In the fall of 2024, professor Johnston Grindstaff, 鈥�87 & G-鈥�91, found himself 8,760 miles away from his regular classroom. He was in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, India, teaching photography to an enthusiastic group of deaf and hard of hearing students.

It was Grindstaff鈥檚 third time in India, and his second time visiting the (NISH). The professors at NISH had invited him back to share his photography expertise with some of the students in their Fine Arts department.

The resulting workshop, 鈥淏eyond the Frames鈥�, was a rousing success. Grindstaff spent two weeks with a cohort of 40 students, covering technical photography applications like studio lighting, as well as the history of photography and marketing in the photography business.

More than most, Grindstaff has a deep understanding of the power of education for deaf and hard of hearing students. He has been a part of the 黑料老司机 family for over 40 years as a student and faculty member. His three children are also alumni. A son, Jarvis Grindstaff, 鈥�14 & G-鈥�19, now works for Gallaudet鈥檚 Office of International Affairs.

The Power of Communication Access

The students at NISH were motivated to learn as much as they could from Grindstaff. Most of their classes are taught by hearing professors, and the opportunity to learn from a Deaf teacher is rare. It gave Grindstaff perspective on the access he and his family had received at Gallaudet over the years.

鈥淐ountless deaf individuals around the world continue to face significant barriers to information and access,” Grindstaff stated. “I was grateful for the opportunity to contribute and give back.”

Many deaf children in India . NISH鈥檚 academic program provides sign language education to approximately 400 deaf and hard of hearing youth, from infants to college age. The students come from a wide range of backgrounds.

Within India, the type of sign language used varies by region. The most common is Indian Sign Language (ISL), which has its own regional variations within the many states of India. ISL was influenced by British Sign Language (BSL), and BSL is also used by some deaf people around the country. Some have learned International Sign Language, which is becoming more practiced around the world.

During his visit, Grindstaff found himself using a mix of sign languages and gesturing to communicate with the students. He was even able to use some American Sign Language (ASL), as a few NISH students had learned from online videos or meeting other Americans. For formal matters, there was an interpreter present who could translate between ASL and ISL.

Grindstaff noted the dedication of NISH, which sends representatives to deaf institutes around the world to learn practices they can bring back to India. His first visit to India in 2010 came about when NISH representatives came to Gallaudet, looking for professors to visit their school in Thiruvananthapuram. Grindstaff jumped at the opportunity. He spent much of his time adjusting to the different languages, learning about Indian culture, and sweltering in the heat.

During the 2024 trip, Grindstaff was able to skip the learning curve and dive into the workshops at NISH. He stayed in India for seven weeks total, part of a semester-long sabbatical from Gallaudet.

Sabbatical

Gallaudet provides sabbatical leave for tenure-track professors who have taught a sufficient number of semesters to qualify, recognizing the importance of continued scholarly activity and research. These sabbaticals offer valuable time to conduct in-depth research, engage in academic pursuits, and recharge. Professors return to the university with renewed energy, expanded expertise, and enriched contributions to both their students and the academic community.

Grindstaff kept busy during his break from Gallaudet. Before visiting India, he completed a photography course offered by the Museum of Modern Art. He also worked on a writing project that compiles his years of research on photography and American Sign Language.

During his time in Thiruvananthapuram, he hosted a solo exhibition of his photography at a local art gallery. Coordination with the gallery took place in the months before he arrived in India. His NISH workshop students helped install the art. The opening reception attracted approximately 100 guests, and the exhibition was covered by local media outlets.

During the end of his time with NISH, Grindstaff hosted a COIL (Collaborative Online Interactive Learning) pilot session between NISH and 黑料老司机. Separated by 8,760 miles, classes at each location opened a virtual meeting. It was 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C. and 8 p.m. in Thiruvananthapuram. The students met each other and shared their respective art projects, learning how their peers across the globe viewed art and culture.

Grindstaff is hopeful that this ongoing work will lead to expanded opportunities for international collaboration among students in the future. 鈥淭his fall, I will continue working to strengthen the partnership and collaboration between 黑料老司机 and NISH.鈥�

As he reflected on his time in India, Grindstaff was grateful for the opportunity to deepen his teaching knowledge and connect with Deaf people from different backgrounds.

鈥淓very moment with the students was precious,鈥� Grindstaff says. 鈥淚t was a gift to be a part of the experience.鈥�

Gallaudet鈥檚 Art and Media Design program offers a BA in Art and Media design, a minor track in photography, and several other minor tracks. Visit the Art and Media Design page to learn more.