Sign Language Courses Offered at St. Landry-Evangeline United Way

Posted: Jun 13, 2012 4:31 PM by KATC
Updated: Jun 13, 2012 4:42 PM

A five-week sign language training will be offered to adults, special ed teachers working with autistic students, and professionals who might encounter deaf clients in health and human services, law enforcement, emergency and disaster relief, or medical situations. The student will learn basic signs related to the needs and issues of deaf clients and victims; will learn finger spelling; will learn about the deaf, the deaf culture, amplification and communication devices and services; resources for the deaf; and ADA laws related to the deaf. There will be a choice of two sessions. Certificates of completion will be issued at the end of the course.

SESSION 1 - July 7 - August 11 (Saturdays 1:00 - 3:00 pm)

SESSION 2 - July 10 - August 14 (Tuesday 5:30pm-7:30pm)

LOCATION:
St. Landry-Evangeline United Way; 311 W. Vine; Opelousas, LA
Course Fee: $100 plus $25 Registration fee paid in advance to cover supplies and materials

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: EMILY YOUNG
Mail to: c/o St. Landry-Evangeline United Way; 311 W. Vine St.; Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: 337-942-7815 or 504-722-8784
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: July 5, 2012

Parent-Child Sign Language Classes Will Address Bullying
A four-week sign language course geared to hearing children age 7-12 and their parent(s) will create a fun learning experience that parents and children can do together, come away with basic sign language
skills, knowledge of deaf culture, and a better awareness of a disability that touches one in every 1000 citizens. The course will address bullying and acceptance from the perspective of the instructor's own experiences growing up. At the conclusion of the six-week class, students will have gained knowledge and insight related to diversity and the affects of bullying. Students will be able to perform a story or song in sign language, know the alphabet in sign, and be able to communicate basic phrases in sign. Certificates of completion will be issued at the end of the course.

Location:
St. Landry-Evangeline United Way office; 311 W. Vine St.; Opelousas, La

WHEN: Saturdays, from July 7 - 28, 2012 (10:00 am till 12:00 noon)
Cost: One child and one adult: $75 plus $25 registration fee paid in advance for books and supplies
(Discount 10% for every additional child)

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: Emily Young
Mail to: C/O St. Landry-Evangeline United Way
311 W. Vine; Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: 337-942-7815
Deadline for Registration: JUNE 29, 2012

The instructor, Emily Young is a deaf adult who learned to speak at an early age. She has worked with deaf children in the New Orleans area, as well as providing insight to graduate students going into areas of communicative disorders and deaf education. "Wanting to teach others how to use sign language comes from some of my own experiences," stated Young. "When I couldn't understand what was being said, I was either ignored, or perceived to be slow." Young believes that teaching sign language not only gives people another way to communicate, but also allows them to see what hearing impaired people experience daily. "I also want to teach other special education teachers how to use sign language with some of the autistic children that pass through their classrooms because sign language has become an integral part of how those children communicate", added Young. Prior to graduation from ULL, Young worked for the St. Landry Parish School Board as an assistant for deaf students. She is currently a Special Ed teacher for at Breaux Bridge Middle School, where she works with autistic students. She has publicly performed songs in sign for numerous events and occasions, and is an advocate for children with special needs and their families.