Deaf Outreach Program - Ontario Association of the Deaf

EDITOR notes
This excerpt from the Editor is a bit
redundant, when I continue to repeat myself,
asking for contributions, asking for input
from the local community. Instead of my
words here, I’m going to quote an excerpt
from Dorothy Beam - Past President of OAD.
“We need reporters..if you want a good paper,
do your part. Send in news to be edited... write
about your activities from wherever you are. All
this makes a true community newspaper. We
will be happy to hear from anyone with ideas on
how to make the newspaper a real tie that binds
the common interest of us all in Ontario.
(Dorothy Beam - OAD NEWS Sept-Oct
1978).
inside
Deaf Outreach
Kevin’s 8th Pride! An in-depth
interview.
Deaf Survey
Fill out our survey to help us
improve the newsletter.
Deaf Education
Updates from the Adult
Education Program at the Bob
Rumball Centre for the Deaf
Deaf Thinkers
Anne McKercher’s crossword will
have you puzzling in no time!
Deaf Literacy
Updates from the Deaf Literacy
Initiatives.
Little has changed over the years! Please help
us out, send in articles, stories, artworks, and
even ideas to make this a newsletter worth
keeping on your bookshelves. We’re here for
you, our dear members, Without you, we
cannot do our part.
Enjoy the summer issue while basking in the
warm sunlight of summer. It is the season for
reading.
Lianne Valiquette - Editor
[
] News
Editor and Layout/Design:
Lianne Valiquette
Contributors:
The opinions expressed do not
necessarily reflect the policy of
Ontario Association of the Deaf.
Articles from OAD NEWS may
be reprinted with permission
from the editor and authors.
Submissions may be edited for
length and clarity. We reserve this
right.
OAD Executive Director
a large number of attendees there who all enjoyed our
conference. We will do again next year.
Greening my handprint with
OAD tasks.
O
.
n the behalf of OAD, we would like to thank Paul
Smith, our former Executive Director, who loyally
served OAD office for the last two y ears. He has a new
job and we wish him good luck. I started last month and
already have had my share of many tireless hours here but
I enjoy every moment. I am excited to do many things
here.
We are excited about sharing this newsletter with The
Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) for the
first time. I hope that you will enjoy our “Two in One”
this newsletter. We would be thrilled if you could provide
feedback on this newsletter. We always aim to improve.
For the last month, I followed up with our wonderful
staff. I would like to inform you that Lori Archer has
joined us as our Event Planner and began two months
ago. James Etheridge, former Event Planner, had to
leave due to personal reasons. He is missed but he will be
around here to help out. We wish him good luck as well.
We are very busy around here. OAD partnered with other
organizations to host the “Professional Conference on the
Well Being of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and
Youth” which was held on October 16, 2009. There were
We are involved with other coalitions such as:
• George Brown College – American Sign
Language (ASL)-English Interpreting Program
Advisory Committee.
• ASL Provincial Advisory Committee with the
Infant Hearing Program.
• Ontario Interpreting Service (OIS) Advisory
Council with the Canadian Hearing Society
(CHS).
• Ontario Chapter of the Deaf Bilingual Coalition
(DBC).
• Interpreting Standards for small agencies.
• Summit O - We had a meeting with Ontario
Cultural Society of the Deaf and Ontario Deaf
Sports Association (ODSA). It was very good for
start. We will report to you what we did in the
past meetings in our newsletter.
Our very own Deaf Outreach Program (DOP) will be
hosting a special event on December 1 2009. –World
Aid Day at the Deaf Cultural Centre from 7 p.m. to
10:00 p.m. Look for the flyer soon. It is an important
event. Don’t miss it. We will be launching a new AIDS
awareness campaign. The event is free. Come and get
resources to take back to your office communities.
Our project, “Split No More: Inclusion of Aboriginal
and Francophone Communities” which was funded
by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, will be finished
by December 31 2009. We want to thank Evelyne
Gounetenzi who worked with us for three years. We will
report to you next year after we wrap up. The board and
staff will also be discussing new projects soon.
I’ve been thinking about our upcoming big event, OAD’s
125th Anniversary in 2011, I will try and write a grant for
this Gala. Your ideas or suggestions are always welcomed
here.
That’s it for now. Enjoy the articles in this edition.
Remember, our door is always open. Please visit our
office anytime. Thank you for reading.
Dean Walker
OAD President
interview night on August 20, 2009. It was a storm night
but thankfully, no one was hurt.
From our last annual general meeting, there is a list of
tasks that you, the OAD members, made the motions and
we have taken some action on these items and others to be
followed up this year and beyond.
First Summit O meeting, was held in Toronto at George
Brown College with some representatives from Ontario
Cultural Society of the Deaf and Ontario Deaf Sports
Association. Two important topics of joint newsletter
and how we work together were discussed. From there,
we felt that having Summit O will help us giving us the
right direction for our Ontario. Our next meeting will be
announced next month.
The International Sign Language Rights Day, we are
fortunate that the coalition of the Sign Language Rights
had gathered and hosted that was taken on October 2nd,
2009 in Toronto. The committee will meet to make a big
event for September 2010.
President’s Report
It has been a rewarding experience being the President
of the Ontario Association of the Deaf. It is a year of
transition for us from the old Board to the new Board,
from the past Executive Director to the new one along
with some new occurrences relating to the VRS and Sign
Language Rights.
