From: James Kittell, CEO of ASL EXPO 2008
Hello, everyone!
I am writing this letter to ask for your support. Last August, the ASL EXPO team communicated with the Midwest Airlines Center about reserving a space for June 27-28, 2008. We were told that Exhibit Hall D was available. This space is next to the hall where our long-time rival, the AG Bell Conference, will be held-on the same weekend as ASL EXPO 2008.
Midwest Airlines Center was concerned about the conflict of events, but we explained to them that we do “sign” and they do “oral.” They penciled us in and said they would send us a contract. We contacted them repeatedly since September and never got a response. Finally, we received a notification of refusal from the convention center last week. We were told that AG Bell is occupying space during these dates, and no other exhibit halls would be available for other such events, including ASL EXPO.
We are greatly disappointed, and we are concerned that AG Bell is continuing to mislead families with deaf children. Thousands of deaf victims tell horror stories of physical abuse and education failure at oral schools affiliated with AG Bell.
ASL EXPO 2008 wanted to be next to AG Bell for one reason: to share appropriate hope to the families of deaf children. They deserve to see their kids come in both AG Bell’s exhibit and ASL EXPO, and then choose the path that is right for them.
Now, we need your help. Please copy the letter below and send it to Milwaukee’s mayor, Tom Barrett, at mayor@milwaukee.gov
<mailto:mayor@milwaukee.gov> :
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Subject: Please reinstate the ASL EXPO 2008 to the Midwest Airlines Center
Dear Mayor Barrett:
We admire your hard work to keep the city of Milwaukee beautiful and make it much more attractive to visitors. We truly look forward to visiting your city this summer!
As a supporter of the American Sign Language, I am writing to ask for your help in reinstating the American Sign Language Expo (ASL EXPO 2008) to the Midwest Airlines Center June 27-30. ASL EXPO was refused exhibit space because of the AG Bell Conference in a neighboring hall.
I make this request because American Sign Language, established in 1817, is the dominant sign language of the deaf community in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in parts of Mexico. Today, ASL classes are offered in many secondary and postsecondary schools.
At ASL EXPO events, they provides a full day of fun, hands-on activities that children enjoy, and attendees get to see the latest technology for sign language users and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
As you may know, thousands of families with little deaf children are coming to the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee June 27-30, 2008, and families are looking for a choice between whether their children should sign or speak. More and more deaf children are failing in education because they learn to “speak” 25 words or less as toddlers-compared to others who learn to “sign” more than 500 words.
Finally, thousands of deaf victims tell horror stories of physical abuse and education failure from oral schools affiliated with AG Bell. All we want is a chance to provide families a positive option: ASL EXPO 2008.
Thank you for intervening on our behalf. I look forward to your response to my request.
Sincerely,
(Your name here)
6 Comments
February 8, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I like to ask you, Did you make contact with NAD which you wanted attend ASL Expo at Midwest Airlines Center?
NAD will be very happy to help you through right channel for you?
Worth try that?
February 8, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I am not clear on something, is the AGBell renting out all the space, or will there still be empty space available and they refuse to rent any to you? On what legal ground can they turn you down? You might be on the winning side of a future lawsuit, ya know ……
February 9, 2008 at 11:47 am
I was unaware about the Midwest Center refusal to rent space to Deaf ASL Expo. Maybe AgBAD trying to block us. There has to be a way, maybe ASL lawyers can look into it, maybe an injunction against the Midwest Center, preventing AgBAD from holding their conference unless they agreed to allow Deaf ASL Expo to have its own space too.
February 9, 2008 at 1:26 pm
That’s a big shame!!! Wow!!! AGBAD is awfully smooth talk to Midwest Center to ban Deaf ASL Expo!!! Thanks so much for your update report!
April 19, 2008 at 11:05 am
Maybe the hotel made their own decision and it was not AGBs decision. I think AGB people they like all people to make their own decisions too.
July 22, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Really??? Did Midwest Airlines Center invite the AGBell? Or Did AGBell host the convention at Midwest Center? Which one is correct? If Midwest Airlines Center invited AGBell, ASL expos had a none power over Midwest AC’s decision. If AGBell hosted the convention at MAC, ASL expos had the RIGHT to take some area at MAC.