Bilingual ASL-English Family Storytime is happening at the Oakridge Library. This program is conducted in American Sign Language and English. Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, felt stories, and crafts at the library. This event is suitable for children of all ages and abilities along with their parents and caregivers. ASL interpreters will be present during the program. The program runs on Friday mornings once a month from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. The program dates are February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18. The Oakridge Library is located 191 – 650 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC. For more information please call 604-665-3980.
Support Worker/Behavioural Interventionist needed
Job Title: Support Worker/Behavioural Interventionist
Job Description: One to one support for 16-year-old hearing impaired youth with ASD attending Neuroscience/Health Psychology Camp at UBC.
Contract Period: July 1 – 28, 2018 OR Position 1: July 1- 14 Position 2: July 15 -28
Location: UBC – Point Grey Campus
Days: Hours: 7:30am to 9pm
Successful applicant will participate in the development of the schedule and must be available and flexible based on the needs of the youth throughout the contract period.
Responsibilities:
Provide support in classroom and social settings
Break down and/or phrase tasks as needed
Give encouragement
Help stay on task/prompt to begin task
Support through transitions and schedule changes
Redirect and/or leave if youth becomes overloaded
Successful applicant will participate in the development of the support/intervention program based on the needs of the youth throughout the contract period.
Qualifications:
Must have verbal and written English
Experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Kind, patient and adaptable
High School Diploma or higher
In process or completed a program relating to special needs
Criminal Records Check
References
American Sign Language an asset
Rate:
Interested Applicants: For more information and or if interested in position, please reply with note of interest and resume to Natasha – natasha.schartau@gmail.com
DeafBC Job Posting
Curling Fundraising Poker
Sat. Jan 20, 2018
Where: Richmond Curling Club 5540 Hollybridge Way, Richmond Door opens at 6:30pm
Game starts at 7:00pm
BC Deaf Women Curling team:
Cecilia Tung, Olga Frolova, Tracey Serena, Olga Kuryo & Julia Szefer, they are raising funds to cover travel expenses and uniforms. They are competing in the 2018 Canada Deaf Game in Winnipeg.
Buy-In: $60.00
Appetizers provided Cash Bar will be open
Contact:
Tracey Serena Cecilia Tung
e:mikiserena41@gmail.com e: Cecilia_capi@yaho.ca
Eric Nielsen – Manager e:ericniel@telus.net
Fans are welcome to watch poker games and socialized. Cost only $5.00. See you there!
Deaf Community’s petition for WIDHH and WIDHH’s reply
FROM THE DEAF COMMUNITY TO WIDHH:
THIS IS A PETITION ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF WESTERN INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAFAND HARD OF HEARING. OUR REASONS FOR THIS PETITION ARE:
– It is the Vancouver Association of the Deaf that founded the Western Institute for the Deaf so the WIDHH’s origins are within the British Columbia Deaf Community;
– Members of the B.C. Deaf Community are deaf and have experienced being deaf, and are very familiar with issues confronting the deaf;
– We-the Members of the B.C. Deaf Community- have seen the decay of the services for the deaf within the Province such as the provinical school for the deaf and the provincially contracted mental health programme;
– Too often programmes for the deaf decay whenever they are under the management of non-deaf persons, thus prolonging sufferings experiences by Members of the B.C. Deaf Community; and
– We are concerned about services for the Deaf, and seek to reverse the decaying trends.
THEREFORE, WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:
– Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position of the Executive Director of WIDHH, the position must be fulfilled by a culturally Deaf person;
– Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position of the Deptartment Head of Interpreting Services in WIDHH, the position must be fulfilled by a culturally Deaf person; and
– A screening and hiring committee composed of at least 51% culturally Deaf persons be supported by the Board for the sole purposes of informing Deaf communities across Canada, of determining qualifications, of screening and hiring.
WIDHH’s REPLY TO THE DEAF COMMUNITY VIA GVAD PRESIDENT, KIMBERLY WOOD:
Family Storytime in a Sign Language at Burnaby Library
Family Storytime in Sign Language and English at Burnaby Public Library
https://www.bpl.bc.ca/kids/family-storytime-in-sign-language-and-english
Join a Deaf storyteller and a children’s librarian for stories, rhymes and crafts presented in both American Sign Language and English. This is a free drop-in for children of all ages and abilities, together with a parent or caregiver. All families are welcome! Interpreters will be present.
