“If you can read this, thank a teacher.” - Anonymous teacher

Welcome to the DLI 2014 Spring/Summer

Newsletter

   

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DLI Vision and Mission Statement Page 4

DLI Values Page 5

Message from the Executive Director - Peggy Anne Gordon Page 6

Reports from Rana Hamdy and Kathleen Lezon Interpreting Students from GBC Page 7

Deaf CAMERA - Anselmo DeSousa Page 8

Mayfest Report - Kathleen Lezon Page 9Winners of Mayfest prizes from DLI

DLI’s Appreciation Night Page 10

25th Anniversary of Deaf Ontario Now! Page 11

Deaf Learn Now Page-12-13

Trillium Presentation Page 14

The Spotlight on Learners at Mohawk College Page 14-15

Summer ASL Classes at GBC Page 16

Mohawk College - Fall and Winter Program Page 17

Supporting Learner Gains Assessment Implementation for Page 18LBS Programs in Ontario

Adult Basic Education Association (ABEA) Page 19

DLI Resource Library Page 19

Quill Learning Network Page 20

Contents

   

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Deaf Literacy Initiative is committed to strengthening communication between DLI and all 15 literacy programs in Ontario. As a way to do this, we have developed this newsletter to share all up-to-date information about DLI projects and the projects of all 15 programs.

This newsletter is published three times per year. An electronic version is available on the DLI website.

If you have anything, of interest, such as learner successes or pictures that you would like to share with your associates, in other programs, please send to bernie@deafliteracy.ca

Thank you

Contributors

Thank you very much to all of our contributors!

Peggy Anne Gordon - Executive Director of DLIBernie McClennan - Administrative Assistant of DLIAnselmo DeSousa - DLI Project CoordinatorBruce Belcher/Patrick Cross - Mohawk CollegeWanda Blackett - Deaf Learn NowRana Hamdy - Interpreting Student GBCKathleen Lezon - Interpreting Student GBC

   

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DLI’s Vision

A world leader providing professional expertise and innovations in specialized literacy services to the Deaf and Deaf-Blind community and other coalitions.

Mission Statement Deaf Literacy Initiative leads in:

Developing accessible and accredited training for practitioners and learners in the Deaf and Deaf-Blind literacy agencies

Undertaking consultation, research and technology initiatives that advance the Deaf and Deaf-Blind field

Producing accessible and culturally relevant learning resources

Promoting and supporting the needs of Deaf and Deaf-Blind literacy communities globally

DLI Vision and Mission Statement

   

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VALUES DLI COMMITS TO: COLLABORATION: We will work together with our partners to advance and empower the Deaf and Deaf-Blind literacy community. CREATIVITY: We strive to develop new and improved tools and resources to promote literacy within the Deaf and Deaf-Blind community. EXCELLENCE: We will acknowledge and reward achievement in the development and growth of literacy in the Deaf and Deaf-Blind community. INSPIRE: We aim to inspire practitioners and Deaf and Deaf-Blind learners in their pursuit of literacy with our passion and knowledge. COMMITMENT: We commit to promote literacy for Deaf and Deaf-Blind people with respect, integrity and transparency to achieve our common goals.

   

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Hello everyone,

Hope all is well with you, the programs and your learners.

I am sure that some of you are looking forward to having a summer break and hope you will enjoy your time off this summer.

As you know the election in Ontario put all parliamentary sessions on hold. This delayimpacted DLI and the Service Delivery Network Development Fund (SDNDF) and the Independence Assessment Tool (IAT) project. Since May 1st, we have been waiting for funding approval. We have just received the news from SDNDF that our proposal has been declined. Now the IAT project is on hold until any further notice.

We are not sure if we are able to host a 2 day training workshop in November for the programs, as we need to review the budget.

The dates that have been chosen, tentatively, for the workshop are: November 20th and 21st. 2014Please save those dates and watch for our announcement.

During the time of the workshop we will also host our annual general meeting. This will take place on the Thursday, November 20th. at 6 p.m. at the same facility, which has yet to be determined.

On Friday November 21st. DLI will also host an ASL film, as a fundraiser.

DLI is also preparing to hold another fundraiser raffle. The prizes are two mini iPads, a Samsung Tablet and a Canon digital camera.Tickets are $2.00 each. The funds from the raffle will go towards hosting a learner workshop at the same time as the practitioner workshop. Please contact myself or Bernie to purchase tickets.

