DBInews December 2005 * A publication of DeafBlindInfo.org. Sponsored by Minnesota Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. To subscribe, e-mail DBInews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com * Contents. - News from Michigan. - New DeafBlind Spousal Support E-mail Group. - Get Paid For Writing Articles! - Post Your Announcements For Free. * NEWS FROM MICHIGAN. On 21 November 2005, a young Deaf man in Michigan, Ryan Commerson, went on a hunger strike to protest the communication policy at the Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD). John Lee Clark, himself DeafBlind, and his family left Minnesota to join Ryan in front of the school. John stayed with Ryan for nine days, helping where needed. Television news captured Ryan on-screen during interviews with John's hand on his, giving exposure to the tactile method of American Sign Language reception. John and Ryan also appear in an interview by John Pirone, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Association for the Deaf online at http://homepage.mac.com/msad1975/Interview.html (If you need a transcript, please e-mail Adrean at comments@deafblindinfo.org ) Ryan had been working for two years both inside and outside of MSD because the current administration does not support a bilingual education that provides full access to ASL for Deaf and DeafBlind students at MSD. When the administration continued to resist change, Ryan decided to starve himself as a last resort. He would only drink juice and water until his demands for bilingual education to be implemented at MSD and the Detroit Day School for the Deaf, and for a Deaf Childrens' Bill of Rights to be approved by the State of Michigan were met. After eight days with no food, Ryan succeeded in getting a meeting with the State Department of Education, upon which an agreement was reached in which an advisory committee would be created to study the issue of bilingual education and implementation of the new policies, and Ryan would start eating again. John Lee Clark was present for the meeting, with an interpreter available for him throughout the proceedings. John said that it was very cold outside at the protest site, his hands froze because he needed them uncovered or with thin gloves so he could communicate. By Thanksgiving Day he was able to stay in a tent with Ryan and other supporters, and enjoyed talking with them while staying warm. John was in contact with different people who came to support Ryan, including individuals such as Christy Smith of Survivor, Judy Vardon of Extreme Home Makeover, and Alison Aubrecht of The Tactile Mind Weekly, and including students like Taurean Burt, a senior at MSD. John returned home on Wednesday, November 30. Ryan stayed until that Friday. If bilingual education succeeds in happening at the Michigan School for the Deaf and the Detroit Day School for the Deaf, DeafBlind students will have the freedom of full access to teachers and staff who are fluent in ASL. Ryan has finished his protest in front of MSD but he continues to work at improving the educational system in Michigan. * NEW DEAFBLIND SPOUSAL SUPPORT E-MAIL GROUP. Harvey Bond. My name is Harvey Bond. Some of you may know my wife Melanie Bond aka "Mel" who has Usher Syndrome type 2. I have decided to start a DB-Spousal Support group for spouses and partners of persons who are deaf-blind (DB) or hearing-and-visually-impaired (HAVI). I would deeply appreciate it if you would kindly spread the word about this new group to everyone you know who has a DB mate and would enjoy meeting others who are in similar relationships. Please have them subscribe to this group by sending a blank e-mail request to: DB-Spousal-Support-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Thank you! * GET PAID FOR WRITING ARTICLES! DeafBlindInfo.org is looking for contributors to monthly editions of DBInews. Submissions must be written by DeafBlind people or be related to DeafBlind culture and community, and be between 100 and 500 words. Upon publication a fee of $25 will be paid. * POST YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FREE. Minnesota-based DeafBlind organizations may post event announcements here free of charge. To send anouncements for an upcoming month, please send information on or before the last day of every month. * DeafBlindInfo.org is Minnesota's online resource about DeafBlind services and community. This project is sponsored by DHS/DHHSD. Questions? Contact Adrean Clark, webmaster, at comments@deafblindinfo.org .