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ASL Rose Newsletter
Vol. 3 No. 7
December 2009

A Tribute to Dr. Lawrence Raymond Fleischer

Dr. Lawrence Raymond Fleischer
October 11, 1945 – November 1, 2009

Teacher. Founder. Activist. Leader. Athlete. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Mentor. Those are just a few of the roles that Dr. Fleischer embodied during his lifetime. Born in Long Island, New York on October 11, 1945 to deaf parents, Dr. Fleischer began his journey as a student at Lexington School for the Deaf, where he was already showing signs of a budding activist. For instance, he had stood up school administrators and teachers who he believed were oppressing deaf students. He then transferred to New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood) in White Plains. He continued his strong advocacy for deaf individuals’ access. For example, at Gallaudet University, as a vice president of the Student Body Government, he staged a protest supporting in obtaining accessible and higher quality in student health services. He would go on to breathe life into ASL in many ways throughout his lifetime.

Born to a bilingual family, Dr. Fleischer had the fortune of being exposed at a very young age to not just American Sign Language, but also to LSQ, a signed language used in Canada (Quebec). Certainly, Dr. Fleisher’s love of language came about naturally.

Widely known at California State University-Northridge (CSUN) as the "Babe Ruth" of Deaf Studies, Dr. Fleisher had a significant role as a founder in the establishment of the Deaf Studies Program at CSUN in 1972, long before a Deaf Studies program was introduced at other universities. He went on to serve as chairperson for the Department of Deaf Studies.

During a time when ASL was not publicly recognized as an authentic language; deaf individuals would use ASL, signing passionately amongst one another. However upon their setting foot on stage, would revert to what was then considered a more "scholarly" form of presentation: Pidgin Signed English (now called Contact Signs), which clearly placed emphasis on English word order. Dr. Fleischer once again broke ranks and unabashedly used ASL on stage.

One prominent member of the deaf community, Ella Mae Lentz, an ASL advocate and leader of ASL-English bilingual education, poet and co-author of Signing Naturally series, remembers Dr. Fleisher in a vlog: "I remember watching him stand up on stage (ASLTA Conference, Chicago, 1977) and he started to present in ASL. We were all blown away, because no one had dared to use ASL on stage." Clearly more than a man of words, Dr. Fleischer was a man of action whose humble acts would go on to inspire many others.

Another ardent fan and a former student of Dr. Fleischer at CSUN in a vlog, Priscilla Moyers, Certified Deaf Interpreter and Court Expert Interpreter, explained how she became involved in ASL teaching, interpreting and interpretation teacher education was result of Larry's inspiration. Priscilla no longer is ashamed of her Deaf parents’ ASL and changed her views of ASL as a language. With determination and pride, Priscilla thanked Larry for instilling new perspectives and employment opportunities related to ASL in her and in everyone.

Leslie Greer, former ASLTA president, an ASL teacher and a CIT board member, mentioned in her several video logs about Dr. Fleischer who had narrated how he was influential towards ASL teachings back in early 1970s -- most current in various conferences and an ardent supporter of ASL instruction in K-12. He led one of Gallaudet's many protests (yes, there were many protests long before the Deaf President Now protest) during his vice presidency with Student Body Government. There were complaints regarding the hearing non-signing staff members of the infirmary. Leslie clearly stated that Larry was a trailblazer in our language rights. Larry, you will always be honorably etched in our hearts, souls and memories.

When the board members of the American Sign Language Teachers Association brought up the need for ASL in Education in 1992, then Vice President Jacobowitz decided to become involved in creating ASL curriculum for L1 users and L2 learners and it was when Dr. Fleischer travelled to San Diego to meet with us committee members from National Association of the Deaf and ASLTA. Dr. Fleischer emphasized that teaching ASL are crucial in Pre-school - college, equally paramount to teaching required English in Pre-school - college.

In this same meeting, Dr. Fleischer discussed the failures and successes of using sign language in education beginning from early 1700s when Kings and Queens depended on Deaf people to translate from gestures to signs and from signs to written languages. Dr. Fleischer in his eloquent speech shared with us that the Kings and Queens of various countries had thanked Deaf people for being excellent scholars in editing newspapers, various literature and interpreting different countries' language. In mid 1800s, the oral methods plagued the education of Deaf people, our literacy in spoken language immediately deteriorated. Thus the Kings and Queens stopped using Deaf people's language service due to their ineffective communication and lack of comprehension in variety of languages.

