An energetic and enthusiastic audience gathered on December 7 for the presentation, Women Unheard…No Longer! Hearing the Voices of Deaf Women in the Community. The talk, which was given by Judy Freedman Fask at the Worcester Public Library, was part of the Worcester Women’s Oral History Project’s annual event. Ms. Betty Fiipokowski was the interpreter for the lecture. Those in attendance represented a diverse mix of individuals, including members of the Deaf community, colleagues and former students of Ms. Freedman Fask, members of the greater Worcester community as well as members of the Worcester Women’s History Project.
In her address Ms. Freedman Fask focused on the complex process to record and present the lives of Deaf women in their own words and in their own language of American Sign Language. She stressed the importance of recording authentic stories of Deaf women so that they can be shared with others, and included as part of the fabric of our community. A lively question and answer session took place at the conclusion of the formal presentation.
Judy Freedman Fask is a recognized leader in the field of community and civic engagement, especially through Community Based Learning programming. She has been honored with numerous awards for her roles in the community as leader, advocate, and ally. She earned a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Springfield College and a Master’s Degree in Education of the Deaf from Smith College. Ms. Freedman Fask is a member of the Worcester Women’s Oral History Project’s subcommittee and a former member of the Steering Committee of WWHP.
Judy Freedman Fask and Dr. Lisa Kramer co-authored a book that was published in January, 2017. It is entitled Creative Collaborations through Inclusive Theatre and Community Based Learning: Students in Transition.