Although we have two core funds from the Ministry of
Health and The Trillium Foundation. More details on
this will be told by our Treasurer and our staff.
There are some changes in staffing. We would like to
thank Paul Smith, the former Executive Director for
his tireless services and to Anne McKercher, our part
time staff for her enthusiastic service especially Mayfest.
In replacing them, we have Dean Walker, our current
Executive Director and Lori Archer, the new Event
planner. Please join us welcoming them. We look forward
to working with them this year and beyond. Also we wish
to thank all these candidates who bravely came to our
John Mans, our DCC 2012 chairperson will be the second
person to represent our OAD going to Vancouver DCC
2010 conference to promote our coalition of DCC 2012
and World Deaf History Conference that we are going to
host during summer 2012.
To follow our Strategic planning, we have three more
people to fill in our Board seats.
We have some important issues to deal with such as VRS,
promotion of ASL across Ontario, our accessibilities
from smoke fire detectors and others. We have our Board
members and staff to send to promote such as OAD booth
to schools, Open house, etc.
We may restructure our organizational operation once
when we have gathering all necessary needs, writing grants
and to promote for better Ontario. Together we re-invest
in our province for better future.
OADly, yours
Christine Ehrlich-Brady
OAD Workshop & Event Planner
OCSD Lori worked initially as the Projects Assistant,
and later as the bookkeeper and Office Manager. For
approximately one year, Lori also worked for Deaf
Literacy Initiative, formerly known as G.O.L.D.
Previously, Lori served on the Provincial Board of
Directors for the Canadian Hearing Society. She acted
as the Chair of the Caption Movies Now Coalition,
and was a strong advocate for captioning in the
theatres. She also has experience serving on the Board
for a shelter for abused women and children.
L
ori is deafened and has raised three sons who
are all hard of hearing. She started working
in the Deaf community almost seven years
ago for the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf. At
Lori is thrilled to begin work as the new Workshop
and Event Planner. “I am excited to be part of the
fantastic team here at OAD. I can’t wait to see
everyone at our upcoming events. If you have
suggestions for specific workshops you would like to
participate in, please email me at [email protected]
See you soon!”
“Deaf Awareness Day” Thursday October 15, 2009
at The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) Toronto
Region
CHS hosted “Deaf Awareness Day” celebrations on
Thursday October 15, 2009 from 9am to 4pm and
it was a successful event! We had approximately
100 people participate at our celebration. We had
Mini American Sign Language (ASL) classes and
ASL games, Booth displays of CHS services, Deaf
culture artifacts and ORAD, ASL Corner, Audism
Unveiled DVD, 4 different workshop topics: “Deaf
History” by Anne McKercher, “Deaf Culture Centre”
by Joanne Cripps, “Deaf Rights Re: Interpreters”
by Bev Dooley and Rosaria Skarp, and “Leadership”
by Chris Kenopic.
It was a wonderful event and many people
expressed positive feedback. We will host this event
again next year on September 23, 2010!
Thanks,
CHS Deaf Awareness Day Committee Chairs
Pat Morano and Erika Stebbings
Solutions from crossword in OAD News Winter 2009
Our star volunteer, Wayne Watts along with staff busy doing outreach and
selling HIV/AIDS ribbons.
Kevin Canning with Toronto’s own MPP,
George Smitherman.
AIDS Walk for Life
Story and Photography by Lori Archer
For more than 25 years, Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life
AIDS walk. While we greeted people at our booth, we
Toronto has raised much-needed funds for the AIDS
had the opportunity to meet some of the teams who
Committee of Toronto (ACT). ACT has been providing
completed the 5K walk. There were many colourful and
services to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS,
interesting costumes, and everyone was in a festive mood.
while also working to prevent the spread of HIV in our
DOP Health Advocate Kevin Canning was an original as
community.
always with his own version of a kilt. It was made entirely
from condoms! It certainly attracted a lot of attention
Deaf Outreach Project (DOP) was proud to have a booth
being a one of a kind. Kevin would tear off packages and
and participate in this event held Sunday September
hand them out to the delight of passersby.
13, 2009 on Church Street. DOP Staff and volunteers
were kept busy providing information, and handing out
What a wonderful surprise to have the Honorable George
pamphlets and free condoms. We also sold dozens of our
Smitherman stop by our booth to visit! Deputy Premier
hand-made “red ribbon” and “rainbow ribbon” AIDS
Smitherman is Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
awareness key chains.
Renewal. He was very supportive of the work we do in the
Deaf Outreach Program.
It was a beautiful and warm sunny day perfect for the
World AIDS Day
st
December 1
The Deaf Outreach Program is launching a new AIDS awareness campaign to begin
on December 1st, on World AIDS Day, to raise awareness and focus attention on
the global AIDS epidemic. Calling all educators, Deaf organizations, AIDS Service
Organizations and community members to come and join the fight. Come and enjoy
performances, speakers and get resources while combating misinformation, stigma and
stereotyping related to HIV/AIDS in Ontario.