Dr. Fleischer's speech prompted the board members of ASLTA to establish the national ASL Curriculum Project and the national ASL Legislation. Also, he set in motion for companies to produce more ASL-English materials. ASL Rose is committed to producing more bilingual-bicultural materials. Our next new product, "Waving Hands: The ABCs of Deaf American Role Models" book will be dedicated to Dr. Fleischer.

Dr. Fleischer was instrumental to this national attention and need for better education using ASL in classroom, not only for basic communication needs but to learn and teach the linguistic principles of ASL in all grades. Dr. Fleischer encouraged educators of deaf students to incorporate ASL in curriculum from Pre-school to college. Not only to utilize ASL to communicate but to teach in ASL as a part of language arts. Dr. Fleischer's favorite quote, "OF Deaf People, BY Deaf People, and FOR Deaf People." This demonstrates that Larry strongly believed that we, Deaf people, are capable of being fluent ASL and English users.

While Dr. Fleischer contributed time and energy in teaching and sports (he served as president of the USA Deaf Sports Federation, an organization which he has been actively involved for years), it was his very contribution to ASL Literacy that ASL Rose wishes to reflect on. Before doing so, it needs to be mentioned that the term, "Deaflympics" was coined by Dr. Fleischer.

Dr. Fleischer was actively involved in the National Literacy Society for the Deaf (NLSD). He has promoted ASL Literacy from the time he was in high school. An avid supporter of ASL Rose, Dr. Fleischer worked hard to find grants that would allow for the publication of ASL literature. He was able to get a grant from both the Carl W. Johnson Foundation and CSUN-Deaf Studies for the production of a coming ASL Rose publication, Waving Hands, which will not only feature a foreword written by Dr. Fleischer, but will include a section honoring him among the deaf role models who are already included in the book. Dr. Fleischer believed in developing more ASL-English bilingual storytelling products that will enrich the lives of Deaf children and their families. His picture and name can be found in "Have You Ever Seen…? An ASL Handshape DVD/Book" -- pages 18 and 19 as well as one of our Deaf heroes on our ASL Rose web link.

Dr. Fleischer's contributions to the field of ASL and Deaf Studies bear the mark of a trailblazer, an individual who has forged new territory. It is our hope that his name will appear in every book that discusses Deaf History, Deaf culture, and American Sign Language. This is a man that we must remember with gratitude, a man whose memory must live on in the hearts of our children, and their children.

One of Dr. Fleischer's last stage acts was to give an Endnote Speech at the 2009 ASLTA conference in Phoenix, Arizona. During his speech, Dr. Fleischer noted his pride in his daughter, Flavia Fleischer (who delivered opening remarks during the same conference) and made a comment that would linger in the minds of conference attendees long after getting the news that he had passed away: "Now is the time that Flavia enters the picture (as a leader in Deaf Studies) and it is time for me to leave…"

Many websites and articles have been published about him. One of them is Deaf Life in December 2009. Please honor Dr. Fleischer that he is OF, BY and FOR deaf children by naming one of important role models in ASL-English bilingual curriculum and Deaf Studies.

National tributes are in the making in honor of Dr. Larry Fleischer:

The ASL Round Table hosted at Ohlone College will give him one during their conference on January 10 – 13, 2010.

One will be held at the California State University at Northridge, his home base, the Department of Deaf Studies, at the Northridge Center Complex, Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 1 – 4 pm.

Another one will be held at the Utah's bi-annual Deaf Studies Conference on the Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah on April 8 – 10, 2010.

More details about various tributes will be announced in news and websites.

A devastating loss to his family, Dr. Fleisher's passing on November 1, 2009 has rippled throughout the signing community. A mentor to many, and a dear friend to others, Dr. Fleischer’s death has left a gaping space in the world. It is with profound sadness that the owners of ASL Rose note his passing. You will be missed, Dr. Larry.