We are also currently looking at other ways to raise sustainability funding for ongoing needs such as conferences for practitioners and workshops for learners.

You will be hearing more about the raffle very soon, and I hope you will support DLI’s efforts to raise funds for the workshop.

Enjoy the summer!

Peggy Anne

A Message from Deaf Literacy Initiative’s Executive Director - Peggy Anne Gordon

   

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As an ASL-English interpreter student, at George Brown College, part of the requirements in order to pass one of our courses in first year, is to go on placement with a Deaf professional.

I was initially very nervous about having to go on placement, however, as soon as I met the Deaf Literacy Initiative (DLI) team, I was thrilled to be there and was then excited to continue my placement.

DLI has an amazing team, they make me feel welcomed every time I am there. They always take the time to answer any questions that I may have and make sure that I learn something new everyday I am there. They encourage me to utilize and enhance my ASL skills.

I have met many wonderful people through my placement at DLI. Anselmo, Peggy Anne, and Bernie always make an effort to introduce me to the various people that come into the office or whomever they are Skyping with so that I may expand my network and make new friends.

I appreciate every minute that the DLI team has taken out of their day to teach me new things about the Deaf Community, the different technology used in the studio, and helping me develop my ASL vocabulary.

I am sad that my placement is coming to an end, but I am extremely grateful that I have had this opportunity to meet Peggy Anne, Anselmo, and Bernie and learn from each of them with their countless knowledge.

Rana Hamdy

As a first year student in the ASL-English Interpreting Program at George Brown College I have been very fortunate to have my placement at Deaf Literacy Initiative (DLI).

DLI has provided me with opportunities to further my understanding, my vocabulary and my fluency of ASL.

Anselmo, Peggy Anne and Bernie have welcomed me fondly and continue to encourage me to achieve my potential.

Every week, I have been exposed to new experiences learning more about myself and my skills as well as Deaf culture.

My time at DLI has been incredible and words cannot describe how grateful I am to the staff for everything they have done for me. Kathleen Lezon

Meet Rana Hamdy Placement Student

Meet Kathleen Lezon Placement Student

The DLI Team would like to express our thanks to Rana and Kathleen for their work during their placement at DLI. Both Rana and Kathleen were always willing to do whatever was asked and with a very positive attitude.

They are going to make fantastic interpreters and we wish them the very best. We will be looking forward to seeing them in the future as full fledged ASL/English Interpreters.

The DLI TeamPeggy Anne, Anselmo, Bernie & Shawn

   

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Deaf Literacy Initiative’s ASL Pool Policy InformationDeaf CAMERA

Anselmo DeSousa - DLI Project Coordinator

Wow! The time has gone by so quickly for this project, but we are happy to say that we have great news: Deaf CAMERA Stage 2 and 3 is continuing to adapt.

Right now, DLI is filming an ASL DVD about Deaf CAMERA History. The DVD will be completed by September 2014, and uploaded to the DLI website.

This DVD will show the LBS and communities how Deaf CAMERA started from 2007 to present. It will show how Deaf CAMERA got started, how it developed and adapted the tools to make it ready to use. DLI will work on a “guide” which we willprovide training for the apprenticeship assessor this fall, 2014. This guide will focus on developing “protocol and scoring method”.

DLI will hire the an apprenticeship assessor. We hope that people will apply for this interesting work starting this fall, with DLI.

Enjoy your summer and we are looking forward to working with you in the fall.

Anselmo DeSousa Deaf CAMERA Assessor

   

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On May 9th and 10th of 2014, I attended Mayfest as a volunteer at the Deaf Literacy Initiative’s (DLI)booth.

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that this was my first year ever attending Mayfest, but I knowit will not be my last!

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting many new people and feeling confident in my ASL level to communicate with everyone.

It was wonderful to see many former students and individuals who have been supported by DLI. The were all happy to see Peggy Anne and Anselmo from DLI and there was lots of praise,hugs and smiles.

Having seen The Hammer film twice, the highlight of Mayfest, for me, was meeting Matt Hamill. Kathleen Lezon.

Mayfest 2014

Congratulations to the winners of the DLI draws at Mayfest

FridayLadie’s golf shirt - HaifeMen’s golf shirt - StanleyDLI mug - PeterWeb cam - Cody SaturdayLadie’s golf shirt - NemiaMen’s golf shirt - JonathanDLI mug - SaraWeb cam - Eric

Matt Hamill

   

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DLI’s Appreciation Night

DLI held an appreciation night on Friday, June 6th, 2014. The evening was planned to thank all of the special people who have volunteered and worked for DLI through the past year. Approximately 40 people were in attendance and a great night was had by all.

