Computer courses for the deaf breaking new ground on Island

Miss-Delectable · 10-09-2008, 07:02 AM

Computer courses for the deaf breaking new ground on Island

Camosun College is continuing a unique partnership that has helped bring computer skills to the region's deaf adults.

Last January, Camosun's school of business teamed up with the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre and the Jericho Hill Legacy Trust to offer Victoria's first computer course designed specifically for the deaf.

"We worked together to take our existing Computers Level 1 class that we offer to the public and customize the program, and make the manual much more visual so that we could offer it to the adult deaf community," said Camosun's Elaine Paterson.

"It's an introduction to computers -- to Windows, Word, e-mail and the Internet -- things like that."

Wendy Dobbie, who is deaf, is returning as the teacher, Paterson said. Instruction is given in American Sign Language, known as ASL.

"It was really a lovely partnership for us to do that work together, and to provide that service to the adult deaf community," she said. "It had never been done before in Victoria."

Deaf students are eligible to have course costs covered by the Jericho Hill Legacy Trust, which supports educational programs for the deaf in B.C.

"Part of that money is specifically for literacy programs, and that very definitely includes computer-literacy programs," said Jenny Laing, an outreach worker at the Island Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre.

A full complement of 16 signed up for the initial session. Laing said having it taught in ASL was important to the students.

"That was huge. The majority of comments that I got were really positive feedback about the content because they felt that finally when people were talking about computers, it made sense."

Co-operative efforts like the course at Camosun are just a small portion of what her agency does, Laing said. It serves a clientele that ranges from children to seniors and offers employment counselling, interpreting services and a range of programs.

Laing said that about 10 per cent of the overall population has some form of hearing loss, and one per cent of that 10 per cent uses ASL as a first language. Anyone interested in the course can contact the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre at 250-592-8144 or 250-592-8147 (TTY service for the hearing impaired).

Meanwhile, another popular computer course is making a return at the University of Victoria, where computer science students are giving free Internet training to seniors. The first session ended up being so popular that 100 people had to be turned away.

With such an obvious demand, the students are offering the course again this month. Classes are scheduled for Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Call 250-472-5759. The course is reserved for those 60 and over.

10-09-2008, 07:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,167 Blog Entries: 3	Computer courses for the deaf breaking new ground on Island Computer courses for the deaf breaking new ground on Island Camosun College is continuing a unique partnership that has helped bring computer skills to the region's deaf adults. Last January, Camosun's school of business teamed up with the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre and the Jericho Hill Legacy Trust to offer Victoria's first computer course designed specifically for the deaf. "We worked together to take our existing Computers Level 1 class that we offer to the public and customize the program, and make the manual much more visual so that we could offer it to the adult deaf community," said Camosun's Elaine Paterson. "It's an introduction to computers -- to Windows, Word, e-mail and the Internet -- things like that." Wendy Dobbie, who is deaf, is returning as the teacher, Paterson said. Instruction is given in American Sign Language, known as ASL. "It was really a lovely partnership for us to do that work together, and to provide that service to the adult deaf community," she said. "It had never been done before in Victoria." Deaf students are eligible to have course costs covered by the Jericho Hill Legacy Trust, which supports educational programs for the deaf in B.C. "Part of that money is specifically for literacy programs, and that very definitely includes computer-literacy programs," said Jenny Laing, an outreach worker at the Island Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre. A full complement of 16 signed up for the initial session. Laing said having it taught in ASL was important to the students. "That was huge. The majority of comments that I got were really positive feedback about the content because they felt that finally when people were talking about computers, it made sense." Co-operative efforts like the course at Camosun are just a small portion of what her agency does, Laing said. It serves a clientele that ranges from children to seniors and offers employment counselling, interpreting services and a range of programs. Laing said that about 10 per cent of the overall population has some form of hearing loss, and one per cent of that 10 per cent uses ASL as a first language. Anyone interested in the course can contact the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre at 250-592-8144 or 250-592-8147 (TTY service for the hearing impaired). Meanwhile, another popular computer course is making a return at the University of Victoria, where computer science students are giving free Internet training to seniors. The first session ended up being so popular that 100 people had to be turned away. With such an obvious demand, the students are offering the course again this month. Classes are scheduled for Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31. Call 250-472-5759. The course is reserved for those 60 and over. __________________

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