South Korea Association of the Deaf - Amazing Video!

* The video is captioned*

Thank you, Hee-Kyung Cho "Choy" of South Korea for sharing this with us! Deaf South Koreans are inspirational to all of us worldwide!

This video was supposed to be posted up in June but due to my internship and other things that kept me busy, I was not able to upload it until recently. I hope you all enjoy it. We all must keep the values of being an involved citizen in our countries, no matter if we are deaf or hearing.

As Justin Dart would say, You have the power! Lead on!

- Leah

President Obama's Health Care Address Will Be Live-Captioned Online

Score one for accessibility in New Media world! Tonight's major "make-or-break" speech will be captioned.

Watch the Live Captioned Webcast of the President’s Health Care Address to Congress at

http://ncamftp.wgbh.org/bcb/presidentspeaks.html

Be sure to watch it and rate it. What do you think?? Debate health care as interested and involved participants that we all are.

I'm extremely pleased to see that steps are being taken to ensure greater accessibility in a modern age when we are becoming increasingly dependent on New Media. As with all changes, there are pros and cons to the hyper-connected world of blogging, twittering, vlogging, live-feeds, RSS, and all that. But if there is going to be change, we better make sure it's at least accessible.

Will you watching the address tonight? I will be!

- Leah

Follow Leah at Twitter for fast updates!

I'll be twittering at "leahkh" and I will be providing fast updates over there for the announcement of the finalists for Gallaudet's next President. Feel free to add me.

I'd like to also mention that the current President Roberto Davila will be greatly missed and his leadership was monumental for Gallaudet University. He pulled us out of a very dark period and into the bright future with successful MSCHE re-accreditation, raising academic standards, and increasing enrollment. No words of thanks may ever do his dedication to Gallaudet University justice.

Thank you, President Davila. Your presence will be irreplaceable.

- Leah

The Deaf Perspective Returns for Another Year!

Hello!

Wow, the summer has passed already?? In case you were wondering where I had gone, I was at the Capitol Hill nearly all summer. I had an internship with the House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-MD) office, participating in the AAPD's internship program. It was a truly wonderful experience. I'd like to thank my internship sponsor, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, for helping make this exceptional opportunity possible. I'd also like to thank Andy Imparato at AAPD, Mrs. Yoshiko Dart, and Rayna Aylward at MEAF. I have some surprises coming up for you this fall, some big projects. Keep tuned in to The Deaf Perspective!

You know what I have always stood for - for community activism, participation in the political process, and being a strong stakeholder wherever you are in America and worldwide. Each individual is ultimately an ambassador for the deaf community to the world. We can and should not continue to be delegated to the image of deaf people being dependent, weak, and unable to participate. That is a myth and I strive to shatter that every single day!

I'm returning with a bang - guess where I am right now? At Gallaudet University's GUKCC auditorium, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the finalists for Gallaudet University's next President!

Gallaudet University is such a strong, proud, and determined beacon in the world for deaf education. I wish the University the best and Gallaudet University will always remain my home at heart.

- Leah