Three Saturdays from 2:00 to 3:00 PM: January 13, February 10, and March 10
Tentative spring dates: April 14 and May 12
At Tommy Douglas Library in Burnaby: 7311 Kingsway, 604.522.3971
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 Erin or Roger at Family and Community Services (Erin.Bentley@gov.bc.ca or Roger.Chan@gov.bc.ca).
CAD-ASC JOINS WFD IN ANNOUNCING UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES
For Immediate Release – December 22, 2017
CAD-ASC JOINS WFD IN ANNOUNCING UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES
OTTAWA, Canada – On December 19, 2017, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) announced in a press release that a resolution to declare September 23rd as International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) was officially adopted at the 72nd United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
As an Ordinary Member of the World Federation of the Deaf, the Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds Canada (CAD-ASC) would like to extend our congratulations to the WFD in their advocacy work bringing attention to the importance of Sign Languages as a human right for Deaf people around the world.
CAD-ASC welcomes the breakthrough development at the United Nations in officially recognizing the International Day of Sign Languages where Canada is one of the countries listed as additional sponsors to the UN resolution. CAD-ASC applauds the federal government for supporting this resolution, putting Canada among the leaders promoting Deaf human rights across the globe.
The press release from the WFD states the following:
The choice of 23 September commemorates the date that the WFD was established in 1951. This day marks the birth of an advocacy organisation, which has as one of its main goals, the preservation of sign languages and deaf culture as pre-requisites to the realisation of the human rights of deaf people.
The first International Day of Sign Languages will be celebrated on 23 September 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.
Quoting the message from World Federation of the Deaf President Colin Allen:
“This resolution recognises the importance of sign language and services in sign language being available to deaf people as early in life as possible. It also emphasises the principle of “nothing about us without us” in terms of working with Deaf Communities. With effect from year 2018, the WFD is overjoyed at the prospect of observing and celebrating this day annually.’
To read more of WFD’s press release, click the link here – WFD Press Release.
The IDSL will be celebrated each year on September 23rd to promote Sign Languages as being equal to spoken languages. It will also coincide with the International Week of the Deaf that focuses on advocacy and public awareness about human rights for Deaf persons, including the crucial place of Sign Languages in the development of educational, economic, and social equality for Deaf children, youth, and adults.
During Canada’s appearance in Geneva at the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in April 2017, UN Committee members were concerned that Canada had yet to recognize its two national Sign Languages. As reported in the “Concluding observations on the initial report of Canada” on May 8, 2017, it was stated that the Canadian government needs to officially recognize the two national Sign Languages.
It is important to acknowledge that over 42 countries around the world have recognized their national Sign Languages through federal legislation. However, Canada is one of the countries that has not yet recognized its two national Sign Languages – American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). CAD-ASC appeals to the Government of Canada to introduce federal accessibility legislation that will recognize the two national Sign Languages- ASL and LSQ. Sign Language is a fundamental aspect of accessibility and signifies the protection of Deaf persons’ human rights in Canada. This will reinforce the cultural and linguistic identities of Deaf individuals in their respective Canadian Anglophone and Francophone communities, moving us closer to becoming a fully inclusive and accessible country.
The recognition of Sign Languages is a key element of human rights related to Deaf persons, as clearly outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as described in Article 21. CAD-ASC would like to ensure that the Government of Canada implements this UN resolution on the International Day of Sign Languages, by first enacting federal legislation that recognizes Canada’s two national Sign Languages– American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ).
Message from CAD-ASC President Frank Folino:
“It is a matter of human rights that we embrace our two national Sign Languages to promote equal opportunities for Deaf people in our Canadian society that will open up a wealth of opportunities through social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights. It is also part of Canada’s obligation as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
For more information about the United Nations Resolution on the International Day Sign Languages, including the UN’s 6 official languages via at this link.
Media Contact:
Frank Folino, President
ffolino@cad.ca
-30-
About Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC):
The Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is a not-for-profit organization as a national information, research and community action organization of Deaf people in Canada. Founded in 1940, CAD-ASC provides consultation and information on Deaf issues to the public, business, media, educators, governments and others; conduct research and collects data. CAD-ASC promotes and protects the rights, needs, and concerns of Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). CAD-ASC is affiliated with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and CAD-ASC is a United Nations-accredited Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For more information, visit www.cad.ca.
