One of ways to support speaking ASL stories for Deaf children/adults and ASL learners during coronavirus pandemic: reading a short Deaf history around the world, focusing on Deaf schools and their graduates…for instance, who is Anna Vaughan (Johnson) Anderson, a 1905 graduate of Nebraska School for the Deaf (now closed)? If you are interested in learning the history of Deaf Schools and their graduates, view the video and find out!
Mini Lessons can also be offered for all those who are interested (donations only). ❤️
[Video transcript]
Adonia: Hello! I’m here at ASL Rose studio. I have something to share with y’all today…a short Deaf history around the world. Because of coronavirus pandemic, people are social distancing and staying home. But there is no need to panic – I don’t want you to worry too much about it. Just be calm, stay home and be safe. Otherwise, if we were to socialize and meet other people like right now it would only spread virus even further. We need to focus on reducing the risks of becoming infected, and for the medical teams to be attentive and help those who are actually sick…so for those who are not sick; it will be best to stay home. To be self-quarantined – yes, I know it’s not exciting, but at least we can chat to each other via Facebook, Facetime, videophones and other ways to communicate and keep in touch with each other for time being. We can do it.
Adonia: I certainly noticed that both Deaf schools and other public schools are now closed or are closing. Does that mean support for ASL is dwindling? Are Deaf role models vanishing from sight? Do you find it hard to find something worthwhile on the internet? That’s understandable. ASL Rose does its best to offer its ASL support. For instance, if any of you who are interested and want to learn more about Deaf schools History, how they are established, what have changed since then, and so forth, you can contact me to ask about the mini lessons (short lessons), that will be available for children, or even for adults too. You can discuss about that with me. Mini lessons will be offered by donations only, which will go into supporting the Primary Building, (one of GSD’s oldest buildings), with a goal of turning it into three divisions: National Deaf Schools Museum, a home for GSD museum, and ASL Rose Studio & Store…so that way ASL Rose can expand more resources (bilingual materials)…with so much more possiblities for Deaf children to do, meaning watching the stories told in ASL, or reading books about Deaf history and culture, and other future activities for Deaf children (and ASL learners) to participate in.
Adonia: Now, in regards to coronavirus, as it is a very serious situation – we could not go out to socialize in large groups, or do any usual activities like we used to do. We have to stay home instead. What I will do is share with you a short history from the past and at the same time in honor of a certain Deaf woman (this being a part of National Women’s History Month, too). Her name was Anna Vaughan (Johnson) Anderson, and she graduated from Nebraska School for the Deaf in 1905.
Adonia: What was so special about her? She married Tom L. Anderson (fingerspelled TLA), an important person who was born in Texas and later gradauted from Colorado School for the Deaf in 1907. During that time, Anna was very involved in Deaf community…she was truly a very special woman. After her graduation, she entered Gallaudet but had to leave shortly afterwards when her mother passed away. She did return to Gallaudet after a while. Upon her graduation she gave a powerful graduation speech in 1912 titled “The Woman of Today and the Law.”. It was clear that she fully supported Deaf women’s rights which is perfect for this month and also during the world pandemics such as this one we have right now. Anna tragically died of Spanish Influenza in 1919…she was only 30 or 31 years old!
Adonia: Anna was such an important person. We must honor her for all her works to support Deaf community, especially Deaf women and for her amazing speech “The Woman of Today and the Law.” Her husband, “TLA”, also was just as involved in Deaf community too, as his wife. After Anna passed away TLA married another Deaf woman who also graduated from Nebraska School for the Deaf too. As TLA continued to be active in Deaf community…he was a President of National Association for the Deaf, among other roles. He was credited for his help in placing 400 Deaf war employees in the North America Avaitian Company. Imagine, he worked to put 400 Deaf employees in the job with that company!
Adonia: And after her death Anna is buried in Nebraska, her home state. Considering we now have Coronavirus pandemic going on, how do we honor her? By STAYING HOME!
Source in the video: Reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1912
10 percent from all purchased ASL Rose products (www.aslrose.com/shop) will go to the National Deaf Schools Museum, and we also welcome ANY amount of donation toward the purchasing of the Primary Building (or PB for short).
Please help make a dream come true in purchasing and turning the PB into three divisions: the future National Deaf Schools Museum, a new home for GSD Museum, and also a new home for ASL Rose: https://aslrose.com/give/
