DPN10 Anniversary: In Their Own Words-Barbara H. Dennis

Barbara H. Dennis

"I still have my Deaf President Now pin and a copy of the news release I was asked to distribute. I will never forget the look on students faces when they read the headline that Elisabeth Zinser was selected as the first woman president at Gallaudet. Handing out that release was the hardest job I have ever done. It was tough to walk the fine line of being an objective news person and knowing in my heart that what the deaf community was doing was RIGHT!! It was hard to imagine that the Board of Trustees could be so far out of touch with a community they were supposed to champion.

I have never forgotten the week the world heard from Gallaudet and have shared the Gallaudet story with many, many people. Gallaudet has a special place in my heart and to this day I am proud to have been a part of the Gallaudet community and to have experienced the DPN movement.

In my current job I have had opportunities to interpret (I'm not certified but help when I can) and never hestitate to let people know about the time I spent at Gallaudet and the valuable lessons I learned there. I was given the opportunity to learn to sign and be a part of a vibrant community dedicated to helping students who are deaf be successful. I'll never forget talking with students and how important it was to them that people understood that they could do everything a hearing person could do except hear. The DPN Movement and my time at Gallaudet changed my life. I will never forget the experience."

Barbara H. Dennis
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

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Last modified June 18, 1998