Deaf Community & NMSD Opposes HM 21

WATCH: New Mexico School for the Deaf and Deaf community opposes HM 21. A big win-win for the community in the state of New Mexico.

Today the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) and Deaf community came together to oppose HM 21, a controversial proposal to change the campus to a four-year college program. The motion was withdrew. NMSD Alumni Mark Ramirez fills us in what happened. Here's video in American Sign Language.

To view HM 21: http://bit.ly/1Sedgy0.

Transcript -- Hello, I’m at the Roundhouse, it’s an government building in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

There was just a proposal and a discussion. Check out the people here. See the NMSD community. Teachers, staff, students, and alumni came in big numbers to be supportive. Family, friends, and parents also came. It’s very inspiring. There’s more people around the corner.

What happened? One representative proposed HM 21, and in the language, it proposed NMSD be changed to a four-year college program, to offer more collegiate options other than Gallaudet.

Naturally, this change would negatively impact NMSD’s K-12 program, early intervention, outreach, and other services. Those services reach a multitude of students and people.

After the representative proposed it to the committee, the committee asked who was opposed to it. Many parents, student, alumni, students, staff, and faculty shared touching stories of their experiences and the importance of Deaf community, culture, and language - and the outreach services.

After this touching display, the committee asked who was in favor of HM 21. Nobody showed support for it. Some was neutral. In the end, the committee, including the representatives and the chair - discussed amongst themselves and asked HM 21 to be withdrawn. They said they might re-evaluate this later. They told the representative to work with the NMSD/Deaf community, to not work without them. This was a big win for us.

The final result: the representative withdrew HM 21. It’s over. But, we’re looking at the possibility that it might happen again in the future. We will stay vigilant. -- with Mark Ramirez. Source.

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