Darren Holst, from London, who also does ASL host and consultant for DLI, presented, one of his original poems, in ASL, called “Literacy”. The DLI executive director, Peggy Anne Gordon, thanked everyone for their work in assisting DLI to complete several projects in the past year. She then handed out glass paperweights with the DLI logo embossed on them to some of the attendees.

A special thanks was also given to the two interpreting students from George Brown College who did their first year placement with DLI. Rana Hamdy and Kathleen Lezon were a huge help in getting the evening set up. They also brought with them three more volunteers to help that evening.

Thank you to all who attended. It was a great night for DLI and a way to show people how much the staff at DLI appreciate their work.

Darren Holst, Megan Youngs,

with Peggy Anne

Tristan Kong & Peggy Anne Phyllis Vasquez, Peggy Anne

DLI Board of Directors:

Ted McClennan, Mara Warens, Karen Higginson, Simone Edwards-Forde

Bruce Belcher, Amy Parsons, Heather Marsden

DLI Staff with volunteers

   

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Congratulations on the 25th Anniversary of Deaf Ontario Now!

A Happy 25th Anniversary Deaf Ontario Now!

We won a draw for tickets from D.L.I. We went to Holiday Inn at about six-thirty in the night. There were about 120 people.

We look to meet our friend Krushan. We were ready for dinner. We ate potato, vegetable, chicken, coleslaw and chocolate cake or fruit. And drink cup of tea or coffee.

Anselmo DeSousa was the Master of Ceremony. Anselmo call Gary Malkowski who gave to Anselmo a surprise of his picture on Deaf Ontario Now!

Peggy A. Gordon call Peter, Rodolfo and Gary for her picture of us. We ate the big cake of Happy 25th Anniversary Deaf Ontario Now! We chat few people. Than we went to home, ten-thirty night.

Thank You D.L.I. for tickets. We enjoy fun.

Rodolfo Chow, Peter Bisson.

Some members of the original organizing committee:

Julio Schincariol, Gary Malkowski, Lucy Ross, Peggy Anne Gordon

Master of Ceremony - Anselmo DeSousa

Rodolfo, Gary, Peter, Peggy Anne

   

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It’s time for another Deaf Learn Now – Practitioner Update!

New StaffYou may remember in November 2013, we put out an video to recruit new staff to DLN. The posting went out across North America, and we spent several months accepting resumes and meeting with applicants. We are now ready to announce several new staff who have joined our team! Please join me in welcoming:

What are ACE Courses?ACE stands for Academic and Career Entrance, and is a credit based program that learners can do to work on their high school diploma (equivalent). The ACE certificate is accepted by colleges, universities, and most employers in Ontario.

George Brown College has provided the ACE program to students in Toronto for many years. This year, parts of the curriculum is being adapted for use on Deaf Learn Now.

Christy Elliott (British Columbia, Canada) Christy is currently working on the ACE Communications (English) course coming this fall.

Laura Riddell (Texas, USA) Laura is developing content for an initial numeracy assessment, as well as an ACE Mathematics course coming this fall.

Youmee Lee (Georgia, USA)Youmee is working with Laura to design and put together the technical side of the numeracy assessment and ACE Mathematics course.

   

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Deaf Learn Now - Cont’d......

We are super excited to be working on this, and looking forward to offering the program to learners later this year. Keep watching these updates for more information. If you have any specific questions, you can contact Wanda - wanda@deaflearnnow.ca

Milestones & Culminating TasksLast month we announced the completion of our Milestones & Culminating Tasks project. As part of the project, we adapted 22 milestones and 2 culminating tasks for online use, which includes ASL video translations of instructions and questions.

As a practitioner, you now have access to view these milestones and culminating tasks – you will find them on DLN by clicking in “Select a course” in the menu.

This summer, DLN will be posting an online course for practitioners to show how you can use these adapted Milestones and Culminating Tasks with your learners. This training will also explain more about using “Blended Learning” in the classroom. Watch for more news coming in the next couple of months!

What learners are saying about our courses….

