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Banquet kicks off Deaf Awareness Week | jacksonsun.com |
About 120 people attended the 19th annual Deaf Awareness Week Awards Banquet on Saturday night.
The banquet, which was held at the DoubleTree Hotel, signaled the kickoff of National Deaf Awareness Week, which begins today and ends Saturday.
The banquet was sponsored by the Jackson Center for Independent Living Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Go America, Tennessee Relay Service and the Jackson Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf.
Amy Rae Cone, executive coordinator for Jackson Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, said 22 counties are provided the services.
"We're holding this banquet to create awareness and honor the deaf communities in Jackson and surrounding areas," Cone said. "This is our chance to give back to the community, and this is their night."
During the banquet, members of the local deaf community performed skits, an awards ceremony was held and door prizes were given out.
The banquet also celebrated 60 years of the Jackson Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf, which began in 1948 as West Tennessee Club for the Deaf. The club was sponsored by the Silent Class at First Baptist Church in Paris.
Information was given out about the Tennessee Relay Service, which provides free, statewide assisted telephone service to those with speech, hearing and visual impairments.
According to a brochure, about 800,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing live in Tennessee.
Glen Barr, executive director of the Jackson Center for Independent Living, said Saturday's banquet is one of the center's top events.
"We have such a good working relationship with the deaf community," Barr said. "We feel like we owe them more than they owe us. We're happy to do this for them."
Barr said the center, which will be 13 years old in January, is younger than the banquet. The first banquet was held at Wilson World Hotel on Sept. 22, 1990.
"The banquet and deaf services were both done by Madison-Haywood Developmental Services before JCIL started," Barr said. "They provided deaf services until 1997, and we saw that as a great opportunity for us to start providing that important service."
Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist presented a joint proclamation from himself and Madison County Jimmy Harris during the banquet.
"I stand in awe of the enthusiasm and energy of those here who are hearing impaired," Gist said before presenting the proclamation. "To see the communication is amazing."
Gist added, "Usually at a banquet, it's noisy from people talking. But here, it's quiet and you see the hands moving. It's fascinating."
About 120 people attended the 19th annual Deaf Awareness Week Awards Banquet on Saturday night.
The banquet, which was held at the DoubleTree Hotel, signaled the kickoff of National Deaf Awareness Week, which begins today and ends Saturday.
The banquet was sponsored by the Jackson Center for Independent Living Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Go America, Tennessee Relay Service and the Jackson Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf.
Amy Rae Cone, executive coordinator for Jackson Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, said 22 counties are provided the services.
"We're holding this banquet to create awareness and honor the deaf communities in Jackson and surrounding areas," Cone said. "This is our chance to give back to the community, and this is their night."
During the banquet, members of the local deaf community performed skits, an awards ceremony was held and door prizes were given out.
The banquet also celebrated 60 years of the Jackson Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf, which began in 1948 as West Tennessee Club for the Deaf. The club was sponsored by the Silent Class at First Baptist Church in Paris.
Information was given out about the Tennessee Relay Service, which provides free, statewide assisted telephone service to those with speech, hearing and visual impairments.
According to a brochure, about 800,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing live in Tennessee.
Glen Barr, executive director of the Jackson Center for Independent Living, said Saturday's banquet is one of the center's top events.
"We have such a good working relationship with the deaf community," Barr said. "We feel like we owe them more than they owe us. We're happy to do this for them."
Barr said the center, which will be 13 years old in January, is younger than the banquet. The first banquet was held at Wilson World Hotel on Sept. 22, 1990.
"The banquet and deaf services were both done by Madison-Haywood Developmental Services before JCIL started," Barr said. "They provided deaf services until 1997, and we saw that as a great opportunity for us to start providing that important service."
Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist presented a joint proclamation from himself and Madison County Jimmy Harris during the banquet.
"I stand in awe of the enthusiasm and energy of those here who are hearing impaired," Gist said before presenting the proclamation. "To see the communication is amazing."
Gist added, "Usually at a banquet, it's noisy from people talking. But here, it's quiet and you see the hands moving. It's fascinating."