Swedish Deaf History Seminar
The day after Dr. Yerker Andersson’s visit to us, I rushed to Kastrup Airport (Copenhagen) to fly to Stockholm to attend the Swedish Deaf History Seminar in Manilla School for the Deaf where Yerker attended in his youths.
Stockholm is a city full of historical buildings with fantastic history. I walked to the youth hostel where Tomas Hedberg, the Swedish Deaf History Society President advised me to go. I went in the reception, and asked for a bed for two nights. I received a room pass (high-tech card) and asked the receptionist where is the room, in which I was answered, (by lip-reading) “On the ship”.
I went out and in front of the hostel building, by the river bank, lay a good s
ized ship with beautiful design. I then went on the ship and used my card to open the door. Inside the ship, it looked exactly the SAME as any ordinary ships. I went in my room (or shall I say, CABIN), which contains 4 bunk beds. I really felt I am on ship ready for a journey round the world!
The shower and toilets are fantastic; it is REALLY like a true ship! For 20 Euros per night, I am extremely pleased with what I have. I took a few hours to get a sneak preview of the Old Town which is nice and warming.
The real reason for me to be in Stockholm began on Saturday morning, the Swedish Deaf History Seminar. Using a free map from the Information centre to navigate myself to the Manilla School for the Deaf, approx. 5 km, it took me a good 40 minutes walk. I walked through an island full of green and trees; I enjoyed that environment since it is similar to traditional English countryside.
Eventually I found my way to the Manilla School for the Deaf, a true historical building. I was greeted by the Secretary and the President of the Swedish Deaf History Society. The seminar contains three key speakers (one speaking in English, one signs in Swedish Sign language and last one as American Sign Language).
First up on the stage in front of a good turnover of 55ish people, all but two, were Swedish, was Douglas Bahl from Minnesota, USA. He talked about the life of Olaf Hansson, a Swedish-born who moved to Minnesota and became an architect. He became deafened just before teenage on one ear through a cold weather, without a warm hat. He then became completely deaf, according to his diary; there w
as a strong draught in his room which caused it.
Shortly after the death of the father of Olaf, the family moved to Minnesota. Olaf grew up learning to become one of the finest architects. He designed over 100 buildings which were built. Many of those buildings were Deaf schools, Deaf clubs. He also designed many private homes and churches.
Only four of his buildings are currently on the historical landmark (meaning it could not be demolished, only to preserve). There are two more important building which Douglas is still fighting to become a historical landmark. The first one is Dawes House (one of the building in Gallaudet University, it used to be a boys’ dormitory). All the buildings in the Gallaudet University were designed by hearing people. The second one is a Norwegian church in USA, which is so beautiful, but the church refused to help and make the building a historical landmark, because the church is “humble” it is for everyone to attend and pray, not for “fame”.
Myself and Doug’s partner, Sue, sat together to look at the American Sign Language interpreter. Indeed I know International Sign, but it has a bit strong influence from the ASL so I could understand it.
The second speaker, who spoke in English, is Tiina Naukkarinen, a Deaf Museum project worker from the Finnish Deaf Association. She talked about Carl Oscar Malm, the Finnish-born man who moved to Stockholm to establish a Deaf school – Manilla School for the Deaf.
She also talked of Malm’s pupils and associates until his death. Both presenters showed many old images on Powerpoint which the audience enjoyed looking at.
Lastly, the President of Swedish Deaf History Society, Tomas Hedberg, talked about the history of Manilla School for the Deaf, dating back to its establishing in 1809. We then were given a guided tour around the school which was enjoyable.
After the tour, the Swedish Deaf History Society held an AGM, and all five members of the Board are to continue, with Tomas Hedberg still on the President role. One of the news that they have completed the printing of the Deaf History International (DHI) Conference 2009 in Stockholm poster ready to be put on display in DHI Conference in Berlin, 2006.
Prior to the end of the day, Tomas showed Doug, Tiina and I the sport gym building which is separated from the school, it is the only building in the area to be recognized as a historical landmark! The school building looked so much better and older than that sport hall!
On the evening, we went to Stockholm Deaf Club with Thai food waiting for us. The meal was good and we were given an opportunity to use pen and paper and walk around the building reading questions on the walls about Deaf History. There were 12 questions in Swedish language, but I had Tomas helping translating it. Umm… out of the 12 questions, I only got 4 correct. I should have known two more, and the other 6 are Swedish related. The winner of 8 answers received a box of chocolate.
On Sunday, we met up in one of the Stockholm’s graveyard for a tour. There w
ere 21 famous Deaf people buried, with many others less famous. We were shown to the important ones. I took photographs of every grave; all of those are different style. We spotted the great Alfred Nobel’s, who introduced the Nobel Prize, grave.
It was an end of the Deaf History Seminar, I truly enjoyed it throughout, and Stockholm has won the bid to host the DHI Conference in 2009, to celebrate Manilla School for the Deaf’s 200th Year Anniversary. I plan to go there, and will book the accommodation on the ship!
