Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz, the JMS Co-Founder 

Written By Jodi Becker Kinner

​Published in 2021 
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Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz
Minnie Mae Wilding Diaz, a Deaf individual and member of the well-known Deaf Wilding family, 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. ​
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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
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Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz teaching class
Jodi Becker Kinner, the author's website, watched as Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz struggled to balance leading the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) while parenting three small Deaf children and working full-time, and how her health worsened as a result. Despite her deteriorating health, she maintained her leadership, dedication, and commitment. She also ensured that JMS remained operational until the merger of the Utah School for the Deaf and Jean Massieu School of the Deaf in 2005. The establishment of JMS was a challenging task. To get here, it took a long time to plan and much contemplation.

Granted, Minnie Mae authored 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 Bi-Bi approach. It's no surprise that she would one day become a co-founder of JMS. JMS has been in operation since 1999, thanks to her diligent leadership in its creation.
                                                                   
More information can be found in Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz' biography.

Jodi Becker Kinner 
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Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz' Family. Front Row L-R: Julio Diaz, Jr., Minnie Mae, Isabelle, Briella. Back Row: Tres, 2012