge the support of these groups—SD-ASLTA for hosting this workshop, SDCRID and NIS for helping to sponsor this event, and Deaf Community Service for opening up their room for our workshop. Thanks also go to Jon Savage who helped produce this VLOG.

HOPE to see many of you at the workshop!!

If you have any more questions or want a copy of the flyer—please contact me (Melissa Herzig) at PDCHAIR@sandiegoaslta.org. Thanks.

Ella Mae Lentz’s Bio:

Upon discovering the word “Deafhood” coined by Dr. Paddy Ladd of Bristol University Centre for Deaf Studies,, Ella has been challenged to seek justice for Deaf people by unshackling the Deaf community in which she grew up and identifies with from Audism and Oralism.

Born in Berkeley, California, to wonderful Deaf parents and a vibrant Deaf community in the mid-1950’s, she grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960’s, and witnessed not only protests against war and racism but the beginning of Deaf Resurgence. Upon graduating from the California School for the Deaf, Berkeley, in 1971, she went on to Gallaudet University where she had her epiphany about American Sign Language launching her into a career of teaching, training instructors and interpreters, performing poetry and helping with linguistic research.

Recently retired from 16 years of full-time teaching ASL and Deaf Culture at Berkeley City College (formerly Vista Community College), Ella’s immediate goal is to complete the major updating of Signing Naturally curriculum series of which she is a co-author. Her long-term goals include promoting academic excellence in American Sign Language and healthy Deafhood discourse among all Deaf people as well as in the public.

Ella has been blessed to raise five kids with her partner, Judy Gough, and being a proud grandmother of seven kids (one is Deaf) with an eighth one on way. She especially enjoys her many pets: five dogs (two are deaf), five cats (none is deaf), and two llamas.