Hey guys!

My name is Brooke Shirley and I'm from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. I'm a Public Relations major with a minor in sign language. I've grown up around sign language with a family friend who is like a grandmother to me. She began teaching me sign language when I was 13 years old and that's kind of where my love for the language began. The picture below is me signing at Epcot to a Disney song while on a trip with my high schools advanced chorus during my senior year. Well that is just a little sign language background of mine and I can't wait to get to know everyone! Have a great semester!

Hey y'all! My name is Katie Harmon! I am a pre- ASL Interpreting major! I am a junior here. I have went back and forth the passed 3 years as to what exactly I wanted to do in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Educate is one of the things I have tossed up for awhile. I enjoy children and helping another person succeed. I took this class because it is required for my major, but I was eager to get started learning so I may hopefully begin leaning in one direction for my career choice after I graduate and begin my life.

Hey Guys!


My name is Deion Bangudi, and I'm a junior here at EKU. I'm an Interpreting major and I am also thinking about adding on a minor in either children and family studies, or communication. The main reason I took this class is because it was apart of my required classes. But after attending the first class I think it will really come in handy!

Hey guys! So I've been told a time or two that Merida and I resemble each other. My red, curly hair is kinda my calling card and it's definitely the way people identify me.  I am a transfer student from Missouri State and I am a Junior. My major is Sign Language Interpreting. Another reason why this I chose this picture is because if I am accepted into the Interpreting Program, I hope to be able to get an internship at Disney World. I am taking this class because it is required for my major and I used to be a Deaf Education major. So I am very excited! I am an outdoorsy, artsy, fun loving person. I'm shy until you get to know me, then I'll be the most outgoing person you'll ever meet. I love my family and I miss them more than anything, but I'm looking forward to my time here at EKU and to see what kind of person I will grow into. 

ALSO!!! I need a group for this project, if anyone is still in need of someone to join their group or just needs one, let me know! I sign. :)

Hey y'all!

My name is Suzanne Lilly and I am a Junior here at EKU.  I am a double major in American Sign Language Interpreting and Anthropology.  I chose this class because it was required for my major, but after our first class I'm really excited to get into it more!  I have a passion for Deaf people and their culture.  I grew up in a small town so basically any country song you hear on the radio pretty much describes my hometown.  When I'm home I love hanging out with my friends, riding four wheelers, cooking/baking and working on our family farm.  My family means the world to me and I'm feel so blessed to have such an amazing group to come home to.  When I'm at school, I love hanging out with my awesome roommates, reading, going out to eat and like many college students, Netflix and I have a serious relationship.  I love to have fun and learn new things so I'm ready to get this semester going!

Just me

Hi everyone.  My name is Angelia Canionero.  I am a Senior here at EKU.  My major is Teaching the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with a concentration in Elementary Education.  I am contemplating a minor in American Sign Language.  I love working with little ones and watching their eyes "light" up when they understand something.  This is the reason for my chosen career. Also, ASL touches me in a way I cannot explain.  I remember as a little girl.  I may have been 7 or 8, my mom and I had gone to town.  There was a man walking down the sidewalk.  If I am not mistaken, he was raising money as well.  Anyway, he had a stack of papers and gave one to me.  It showed the ABC's via sign language.  I went home and taught myself.  Several years ago, I was at church.  There was a couple who was Deaf.  I found myself watching the interpreter instead of listening to the sermon.  After church I spoke with the interpreter and told her I was interested in learning to sign.  She gave me an application for a grant to the University of Alabama.  The grant was for an interpreters training program.  Boy was I excited.  I was accepted and started classes.  A few years later, I majored in Special Education.  I tried my best but found it just was not for me.  During this time I had other priorities.  I was a single mom, working 40 hours a week and going to school full time.  Needless to say, life happens.  I had to put a hold on my dreams because I had others looking to me.  A little about myself.  I am married with 2 sons, and a dog.  The oldest son is 19 and the youngest is 9.  (The dog 1 1/2).  I am originally from Alabama.  RRRROOOOOLLLLL TIDE.  My oldest is down there now.  Just a little over 4 years ago, we lost everything in the tornadoes that went through the state.  Thank God for insurance.  My husband is from Kentucky and wanted to come home.  Here we are.  I look forward to meeting and communicating with each and every one of you.  I hope you have a good semester.