Stockholm is a city full of historical buildings with fantastic history. I walked to the youth hostel where Tomas Hedberg, the Swedish Deaf History Society President advised me to go. I went in the reception, and asked for a bed for two nights. I received a room pass (high-tech card) and asked the receptionist where is the room, in which I was answered, (by lip-reading) “On the ship”.
I went out and in front of the hostel building, by the river bank, lay a good s
ized ship with beautiful design. I then went on the ship and used my card to open the door. Inside the ship, it looked exactly the SAME as any ordinary ships. I went in my room (or shall I say, CABIN), which contains 4 bunk beds. I really felt I am on ship ready for a journey round the world!The shower and toilets are fantastic; it is REALLY like a true ship! For 20 Euros per night, I am extremely pleased with what I have. I took a few hours to get a sneak preview of the Old Town which is nice and warming.
The real reason for me to be in Stockholm began on Saturday morning, the Swedish Deaf History Seminar. Using a free map from the Information centre to navigate myself to the Manilla School for the Deaf, approx. 5 km, it took me a good 40 minutes walk. I walked through an island full of green and trees; I enjoyed that environment since it is similar to traditional English countryside.
Eventually I found my way to the Manilla School for the Deaf, a true historical building. I was greeted by the Secretary and the President of the Swedish Deaf History Society. The seminar contains three key speakers (one speaking in English, one signs in Swedish Sign language and last one as American Sign Language).
First up on the stage in front of a good turnover of 55ish people, all but two, were Swedish, was Douglas Bahl from Minnesota, USA. He talked about the life of Olaf Hansson, a Swedish-born who moved to Minnesota and became an architect. He became deafened just before teenage on one ear through a cold weather, without a warm hat. He then became completely deaf, according to his diary; there w
as a strong draught in his room which caused it.Shortly after the death of the father of Olaf, the family moved to Minnesota. Olaf grew up learning to become one of the finest architects. He designed over 100 buildings which were built. Many of those buildings were Deaf schools, Deaf clubs. He also designed many private homes and churches.
Only four of his buildings are currently on the historical landmark (meaning it could not be demolished, only to preserve). There are two more important building which Douglas is still fighting to become a historical landmark. The first one is Dawes House (one of the building in Gallaudet University, it used to be a boys’ dormitory). All the buildings in the Gallaudet University were designed by hearing people. The second one is a Norwegian church in USA, which is so beautiful, but the church refused to help and make the building a historical landmark, because the church is “humble” it is for everyone to attend and pray, not for “fame”.
Myself and Doug’s partner, Sue, sat together to look at the American Sign Language interpreter. Indeed I know International Sign, but it has a bit strong influence from the ASL so I could understand it.
The second speaker, who spoke in English, is Tiina Naukkarinen, a Deaf Museum project worker from the Finnish Deaf Association. She talked about Carl Oscar Malm, the Finnish-born man who moved to Stockholm to establish a Deaf school – Manilla School for the Deaf.
She also talked of Malm’s pupils and associates until his death. Both presenters showed many old images on Powerpoint which the audience enjoyed looking at.
Lastly, the President of Swedish Deaf History Society, Tomas Hedberg, talked about the history of Manilla School for the Deaf, dating back to its establishing in 1809. We then were given a guided tour around the school which was enjoyable.
After the tour, the Swedish Deaf History Society held an AGM, and all five members of the Board are to continue, with Tomas Hedberg still on the President role. One of the news that they have completed the printing of the Deaf History International (DHI) Conference 2009 in Stockholm poster ready to be put on display in DHI Conference in Berlin, 2006.
Prior to the end of the day, Tomas showed Doug, Tiina and I the sport gym building which is separated from the school, it is the only building in the area to be recognized as a historical landmark! The school building looked so much better and older than that sport hall!
On the evening, we went to Stockholm Deaf Club with Thai food waiting for us. The meal was good and we were given an opportunity to use pen and paper and walk around the building reading questions on the walls about Deaf History. There were 12 questions in Swedish language, but I had Tomas helping translating it. Umm… out of the 12 questions, I only got 4 correct. I should have known two more, and the other 6 are Swedish related. The winner of 8 answers received a box of chocolate.
On Sunday, we met up in one of the Stockholm’s graveyard for a tour. There w
ere 21 famous Deaf people buried, with many others less famous. We were shown to the important ones. I took photographs of every grave; all of those are different style. We spotted the great Alfred Nobel’s, who introduced the Nobel Prize, grave.It was an end of the Deaf History Seminar, I truly enjoyed it throughout, and Stockholm has won the bid to host the DHI Conference in 2009, to celebrate Manilla School for the Deaf’s 200th Year Anniversary. I plan to go there, and will book the accommodation on the ship!
posted by Gordon @ 9:00 PM
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