Kerry Deaf Resource Centre Update 18.06.13
AMBO RAMBLE FOR ETHIOPIAN DEAF PROJECT
The Ambo Ramble 40km/120km Cycle Event, which is being run in conjunction with Kilgrew Cycles, will be held in Cork on Sunday, 30th June. The fee to participate in the event is 50 euro on the day, or 30 euro in advance through the mycharity.ie website.
The aim of the cycle is to raise funds for the Ethiopian Deaf Project. This is a collaborative venture between the Irish and Ethiopian Vincentian Lay Missionaries and members of the Deaf community in Ireland. Its mission is to work with the Deaf community in Ambo, Ethiopia, to assist them in their efforts to establish a Deaf school, vocational skills training centre and a Deaf centre.
To register, go to: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/miriam__oregans_event/
To confirm your participation on the day, go to the Marion Hall, Ballinhassig at 8.30am on 30th June. Please note a hard shell helmet must be worn and the event is over 18s only.
There will be a post ramble party at the Bishopstown Bar, starting at approx. 4pm, where music, finger food and promotional drink prices will be available.
COMMISSIONING INITIATIVE FOR ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Arts Council, Arts and Disability Ireland (ADI), Cork City Council, Galway City and County Councils and Mayo County Council have launched an initiative called Ignite!, described as a “an exciting and innovative approach to commissioning and touring work by artists with disabilities”.
Ignite! plans to award a commission of up to 60,000 euro in each county this year. By the end of 2014 it will present original new work at local level and in 2015 it will tour one of these new commissions. Applications will be invited from partnerships developing new collaborative, high-quality art work and must include professional disabled artists.
There will be an information clinic for potential applicants at City Hall, Cork on Wednesday 3rd July, 1pm-5.30pm. Lunch will be provided.
The aim of the clinic is to expand people’s thinking about commissioning and to facilitate opportunities for artists to meet each other with a view to forming partnerships. Furthermore, you will be able to find out more about Ignite! and the commission application process.
If you are interested in attending the clinic please email [email protected] by Monday 24th June 2013, indicating any access requirements you may have, including Sign Language interpretation.
IRISH DEAF YOUTH ASSOCIATION LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
IDYA is looking for volunteers for the annual SUMMER FEST which is due to be held on 21st July. If you are interested in helping out, please contact [email protected].
IRISH PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN UNION OF THE DEAF YOUTH
Congratulations to Ronan Dunne, from Dublin, who last month was elected President of the European Union of the Deaf Youth (EUDY) at its General Assembly in Berlin.
EUDY is an umbrella organisation for Deaf Youth Associations in Europe. Its mission and objectives include encouraging collaboration between national Deaf associations in Europe and promoting and co-ordinating Europe-wide activities for Deaf young people and their organisations.
You can find EUDY on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EUDYouth
US AND ARGENTINA DEVELOP SIGN LANGUAGE MATERIALS FOR READING WITH DEAF CHILDREN
Advances in technology are making bilingual spoken/signed language “publications” possible. Up to now reading projects for Deaf children and Deaf families have focused on encouraging reading in general or developing texts that give a positive image of deafness. However, tablet computers (such as the iPad) and other devices are expanding the possibilities for children’s literature.
In Argentina, Canales (a non-profit organisation) has launched a video-books project. The project consists of a series of videos showing classic fairy tales told in Argentinean Sign Language (LSA). The storytellers are a group of women, mostly Deaf grandmothers. The project leader explained: “Most Deaf children have grandparents who are not Deaf and who can’t read stories to them. Video-books allow these children to hear the stories from Deaf grandparents.”
The video-books will be available online as a free download and so they can be used by families and in schools. The stories will also include optional voice-overs for hearing family members, etc.
You can see an example of a videobook here (in LSA with Spanish text): http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Np3oWpBDaE8#!
VL2 (Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning) at Gallaudet University has released a new interactive bilingual storybook app for the iPad.
The app combines a storyteller signing the story in American Sign Language (ASL) with the English text for reading along, as well as eye-catching animations. It also features a glossary of 170 signs. The app has one original children’s story, The Baobab. Two other stories – The Little Airplane That Could and The Boy Who Cried Wolf – are in development.
The app is designed to facilitate language acquisition and reading in all young children, especially deaf and hard of hearing children. Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto, Science Director, explains: “Early exposure to bilingualism provides tremendous higher cognitive, language, and reading advantages for young children and the advantages continue throughout their entire lifetime.”
Dr. Thomas Allen, who also worked on the app, noted: “An interactive, bilingual app, such as The Baobab, provides an opportunity for children to develop their language, reading, and literacy skills, and to move toward dual language fluency, while being happily engaged.”
For more information go to: https://www.gallaudet.edu/News/The_Baobab_app_release.html