Kerry Deaf Resource Centre Update 19.05.14

DEAF MAKEUP ARTIST
We would like to send our congratulations to Noeleen Cunningham who has just graduated from the LA College of Creative Arts in Dublin. Noeleen is Deaf and is now a qualified Make Up artist for bridal, contemporary, high fashion, male, fashion, photographic, fantasy, period, TV, film, & special effects. She also qualified in facial hair, wigs, hairstyling and airbrushing. Noeleen is located in Dublin but is prepared to travel outside of Dublin if required. To book Noeleen, you can contact her by email: [email protected]

If you would like to see examples of Noeleen’s work, go
www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Up-by-Noeleen/701146659935783?fref=ts

GET IRELAND SIGNING – QUAID SAYS THANK YOU
In our newsletter last week, we mentioned Quaid, a young 9 year old hearing
boy, who is trying to encourage the use of sign language throughout Ireland
and in particular on TV shows such as the Late Late Toy Show. In our
newsletter, we encouraged our readers to ‘Like’ Quaid’s Facebook page.

His mother has sent us a message thanking the Centre for raising awareness
of his campaign. They are delighted to see the number of ‘Likes’ on his page
increase from the mid 700’s to well over 1,000. A big thank you to all
those who liked his page ‘Get Ireland Signing’- we are sure he appreciates
it enormously.

IRISH DEAF SOCIETY (IDS) SUMMERFEST
The IDS has just announced this year’s Summerfest will be held on Sunday
20th July. They are seeking volunteers to make the day successful. If you
want to help out please email [email protected] or text 086 440
1443 with your full name. More details on the venue etc will follow soon.

BBC2 DOCUMENTARY SHOWN ABOUT DEAFNESS
In 1973 BBC Two’s Horizon – which celebrates its 50th birthday this month –
made its first documentary about deafness. The documentary was screened
again this month on BBC. Some forty years later it serves as a fascinating
time capsule of attitudes to deafness at the time. See Hear, a TV programme
for the Deaf in the UK recently caught up with three of the original
contributors and showed them the 1973 programme they were in to get their
response and memories of the time.

If you missed the programme and cannot access it on the BBC iPlayer, you can
read at article by clicking on the following link:
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-27219354

US PRIMARY SCHOOL PUNISHES GIRL FOR USING SIGN LANGUAGE
An interesting article has been trending online over the past few weeks. A
12-year-old deaf girl in New Jersey has been threatened with suspension for
communicating in sign language. Her parents say that sign language is the
only way she is able to communicate effectively since losing most of her
hearing in an accident. School officials say that signing is a ‘safety
hazard’. A letter was sent from the principal to the girl’s parents stating
she was ‘doing sign language after being told it wasn’t allowed on the bus’.
The school district’s attorney is stating that the child’s rights were not
violated and that the school was trying to protect other students by
preventing her from signing whilst travelling on the district bus.

The girl’s parents say that the school officials are violating the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Her mother said, ‘She has a hearing problem, and now
she’s being punished for using sign language. It’s absurd.’

One Deaf-rights advocate said Danica’s parents have a strong basis for a
lawsuit because sign language could be a considered a foreign language, and
school officials could be violating the girl’s First Amendment right to
communicate.

“Why should there be a ban?” asked Charlotte Karras, outreach coordinator
for the Edison, N.J.-based Alliance for Disabled in Action. “It’s a
violation of her communication rights. She’s said it’s the only way she can
communicate with her friends. It’s against the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and violates the First Amendment and her family can file a
discrimination suit citing the ADA”

WASLI 2015 CONFERENCE IN TURKEY – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) volunteer
sub-committee is seeking applicants to fill various positions during WASLI
2015. They are encouraging people with diverse language backgrounds to
apply and join their team. They are looking for people who are able to
assist with various tasks during the event, such as registration table,
timekeeping, escorting presenters, technical assistance, photography,
videography, runners, local information stand, etc. Volunteers will be
provided with catering for the shifts they are working, and a volunteer
shirt. Conference registration fees will not be waivered for sessions
outside of volunteer shifts. Application deadline is October 20, 2014.

To apply, an application form is available at:
http://wasli.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Volunteers-Application-Form.pdf
or email a 5 minute clip in international sign to Okan Kubus at
[email protected] or Shauna Jehle at [email protected]

OUR CONTACT DETAILS:
Kerry Deaf Resource Centre.
4 Gas Tce, Tralee, Co. Kerry, IRELAND

Charity Number CHY20854

Text (+353) 87 633 4687
Fax (+353) 66 712 0386
Tel (+353) 66 712 0399

E-mail [email protected]
Website www.kerrydeaf.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/kerrydeaf

KDRC provides services to Deaf and hard of hearing people at county level
and contributes to national issues of equality, access and rights.