THIS YEAR’S PRESENTER: EDNA F. JOHNSTON
ASL Immersion Weekend 2002
April 19th, 20th, and 21st
Edna F. Johnston was reared in a large Deaf family with one hearing sister. She graduated from the Maryland School for the Deaf. Edna has a master’s degree in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College. She also has a double bachelor degree in American Sign Language Studies and English: Literature from Gallaudet University. She is presently employed at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois in the ASL-English Interpretation Department where she is a full time faculty member. She has been there for nine years. Edna is currently the acting co-chair of that department.
Edna says she is fascinated with the use of American Sign Language among Deaf children and elderly Deaf adults. With the children, it’s the fascination of watching American Sign Language acquisition and development. With the older adults, it is interesting to see the sign variations due to age differences, and the minimized use of non-manual signals.
Her philosophy is, “Change the Environment, Not Yourself!”