Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: 604-736-5851
Email: ezheng@widhh.com
A DEAF SERVER? LOCAL NONPROFIT SAYS “YES!”
Vancouver, BC, May 4, 2015 – The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH), a local nonprofit, has partnered with a new restaurant that employs Deaf and Hard of Hearing workers.
DeaFined, opening May 7th at the start of Better Hearing & Speech Month, will be staffed entirely by Deaf and Hard of Hearing servers.
WIDHH’s employment counsellers worked closely with DeaFined owner Moe Alameddine to recruit and train staff.
Linda Franchi, Head of Counselling at WIDHH said that she was delighted to work with DeaFined to fulfill Moe’s vision of a restaurant that accommodates and values Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees.
“Many people don’t know that WIDHH is the largest provider of employment services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons in BC,” she said. “Each year, WIDHH assists countless people with hearing loss overcome workplace barriers through counselling and workshops.”
WIDHH also offers recruitment and workplace support assistance to employers like DeaFined looking to employ Deaf and Hard of Hearing staff.
Recent surveys reveal that only 20.6% of Deaf Canadians are fully employed, 42% are under-employed, and 37.5% of Deaf Canadians are unemployed.
Susan Masters, Executive Director of WIDHH, said that unemployment figures are so alarming because employers have traditionally not considered the idea of hiring staff with hearing loss.
“The restaurant is an important first step in normalizing the idea of Deaf and Hard of Hearing workers in the service industry,” she said. “I hope that other Vancouver businesses will look at DeaFined’s model and say ‘why not have a Deaf or Hard of Hearing employee?’”
About WIDHH
The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) is a British Columbian nonprofit committed to providing the widest range of services under one roof to assist those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafened, and Deaf Blind. If you are experiencing difficulties with your hearing, WIDHH can assist with Audiology, Counselling, Interpreting, and Communication Devices. For more information, please visit www.widdh.com.
For more information or an interview with WIDHH’s Executive Director Susan Masters, please contact: Ellen Zheng, Media Relations at 604-736-5851 orezheng@widhh.com.
Abilities Expo 2015
It’s our annual multi-agency resource fair – we’ve got more than 30 service providers in attendance, along with music, dance and a movie! Enjoy a performance by All Bodies Dance Project at 2pm, and a 3:30pm screening of acclaimed documentary Endless Abilities, about accessible sport/leisure options. It’s all FREE!
The event will run from noon to 5pm on Friday, May 15 at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Centre.
Please share this message with anyone interested in accessibility. No need to RSVP!
For more information:
Stephen Street
ConnecTra Coordinator
Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation
Suite 318 – 425 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 6E3
604-688-6464 ext. 115
sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org
http://www.connectra.org/events.html
BCSD Town Hall Meeting
Hello Parents & Guardians,
BCSD is hosting a Town Hall meeting. Parent and Community Consultation is an integral part of our student success and program growth. Please come and be a part of our consultation process and vision building for the future.
We hope you will take time out of your busy schedules to join us for this important meeting! We value your thoughts, ideas, and opinions and hope you can be a part of the future of BCSD.
Sincerely,
Lisa Meneian, BCSD & ORAL, Principal
Christine Ehrlich-Brady, BCSD & ORAL, Vice-Principal
Margaret Paris, South Slope, Vice-Principal
A music video for the deaf
(Toronto, Canada, May 04 2015) – David Porteous, a Canadian singer/songwriter, has made his newest music video for his song The Dirt, inclusive for the deaf to experience as well. The music video is viewable online at download-card.com/thedirt
The greatest feeling for any musician is the ability to share their work; it is a nerve-racking moment that can be extremely gratifying. Porteous wanted to share this with the deaf community, who is usually forgotten by the music industry.
Porteous has developed a creative way to share his music to a deaf audience. “As vibration is a common characteristic of both sound and light waves, I began by transcribing my music into colour,” says the Canadian musician “for example, the musical note A shares the same frequency as the colour of a naval orange.”
In the music video, it was decided to not show any instruments in their physical form. Porteous created each instrument by filming various light sources. The texture and placement of each instrument reflects how the audio was recorded and mixed. A survey was conducted to gain insight into how others perceive sound in a visual sense.
“I am so glad that David made this video to give the deaf a way to experience and better understand music, this will definitely help the deaf community” says Jane, Porteous’ deaf friend and inspiration for the video. “This music video was an exciting challenge,” says Porteous, “it brings me great joy to be able to interact with a community that I have previously not been able to share my music with.”
-More-
David Porteous, now 31 years-old, resides in Toronto, Canada, where he has been writing, recording, and performing for nearly 20 years. This summer Porteous will be performing across the east coast of Canada on a solo music tour to raise money for The Canadian Women’s Foundation. For more information on him and his music visit www.davidmusic.ca.
The Dirt is a song from Porteous’ new solo music release entitled Leaving April. Leaving April was recorded at Studio W19 in Toronto and at Sigur Rós’ studio in Iceland. The new album is available on iTunes, bandcamp, and his website www.davidmusic.ca.
Final Spring Family Storytime in Sign Language and English
Final Spring Family Storytime in Sign Language and English
We hope to see old friends and make new friends at Tommy Douglas Library on May 9th, at 2:00 PM, at our final family storytime of the spring. This is a free drop-in for children of all ages and abilities, together with a parent or caregiver. Join a Deaf storyteller and a children’s librarian for stories, songs, rhymes and crafts presented in both American Sign Language and English. ASL interpreters and a photographer will be on hand. All families are welcome!
Presented by Burnaby Public Library in partnership with Family and Community Services and Provincial Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services at the Ministry of Children and Family Development. For more information, e-mail Randi at the library (Randi.Robin@bpl.bc.ca) or Alayna at Family and Community Services (Alayna.Finley@gov.bc.ca).
http://www.bpl.bc.ca/events/family-storytime-in-sign-language-and-english-at-tommy-douglas
Abilities Expo
I’m taking part in the Abilities Expo this year, on Friday, May 15, from 12 pm to 4 30 pm. It is at the Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews.
Hope to see you there! A.J. Brown
—
A.J. Brown
http://www.handsandpurrs.ca
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ya69qwt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/artbyajb
http://www.handsandpurrs.ca
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ya69qwt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/artbyajb
Awards of Excellence – City of Vancouver
Nominations can be submitted atwww.vancouver.ca/awards-of-excellence until 5:00 pm onFriday, May 8, 2015.