Free event
Performances & distinguished speakers
Complimentary hor ‘dourves & cash wine bar
Silent auction and free resources
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Deaf Culture Centre
The Distillery Historic District
55 Mill Street, Building 5, Suite 101 Toronto, Ontario
RSVP by November 15th [email protected]
Deaf Outreach Program
www.deafontario.ca/dop
TTY 416.413.1093
Fax 416.413.4822
Retreat with the Deaf Outreach Program
Photography by Wayne Watts
M
y experience at the Deaf
Outreach Program’s
retreat at the Briars
Resort this year was fantastic! The
staff at the resort was amazing!
They have so much to offer from
golfing, swimming, relaxing in
a whirlpool, playing billiards,
going boating, sightseeing, and eating
amazing gourmet food and so much
more. I hope that next time, there
will be more folks to join us whether
it’s at the Briars or elsewhere. We have
an amazing support team within the
DOP and many of us deserve it. I
would definitely encourage those who
are living with HIV/AIDS, to join us
for the fun again next year! You won’t
be disappointed one bit! Many of us
take for granted what we have offered
to us. Please show your appreciation
by coming along next year! Thanks
DOP, You’re the best!
Anonymous
-
Opposite Page: Lake view
of the Briar’s Resort. This
page - clockwise from top
left - Kevin Canning gives
a workshop on HIV/AIDS
Disclosure; the Briar Resort
Outdoor Solarium; canoe
hidden in the garden;
budding crab-apples;
gourmet food from the
kitchen.
Photos by Wayne Watts
Camp For All:
A Special Time
for Deaf Youth
Leaders
By: Tiphaine Girault
Ottawa Deaf Centre was proud to
host the Deaf Youth: Future Leaders
Camp, co-sponsored by HOPE 2008
Volleyball Summer Fest from July 3rd
to July 10th, 2009. DYFLC brought
together Deaf youth, aged 13 -17, to
spend a week at Bel Camp, a Scouts
Canada camp, in Dorchester, 15
kilometres east of London, Ontario.
More than just a camp
There, the young leaders learned
about community and academic
resources, Deaf history (ASL/LSQ),
study/volunteer/career options and
personal leadership. They also took
part in social activities which enabled
them to network, learn from each
other and build friendships that
would last a lifetime!
The young leaders were:
Sean Bennett
Chloé Caissie
Rochelle Carty-Bauman
Jessica Chambers
Roxanne Charron
Justina Ercolino
Chanel Maillet
Kafuku Mulela
Lucia Nobile
Eric Pavao
Julie Ripley-Kelly
Rafa Sarose
Teisha Sauve
Wyatt Scott
Kyle Thompson
Naureen Ude
Muhammad Umer
Talia Di Giuseppe
Thi Thu Zacchia
The camp focused on building
self-esteem, developing personal
leadership skills and preparing those
youths for life during and beyond
high school as full-fledged Deaf
citizens.
Creating Teams
After the campers were divided into
groups, they came up with fresh ideas
to give their team a new name. After
several disapprovals from the judges,
Jessica, Maud and Lucia, they finally
succeeded in giving their teams a
new sense of identity with great,
meaningful names! Not only that,
the groups explained their ‘informal
mottos’ and the new teams were born!
They were:
Deaf Kingdom
Rainbow
Deaf Intuition
H.U.R.L.E.Y.
Thank You
From the bottom of my heart, I would
like to thank Ottawa Deaf Centre
for giving me the opportunity to
coordinate this exciting camp. It was
a rewarding experience I will never
forget. Denise DeShaw and Sarah
Colbeck should take the credit for
coming with this great idea! Also,
I have to thank those staff and
volunteers for their time to help.
They were so supportive:
Paula Bath
Jessica Emery
Sarah Colbeck
Katrina Parizeau
Jonathan Poulin-Desbiens
Christopher Séguin
Theodor Wolff
Lucia Jackson
Dimitri Jean-Paul
Joshua Laird
Mohamed Osman Yusuf
Denise DeShaw
Simone Edwards Forde
Maud Girault
Joanna Clarke
On top of that, I also would like thank
Glenn and the members of the Scouts
camp for their kind support.
How can we continue that spirit? The
next step is for us to work with different
kinds of people whom are interested
to promote leadership for Deaf youth.
With all the help (and that includes
you!), this would amplify the value in
the leadership itself and connections
provided for our young leaders of
tomorrow! To reflect on the outcome
of the camp itself, have a look at the
testimonials made by some campers
below.
Camper Testimonials
“My dream was to be a leader and become a
good role model. I just did. The presentations were
amazing!”
“I wanted to learn about the future. I really learned
a lot in one week!”
“My desires have been met. I met new friends. I had
so much fun.”
“It was my first time going to a camp and I was so
nervous and shy. Now I feel great!”
“Je suis fière de voir des jeunes futurs leaders et j’ai
confiance en eux!”
“My goal is to learn more about the French
language. LSQ is so interesting!”
“I expected to learn ASL by communicating with
everybody here. I also got to socialize with different
people in one place. I would love to work with kids
later on!”
“This was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“The staff and volunteers were cool and had a great
sense of humour!”
“C’était une grosse famille!”
If you are interested to get more information,
please contact me at dauphin_aqua@hotmail.
com
Bridging Young Filmmake
A look inside the week long workshop for budding future
Deaf youth filmmakers at the Deaf Culture Centre.
By Mike Cyr
T
he Deaf Culture Centre
saw eight participants
at the first De’VIA
filmmaking workshop last summer.
For a week, young filmmakers
came as far as Montreal, Ajax,
Kingston, Ottawa, Milton and
Toronto. Throughout the week,
those young filmmakers had the
delightful opportunity to participate
in workshops provided by various
professionals, both deaf and hearing.
Matt Hornberg and Mark Bishop,
founders of MarbleMedia, the very
filmmakers who made DeafPlanet.
com a success, kicked off the
workshop describing the production
process. Hornberg and Bishop
both have a great deal of experience
and understand the procedure of
incorporating ASL in film.
The very talented writer, Geordie
Telfer followed with a story building
and script-writing workshop the
next day. Geordie, who is a freelance
writer, has had experience in
working with nature documentaries
as well as with children’s educational
videos/television. He has also
written two books to date. With
his experience, the filmmakers took
on the challenge to create a total
of three short films. No film is a
success without a story, and any
writer will say that, a good story is
never easy to come by.
There is nothing
more inspirational
than actually seeing a
successful filmmaker
who happens to also be
deaf.
ers and the Professionals
Veteran director, Wayne Moss,
was invited to teach the filmmakers
the process of setting up shots
along with the gruesome task of
cinematography. Moss, who was
involved with the Fraggle Rock series,
also understands how to appreciate
culture through film/television. By
then, the participants may have
been awestruck with the ensemble
of professionals that they had the
opportunity to be taught by, but
of course, there is nothing more
inspirational than actually seeing a
successful filmmaker who happens to
also be deaf.
The highlight of the De’VIA
filmmaking workshop was the
Deaf Culture Centre’s bold move
to fly in our very own Chad Taylor
from California. Taylor, who is a
Canadian living in the states, is the
co-founder of Mosdeux, a production
company. The young filmmakers
were taught about various aspects in
the area of Deaf Cinema. Mosdeux
has produced several films and they
take pride in using an all deaf crew.
While Mosdeux has made more
than a few breakthroughs in Deaf
Cinema, at the same time, they
offer professional opportunities for
aspiring crew members, actors and
writers.
With Taylor participating in the
last two days of production/postproduction, not only did he offer
his expertise and advice, but he also
inspired the young filmmakers with
his stories from working on various
films with talented colleagues from
across the continent.
supported each other and bled
together to finally create their own
short films. The Centre opened its
doors to the public for families, art
enthusiasts and local professionals
for a screening. It was a productive
and successful workshop. The
filmmakers may not realize that
even though they were students,
amateurs at the beginning, they
now hold a distinguished title. They
are the forerunners of the very first
professional development workshop
in the country devoted to promoting
deaf filmmakers.
After a week of lasting
inspiration, hard work, and budding
creativity between the participants,
they learned from each other,
We have the Deaf Culture Centre
to thank for making it happen.
Also, a big thank you goes out to
the guests who were willing to come
in and be part of this important
milestone in making Deaf Canadian
Cinema. Who knows, maybe one
day, the young filmmakers will create
a Deaf Hollywood North.
Photos - TITLES
Luis Alcobia (left), Chantal
Deguire (middle) Jack Volpe
(right)
in “The Wrong Job”
Jack Volpe and Chantal
Deguire in “Glasses”
Laura Quinlan and Drew
Mastromartino in “The
DeafStar”
live or through video.
Kindergarten and Grade 2/3 classes performed “The
Little Boy and the Dragon” which was adapted from
the original ASL story created by educational assistant,
Marilyn Kennedy. The story is about the Deaf little boy
teaching the dragon how to communicate in ASL instead
of breathing fire and destroying the village.
Grade 3/4 class taught the audience ASL history about
Martha’s Vineyard where Deaf and hearing people
communicated in sign language and interacted in a
harmonious way. Grade 5 class included ASL classifiers
in their creative ASL stories. Sixth graders showed
their humourous videos of their ASL stories using
personification. Noah Caruk, 6th grader, amazed us with
his live performance, assuming the role of an ATV and
describing the ATV’s perspective during a day in its life.
Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf, Belleville, Ontario.
ASL Literary
Night
By Debbie Sicoli & Chrissy Ehrlich-Bradley
O
n May 7, 2009, the first annual spring
concert was well attended by families
There have been
many generous
who
of students
of SJW people
Belleville
anddropped
Deaf
by and gave uscommunity
money without
having
their
cars
members. High school
washed.
We
will
continue
the car wash
student, Julie Ripley-Kelly welcomed
the throughout
full house
the
summer!
to the
ASL concert after a spaghetti dinner and silent
auction. The title given the concert was ASL Literary
Jack Racanelli
Night because it was all about ASL literature and ASL
Literacy Basic Skills Instructor
texts. All elementary students and one high school drama
Adult Education Program
team participated in telling their ASL stories, ASL poems,
The
Bob Rumball
Centre
the Deaf and a Deaf joke,
presenting
ASL skits,
Deaf for
biographies,
Grade 7/8 told their original ASL poems using the same
rhymes the famous poet Clayton Valli used in his ASL
poem ‘Hands’. Eighth graders told us biographies of two
Deaf men, Dummy Hoy who invented signs for ‘strike’
and ‘out’ for baseball games and Peter Cook, a well known
storyteller.
The very talented Arleigh Tamlin, our physical education
and drama teacher did an awesome personification of
a golf ball in a mime-style performance. Students in
the audience didn’t blink their eyes while watching her
performance.
Impromptu ASL lessons were provided for the audience.
Some students got up and ran to their parents and urged
them to participate in the ASL lessons, so they could win
the prizes. The lessons included pre-recorded faces of staff
that demonstrated the wrong and right way to use non
manual signals for wh- questions, yes/no questions and use
of classifiers. The video samples comically distorted the
faces and brought the house down with laughter. These
children really know their stuff and helped their parents
and residence counsellors get it right.
Thanks to so many people who helped to make this night a
big success! We raised $646.75 which was donated to the
Deaf Culture Centre on our field trip May 13th.
Immigrant Settlement
and Adaptation Program
(ISAP)
By Paul Smith - Settlement Worker
I
t is with humble pleasure to introduce the firstever settlement program offered in American Sign
Language to Deaf newcomers (immigrants) at Silent
Voice.
What is Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation
Program (ISAP)?
The Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program
(ISAP) is an innovative program that provides direct and
essential services that assist Deaf newcomers in settling
and integrating into Canadian society.
Deaf men and women eligible for ISAP services at
Silent Voice are:
1. Permanent Residents of Canada but who
have not yet become Canadian citizens;
2. Those who are claiming Convention
Refugees;
3. Those who are allowed to remain in Canada,
and to whom Citizenship and Immigration
intends to grant Permanent Resident status;
4. Temporary Residents working in Canada with
a work permit under the Live-In Caregiver
Program;
5. Foreign nationals who have a Permanent
Resident visa; or have been approved by
Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a
Temporary Worker application under Live-in
Caregiver program;
6. Those who are defined as “eligible clients” for
the Language Instruction for Newcomers to
Canada (LINC) program and who are entering
the Canadian labour market.
What are the deliverables of the Silent Voice Immigrant
Settlement and Adaptation Program?
Reception – This service welcomes newcomers
upon arrival in Canada and provides them with
information in American Sign Language on services
and resources to help meet their immediate needs.
Initial Needs Assessment: This service involves
determining eligibility for services and assessing
newcomers’ needs, resources, strengths and
barriers. It often includes assisting newcomers to
set goals, priorities and develop realistic plans.
Assessments may be carried out several times
depending on the phase of settlement. Initial
assessments may focus on immediate settlement
needs such as housing, while six months later
clients may request a an assistance related to
employment or education matters.
the resources available to them. It is not
psychotherapy, and it typically requires between
one to five sessions. It might include helping
newcomers and their families to identify
their problems clearly enough to search out
appropriate referrals or to clarify some of the
common issues relating to settlement and family
reunification.
Employment related services: According to
newcomers themselves, employment is the single
most important aspect of settlement, and their
greatest need. Employment-related services can
include a variety of activities, such as professional
networking, mentoring, résumé writing,
interview skills, and even enhanced occupationspecific language training.
Referrals to community services: Silent Voice
acts as a mediator between newcomers and
the general community. A core component of
this program involves referring newcomers to
resources in the community related to the client’s
immediate settlement needs, such as job-search
services, health care, legal services, recreation and
education.
Service Bridging (building positive services
for Deaf newcomers) - This service involves
assisting non-settlement services and the broader
community to understand and serve newcomers
through one-to-one or in groups activities. This
will not include legislative advocacy (lobbying)
or any form of political activity. Silent Voice
will also work in relationship with local service
providers to build barrier-free access system
which ensures full access to community services
and existing resources.
Information and orientation: This service
provides guidance and information to
newcomers regarding the skills required to meet
everyday needs, including housing, banking,
shopping, access to social and health services,
and their rights and obligations in Canada. There
will be 2 group orientation and information
sessions per year.
Interpretation/translation- This service
provides interpretation to facilitate interaction
between the newcomer and the community
and assist in the newcomer’s day to day survival
prior to obtaining a basic knowledge of one of
the official languages. Translation series to assist
the newcomer’s access to other services, and
limited documents relating to employment,
educational and legal matters that are necessary
for immediate settlement.
Settlement counselling: This service assists
newcomers in problem solving by helping
them to define their problems and identify
For more information , contact Paul Smith, Settlement Worker at [email protected]
www.silentvoice.ca
ngs!!
to share some information
e deaf community about
up with the Adult Education
m at the Bob Rumball
for the Deaf.
Adult Education Program
o different programs;
Language Instruction of
mers to Canada (LINC)
eracy Basic Skills (LBS).
ff and I planned a one week
ship course which included
different educational
es for the learners. Topics
ed were Math, English,
an Citizenship and
an Sign Language (ASL).
a great opportunity for
rners because they learned
y new things through ice
s, team work activities,
of “Jeopardy”, as well as
g how to use the Toronto
Commission (T.T.C) to get
nto Island independently
ding out what leadership
means. For most of the
ts this was a unique and
ging experience because they
ver before been exposed to
ctivities in their countries.
he learners had a fun and
us time!!
ratulations to the winning
: Heart Pump, Life and Deaf
Christine Nelson – Manager
Knar Adourian – ASL Instructor
T
he Adult Education Program is currently planning a trip to Ottawa and Quebec
City for educational purposes. We have been raising money in order to afford
the trip, to cover the costs of hostel, food and expenditures. Our most important
fundraising event is car washing. The staff and students have been washing cars several
times monthly at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf. Both staff and students share
duties. Some students are placed in certain locations near the highway with signs that say,
“Car Wash for 5 dollars” and “Support the Adult Education Program”. Others wash cars.
CCSD Launches First ASL Animated
Dictionary for Children!
and LBS
Education Program
umball Centre of the Deaf
Article by Joanne Cripps CYW and
Anita Small, MSc, EdD
T
he Canadian Cultural Society
dictionary will allow Deaf children
of the Deaf (CCSD) has
to look up vocabulary according to
teamed up once again with Toronto-
their own, primary language - ASL
based digital media company
along with the English vocabulary
marblemedia, this time, to create the
counterpart - without having
first children’s animated American
to rely on adults for definitions.
Sign Language (ASL) dictionary!
Children select the sign they wish
using the aslphabet (cited with
The www.aslphabet.com ©
permission from Dr. Sam Supalla,
adults in their lives. Another key feature
Dr. Anita Small, Co-Director of
of the site is its flexibility so hearing
the DEAF CULTURE CENTRE,
children can also learn ASL by finding
Canadian Cultural Society of the
words according to the English alphabet
Deaf.
in a creative way with full live-action
ASL in motion rather than through
photographs.
© Canadian Cultural Society of
the Deaf, 2009
Thanks to funding from the Inukshuk
Aslphabet cited with permission
Wireless Learning Plan Fund, this rich
from Dr. Sam Supalla
media website is designed for young
Distribution or reproduction in
children, parents, siblings and friends to
whole or in part of any kind is
interact with and learn through the use
strictly prohibited without the
of animation. The Inukshuk Wireless
express written authorization of
Fund has committed to funding the
the Canadian Cultural Society of
dictionary prototype to be launched on
the Deaf
December 5th, 2009!
We are now looking forward
consultant on the project) by
finding the handshape, location
and movement of the sign. After
the rabbit signs the word, a
magician appears from behind the
curtain and provides the word’s
definition/s and use in ASL
sentences.
The interactive site aims to be
a shared learning environment
for Deaf and hearing children, 5
to 7 years of age, along with the
“We have a long-standing history with
to expand the prototype into a
the CCSD that started with our TV
full comprehensive animated
show and website for Deaf children –
dictionary for children! We
deafplanet.com. It is a pleasure to be
welcome all donations to support
able to collaborate with them again
the expansion of the vocabulary
on such an inspiring and important
on the animated dictionary! YOU
project,” said Mark Bishop, Partner and
can be part of this landmark
Executive Producer of marblemedia.
children’s literacy resource!
“CCSD is delighted to produce this
To donate, send a cheque to:
groundbreaking learning resource with
Canadian Cultural Society of the
marblemedia!,” said Joanne Cripps,
Deaf, c/o Deaf Culture Centre,
CYW, Co-Director, DEAF CULTURE
Distillery Historic District, 55
CENTRE, Canadian Cultural Society
Mill Street, Bldg 5, Suite 101,
of the Deaf. “We have engaged award-
Toronto, ON, M5A 3C4 or
winning South African Deaf animator,
contact info@deafculturecentre.
Braam Jordaan and renowned ASL
ca - credit cards accepted!
linguist, Dr. Sam Supalla to create what
promises to be an extraordinary and
revolutionary educational tool!” said
Laura-Ann Petitto
The Effect of Language Delay
on Mental Health
Toronto, ON, Friday October 16, 2009 at Days Inn, 30
Carlton Street, Toronto. Irwin Elman, Ontario’s Chief,
Child and Youth Advocate, will address the opening of
the first Annual Professional Conference on the WellBeing of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Youth
on the Effect of Language Delay on Mental Health.
Dr. Cathy Chovaz, Psychology Professor, University
of Western Ontario, and the Director of the Deaf
Kids Mental Health Clinic will present on culturally
affirmative and linguistically accessible mental health
practices. “The mental health of Deaf and hard of hearing
children is not well served in Canada.” said Dr. Chovaz,
Canada’s only Deaf Clinical Psychologist. “There is
a critical need to better understand what factors are
contributing to mental disorders as well as what accessible
measures should be implemented to better support these
children.”
Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto, Psychology Professor, University
of Toronto, and Director & Senior Scientist of “The
Cognitive Neuroscience fNIRS Brain Imaging &
Genes Laboratory for Language, Bilingualism, and
Child Development” will present scientific research
on the positive effect of signed language in the human
brain. “Canadian policies and practices involving Deaf
individuals urgently need to be in step with modern
scientific evidence. Comparative scientific studies of
signed and spoken languages have demonstrated that
signed languages’ have identical biological status as spoken
languages,” states Dr Petitto. “Together with Cultural
and Linguistic evidence, this new line of Biological data
provides a powerful trilogy of evidence that compels us to
honor the full-language status of signed languages, and to
adjust educational, social, and medical policy and practice
involving Deaf individuals to be in full accordance with
this scientific fact.”
