The Silent Garden
Past Lectures
The 12th annual Silent Garden Lecture on Feb. 24, 2024, "Building a Bridge to My Deaf Child's Success. ¡Vamos, sí se puede!” focused on Spanish-speaking families of deaf and hard of hearing children and was presented by Dr. Robert R. Davila and co-chaired by Dr. Omar Ruiz.
Presenters included:
Dr. Omar Ruiz, ASL professor, presented on "¡Aun Se Puede! My Road to Success"
Description: What is success? How can we better define it? In this presentation, we will explore how a successful family can be formed through unity, understanding, and love, and how the bond between siblings will help Deaf and Hard of Hearing children succeed academically and professionally.
Evelyn Pena, advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, presented "Siblings: The Unbreakable Bond" / "Hermanos: El vínculo inquebrantable"
Description: In most families, hearing siblings provide communication between the Deaf siblings and their hearing parents, but sometimes it is the opposite. There are ways to create that bond. Evelyn Peña will share her experiences and insight on making a stronger bond between siblings as they advocate for their deaf siblings.
Mark Apodaca, director of finance and chief procurement officer at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, presented “Parenting in Multicultural Families / La Crianza de los Hijos en Familias Multiculturales.”
Description: Latino families take great pride in their unity, parenting with love, culture, and traditions. A Deaf or Hard of Hearing child brings a new culture that threatens family dynamics. Mark Apodaca will discuss how to be strong members of Latino and Deaf communities while raising deaf and hard of hearing children.
Panelists included: Francisca Malcos, Lorena Alvarez, Roberto Marin, Brandon Marin, Giovanni Vazquez, Michael Davis and others.
About Dr. Robert Davila:
Dr. Davila has been a wonderful supporter of Fresno State's Silent Garden Program and his visionary leadership and dedicated support is what led to the establishment of the Robert R. and Donna E. Davila Endowment in the Silent Garden, which brings together world-class speakers and experts in raising and educating Hispanic children with hearing loss.
Among Dr. Davila’s many esteemed accomplishments, include having once served as president of Gallaudet University, which is the premier higher education institution in the U.S. for the deaf and hard of hearing, making him the first person of color to serve in this role. Prior to his presidency, he became the first deaf and Hispanic individual appointed by a U.S. sitting president to serve as the assistant secretary of education overseeing the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. And most recently, he was chosen to be among a group of remarkable Latinos and Latinas recognized as part of a permanent Smithsonian display in Washington, D.C. Read more about Dr. Davila
Pictured: the three keynote speakers present their powerpoints and Dr. Robert Davila (top)
Pictured: Participants from each of the three panels, moderated by Dr. Ruiz
Pictured: the three presenters, and Dr. Robert Davila, are presented plaques by Dr. Paul Ogden, founder of the Silent Garden, and Dr. Kara Zografos, interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
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The 11th annual Silent Garden Lecture on Feb. 25, 2023, focused on hearing technology and tinnitus. Presenters included:
Ethan Emmett Castro, Hard of Hearing music producer, songwriter, engineer and inventor, presented on
"Embodied Sound for Music Appreciation".
Description: Sonic experiences have become disembodied--embracing purely acoustic pathways--limiting who can engage with content. I propose a method of embodied sound reproduction that engages both hearing and tactile sensations by enhancing the microvibrations that naturally exist when reproducing higher-frequency sounds via vibrotactile and vibroacoustic methods.
Panelists:
- Martha Rodriguez
- Rober Simpson
- Justin Toca
Dr. Sheri Mello, owner of an audiology private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina, presented on
"What Is That Noise In My Head?".
Description: What is that noise in my head and where did it come from? Who do I go to for help Is there any cure? These are the questions we will explore the answers to in an informal discussion as well as a formal presentation on the topic of TINNITUS.
Panelists:
- Ken Arcia
- Ellen Bowman
- Anthony Davis
- Ruthie McLeod
- Roger Simpson
The 10th annual Silent Garden Lecture on Feb. 26, 2022, focused on interpreting was exciting and inspirational for all professionals, interns, and students. Many expressed how pleased they were with so much relevant information presented – refreshing perspectives for the role of interpreters, both Deaf and hearing.
Almost "Dr." Sharon Hill's panel and presentation on the topic of “Finding What Is lost – The Challenge of Creating Human Connection in the Interpretive Experience” was outstanding. Everyone appreciated the new and enhanced "point of view of an interpreter." Dr. Christopher Tester's “Deaf Interpreters of Today” was absolutely cutting-edge material for the entire field of interpretation and translation.
Everyone valued highly the comments, thoughts, and insights of the six panelists: Lori Breslow, Dr. Joseph Hill, Omar Ruiz, Carla Shird, Steven Stubbs, and Rosemary Wanis. All in all, a terrific event! We also thanked Russ Kane and the Laurence W. Levine Foundation, the Silent Garden Education Fund, and College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State for sponsoring the 10th annual Silent Garden Lecture.
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This lecture featured guest speaker, Jennifer White, who spoke on the topic of "School to Work Transition Planning with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students."
Because Deaf and Hard of Hearing students are often deprived of full language access throughout childhood, they can experience gaps in world information and require specialized help to find jobs. The lecture provideed current and much-needed guidance for teachers, educators and professionals working with high-risk students seeking to enter the workforce.
Gael Hannan was our guest lecturer and discussed the impact of hearing loss on relationships, raising children, work issues, and the things we love to do. There was also a panel of individuals who shared how they deal with their hearing losses. Additionally, we held a support group in the afternoon for attendees to share their experiences with others.
Two Silent Garden Lectures were held this year.
First was a two-day summit, a collaborative partnership between The Silent Garden program and the California Department of Education, brought 200 administrators and educational interpreters from throughout the state to campus. Participants discussed roles and responsibilities of educators and interpreters of the deaf and hard of hearing, learned new state standards and curriculum goals and received information about required assessments and certifications in the field. (Read more)
The second event involved president of Gallaudet University Roberta Cordano as the keynote speaker. was hosted alongside Fresno State’s Celebration of Diversity event recognizing the 200th anniversary of Deaf Education in the United States (hosted in the morning). This afternoon lecture was attended by many Fresno State students, local teachers, and families. Irma Sanchez was the invited back: Working with Latino Families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. Her earlier lecture done in Spanish was primarily for Latino Families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
2013