PDF – EN International Day of Sign Languages Press Release CADASC
PDF – FR International Day of Sign Languages Press Release CADASC
MS WORD downloadable ENGLISH – EN International Day of Sign Languages Press Release CADASC
MS WORD downloadable FRENCH – FR International Day of Sign Languages Press Release CADASC
Deaf Wireless Canada Commiittee Press Release
Released on 15 December 2017
Hello Everyone,
Six organizations representing Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) including:
Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee (DWCC)
Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC)
Canadian National Society of Deaf-Blind (CNSDB)
Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia (DAANS)
Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians (SDHHNS)
Canadian Hearing Society (CHS)
are pleased to release accessible videos in ASL and LSQ explaining about your rights and responsibilities as wireless customers according to the CRTC’s updated Wireless Code taking effect on December 1, 2017. These videos were produced in collaboration with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) and Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
English Press Release: http://bit.ly/2kxAyCc
ASL Press Release: https://youtu.be/8lilMlJMCeo
Wireless Code ASL Video: https://youtu.be/9uDy0HQdVcA
Wireless Code LSQ Video: https://youtu.be/bKqq0dSA7qs
Thank you!
DWCC, CAD-ASC, CNSDB, DAANS, SDHHNS, and CHS
#WirelessCode #ASLandLSQCanada #AccessibleCanada
VRS Canada SRV announcement and job position opening
Printable in PDF:
JobPosition_CommunityOutreach EN
The announcement can be seen in our FB Group Page as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1719180181442010/.
Please feel free to share!
North Vancouver School District is looking for an Education Assistant, Visual Language Support position
Printing PDF:
44 – Education Assistant, Visual Langue Support –
EDCATIONAL ASSISTANT, VISUAL LANGUAGE SUPPORT
Position: Education Assistant – Visual Language Support
Rate: $27.95 per hour (current rate)
Shift: Day
Hours of: 32.5 Hours per week, School Term
Location: Seycove Secondary School
Effective: January 8, 2018
NOTE: Training and experience with supporting students in community activities, swimming and lengthy walks is desired.
NATURE AND SCOPE OF WORK:
This is specialized work of a student assistance and teacher support nature attending to the learning needs or students requiring sign language support. An employee of this class provides assistance by performing a variety of tasks. Employees will be required to bring specialized skills to assist students who are deaf/hard of hearing. The work requires considerable initiative, emotional stability, empathy and understanding of the many and varied issues these students face. This position requires sound judgement in dealing with a variety of situations under the general supervision of a teacher(s). Work performance is reviewed and evaluated by an administrator in terms of effective services rendered to students and staff.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and work collaboratively as a member of the educational team.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to establish trust and rapport with students and staff.
• Knowledge of the basic aspects of children’s educational, physical, social and emotional development.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of educational practices, the function of support services, and the role of visual language support staff as part of an educational team.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods and practices related to the learning style and other needs of students with hearing loss.
• Considerable knowledge of American Sign Language.
• Considerable knowledge of behaviour theories, behaviour intervention strategies, conflict resolution techniques and situational safety assessment.
• Considerable knowledge of the academic course content and non academic programs as required for assigned students.
• Considerable knowledge of a wide range of equipment including adaptive technology. Examples may include, but are not limited to: computers, iPads, computer software and Smart Boards.
• Working knowledge of child development.
• Working knowledge of basic first aid.
• Ability to implement student Individual Educational Plan (IEP), Individual Care Plan, academic and other individual programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students with special needs.
• Ability to perform a variety of record keeping tasks, including the collection and monitoring of data.
DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
Completion of the 12th grade or equivalent, plus basic first aid, supplemented by a Special Education Teaching Assistant certificate, or equivalent training. Completion of an ASL program; Level 6 or higher. Preference will be given to those with a Deaf Studies Diploma.
Please submit resumes to http://www.makeafuture.ca/north-vancouver
We appreciate your interest in applying; however, only those candidates selected to move forward in the application process will be contacted.
Full time position as Medical Interpreting Service (MIS) dispatcher
For printing PDF MIS Dispatcher – December 2017
The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) is a unique non-profit service organization for Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens. Our Agency provides services in Audiology, Counselling, Sign Language Interpreting and Communication Devices.
