A POSITIVE SIGN DEAF TEEN LOOKS FORWARD TO TALKING WITH THE WORLD.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer BURBANK - Among the 40 or so American teenagers traveling this summer to Europe as student ambassadors is Joshua Ari Soudakoff, who will represent his country - and its deaf community. The 13-year-old, who will be the only deaf student on the delegation's tour, has lofty goals: bridging the divide between the deaf and the hearing world. Joshua, a student at John Muir Middle School A middle school part of the Huron Valley School District located in Milford, MI. It is located in Milford, MI in Oakland County, MI. It is directly across the street from Baker Elementary. Muir Middle School serves grades 6 through 8. The mascot is the Hawkeye. , is deaf and communicates with American sign language American Sign Language n. The primary sign language used by deaf and hearing-impaired people in the United States and Canada. American Sign Language (ASL), n. . His 19-day trip with the Washington state-based People to People Student Ambassador Program The People to People Student Ambassador Program is an organization based in Spokane, Washington, that offers international travel opportunities to elementary, middle, and high school students. It is one of the sponsored programs of People to People International. will take him to England and France in July. ``The deaf community and the hearing community are very different,'' Joshua said through an interpreter. ``The deaf community is very communal; we are not an individualistic in·di·vid·u·al·ist n. 1. One that asserts individuality by independence of thought and action. 2. An advocate of individualism. in culture. So it's going to be sharing part of that hearing and deaf culture This article describes aspects of Deaf cultures. See also deafness and Models of deafness. For a discussion of the medical condition, see hearing impairment. Deaf community and Deaf culture to them from America.'' Joshua also hopes to build a bridge to the deaf of other nations, who communicate in sign languages unique to their countries. ``He has a great mind that is full of creativity; he also loves to be challenged,'' mom Sharon Ann Dror, who also is deaf, wrote in an e-mail. Delegation candidates must undergo evaluations that include an assessment of grades, a written application and an interview, said program director Paul Watson
Paul Watson (born December 2, 1950) is the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and is a significant, albeit controversial, figure in the environmental . The program has had other deaf students participate in past years. ``They make outstanding ambassadors,'' Watson said. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Joshua Ari Soudakoff, right, a deaf student from John Muir Middle School who will represent the United State in Europe this summer as a teenage ambassador, converses in sign language with Laura Henry. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion