Performer, Educator, Advocate.
Windell Smith Jr (Otherwise known as Wink) takes his passion with him across the United States to promote American Sign Language, Deaf rights, humorous comedy shows, and his one man show “My Father’s Gift” which brings to life both the tragic, beautiful, and hilarious moments of both his own and his parents lives. More information can be found on the “Shows” webpage. To see if Wink will be performing in a city near you please visit the "Tour Dates" page for a complete list of show dates.
Wink also tours the US with his various workshops (also known as “Winkshops”) for a full list of topics please visit the “Winkshops” webpage.
Bio
Wink, MA, MBA, NIC Master, enjoys researching and creating various workshops that focus on skill building through deliberate practice, which he wrote about in the RID Views, Winter 2012 issue. Presenting workshops the last ten years at national conferences (NAD, RID, Silent Weekend) regional conferences (RID I, II, III, IV, V), state conferences, and local workshops across the nation has given Wink experiences to enhance applications for interpreters of all levels. Wink is widely noted for the comfortable atmosphere he creates and the passion he exudes. Currently Wink travels full time performing, presenting workshops, and managing Winkshop, Inc, through which he has developed a dozen training DVDs. A fun fact: in 2016 alone, Wink traveled professionally enough miles to circle the earth over three times.
NEWS
Upcoming and Available On Demand Webinars
NEW online correspondence Course
A New Way to Categorize Classifiers/Depicting Verbs
Author: Wink, MA, MBA, NIC Master
Six modules = 1.3 CEUs (PS)
Self Paced
There is a commonly held view that classifiers can be categorized into 8 or more types (e.g., semantic, element, body part). My own research led me to create a workshop called “Classifiers/Depicting Verbs Reduced to Three.” As my research has continued, I now see that those three - entity, tool, and tracing - can be further reduced to just a single type: entity classifiers.
This course first describes the traditional thinking and teaching of classifiers, then identifies redundancies and other problems with this typology. This is followed by an analysis of how individual classifier components are combined with conceptual content and construal in ASL.
Throughout the course, each module will have at least one quiz, and most modules include assignments. Assignments require submission of signed videos, for which feedback will be provided by Wink (generally via video as well) on your use of these critical components of ASL.
Course Setup
6 online modules (accessible by computer, tablet, or smart phone)
- Each module includes a quiz with immediate feedback (Click here to see a sample)
- All modules include a deliberate practice assignment to be submitted as a video that will receive feedback from Wink
Logistics
Upon registration you will be emailed a temporary link to download instructions containing a link and password to access the course.
At the completion of all required work, you will be awarded 1.3 PS CEUs through the RID CMP
Wink will assess all of your deliberate practice assignments and provide feedback on your work. He also will be available for a virtual session if needed for any questions and/or discussions related to the course. There is also a question submission form for questions or comments you may have.
I did a short 35minute webinar for GoReact on Classifiers (AKA Depicting Verbs), it is archived and ready for viewing. Feel free to leave a comment or a question, I will make sure to answer it! Click here to view the webinar→
Wink hosts a panel discussion with diverse Deaf PARTICIPANTS
On May 10, 2018, the UC San Diego Linguistics Department hosted a panel discussion of four members of the Deaf Community - Moises Jaramillo, Claudia Jimenez, Rezenet Moges-Riedel, and Carol Padden - to explore ideas surrounding ASL, audism, and the diversity and richness within Deaf culture. The panel was moderated by the dynamic performer Wink
Click Here For More→
Linguists Respond to AGB
By now you may have heard that the Alexander Graham Bell Association published a misleading and unsupported blog post about ASL. The linguistics department at Gallaudet University put together a well researched response which was published simultaneously with an ASL translation. I suggest you count the number of references we were able to put together. This was truly a collaborative process with many in the department even the graduate students (like me) were able to pitch in and provide input and help with the translation.
Read the response and see the translations here →
Social Media
Banner Photo Credit: Kerri Clark Designs