Introduction

Hi all!  My name is Sara Poynter and I am majoring in Child and Family Studies emphasizing in Child Development with a minor in ASL.  I have been married to my best friend for 12 1/2 years and we share three very adventurous boys.  Luke is now 8 and our twins Logan and Layne are 6.  Family means everything to me so that is why I chose this picture and also my field of study!  When I think about "family", I think of them being my first teacher.  My parents were my first teachers demonstrating many skills such as communication skills, life skills, and so on.  Many parents today, don't understand the impact they have on their child's life.  If the parents demonstrate poor communication skills then that child will show a delay in their communication skills and perhaps will have other developmental delays.  It is my desire with my field of study to help educate parents and families on the importance of the roles they play in their child's lives. 
    

Historical Figure Group

Hello! Danielle Scoggin and I need two more people for the historical figure project. We chose Horace Mann for one of the people, but we have not picked a second person yet. We both can sign. If you still need a group for the project just comment here. Thanks! -Kelsey Hein

Introduction: Lauren Ramsey

 

Hey everyone! I am Lauren Ramsey! I am a Pre-Communication Disorders major with a minor in ASL. I hope to one day be a Speech Language Pathologist and work in pediatrics. I love children and  also love being a communicator. Speech and language (whether spoken or signed) are interwoven into every facet of each of our lives, and thus can be a real self esteem issue for children who feel like their skills are not equal to that of their peers. My hope is to impact every child I see in such a way they feel confident enough in their speech and language to excel in their daily lives. I want to make every child that walks through my door feel like they can conquer anything they set their minds to. I really look forward to working with each of you this semester!

Danielle Fields - Introductions

Hi everyone! So I chose this picture for a number of reasons. I have a degree in English Teaching, so I'm kind of a nerd and I love books and literature and all that stuff. I took this picture in Philadelphia when I went to visit the Edgar Allan Poe house. This is painted on a wall of a building across the street from his house. Totally geeked out when I went to visit it, still get pretty geeky about it, but that's just who I am. I am currently seeking a degree in communication disorders with the hope to become a speech pathologist. I am taking this class because I fell in love with ASL when I took it in college, and the deaf and hard of hearing fascinate me, because my dad has been hard of hearing for my entire life, so it's kind of personal for me.
Looking forward to lots of learning and working with all the people in this class!

Kelsey Hein

Hi everyone! This picture is the perfect way to describe me because my favorite animal is a penguin. He looks like a happy penguin, and I try to stay happy, positive, and make the best of situations. He also looks like he is dancing, and I like to dance. I am a Junior, and am in between majors right now. However, I love Deaf culture and using ASL, and I think that this class will help me gain new perspectives and think deeper about aspects of Deaf culture that I have not thought about before.

Thanks for reading!

Caitlin Buckley

Hello all! My name is Caitlin Buckley. My major is Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with a concentration in Middle Grades English and a minor in ASL. I have always enjoyed english and literature classes. Growing up, reading and writing were my escapes from my strict, religious family. I aspired to offer those freedoms to other students and encourage them the way my instructors encouraged me. Another great interest of mine that led me to this path is helping people. I have worked in healthcare for almost five years now. My very first job was in a nursing home and my current job is in an adult daycare. Within the daycare setting, I am afforded to work with individuals of various ages who have many different support needs. I have learned much since I began this job, but more than anything I have discovered a passion for enabling those who might otherwise face limitations and barriers. It is my hope that teaching will give me the same opportunities to cultivate and enhance the skills of those with whom I work. As you can see by the photo, I have a son, Jude, who is five months old. Sometimes juggling him, school, and work can be tough. However, I love challenges and adventures, so parenthood has added another grand adventure to the journey. I'm looking forward to learning with and from all of you! Very best regards, Caitlin Buckley

Introduction

Hey everyone,

My name is Kristen Gregory and I am a junior this year. My major is Deaf Education and my minor is American Sign Language. I am from Columbus, Ohio and drive around 4 hours to get home. I am currently on EKU's Dance Theatre and absolutely love it. I have been dancing my entire life. With my major I want to teach elementary school, probably 4th or 5th grade.  I fell in love with sign language my freshman year. In my high school sign language wasn't taught but I knew that I loved it and I had to go to a college that had a great program. I am so happy I chose EKU for so many different reasons. But the main one is that their ASL and deaf education program is so great. In just a few years I have learned so much, one of my really good friends is deaf and I met him through EKU and it is great to be able to communicate with him.

