Cultivating deaf leadership and global advocates from China to the United States

CIDAD at St. Cloud State University, U.S.: Graduate leadership certificate for Chinese deaf citizens. Initiatives include internships, summer camps, and advocacy videos. Plans to involve 30 interns in 15 deaf schools by 2024.

The Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy (CIDAD) at St. Cloud State University, in the state of Minnesota, initiated a graduate leadership certificate for Chinese citizens who are deaf. The students teach Chinese Sign Language and culture to American deaf students, facilitate a summer camp, and produce advocacy video modules. From its 2016 inception with one student, it plans to involve 30 interns across 15 deaf schools by 2024.

Problems Targeted

In China higher education options beyond art, programming, and dance are limited, restricting the growth of leadership and role models for those who are deaf, at the same time marginalizing the community.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The project is implemented by the Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy, a hub within the public and Minnesota-based St. Cloud State University (SCSU). It is a one-year formal education project for deaf Chinese students studying in the United States. It concludes with a Graduate Certificate and is clearly intended to increase leadership and advocacy development among deaf Chinese citizens. Students attend one semester to develop deaf identity, culture, leadership, and advocacy skills. During the second semester they are placed at an American school for the deaf, where they teach Chinese Sign Language and culture to American deaf students. In the third semester the interns lead a summer camp with American deaf students in which they demonstrate mastery of their leadership and advocacy skills. Students choose a research topic and create a video module on advocacy and fundamental freedoms to bring home and to help build the capacity of knowledge and empowerment among deaf citizens in their own community. At the same time, American deaf students develop global competency skills and second language acquisition through learning about Chinese culture, history, and Chinese Sign Language.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

It project founded with partnerships in China but is expanding and open to deaf students worldwide. Primary funding for the Chinese interns had initially been through the Confucius Institute, which provided travel funds and stipends, while schools for the deaf provided housing and meals. China´s Embassy in the US is funding US students to experience a China education abroad. SCSU is also seeking scholarships from the China Scholarship Council for deaf Chinese students to enrol at SCSU. (Awardee 2024)

Pictures

At St. Cloud State University (USA), deaf Chinese students can earn a leadership certificate.

At St. Cloud State University (USA), deaf Chinese students can earn a leadership certificate.

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THE STORY OF MAI JIAXIN, FORMER PARTICIPANT OF THE US CHINA DEAF LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY PROJECT

“Within the first month everything I knew about being a deaf person changed.”

My name is Jiaxin Mai, and when I was 27 years I arrived in America from China to begin my leadership development at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), in the state of Minnesota. Within the first month everything I knew about being a deaf person changed. It was a transformative experience. I grew up in a hearing family. During my school years I felt alone because I was the only deaf student. Later, when I attended college, I learned sign language and became proud of being deaf. But this pride was nothing like what I felt after my experience at SCSU. I met deaf leaders who were teachers, engineers, and even heads of organizations. Many had PhDs! It showed me that anyone can be themselves. Since my return to China, I have been busy continuing my learning and leader- ship by being an international volunteer. I volunteered for the World Federation of the Deaf conference in South Korea, and I’ve been learning Korean Sign Language. I am also volunteering with some organizations in Malaysia. I feel I have grown so much in my leadership, and in November 2023 I started a job teaching sign language.