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St . Cloud State University – Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy ( CIDAD )
Written by : Kathryn E . Johnson , and Sherri Rademacher
CIDAD Certificate in Deaf Leadership and Advocacy
St . Cloud State University ( SCSU ) hosted the first cohort of 3 Deaf Chinese Student Interns , Zhiyuan Hou , Yukun Yuan , and Jiaxin Mai , in November 2019 for one year in partnership with Jilin Province Education Department in China . SCSU Chinese Visiting Scholar Xiaorong Zhou served as a co-mentor to this team during their internship . The internship aimed to educate American students on Chinese culture and Chinese sign language ( CSL ) at three schools for the Deaf , promoting students ’ global competencies .
The team studied American Sign Language ( ASL ) online before arriving in Minnesota . Learning life and culture in the U . S . for the team was an extraordinary experience while immersed in a different culture . It was also a professional development opportunity where they learned that all children are provided education and have equal accessibility in schools . In addition , they met school administrators and teachers who were Deaf . They learned about Deaf identity and culture , the Americans with Disabilities Act , and their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ( CRPD ).