I hope that this class really teaches me a lot about education the Deaf and Hard of hearing, and after the first day alone I know it is going to. I am taking this class not only because it is required but because it is actual skills I will use in everyday life when I get out of college. It feels so great to finally be learning things that go along with what I want to do in my life. I cant wait for the rest of the semester and to get to know each and every one of you. I love sharing similar stories and having things in common with people in my class, and since everyone in that class loves ASL I know we will all get a long great.

Thanks for reading,
Kristen Gregory

Danielle Scoggin

Hey!
     I'm Danielle Scoggin and I am majoring in American Sign Language and English Interpreting and will be applying of the program in the Spring! I am going on my third year here at Eastern Kentucky and I have loved every semester that I have been here. I am from Leesburg, Virginia and the reason that I am out here in Kentucky is because of my major, no school in Virginia had it as a major, they only had it as a minor so I was limited to a select number of schools and I picked this one.
     The reason I picked to go into ASL is because I took in my sophomore, junior, and senior year in high school with a deaf teacher and since the first day of those classes I just fell in love with everything about it. To me it just came so natural, I enjoyed going to that class and learning more every day. My junior year in high school is when I looked at my dad and said I found something I can see myself doing as a career. He thought that it was an amazing fit for me, he said he could see me doing that as well and he was really happy for me because he could see how much I enjoyed it all.
     I am taking this course in particular because it was a class that I could take for my major but didn't have to take it. I thought it sounded interesting and would help me learn more and go more into depth about things and help learn how to teach people which is my back up major incase I do not get into the interpreting program.
     I am very excited for what this class has to offer and I can't wait to start learning and having a fun time!

Thanks for reading!

Historical Figure Project - Chap 3 Individuals

Here is a list of individuals from Chapter 3 from whom you may choose.  With a small class like this semester there are "no repeats" among groups permitted.  The first group to contact me and ask if they can use a person for their project (if person is someone who has made significant contributions to the field of Deafness) will be the group who will be able to use the individual.  Groups asking after that will have to choose another individual.

• Braidwood Family
• Francis Green
• John Stanford
• Laurent Clerc
• Thomas Gallaudet
• Edward Minor Gallaudet
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Harvey Peet
• Horace Mann
• Remember your group will only choose ONE individual from this list/chapter. The other individual will be someone who is either from chapter 2 or a person who is more contemporary and lived after 1900.  There are links to websites with famous Deaf people in the Chapter 2 folder.

Feel free to post any questions you have in the comments here or create a new post.

Kaylee Truesdell

Hey everyone!
My name is Kaylee Truesdell and I am majoring in Occupational Therapy with a minor in special education hoping to also add a minor in children and family studies.
I am a sophomore with Junior credits. This is my second year a EKU I had previously went to MCTC a near by community college while I was a senior in high school.

I became interested in becoming an OT once my boyfriend was in a car wreck 2 years ago causing him to become quadriplegic. I wanted to be there for him all the way through his journey to recovery. So that meant once he got to rehab (Frazier Rehab in Louisville; my dream job) I would go to therapy and everything with him as support. I fell in love with the OT's faith and energy to want help and the way it helped to improve his ability to do the small things on his own again! It was soo inspiring to me that I looked into all colleges with an OT program found EKU and applied:) Here I am!

I am minoring in special education for many reasons, I want to be able to feel comfortable if I have a special needs person that I am working with, how to communicate with them and find the best activities to help them with their fine motor skills!
 I first started working with the special needs my freshman year of high school in a class called Peer Tutoring. I continued to work with one lucky girl (I'm the lucky one!) even after I graduated as her caregiver and love it. She's like a sister to me as well as a best friend! We talk about boys (she's the other woman to my boyfriend; haha loves to flirt), just like any teenager doesn't want mom in her business all the time, likes going out, and has an attitude sometimes:). Being a caregiver has really opened my eyes to a lot.
 Just hearing someone call her or my boyfriend disabled or anyone because their in wheelchairs or because someone doesn't talk or learn like others grinds my gears because what even is disabled? As far as I can see they both are very able and are just like everyone else from a different angle.

I am taking this class because 1 it is required (but does seem interesting) and 2 because I do want to be able to better communicate with the deaf or hard of hearing population. I'm always meeting new people, also would be helpful in my career. I would like to be able to communicate with whom ever I need to in some way.

Thank you,
   Kaylee Truesdell
SED337