CWU To Offer Deaf Awareness Workshops

June 14, 2005

Contact: Glenna Bain (509-963-2146/fax 509-963-3235/e-mail: baing@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - According to National Association of the Deaf figures, there are 28 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the U.S. That's nearly one in 10 Americans.

To help reach out to those living in Kittitas County, Central Washington University's Disability Support Services is sponsoring a pair of new workshops now through spring quarter 2006:

"Those attending either or both of these workshops will be better prepared to more appropriately accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students, faculty and staff on campus or in the community," says Glenna Bain, CWU coordinator of deaf and hard of hearing access services.

The workshops are:

• "Survival Sign Language 101," which will cover basic skills and tips for communicating in American Sign Language; and
• "Deaf Awareness, An Introduction to Deaf Culture," which will include tips on how to use an interpreter along with instruction in finger spelling and an introduction to some basic signs.

CWU senior psychology major Regina Beaulaurier, from Yakima, who is deaf, will lead both workshops. In addition, she can also provide additional information on this subject, tailored to specific needs and interests of individuals and groups on and off campus, Bain adds.

For additional information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-2146, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.