“I want to continue learning more about Deaf studies, LOVE IT” - Deaf Studies (part 2)

“I need to remind myself that I am ok to make mistakes and learn from it and continue to practice to build confidence.” - Math – Time and Fractions

“Thank you! I have trained and improved. I feel better about G1 test.” - G1 – Driver’s License

“Great job!!!! Congratulations! Thank you!” - Deaf Studies (part 1)

Happy summer – from the Deaf Learn Now team!

   

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Spotlighting Mohawk College Academic Upgrading

The DLI staff was invited to attend the Leaders’ breakfast that ABEA (Adult Basic Education Association) hosted on June 10th.

It was a very pleasant surprise when DLI was presented with a plaque from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

OTF supported the Clear Writing project that ABEA headed. As a partner in this project, with ABEA, DLI developed ASL Videos for Deaf learners taking the Clear Writing course.

We are proud to receive the plaque and will continue to work with ABEA for many more projects in the future.

The presenter, Mr. Arthur Samson from OTF, stated that this project was very important for accessibility and would have a positive impact in the Deaf Community.

Thank you OTF and ABEA for supporting the Deaf stream.

Peggy Anne Gordon

Peggy Anne Gordon - DLI,

Leah Morris - ABEA,

Arthur Samson - OTF

Eric Savage

Eric Savage graduated from E. C. Drury in 2009 and then came to Mohawk College to the Academic Upgrading Deaf Empowerment Program (DEP). He was uncertain of what he wanted to do in life and felt overwhelmed at Mohawk as he adjusted to a new support system to help him develop trust and to sort out his needs and thoughts. A difficult childhood made it harder for him to develop trust with his fellow students and teachers.

Over time, it was clear that Eric had a passion and a gift as a people person. He wanted to understand how they thought and why they did what they did. The first couple of years were rough, but this year, he was the one doing the mentoring to other students. He had made our jobs as teachers that much easier by the end!

When Eric wrote the American College Test last year, he had a bad experience which prevented him from fully completing the test and walked out. He announced to us that his future was bleak and impossible.

During the summer, Eric made the decision to learn from that experience, to work with the teachers and to take the next steps to do better. We could see a change in his focus and determination when he returned to DEP in September. His focus was on preparing for university, both academically and mentally.

By the time he wrote the ACT test again in April, we just knew that Eric has been accepted to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the world’s only university for the Deaf. He will be studying Psychology for a career in Social Activism. We are excited to see how his future unfolds. We, his teachers, can see the potential for him to make a huge difference in the community.

Eric is also the recipient of the first DEP 2014 Trailblazer Exemplary Achievement Award.

Trillium FoundationPresentation

   

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Curtis Martin

Curtis graduated from E. C. Drury in 2013 and then came to DEP in September. Curtis came with a determination of wanting to go to RIT and knew he had a lot to learn to prepare for that journey. Curtis also showed his eagerness in wanting to improve his math and English skills so he could meet the requirements for college.

Curtis was one of those students who worked hard every day and completed his work on a fast pace where he was able to prepare for writing the ACT test earlier than expected. He wrote the ACT test in April and passed! He’s been accepted to Rochester Institute of Technology – NTID in Rochester, N.Y., the world’s only technical college for the Deaf.

He will study Imaging Arts and Sciences at NTID. After joining DEP, it was clear that Curtis had a special skill in photography and using these images into unique works of art, including taking a photograph and adding colour to it or making an animated picture out of it. Our class got to enjoy his frequent photo-taking of other students and school events and then turning them into slide displays. He also has done a series of projects for us utilizing his skills which will be a perfect fit for the Imaging Arts and Sciences program.

We look forward to seeing his artwork show up in a magazine or website near you in the future!

Submitted by Bruce Belcher Program Coordinator/ProfessorProfessor at Mohawk CollegeAcademic Upgrading Deaf Employment Program (DEP)

Spotlighting - Cont’d.. Mohawk College Academic Upgrading

Curtis and Eric

   

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Join  the  class!  Email  Deanne  to  register:  dBradley@georgebrown.ca  

Prepare  for  success  in  college  programs,  employment  or  independence  

Free  summer  classes!    George  Brown  College’s  Deaf  Academic  Upgrading  Program  at  St  James  Campus.  

Monday–Friday  9–11am  &  12  –  2pm  July  7  –  August  1st  

   

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Thinking of going to Gallaudet or NTID?

We can help prepare you to write the ACT test.

