This story about Ohlone College Deaf Pride was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on November 9, 2022.
Andrei Domantay, Reporter
Sean Siquig, Photographer
Reporter (V/O):
From the top of Ohlone stands the deaf studies division, building 6. As they celebrate the 50 yr deaf pride here at Ohlone.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
Hello, I’m William Wong. I am a deaf facility member in the deaf studies division. I teach american sign language but i also teach mathematics to deaf as well as hearing students
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Ok sure i’m Sandra Ammons. I teach here at Ohlone
Reporter (V/O):
Today is a special day to celebrate one of the largest and comprehensive programs designed to meet the academic and vocational needs of deaf and hard of hearing students.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
In 1972, George Atltweed saw that the difficulties students were having keeping up with the reading and writing levels in their mainstream courses. George Atltweed put some thought into it and decided to establish a class that would not include interpreters but that would direct communication from the facility to the students. Other colleges were not interested in doing something like that but Ohlone accepted the challenge and welcomed George Atltweed to the campus.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
It is very important, significant recognition. Were recognizing a community, our language and our culture and our people. So who the people are that are carrying the culture and the language of the deaf community is significant. The college has had deaf programs and services, ongoing support for deaf students. The 50 years of deaf pride means that we have been here on campus for 50 years! Maybe you might think that this is to help deaf people learn but really we have been teaching college wide too the campus about us deaf people and our culture. We are living, walking, breathing examples of deaf culture and the pride in our history.
Reporter (V/O):
For their kick off celebration for the 50 year deaf pride they opened up a time capsule.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
I asked are then dean Ron Berdett who by the way will be here for the keynote this afternoon. I asked him if he thought about it and we should perhaps should do that and he agreed. So we went into the planning stages of making our own time capsule. We asked for submissions from students then, George Atltweed wife because George Atltweed was responsible for establishing a deaf studies division and has since passed away. So his wife speaked for him at the time capsule ceremony.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Well the time capsule shows how our world has changed. That the artifacts that we had in the past may be obsolete, some of them may not be of use anymore and so it would be fascinating to see what artifacts will be pulled out of the time capsule.
Reporter (V/O)
With the 50 year mark done. This is just the tip of their success and more to come for deaf studies division
Reporter
From Ohlone Fremont Campus this is Andrei Domantay from Tri-City News.
Nov 9 2022
50 Years of Deaf Pride
This story about Ohlone College Deaf Pride was first broadcast during the live Ohlone Tri-City News program on November 9, 2022.
Andrei Domantay, Reporter
Sean Siquig, Photographer
Reporter (V/O):
From the top of Ohlone stands the deaf studies division, building 6. As they celebrate the 50 yr deaf pride here at Ohlone.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
Hello, I’m William Wong. I am a deaf facility member in the deaf studies division. I teach american sign language but i also teach mathematics to deaf as well as hearing students
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Ok sure i’m Sandra Ammons. I teach here at Ohlone
Reporter (V/O):
Today is a special day to celebrate one of the largest and comprehensive programs designed to meet the academic and vocational needs of deaf and hard of hearing students.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
In 1972, George Atltweed saw that the difficulties students were having keeping up with the reading and writing levels in their mainstream courses. George Atltweed put some thought into it and decided to establish a class that would not include interpreters but that would direct communication from the facility to the students. Other colleges were not interested in doing something like that but Ohlone accepted the challenge and welcomed George Atltweed to the campus.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
It is very important, significant recognition. Were recognizing a community, our language and our culture and our people. So who the people are that are carrying the culture and the language of the deaf community is significant. The college has had deaf programs and services, ongoing support for deaf students. The 50 years of deaf pride means that we have been here on campus for 50 years! Maybe you might think that this is to help deaf people learn but really we have been teaching college wide too the campus about us deaf people and our culture. We are living, walking, breathing examples of deaf culture and the pride in our history.
Reporter (V/O):
For their kick off celebration for the 50 year deaf pride they opened up a time capsule.
William Wong, Ohlone Instructor
I asked are then dean Ron Berdett who by the way will be here for the keynote this afternoon. I asked him if he thought about it and we should perhaps should do that and he agreed. So we went into the planning stages of making our own time capsule. We asked for submissions from students then, George Atltweed wife because George Atltweed was responsible for establishing a deaf studies division and has since passed away. So his wife speaked for him at the time capsule ceremony.
Sandra Ammons, Ohlone Instructor
Well the time capsule shows how our world has changed. That the artifacts that we had in the past may be obsolete, some of them may not be of use anymore and so it would be fascinating to see what artifacts will be pulled out of the time capsule.
Reporter (V/O)
With the 50 year mark done. This is just the tip of their success and more to come for deaf studies division
Reporter
From Ohlone Fremont Campus this is Andrei Domantay from Tri-City News.
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