Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz, the JMS Co-Founder
Written By Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2021
Published in 2021
Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz
Minnie Mae (MM) Wilding-Diaz was born to Deaf parents, Jerry Willing and Caldonia Della Williams. She is the oldest of nine Deaf siblings in the well-known Deaf Wilding family. She is married to Julio Diaz and the parent of three grown Deaf children, Briella, Julio “Tres” and Isabelle. MM has a strong passion for literacy and ASL linguistics and has contributed her skills and knowledge throughout her career, including teaching in various postsecondary institutions, founding the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, UVU's Deaf Studies Today! Conference, and translating The Book of Mormon, among other accomplishments.
As a graduate student at Brigham Young University, MM penned two papers titled "Why the Deaf Can't Read: Answers and Solutions" and "Exciting Developments in Deaf Education." The links to her articles can be found below. Bronwyn O'Hara is to be commended for keeping her papers safe for so long.
As a graduate student at Brigham Young University, MM penned two papers titled "Why the Deaf Can't Read: Answers and Solutions" and "Exciting Developments in Deaf Education." The links to her articles can be found below. Bronwyn O'Hara is to be commended for keeping her papers safe for so long.
- Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz. Why the Deaf Can’t Read: Answers and Solutions. Brigham Young University. May 8, 1990.
- Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz. Exciting Developments in Deaf Education. Summer 1990.
The Wilding Family. Top (L-R): Minnie Mae, Doris, Lisa Lili, Cami and Ida. Bottom (L-R): Alan, Don, Della, Jerry, Terry and Sammy, 2011
Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz teaching a class Utah Valley State College, mid 2000s
Jodi Becker Kinner, the author's website, witnessed Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz's struggle to balance leading the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) while parenting three small Deaf children, working full-time, and her health deteriorating. Despite her declining health, she continued to lead with passion and commitment. She also ensured that the Utah School for the Deaf and the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf merged in 2005. The establishment of JMS was a challenging and exhausting process. It took a long time and a lot of thought to get here.
Her presence is felt when Deaf and hard of hearing children are offered the option of attending the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, where they can receive direct communication and ASL instruction from their teachers and peers. None of these landmark developments would have happened without her tireless dedication to the Deaf community.
Granted, Minnie Mae wrote a paper titled "Exciting Developments in Deaf Education" in 1990, expressing her delight at the decision of the Indiana School for the Deaf to embrace a bilingual-bicultural approach. It is no surprise that she would one day become a co-founder of JMS. JMS has been in operation since 1999, thanks to the persistence and dedicated leadership of Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Her presence is felt when Deaf and hard of hearing children are offered the option of attending the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, where they can receive direct communication and ASL instruction from their teachers and peers. None of these landmark developments would have happened without her tireless dedication to the Deaf community.
Granted, Minnie Mae wrote a paper titled "Exciting Developments in Deaf Education" in 1990, expressing her delight at the decision of the Indiana School for the Deaf to embrace a bilingual-bicultural approach. It is no surprise that she would one day become a co-founder of JMS. JMS has been in operation since 1999, thanks to the persistence and dedicated leadership of Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz.
Jodi Becker Kinner
Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz' Family. Front Row L-R: Julio Diaz, Jr., Minnie Mae, Isabelle, Briella. Back Row: Tres, 2012
