Holy Cross Deaf Awareness Week Events

WORCESTER, Mass. – Sponsored by the Holy Cross American Sign Language (ASL) program, the following deaf studies events are free and open to the public:

Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m - The 9th annual "It's a Deaf, Deaf World" interactive workshop will take place in the Hogan Campus Center. There will be no spoken language used at the workshop so that hearing people can communicate with the deaf using a variety of signing methods. The workshop will feature four half-hour rotations and will focus on understanding the daily frustrations faced by deaf people in a hearing world. Pre-registration is required.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. - A Silent Lunch will take place at Kimball Dining Hall. The lunch is a time to chat silently with friends using American Sign Language (ASL). Holy Cross students may use their meal cards to pay for lunch. The cost to the general public is $7.25.

Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. - A Signing Supper will take place at Crossroads Pub, in Hogan Campus Center. There will be no words spoken at the signing supper. Instead, people will communicate through the use of ASL. Holy Cross students may use their meal cards to pay for dinner. The general public may purchase food at Crossroads.

Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:00 p.m. - ASL Movie Night, in Stein Hall, room 102. This year's film selection is to be announced, but will relate to the deaf community, deaf culture or deaf history.

Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. - There will be a lecture about the communication and independence issues that deafblind individuals face daily. The lecture will take place in Stein Hall, room 116. A hands-on training session will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. ASL volunteers will pair with a deafblind friend in the Kimball Dining Hall for lunch. The afternoon session will take place from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Stein Hall, room 124, and will feature in-depth training on guiding practice. There is no cost to Holy Cross ASL students. For fees and registration, please contact Jeannette O'Campo at dbcc_ma@yahoo.com or 617-816-5809.

Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon - There will be a lecture by William Stokoe, the father of ASL linguistics. The lecture is being presented by Jax Levasque of Deaf Projects, Inc. There is no cost to Holy Cross ASL students.

For fees and registration, please contact Jax at DeafJax@juno.com

All buildings are located on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester. For additional information contact Judy Freedman Fask at 508/793-3344 or 508/793-3038 (tty).