The Estrella Mountain Community College 2015 (Diversity Award Committee) DAC Award goes to Sign Language (SLG) adjunct faculty of the Modern Languages Division, Teresa Thiry, Crystal Bean, Wenonah Holmes, Melissa Westlake, Paulus Yalim, and G. Phillip LeBeau, for the Fall 2014 EMCC “Deaf Deaf World” event.
During this event, American Sign Language (ASL) was the sole communication method used. EMCC students and staff learned ASL phrases for communicating at a medical center, police station,restaurant, and bank. SLG faculty designed tasks for participants to complete using ASL, made tutorial videos for learning stations at the event, and recruited members of the Deaf community to interact with participants.
Students in the SLG courses improved ASL communication skills and cultural competence by engaging with Deaf community members and coaching ASL learners. The event was astep in building awareness of the Deaf community and fostering an inclusive and accessible campus culture by enabling the hearing participants and Deaf instructors and volunteers to interact with each other. Overwhelming positive feedback from participants, as well as increased enrollment in SLG classes, is evidence that the “Deaf, Deaf World” event impacted diversity and inclusiveness at EMCC, and beyond.
Other nominations included:
* Daniel Meador for his many efforts to support and create effective student success services and community outreach inclusive to all.
* Linda Cutright and Daniel Meador for their leadership in Black History Month events.
* Engage Estrella Mentoring Program, a program that increases engagement between employees, students and community to improve persistence, completion and career readiness through 1-to-1 mentoring and career exploration opportunities.
* Rachel Holmes for her leadership in Service Learning for the Disabled.