Once Upon A Time…A Brief History of TRIPOD

by Megan Williams

“What does Megan want to do?” It was 1982 and our friend Joe Shapiro was asking the question of Michael Shamberg, Jacob’s father. “ She wants to start a clearinghouse for information on deafness so other parents don’t have to go through what we have just gone through.” “And she wants to start a school for Jacob and other deaf kids, but she wants our daughter Caitlin to be able to go to the same school. She doesn’t want to split the them up just because Caitlin can hear and Jacob can’t.” Joe nodded, “I know someone who can help.” We were lucky, Joe was not only a good friend, but also a mergers and acquisitions lawyer who knew how to get the job done. The “someone” he referred to was Rick Bourke, venture capitalist and partner of Dooney & Bourke who had a special interest in education. Rick was TRIPOD’s founding donor.

When I first suspected Jacob couldn’t hear, his pediatrician blamed it on a cold. “All mothers are a little anxious.” A few weeks later, Jacob’s profound hearing loss was confirmed. I was shocked and I was lost. Over 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents unprepared for the language challenge that lies ahead. I didn’t know a thing about deafness. After several months of phone calls, visiting schools, reading books and meeting deaf adults, it was clear that family centered deaf education did not exist - reform was needed. Gallaudet University referred me to Carl Kirchner, “He knows everything about deaf education.”

As our plans got underway, Carl suggested resurrecting the name “TRIPOD”, which he had given to a series of parent workshops held ten years earlier. Those early TRIPOD parents, having raised their deaf children, became the foundation of TRIPOD’s new toll-free hotline - The Grapevine. If you can imagine a time before Internet search engines and email links, then you will appreciate that The TRIPOD Grapevine responded to nearly 8,000 calls in its first 10 years of operation. Calls came from all 50 states and several foreign countries, from family members and educators in search of resources and referrals. Fortunately, the Internet came along and by the late 90’s, The Grapevine was successfully out of business.

The Founding Mission Statement

We enrich the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children and their families by providing unique opportunities in education, sports, arts and entertainment.

• 1) The first priority is to assist parents in establishing natural interaction with their children who have a hearing loss to assure that the child can assume his place and role in his family.
• 2) Incorporation of a Total Communication philosophy, which includes speech, speech reading, American Sign Language, listening strategies, reading and writing.
• 3) Classrooms are co-enrolled (deaf, hard of hearing and hearing) to foster early language acquisition and natural social, emotional development.
• 4) Exploration & examination of what works best in education and how it can be adapted for deaf students.
• 5) Deaf & Hearing individuals are represented at all levels of the organization: Board of Directors, Administration, Teaching Staff, Parent Association & Volunteers. All events are accessible.
• 6) Sign Language Classes, taught by deaf adults, are provided at no cost for 40 weeks to families, their extended families, friends & neighbors.

Carl endorsed the concept of hearing and deaf learning side-by-side. It was called co-enrollment, to which he added the Montessori method. A search for a credentialed teacher of the deaf with Montessori certification ensued. Cindy Murphy (LeBuffe) took the job. She was a dedicated educator who had confidence in each child’s individual strengths. Cindy’s first hire was Teacher Assistant Nanci Kendall, a deaf actor, who was a fantastic role model and ASL storyteller.

The TRIPOD school opened in West Hollywood in February 1984 with four children. Two years later, TRIPOD and PS#1, a small private elementary school in Santa Monica, jointly offered a co-enrolled program for the lower elementary grades. Each classroom had a regular ed teacher teamed with deaf ed teacher. It was a full inclusion program – the TRIPOD students participated in all of PS#1’s activities. The PS#1 partnership enabled TRIPOD to hone its practices in an intimate, private school setting. By 1989 TRIPOD needed to expand and, more important, to demonstrate the model’s viability within the public education system. TRIPOD moved into an empty school in Burbank. The move was serendipitous: not only did BUSD not have a program for deaf students, but both Dr. Arthur Pierce, Superintendent, BUSD and Mrs. Joan Baca, Principal of Washington Elementary, enthusiastically embraced the TRIPOD model. The TRIPOD/ Foothill SELPA/BUSD full inclusion program was off and running. And as they say, the rest is history. Except for one important matter…

…this all cost money. Nearly $10,000,0000 was raised from 1983 to 2004 at which time TRIPOD became fully public. Rummage Sales, Celebrity Golf Tournaments, Reggae Night with Jimmy Cliff, Comedy Night with Robin Williams, Monte Carlo Night with Louise Fletcher, Casino Nights, Wine Tastings, and Annual Campaigns took place. Board Members and garment industry magnates Bob Salka, Barry Sacks and Neil Breton started Rags for Riches. Board Members Meg Kasdan, Dolly Gillen, Barbara Berg and Patsy Clinger Walker established the Annual Friends Luncheon that culminated with a performance by the TRIPOD students with musical guests such Randy Newman, Kenny Loggins and Steve Tyrell. But perhaps TRIPOD was best known for its string of film premieres beginning with The Big Chill and followed by Baby Boom, Grand Canyon, A Fish Called Wanda, Dances With Wolves, Back to the Future II, Hoffa, Mr. Holland’s Opus, to mention but a few. In accordance with TRIPOD policy, open-captioned prints were shown at the premieres. What to do with the captioned print after the premiere? It wasn’t long before Barbara Montan and Nanci Linke-Ellis came up with the idea of TRIPOD Captioned Films (TCF). But that is another story….

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