Hoi, Valerie "pretty exciting" is an understatement. Momentous, historic, breath taking is more appropriate I think. This is such wonderful news and, it is the kind of news that must be heard loud and clear and everywhere. I think both the ICED Vancouver and the Milan congress deserve an article in the ASL Wikipedia, I think both deserve an article in the English Wikipedia as well. I do not write that much in Wikipedia. I do blog however.. Thanks, Gerard http://ultimategerardm.blogspot.com/2010/07/iced-rejects-its-1880-milan-congress.html On 22 July 2010 00:46, Valerie Sutton <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > SignWriting List > July 21, 2010 > > Dear SW Listers! > This, I think, is pretty exciting! ;-) > > ------------- > > From: National Association of the Deaf (US) > Date: July 21, 2010 3:41:24 PM PDT > To: "Ms Valerie J. Sutton" <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: NAD Elated with ICED Rejection of 1880 Milan Congress Resolutions > > NAD E-News > Wednesday, July 21, 2010 > > NAD Elated with ICED Rejection of 1880 Milan Congress Resolutions > > On Monday, July 19, 2010 the International Congress on the Education of the > Deaf (ICED) opened its 21st Congress with a historic announcement that it > formally rejects the resolutions passed at its 2nd Congress (commonly known > as the 1880 Milan Congress) which discouraged the use of sign language in > the education of the deaf. This move follows a recent letter (link below) > by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and numerous advocacy > organizations and leaders throughout the world urging the ICED to formally > reject their previous resolutions and embrace signed languages and deaf > cultures. Links for the ICED press release, introduction, and statement of > principle and accord for the future are listed below. > > The original resolutions passed at the 1880 Milan Congress did irreparable > damage to deaf individuals, educators, professionals, schools and > communities around the world. Established in the same year as the 1880 Milan > Congress, the NAD was shaped by deaf leaders who believed in the right of > the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues > important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national > level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as > a core value. > > "We are elated to see that, for the first time in 130 years, the ICED has > joined us in rejecting the actions of its predecessors and moving forward to > improve educational systems for the global deaf and hard of hearing > community. We are grateful and proud to see the ICED take this important and > very appropriate step towards reconciliation," said NAD President Bobbie > Beth Scoggins. "The formal rejection of the 1880 resolutions made in Milan > by the ICED realizes a dream that we have had for 130 years. Together with > the ICED we have taken the first steps towards a beautiful, bilingual future > of cooperation and mutual respect." > > NAD Letter - > www.nad.org/blogs/bobbie-bethscoggins/nad-requests-iced-recognize-sign-language-human-right > > ICED Press Release - www.iced2010.com/pdf/Press Release.pdf > > ICED Introduction - www.iced2010.com/pdf/Introduction.pdf > > ICED Statement of Principle and Accord for the Future - > www.iced2010.com/pdf/Statement of Principle and Accord for the > Future(1).pdf > > > -- > The National Association of the Deaf > 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820 > Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819 > United States > >