We are looking for a dynamic and energetic person to fill the following full-time position:
Medical Interpreting Services (MIS) Dispatcher
Job Summary:
The MIS Dispatcher is responsible for receiving all requests to book an ASL Interpreter for a medical situation and to select and assign the interpreter best suited for the needs of the appointment. This position reports directly to the Head of Interpreting Services.
Work Performed:
• Prioritizes requests for interpreters
• Schedules and assigns contract and program interpreters
• Participates in the preparation of assignment forms
• Online database/scheduling
• Receives requests via email, text, skype, facetime, voice phone, TTY, and fax
Experience:
• Minimum of two years experience interacting with the public, Deaf, and Deaf-Blind individuals; preferred
• Demonstrated track record with data input and retrieval
• Excellent organizational skills and experience working in a busy environment with the ability to multi-task
• Must understand the confidential nature of the position
Skills:
• Ability to communicate in an articulate and professional manner with service providers and the public
• Fluent in American Sign Language
• In-depth sensitivity to and knowledge of Deaf culture, Deaf-Blind needs, and the communication modalities of hard of hearing individuals
• Advanced computer skills
Application deadline: Thursday, January 4th, 2018 at 5:00pm
Please reply in confidence with cover letter and resume to:
Janice Lyons, Head of Interpreting Services
Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Email: jlyons@widhh.com
Drop In Coffee Group Special Date
Drop in Coffee Group Special Date
Saturday December 30th
When: Saturday, December 30th
Time: 1-3pm
Where: Deaf Well Being Program’s Multipurpose Room
Text: Please text Well Being Program office’s number when you arrive so that staff can let you in.
Come join Well Being Program Staff for a special edition of the Drop in Coffee group!
Coffee/Tea and treats will be provided.
Please register so we know how many people will show up and have enough treats for all!
Need More Information or Register?
Email: WellBeing.Staff@vch.ca
Voice: 604-456-0900 • Text: 778-987-4174
TTY: 604-456-0901 • FAX: 604-456-0904
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-949-1155
Website: deafwellbeing.vch.ca
Direct to our webpage: http://bit.ly/2B0W5Kt
The Daring Way workshops in 8 weeks course
8-week Course in ASL
Wednesday Evenings 5pm – 7pm
Starting January 31st, 2018
Well Being Program
Experience a deeper self-awareness, richer relationships, and living with greater authenticity with like-minded people. We will examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are holding you back and we identify the new choices and practices that will move you toward more authentic and wholehearted living. Move beyond perfectionism to self-compassion and discover how vulnerability, empathy, courage, and gratitude are connected. We develop skills to be resilient in life’s daily storms and step into the freedom of knowing we are enough.
Limit: 8 Participants. Includes your personalized manual, your Daring Way™ workbook experential exercises, coffee, and light snacks.
If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, you may qualify for free participation of this workshop (usual registration fee is $500 per person).
Please contact WBP Program Coordinator kristen.pranzl@vch.ca for more information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKNMBiMhBlI
Queer ASL courses
Registrations are finally open for our classes in Jan!! We are only offering 101 & 102 this time BUUUUUUT we are super excited to say that we will be offering a *brand new* ASL 103 course and our ASL storytelling course in March!
Our ASL 102 is being re-designed as well, it’ll have a lot of familiar content but some new stuff as well so if you’d like the practice and to learn a bit new stuff & do new activities, you should for sure register for ASL 102 even if you already took it before.
*If you would want an ASL 102 class on a weeknight, please let us know as we are thinking about possibly switching one of the 101 classes into a 102 class instead*
Here’s to a new year of some fun changes & development! <3
Location & Access information:
http://www.queerasl.com/locationaccess/
Registration form:
https://goo.gl/forms/lnCFCU2TIRWe4F0J2
Also, please do spread the word. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested and also share our event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/259410191255158/
Thank you so much for your support!
Zoée Montpetit
Founder, Queer ASL
Kelowna Deaf Coffee Group
Place: Tim Horton
Where: in Kelowna, BC
Address: 3255 Lakeshore Rd/ Ritchter ( right by save-on-foods) by Mission Area
Time: 7 pm tp 10 pm
When: Friday, December 22, 2017