“The Well-Being of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
and Youth and Preventative Mental Health Strategies
Coalition are very concerned that there are discriminatory
practices by discouraging or disallowing deaf children to
learn sign language,” Gary Malkowski, Special Advisor
to President, Public Affairs, The Canadian Hearing
Society, “Language deficiencies lead to being labeled with
learning difficulties. In some cases there is no cognitive
disability; in others, learning disabilities are compounded
by language deficiencies. In both cases, it is too late for the
language deficit to be repaired which results in enormous
costs.
“The coalition consists of many organizations who work
with Deaf and hard of hearing children and youth across
Ontario. The coalition’s vision is to provide accurate
information and options regarding accessibility to
American Sign Language in order to prevent related
mental health issues for all Deaf and Deaf and hard
of hearing children and youth and their families. The
coalition is very concerned that these children are
falling between the cracks in the health, social service
and educational systems that seem to be ill-designed for
them,” said Cathy McKibbin, Director of Educational
Services, The Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, Chair of
this Conference.
For contact information about the conference, please
contact Cathy McKibbin at 416-937-0932 or at
[email protected].
DR. LAURA-ANN PETITTO
Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto’s presentation was a thorough
debunking of two very deeply rooted myths that continue
to exist despite research that clearly indicates that they
are fiction, not fact. First, she showed us that speech
is not special or better in human language acquisition,
processing, and brain organization. Instead, the brain has
evolved sensitivity to highly specific patterns in human
language. The brain uses equally either the hands or the
tongue to produce and to perceive these specific language
patterns. She showed powerful evidence that much
of signed and spoken language processing uses the
identical brain tissue. To be clear, signed languages have
equal biological status in the brain as spoken languages.
Second, Petitto debunked the myths and fears
associated with early bilingual language exposure:
Early bilingual language exposure does not cause
language confusion or language delay, and bilingual
brains are not “deviant.” Most powerfully, Petitto
showed scientific evidence that early bilingual language
development is entirely normal, and, most remarkably,
can even afford surprising cognitive and reading
advantages over monolinguals!
Taken together, Petitto urged that Canada’s policies
and practices must catch up with the modern world.
Early exposure of signed language to children is
vitally important. The fear that “If you sign to young
children, they will not learn spoken language” is
wrong. Withholding signed language instruction from
young children, for example, in children who have
had cochlear implants in Auditory Verbal Therapy
programs, is wrong, and in some countries would
be regarded as a form of “child abuse” (e.g., The
Netherlands). AVT and the early exposure to signed
language is urgently and vitally important for normal
language and brain development. Petitto stressed the
importance of making available the scientific findings
more readily available to parents, doctors, clinicians,
and teachers, and policy makers.
Most beautifully she summed up her findings with the
statement that
“the human brain does not discriminate between the
hands and the tongue…people do.”
See Dr. Pettito’s website for more information.
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~petitto/
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGE RIGHTS
FIVE POINTS
1. Recognizing and promoting the use of Sign languages (ASL and LSQ),
including
recognition of and respect for Deaf culture and identity.
2. Recognizing bilingual education in both
national Sign languages (ASL & LSQ) and spoken languages (English &
French).
3. Providing live assistance, including
professional Sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility
to meetings, services, education, and businesses that are all open to the general
Canadian public.
4. Hiring of teachers, including Deaf teachers,
who are qualified in Sign language and training of professionals and staff who
work at all levels of education for the Deaf.
5.Implementing Video Relay Services (VRS)
within one year and not in 2013, and ensuring wider and more public
accessibility to other telecommunication technologies and internet assisted
interpreting services to all Deaf Canadians and the general population.
Clockwise from top left: Gary Malk
(ODSA President), Robyn Sandford
Canadian Legion, the official banne
Paul Smith, Susan DaDalt. Middle:
Bickle, Lianne Valiquette. wall of ha
kowski (CHS Special Advisor to the President), Tom Wall
d (OCSD Vice-President), a handful of supporters at the Royal
er, Committee: Left: Amy Parsons, Dean Walker, John Mans,
Gary Malkowski, Trisha Small. Front: Kevin Small, Veronica
ands, and the 5 key points for Sign Language Rights - Canada.
It’s a hit!
Toronto hosts International Day of Sign Language
Rights - a celebration in its third year.
Story by Veronica Bickle. Photography by Lianne Valiquette
Friday, October 2, 2009:
International Day of Sign Language
Rights – Toronto, a celebration in
its third year. It was a week late this
year but nonetheless, we were able to
carry on the legacy of the movement
inspired by Bruno Moncelle of Paris,
France, at the World Federation of
the Deaf Congress in Spain in 2007.
Instead of staging a protest at Queen
Park as we did in the past two years,
we had it at a Royal Legion and it
was lucky we did because it rained
heavily that day! The decision to
host this event at a Royal Legion
hall was to have this opportunity to
fundraise some money. The longterm goal of the Sign Language
Rights Committee – a partnership
between the Ontario Association
of the Deaf, the Ontario Cultural
Society of the Deaf and the
Toronto Association of the Deaf
– is to raise money to book a more
public location for our future Sign
Language Rights events and of course
this will require some money.
That evening, we had a good number
of people show up despite the dismal
weather. We had statements from
representatives of Deaf organizations,
statements from activists and others
such as a Deaf parent of Deaf children
and a student from France who
discussed the goals and philosophy of
the Sign Language Rights movement.
