Deaf Poets Society | Douglas Ridloff | TEDxVienna

Summary

Peter van de Ven shares his journey as a father of two Deaf sons and a passionate advocate for sign language. Reflecting on his own upbringing with limited Deaf role models, he founded the Deaf Poets Society to create safe spaces for the Deaf community to explore, play with, and express language through art. Through ASL SLAM events, local chapters, and international tours, he nurtures emerging talent while promoting visual poetry that merges sign language with music. His mission is to inspire collaboration, celebrate linguistic richness, and ensure Deaf individuals worldwide have access to vibrant, supportive cultural environments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Peter van de Ven values sign language as a rich, expressive, and complex form of communication, not just a tool for basic interaction.
• 😀 He emphasizes the importance of providing Deaf children with safe spaces to play and experiment with language, especially at home and in educational settings.
• 😀 Early societal bias taught him that speech was superior, highlighting the need to challenge misconceptions about sign language.
• 😀 Exposure to Deaf role models, like poet Peter Cook, profoundly shaped his understanding of the artistic and linguistic potential of sign language.
• 😀 His teaching experience revealed that limited exposure to sign language in schools restricts Deaf children's linguistic and creative growth.
• 😀 To address these gaps, he founded the Deaf Poets Society, which fosters a safe, playful environment for Deaf individuals to explore and perform sign language.
• 😀 The Deaf Poets Society runs ASL SLAM events, establishes chapters across the country, and conducts international tours to promote Deaf culture and creativity.
• 😀 Visual poetry, often paired with music, serves as a medium to communicate the depth of sign language to both Deaf and hearing audiences.
• 😀 International collaboration respects each country’s unique sign language, using International Sign as a bridge to connect Deaf communities worldwide.
• 😀 He calls on others to engage with Deaf communities, collaborate artistically, and help create inclusive, safe spaces for preserving and celebrating sign language.

Q & A

Who is Peter van de Ven and what personal experience does he share in the transcript?

Peter van de Ven is a Deaf father and educator. He shares his personal experience of raising two Deaf sons and reflecting on his own upbringing with limited exposure to Deaf role models and sign language.

What realization did Peter have after seeing Deaf poet Peter Cook perform?

Peter realized that sign language is not just a simple tool for communication but a complex, expressive art form with depth, fiber, and multiple modalities.

Why did Peter choose to speak his story in eighth grade instead of signing it?

He chose to speak because he had been taught that speech was superior and sign language was sidelined, and he had never been taught to translate written words into a signed performance.

What motivated Peter to leave teaching and found the Deaf Poets Society?

Peter wanted to provide Deaf children with more varied role models and safe spaces to play with language, ensuring that other Deaf children would not face the same limitations he experienced growing up.

What are the three main components of the Deaf Poets Society?

The three main components are: 1) ASL SLAM events that provide a safe space for Deaf language play, 2) establishing additional chapters of ASL SLAM across the country, and 3) international tours to share visual poetry with Deaf communities worldwide.

How does Peter use visual poetry and music in his work?

Peter creates visual poetic compositions using ASL, which are then paired with musical scores. This collaboration allows both Deaf and hearing audiences to experience the richness, rhythm, and expressive potential of sign language.

What is the purpose of using International Sign during international tours?

International Sign is used to communicate and collaborate with Deaf communities in other countries while respecting their local sign languages.

Why does Peter emphasize the importance of diverse role models for his children?

Just as children need a varied diet of food for healthy growth, Peter believes children need a diverse 'diet' of role models to support their linguistic, cultural, and personal development.

What does Peter hope audiences will do after witnessing his work?

He hopes audiences will seek out Deaf communities, collaborate with them, and help make the world a safe space for the Deaf community while preserving the lineage of sign language.

How does Peter describe visual poetry, and what is its impact?

Peter describes visual poetry as a 'soundless visual musical composition' that conveys meter, rhythm, and expressive depth. Its impact is to demonstrate the richness of sign language to both Deaf and hearing audiences, expanding appreciation and understanding.

What challenge did Peter identify for Deaf students in the classroom?

Peter noted that students had limited exposure to sign language, with only three 45-minute sessions per week in a safe space, often returning to home environments with little or no communication opportunities.

How does Peter connect his artistic work with the broader mission of the Deaf Poets Society?

His artistic work showcases the complexity of sign language, inspires new talent, and helps build safe, supportive spaces for the Deaf community, aligning with the society's mission to cultivate future Deaf poets, storytellers, and role models.