Save Ontario Schools, Deaf Community Says

VIDEO - <i><b>Deaf News: Petition to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to save PSB schools in Ontario, Deaf community says.</b></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/03/save-ontario-schools-deaf-community-says.html" title="Save PSB Schools Petition - Ontario Canada"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-nL1lhNkqiMI1D_egVM_HZ2nWKNagdQ-Y7va_n38cvCF3Ggu9k-iqQm6LUQU1OAfFRc1gOye6rXM7lD2d7HaeQY47T_CNXCvr9zYk_XjM3EuBnagBYhZo6aoj-2jBUdHXeGuAoK-qzIJ/s400/save-psb-schools-ontario-deaf-schools.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><br />LONDON, ON -- <a href="http://www.lfpress.com/2016/03/09/save-schools-deaf-community-says" target="_blank">London Free Press</a>: The province’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss" target="_blank">Deaf</a> community and their supporters are putting pressure on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario" target="_blank">Ontario</a>’s government this week, calling on them to keep schools for the Deaf and special needs students open.<br /><br /><br /><br />Executive director of the <a href="http://www.deafontario.ca/" target="_blank">Ontario Association of the Deaf</a>, as well as parents of kids who attend so-called demonstration schools - they’re funded outside the traditional school board model will be with <a href="http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=7183" target="_blank">London Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong</a> Thursday, in whose riding <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robarts_School_for_the_Deaf" target="_blank">Robarts</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dspschool/" target="_blank">Amethyst</a> schools are located.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZDJxdFxv94" width="500"></iframe></div><br /><br />Save PSB Schools Petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-save-psb-schools" target="_blank">https://change.org/p/justin-trudeau-save-psb-schools</a><br /><br /><br /><br />The group will make a presentation on the future of five such schools, including the two in London.<br /><br /><br /><br />“The vague, uncertain messages from the Ministry (of Education) has affected our community-wide morale, self-esteem,” said David Wiesblatt, president of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LondonCentreDeaf/" target="_blank">London Club of the Deaf</a>, which is organizing one of three provincial community forums on Friday.<br /><br /><br /><br />Armstrong could not be reached by press time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Robarts teaches Deaf students in their first language, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language" target="_blank">American Sign Language</a>, giving students a sense of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_culture" target="_blank">community and culture</a>, proponents say.<br /><br /><br /><br />Amethyst is for students of average to high intelligence who have severe learning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability" target="_blank">disabilities</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Students live at both schools, operated separately on Highbury Avenue, and go home on weekends.<br /><br /><br /><br />The 2012 Drummond Report, which contained suggestions for the province on how to save money, recommended closing demonstration schools and integrating students in mainstream schools.<br /><br /><br /><br />“Robarts has wonderful staff, administrators and facilities to support and serve our Deaf kids to thrive. We have many, many successful stories from the students and transfers from mainstream schools,” said Wiesblatt.<br /><br /><br /><br />Many fear community consultations are a sham and the province has already made up its mind about the closings.<br /><br /><br /><br />The total budget for the nine provincial and demonstration schools is $87.6 million. This includes salaries, operating costs and capital expenditures. Only five of the schools are under review.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Deaf Schools Under Reviews:</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robarts_School_for_the_Deaf" target="_blank">Robarts School for the Deaf</a> (London): 25 senior students and 40 elementary-aged pupils.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.psbnet.ca/Eng/schools/amethyst/index.html" target="_blank">Amethyst Demonstration School</a> (London): Maximum 42 students a year.<br /><br /><br /><br />Others: <a href="http://www.psbnet.ca/Eng/schools/trillium/index.html" target="_blank">Trillium Demonstration School</a> (Milton), <a href="http://www.psbnet.ca/Eng/schools/sagonaska/index.html" target="_blank">Sagonaska Demonstration School</a> (Belleville), <a href="http://www.centrejulesleger.com/index2.htm" target="_blank">Centre Jules-Leger</a> (Ottawa.)<br /><br /><br /><br />Save PSB Schools Petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-save-psb-schools" target="_blank">https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-save-psb-schools</a> Sign up to support to save Deaf Schools in Canada.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lfpress.com/2016/03/09/save-schools-deaf-community-says" target="_blank">SOURCE</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Related Canadian Deaf Schools:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/02/deaf-schools-in-belleville-worried.html">Deaf Schools In Belleville Worried About Future</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2015/10/canadian-deaf-superintendent-now.html">Canadian 'Deaf Superintendent Now' Movement</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/01/deaf-canadian-schools-in-lawsuit.html">Deaf Canadian Schools In Lawsuit Alleging Abuse</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/02/deaf-students-abused-by-priests-win-30.html">Deaf Students Abused By Priests Win $30-Million</a>

