By Email: richard.per@sd41.bc.ca
GREATER VANCOUVER ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF
2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1X9
Contact: gvadoffice@gmail.com
Website: www.gvad.com
News: www.deafbc.ca
May 19, 2017
Richard Per
Director of Instruction
School District #41 (Burnaby) District Office
5325 Kincaid Street Burnaby, BC V5G 1W2
Dear Mr. Per,
Re: Position of Principal – B.C. School for the Deaf
At the request of the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf (GVAD), I am sending this letter to affirm our organization’s commitment to advocate for fully accessible education of children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing. We aspire to be involved in the process for selecting the next Principal for the B.C. School for the Deaf, continuing our history of cooperation among community groups.
The GVAD is the oldest advocacy organization for persons with disabilities in British Columbia. Since 1926, the organization has worked with the community to gain access for Deaf, Deaf- Blind and hard of hearing individuals in education, communication, and employment. Our organization is affiliated with the Canadian Association of the Deaf, which is a full member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). The GVAD is also working with cross-disability organizations, such as civic disability advisory committees and the Disability Alliance BC, following progress of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the Government of Canada ratified on March 10, 2010. The GVAD has high expectations that all levels of government would comply with the Convention, especially regarding Article 9 – Accessibility, and Article 24 – Education, which emphasize the rights of Deaf adults and children to have full access and use of sign language in their daily lives.
As many members of GVAD have been to the B.C. School for the Deaf for their education and it is like a ‘second home’ to us. We care deeply about the school and the quality of deaf education. We admire those Deaf individuals who are teachers, education assistants, and head teachers, because they are the role models for deaf and hard of hearing students. We believe that the BCSD would benefit greatly from an administration that understands the importance of involving the adult Deaf community in educational decisions that will have lasting effects on young people who will be part of our world.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. BC’s Oldest Disabled Consumer Group
Therefore GVAD, its members, and Deaf community leaders request comprehensive involvement of the Deaf community in the selection process for the position of Principal of the B.C. School for the Deaf. We believe such participation – from the screening of applicants to final selection – would fulfill the purpose and spirit of the Convention and define the Burnaby School District as a positive and pro-active supporter of this international agreement and all human rights principles.
As the contact person for the GVAD, you may reach me at our Association’s office, by email, gvadpresident@gmail.com to discuss the above request. The board has identified Deaf members who can be available to meet with you and other appropriate individuals, at your convenience.
Sincerely Yours,
Kimberly Wood GVAD President
Cc: Silvina Lanusse, silvina.lanusse@sd41.bc.ca
GVAD Board
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community