Academic Upgrading: Deaf Empowerment Program

Fall 2014 Module8 weeks – start in October 2014ACT Test dates:Dec. 13, 2014 and Feb. 7, 2015

Winter 2015 Module8 weeks – start in February 2015ACT Test dates:April 18, 2015 and June 13, 2015

DEP offers weekly class preparation for the ACT Test (American College Test)

Contact us today at dep@mohawkcollege.ca for a pre-screening appointment!

Modules are FREE at Mohawk College in Hamilton and are taught by Deaf teachers in ASL. Our classes provide the following:

Small Group and 1:1 Study

Test Taking Tips

Finding the 24 Common Grammar Mistakes

Practice Tests and Analysis

Psychology of Tests

Writing Test Preparation

   

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The LBS Sector and Stream organizations are working in partnership with the Ministry to deliver a project, led by the College Sector Committee for Academic Upgrading, to support LBS programs with implementation of Learner Skill Gains.

Learner Skill Gains (LSG) is the final element to be introduced in the “Effectiveness” component of the Performance Management Framework. LSG will involve assessing learners’ essential skills at both program start and end to determine the “skill gain” of learners. A Ministry-endorsed assessment tool will be identified prior to a planned implementation date of April 2015 followed by full implementation in 2016.

The “Supporting Learner Gains Assessment Implementation for LBS Programs in Ontario” is a 2-part project. The first is the creation of a web assessment focusing on Level 1 tasks similar to the Essential Skills for Employment and Education web assessment piloted in the fall of 2013 with non-college programs. (A ministry-endorsed tool will be identified prior to implementation.)

The second part is to create a Learner Skill Gains implementation framework to include policies, procedures, best practices and case studies to help programs prepare for the planned implementation in April 2015, leading to a mature Performance Management Framework in April 2016.

The sector and stream organizations will be asking their program members to help shape the creation of an assessment tool focusing on Level 1 learners and to inform the policies, processes and procedures to support programs with implementation.

Watch for more information and requests for participation over the coming weeks and months.

Sector OrganizationsCommunity Literacy of Ontario

(CLO)Laubach Literacy Ontario (LLO)

Continuing Education School Board Association (CESBA)

College Sector for Academic Upgrading (CSC)

Supporting Learner Gains Assessment Implementation for LBS Programs in Ontario

Stream OrganizationsOntario Native Literacy Coalition

(ONLC)

Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA)

Deaf Literacy Initiative(DLI)

   

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The Clear Writing project was funded by Trillium for a one year term.

The goal of the project was to make the Learning Networks of Ontario Clear Writing Guidelines, training DVD, on-line course and recognition process accessible to the Deaf Community.

DLI and ABEA were partners on this project. ABEA brought the Clear Writing Expertise and DLI brought the Deaf Community Expertise.

The project was a learning experience for both DLI and ABEA. It was a positive working relationship and all parts of the project were completed on time.

The on-line course is now accessible. The next on-line session begins in the fall. You can learn more about registering for the course at www.learningnetworks.ca

Leah MorrisExecutive Director ABEA

DLI Resource Library

Deaf Literacy Initiative has a wonderful resource library that is open to Deaf practitioners, managers and students. It is also available to interpreting students.

The library includes books and DVDs. Some of the topics are

• Deaf Culture • American Sign Language• Deaf Artists• Deaf Literacy• Deaf-Blind Workforce• Deaf Movies• Others

You can contact us at dli@deafliteracy.ca

   

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Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your day. QUILL would like to announce that all the task-based activities created in the Teaching to Fish project are on the TBA Portal - http://taskbasedactivitiesforlbs.ca/. You will also find all of the training webinars created in the project, for the Anglophone and Deaf programs. Click on the stream tab and then click on “Develop Task-Based Activities.”Francophone webinars and handouts will be up soon. All of the handouts for the webinars are listed beside each video. The Leaning Networks will distributing hard copies of the webinar resources to each program over the summer and into the fall. We hope that you will be able to use the resource to create new task-based activities to share on the portal. Thank you to MTCU for their investment in this efficient and effective way to share materials. Thank all of the partners in this year’s project. The portal is a fantastic example of collaboration! Alpha PlusProject READDeaf Literacy InitiativeCoalition ontarienne de formation des adultesOntario Native Literacy Coalition Literacy NorthwestLiteracy Link South Central

A special thank you to Karen Coutts, Project Coordinator. Yours, Debera Flynn, Executive Director

QUILL Learning Network

Quill Learning Network - Debra Flynn