The Midwestern Regional Conference (MWRC) is hosted by Chapter BDA voted by members of the region. This year, the MWRC is hosted by the Indiana Chapter of the Black Deaf Advocates. The Midwestern Region is represented by William Babineaux and Hugh Woodson, serving as the Midwestern Representative and Alternative Representative, respectively. They act as liaisons for all local chapters across the Midwestern Region, contributing to the National Black Deaf Advocates’ (NBDA) mission. The Midwestern Regional Black Deaf Advocates consists of seven Midwestern chapters, receives advisories from the Chapter Presidents, providing guidance to the Midwestern and Alternate Regional Representatives, thereby promoting cohesive involvement across the region.
The primary aim of the MWRC is to deliver educational training on Advocacy, Interpreting, Health, and Mental support for the Deaf and hearing communities. One of the many challenges addressed by the MWRC is hearing systemic or hearing standard that impact the lives of Deaf people negatively which can render us into an unnecessary destitute state or creating catastrophic effect. This happens because of lack of education and resources.
In one instance, refusing or delaying providing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodation, a qualified American Sign Language-English interpreter and/or Deaf interpreter on time and in life altering situations such as employment, legal, and medical. Judicial system/employers/housing does not have visual ASL interpretation/translation online or via flash disk drive for court trial rules/employee ethics and policies/mortgage or rental contracts. The risk may result in going to jail, loss of job, loss of income, eviction, severe credit damages with credit bureaus.
In medical scenario, medical personnel use Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) rather than on-site interpreter from a recognized agency; using unidentified agencies or interpreters that are not registered with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). No proof of qualifications or certification shown. The risk this scenario may be death, identity theft, imposters, incorrect use ASL vocabularies due to no ASL screening.
In matters with police, police use non-deaf tactical training/approach after Deaf person several attempts to inform police of their deafness. The state/city does not have appropriate training in place for police working with Deaf people. The catastrophe in this matter may be death, hospitalization, arrest, traumatization.
In situations with schools, school personnel tend to hire unqualified aides/signers or do not have qualified individual to access ASL screening. In primary and secondary schools, language deprivation is particularly prevalent among Deaf students, especially those that attend public schools. The danger could result in miseducation, incorrect ASL and spoken language vocabularies, and education delays.
To counter the above barriers, the conference emphasizes the importance of educational workshops hosted by the Indiana Chapter of the Black Deaf Advocates. The MWRC aspires to provide valuable tools and insights for various groups, including Deaf teachers, teachers of the Deaf, hearing parents with d/Deaf children, American Sign Language-English interpreters, Deaf-ASL interpreters, Deaf Advocates, advocates for the Deaf, Deaf professionals, and professionals for the d/Deaf. The conference encourages attendees to re-approach their work on dismantling barriers with a new attitude. To that end, let’s remember to reflect, refocus, and refresh!
Meet the MWRC Chairperson:
MARISSA BABINEAUX
ICBDA President
MWRC Chairperson
Marissa Babineaux currently resides in Indiana and serves as the President of the Indiana Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates.
Over the past 20 years, Ms. Babineaux has taken on leadership roles in various Deaf organizations in Indiana, including the Fort Wayne Deaf Advocacy Coalition, Inc., Northeast Indiana Deaf Awareness Council, Northshore Louisiana Deaf Coalition, Inc., and Indiana Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.
Since 2022, Ms. Babineaux has been dedicated to her role as an Individualized Education Program Support (IEP) specialist and Student Record assistant at the Indiana School (ISD) for the Deaf. She been at ISD for 16+ years.
A family woman, Ms. Babineaux has been happily married for 23 years and has a 16-year-old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys participating in bunco games, traveling, and socializing with friends.
Meet the Regional and Alternative Representatives:
WILLIAM BABINEAUX
Midwestern Regional Representative
William Babineaux currently lives in Indiana. He is a National Black Deaf Advocates Regional Representative for the Midwest. Babineaux is a certified Creole from the Bayou State of Louisiana. Babineaux is a true Creole Louisianian, born and raised on the bayous.
Over the last 20 years, Babineaux has been a Deaf community leader in multiple Deaf organizations in Louisiana, including the Louisiana Association of the Deaf, Deaf Grassroot Movement of Louisiana, and Northshore Louisiana Deaf Coalition, Inc. In Indiana, he was previously involved in Fort Wayne Deaf Advocacy Coalition, Inc., and Indiana Association of the Deaf. Currently, he is an active member with Indiana Chapter of Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.
Since 2011, Babineaux has also focused on being a Deaf Interpreter and works for two well-known interpreting agencies in the Indianapolis area.
He has a lovely wife of 23 years and a 16-year-old daughter. In his free time, he enjoys going to the beach, traveling, jogging, playing volleyball, and spending time with his family.
HUGH WOODSON
Alternative Regional Representative
Meet the Presidents and their Chapter:
