You are invited to a webinar titled,
“The Untold Stories of Black Deaf People & History”
This webinar will explore through a historical lens the untold stories of the culture, education, and sociolinguistics of Black Deaf people. The era of racial segregation and social exclusion contributed to the miseducation of Black Deaf students in schools, the development of Black ASL, the formation of Black Deaf organizations and at least in part, intertwined with the formation of the National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. (NBDA). This session also discusses how the cultural intersections of the larger deaf community and black hearing community impact upon Black Deaf people’s identities.
When: February 21, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_31xiy4ILTeKj7oDDFD2vkw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
ASL Interpreters and a real-time captioner will be present.
Webinar Speaker – Benro T. Ogunyipe (Director @Illinois Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commission)
Benro T. Ogunyipe is the Director of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.
Benro served for six years as president, vice president, and chair of the board of National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. from 2007 to 2013. In 2014 and again in 2016, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Benro to the National Council on Disability. Benro was also appointed by three different Illinois Governors to public bodies and was an appointed board member of the National Association of the Deaf.
Benro authored Black Deaf Culture Through Lens of History, a short commentary on the history, culture, and education of Black Deaf People for the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) supported by the U.S. Department of Education. Benro is a frequent presenter on the topics of advocacy, employment rights and discrimination, interpreting in diverse communities, cultural diversity & inclusion, and through the historical lens: the culture, miseducation, and sociolinguistics of Black Deaf people. He was a seasoned guest lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Disability Studies and Columbia College Chicago’s Interpreter Training Program on Multicultural Issues.
Benro received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gallaudet University and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from DePaul University, School of Public Service.
 | SHELLY RICHARDSON, MPA (she/her) Executive Director |
| Organization | Statewide Independent Living Council of IL |
| Work | (217) 744-7777 |
| Shelly@SILCofIllinois.org | |
| Website | SILCofIllinois.org |
| Address | 828 S. 2nd Street, Suite 301 Springfield, Illinois 62704-2638 |
