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OUL BULLETIN MARCH


Greetings and welcome to the OUL newsletter for March!


We are upgrading our newsletter to make it easy to scroll on the iPhone or laptop. We added Scroll Catalog links so you can jump into the section of newsletter that you want to see it fast.


Invitation to Contribute to Our Next Newsletter


We invite you to enrich our upcoming newsletter by sharing valuable content for our community. This could include insightful articles, helpful resources, or inspiring projects. Your contributions are crucial for creating an informative and collaborative newsletter. If you have something to share, please email us with your contribution. Whether it's a thought-provoking post, practical advice, or a personal story, we're eager to include it. Let's build a newsletter that reflects our community's diverse interests and expertise. Your input is invaluable!


Email address: oulorg22@gmail.com


If you haven't subscribed to our OUL newsletter yet, feel free to sign up by clicking on the Subscribe box, or invite your friends to join us by subscribing whenever they like.



Scroll Catalog Link:



Cartoon owl, polar bear, and penguin in snowy landscape. Text: "ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUL FOUNDER!" Bear and penguin wear winter gear.


Let's find a good time for the monthly OUL Social Zoom meeting. Feel free to select multiple options—we can always adjust later. Vote now so we can get it scheduled! It will help us figure out when it is a good time to meet in our OUL Social Zoom Meeting together.


If you're new, here's what the OUL Social Zoom meeting is: a chance to chat, support each other, and share information. Sessions typically last an hour or more, depending on the group. It's a great way to get advice, find resources, or make new friends.


Please vote and help make OUL a better resource for our Deaf and Hard of Hearing

community!


Please press the link so you can enter and vote! I hope all of you will be able to access the link since it is my first time posting it with the Google vote!




If you can't enter and vote, please email oulorg22@gmail.com at any time.




Illustrated group raising arms, smiling. "Volunteer Needed" text in bold on blue radial background. Energetic and inviting mood.


We are seeking additional volunteers to join our team and collaborate to create a significant impact for the Deaf and Hearing Community. If you are interested in volunteering, please consider joining us.


To get information about becoming a volunteer or applying to volunteer with us, please click the box.




For any questions, please reach out to the OUL Founder via this email address:




Cartoon owl with open wings above text "Headlines and story links from the community" on scenic snowy mountain background with wooden sign.


Gwen Stefani and Her Sons Cope with Dyslexia: It's All Genetic, They Have Some of These Issues'

By Karen Mizoguchi



Special Education: Special Education Has Become A Flash Point In Negotiations With Teachers

By Edsource, Emma Gallegos



Using Picture Books To Develop Students' Emotional Vocabulary in Pre-K: Revisiting A book Repeatedly Helps Children Develop A Sophisticated Understanding Of What Emotions Look and Feel Like

By Cecilia Cabrera Martirena



Special Education Enrollment Keeps Growing. These 3 Graphics Show How: Autism, Developmental Delay and Multiple Disabilities Market The Faster Growing IDEA disability categories between 2023 and 2024

By Kara Arundel



New ADHD Research Challenges Former Assumptions. Why It Matters

By Elizabeth Heubeck






Our Journey at Gallaudet University

By Patrick Jarrod Peters


Many years ago, Jodi Becker and I were college students at Gallaudet University, a unique institution renowned for its commitment to the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing community. This vibrant campus, where both of us found a sense of belonging and purpose, became the backdrop for our academic and personal growth. Jodi pursued a degree in Social Work, driven by her passion for helping others and her desire to create positive social change. Her dedication to understanding the complexities of human behavior and societal challenges was evident in her coursework and interactions with peers. Meanwhile, I immersed myself in the field of Communication Arts, exploring the intricacies of visual and verbal communication, storytelling, and media production. This path allowed me to express my creativity and engage with diverse narratives, particularly those of marginalized communities.


Collaborative Advocacy with Dr. Berdichevsky

Throughout our time at Gallaudet, Jodi and I had the privilege of working closely with our wonderful professor, Dr. Maria Cristina Berdichevsky. Dr. Berdichevsky was not just an educator; she was a visionary advocate for students with learning disabilities. Her passion for promoting awareness and understanding of these disabilities on campus inspired us deeply. Together, we engaged in numerous projects aimed at building knowledge, strength, and recognition of learning disabilities within the Gallaudet community. Under her guidance, we organized workshops, seminars, and support groups that provided a platform for students to share their experiences and challenges. We sought to foster an inclusive environment where everyone felt valued and empowered to pursue their academic goals, regardless of their learning differences.


Continuing the Legacy of Advocacy

Tragically, our journey took a significant turn when Dr. Berdichevsky passed away in 2014. Her loss was felt profoundly by all who knew her, especially Jodi and me. However, rather than allowing her passing to mark the end of our advocacy efforts, we chose to honor her legacy by continuing the important work she had started. Jodi and I have remained fiercely committed to advocating for our community, striving to raise awareness about learning disabilities and ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive. We have participated in various initiatives, collaborated with other organizations, and engaged in community outreach to amplify the voices of those affected by learning disabilities. Our work is not yet done; we recognize that there is still much to accomplish in creating a more inclusive environment for all students and our communities.


Read More About Jodi's Journey

To gain further insight into Jodi's inspiring journey and the impact of our advocacy efforts, you can read her story at the link below. It highlights not only her personal experiences but also the broader challenges faced by individuals with learning disabilities. Through her narrative, we hope to shed light on the importance of understanding and supporting each other within our community, as we continue to push for change and recognition.

I was diagnosed with learning disabilities in visual-motor processing and visual-spatial issues, as well as slow processing speed, once in high school and once in college. Despite the language-rich environment in our home, as a Deaf parent of two Deaf children—a son and a daughter—I have observed similar patterns in my daughter, and I would like to share my story with you.

  ~ Jodi Christel Becker


You can read Jodi story to get more details about her journey by following the link.




You may have overlooked some OUL posts, but it's never too late to take a look. You can review the posts from the past few weeks. Enjoy reading, and feel free to share your thoughts in the blog comments anytime.




Why Early Language Access Matters More

Than Hearing (Part 1):

Understanding Language Deprivation




Why Early Language Access Matters More Than Hearing (Part 2):

What Parents Need to know



Why Early Language Access Matters More Than Hearing (Part 3):

Taking Action and Overcoming Challenges




A family watches TV with a cat and owl nearby. "FUN VIDEOS" text above. Cozy room, snowy window view, and family photos in the background.

Enjoy these entertaining videos that you might find educational from vloggers or other sources. If you have any suggestions for fun videos to include, feel free to email me, and I'll feature them in the next newsletter!



Learning Disabilities by Dawn Watts

Disclosing ADHD At Work - What You Need To Know First by How to ADHD
Living With Dyslexia: Speaker - Viggo Hojsgaard by TEDxEatonSquarePrep
Can You Tell If Someone Has Autism? by Jubilee (Middle Ground)

How AL Can Help Students with Dyslexia by KRPC 2 NEWS

We hope you thoroughly enjoyed reading the March Newsletter and found the content valuable and engaging. We'll be sure to send you more informative updates and interesting articles next month.


Stay safe in all your endeavors, study hard to achieve your goals, and keep going forward with determination and perseverance.



DON'T FORGET TO WEAR GREEN ON PATRICK'S DAY OR YOU WILL GET PITCH!

Best wishes,

OUL Team


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