We had the opportunity to enjoy
home-grown entertainment from our
local Deaf community: “Dr. Ba” aka
Vance Youngs , the creative duo of
Gord DaDalt and Christopher Welsh
as well as an ASL story from Susan
DaDalt and a Deaf rap song from the
American Sign Language Literacy
Instructors Program (ALIP) of
George Brown College. We also had
the chance to appreciate the talented
mime of Jaime Reyes Senior, formerly
of Mexico, that evening too.
We want to thank Kevin and
Trisha Small for being the Master
and Mistress of Ceremonies that
evening. We also want to thank
Carolyn Lesonsky and Glenda
Messier for undertaking the hard
task of interpreting the programme
that evening. Thanks also go to
Patty Keen for making such beautiful
things and donating it to the Sign
Language Rights committee to raise
some money and the others who
made individual donations to Sign
Language Rights. The Sign Language
Rights Committee this year was
Dean Walker, Gary Malkowski, Susan
DaDalt, Paul Smith, Trisha Small,
Amy Parsons and Lianne Valiquette.
It was a fabulous evening, enjoyed by
many. If you didn’t come, make the
time to come out next year! We hope
next year’s event will be bigger, better
and fun! We hope we’ll see you in
2010!
Deaf Youth Global
Toronto Youth Represents Canada at the World
Federation of the Deaf Youth Section Camp (WFDYS).
By LiXuan He
orld Federation of the cultures, as well as meet new friends
W
the Norway Camp Organized
Deaf Youth Section
from all over the world,
Committee (NOC) to organize a
Camp (WFDYS),
We learned about” Deaf youth and
week of many different and exciting
ages 13-17, was held in Norway,
leadership for the future”, participated
activities! We are the future of our
August2-9, 2009.
in various workshops with excellent
Deaf community, and this is only
“Wow, WFDYS is very wonderful
guest speakers, experienced Norwegian
the beginning of all the unique
experience and benefited me:” Li
culture, and learned International Sign
opportunities that lay ahead!
Xuan He said who was lucky to get
Language!
The WFDYS expects from each
sponsored by the Ontario Association The WFD Junior Youth Camp was not
camper, loyalty to each other, respect
of the Deaf (OAD). Canadians
only a learning experience, but it is also
privacy, an open mind, respect
representatives were limited to two
a lot of fun! While learning, we also
cultural differences, and respect rules
campers per country.
made lifetime friends from the camp,
and limits.
What is WFDYS? The purpose is to
where we will meet again and again in
On the first day, 22 countries
build deaf leadership for future youth, the long journey of our lives ahead.
came to WFDYS camp in the
learn and exchange many different
Education Centre of the Deaf in
WFDYS worked closely with
Aal. The place is very beautiful with
on a day trip to Bear Park, to see
during the teambuilding course.
a view overlooking the valley. We
bears, moose, rabbits, goats and other
Sunday, August 9th was our last day.
had an opening ceremony, where
Norwegian animals.
We said good-bye. “We don’t want go
the president of the Norwegian
On Thursday, August 6th we watched
to home:” the camper said.
Association of the Deaf, Hanne
a presentation, by Mr. Colin Allen
The WFD Junior Youth Camp is an
Kavitvaer came and greeted us.
from Australia on human rights. He
important event for all young Deaf
On Monday August 3, we had many
explained about the relations between
people in the world. There is plenty
different ice breaking activities. We
the World Federation of the Deaf and
of opportunities for exchanging
had to learn about international signs
the United Nations. That’s was very
experience, stories, learning about
and cultural awareness. We watched
interesting to me, as it contained a lot
other’s cultures, and in developing
a presentation by Dr. Joseph Murray
of information and more details.
connections with other Deaf people.
It is important to develop lifetime
from USA about “The Future of Deaf
Youth Identity”.
On Friday, August 7th we had another
friends with other young Deaf people
Tuesday, August 4 was “WFDYS-
presentation by Maartje De Meulder
from all over the world.
day”. They gave presentations and
from Belgium. He gave a lecture
WFDYS Camp is over. What’s next?
workshops
on “DeafHood”, about deaf ways,
XVI World Congress of the World
identity, culture, attitudes and values
Federation of the Deaf in 2011 in
on the work of the WFDYS. Subjects
in society.
Burban-South Africa. We welcome
covered were: Culture, History,
On Saturday, August 8th the theme
Deaf people from over the world to
Camps and more! During the evening
was “For the future” where we learned
come. Do not miss this opportunity.
Northern Europe, Asia and North
more about leadership training.
Story by LiXuan He
of America were responsible for
Activities taught us how to solve
Visit the website: http://www.wfdys.
entertainment and theatre.
a case, coordinate a plan or many
org/
On Wednesday, August 5th we went
others. We had a great experience
O A D
Board of Directors
Staff
President
Christine Ehrlich-Brady
Executive Director
Dean Walker
Vice-President
Jackie Plant
DOP Advocate
Kevin Canning
Secretary
Vanita Dama
Workshop & Event Planner
Lori Archer
Treasurer
John Mans
Trillium Project Manager
Evelyne Gounetenzi
Directors at Large
Hernan Guillermo
Shelley Ryall
Intra-Community Liaison
Lianne Valiquette
Visit us for Deaf resources. Located in our office at the Bob Rumball Centre for th