Save Ontario Schools, Deaf Community Says

VIDEO - Deaf News: Petition to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to save PSB schools in Ontario, Deaf community says. LONDON, ON -- Lon...

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Oregon's Snow Camp For Youth Deaf Students

VIDEO [CC] - <i><b>Deaf News: Youth snow camp held for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, instructors communicate with campers by American Sign Language.</b></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/02/oregons-snow-camp-for-youth-deaf.html" title="Oregon's Snow Camp For Youth Deaf Students"><img height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasOr3qi0mU4L1OeeLyIR12_5n61i5NLXtqPLYjtJPL70jkt12yS6BXHjOq7trFQlFkyavo_NZAn29kr201Ob1dRvokWk9LFU02wResa9ESM2mvI6C4NSVR0ogrUuFfwgUukYO45t4bSPX/s400/snow-camp-for-young-deaf.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><br />BEND, ORE -- KTVZ: People who are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss" target="_blank">Deaf and Hard of Hearing</a> have to navigate a world of sound, where the primary means of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language" target="_blank">communication is spoken language</a>. But or one week a year, that all changes.<br /><br /><br /><br />This weekend at <a href="http://oregonadaptivesports.org/" target="_blank">Mt. Bachelor, Oregon Adaptive Sports</a> hosted a snow camp. This was the third annual camp held just for teenagers and young adults who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_E1jvbnuwY" width="500"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To activate this feature, press the "CC" button.</span></div><br /><br />Although the ski and snowboarding skill levels vary between volunteers, they do all have one thing in common. They are all fluent in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language" target="_blank">American Sign Language</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />With the help of an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_interpretation#Sign_language" target="_blank">interpreter</a>, we talked to some of those taking part in this special program. Will Roach is a volunteer instructor and one of the people behind the idea.<br /><br /><br /><br />"We thought about all the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss" target="_blank">Deaf</a> students who are isolated, and we thought, 'Why not get them all together, and we could have instructors who are Deaf, so they could have direct communication?'"Roach said.<br /><br /><br /><br />For the participants, communication makes all the difference.<br /><br /><br /><br />"Well, Will was teaching me, and it's really nice to talk to other Deaf people here. That's really the best part," said one of the campers.<br /><br /><br /><br />Officer coordinator and instructor <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deaforegon/posts/658010840909452" target="_blank">Cara Frank</a> knows how important this camp is first0hand. She was born Deaf.<br /><br /><br /><br />"It really has a special place in my heart," she said. "Just having another role model that you can relate to growing up, it's really key. And that's what this camp is about."<br /><br /><br /><br />Everyone we talked to said they will absolutely be back next year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/deaforegon/?fref=nf" target="_blank">Oregon Association of the Deaf</a> has a variety of other programs. Their goal is to provide outdoor recreation experiences to people with physical and cognitive disabilities. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.oregonadaptivesports.org/" target="_blank">oregonadaptivesports.org</a>. <a href="http://www.ktvz.com/news/snow-camp-held-for-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-youth/37995910" target="_blank">Source</a>

Oregon's Snow Camp For Youth Deaf Students

VIDEO [CC] - Deaf News: Youth snow camp held for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, instructors communicate with campers by American Sign Language. B...

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