Miss-Delectable
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Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA
Lois Buckley couldn't express it with words, but the happiness was all over her face.
Buckley became the first person in Canada to donate blood with the help of a sign language interpreter at a Canadian Blood Services clinic yesterday.
"It's inspiring, it's exciting," Buckley said through an interpreter yesterday at the Peterborough permanent donor clinic on George Street.
"I'm very pleased to be the first one. My next appointment is Jan. 9."
Buckley was asked to be the first donor because she helped bring to light the need for sign language interpreters at blood donor clinics, organizers of yesterday's event said.
Canadian Blood Services clinics across Canada now offer services for those who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing so they can give blood. Previously, potential blood donors were only able to donate if they could communicate in English or French with the screening nurse.
The organization is working with local interpreters who must be active members of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada.
Donors who need interpretative services can indicate so when they schedule an appointment.
The effort is a collaboration of the association and the Canadian Hearing Society, and was approved by Health Canada.
Lorna Tessier, national public relations director for Canadian Blood Services, said Buckley played an important role in getting the service offered.
"She was one of the individuals that came forward and said that we needed to move forward to be able to allow sign language interpreters in this process. That it would open it up to a far greater community," Tessier said.
Lois Buckley couldn't express it with words, but the happiness was all over her face.
Buckley became the first person in Canada to donate blood with the help of a sign language interpreter at a Canadian Blood Services clinic yesterday.
"It's inspiring, it's exciting," Buckley said through an interpreter yesterday at the Peterborough permanent donor clinic on George Street.
"I'm very pleased to be the first one. My next appointment is Jan. 9."
Buckley was asked to be the first donor because she helped bring to light the need for sign language interpreters at blood donor clinics, organizers of yesterday's event said.
Canadian Blood Services clinics across Canada now offer services for those who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing so they can give blood. Previously, potential blood donors were only able to donate if they could communicate in English or French with the screening nurse.
The organization is working with local interpreters who must be active members of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada.
Donors who need interpretative services can indicate so when they schedule an appointment.
The effort is a collaboration of the association and the Canadian Hearing Society, and was approved by Health Canada.
Lorna Tessier, national public relations director for Canadian Blood Services, said Buckley played an important role in getting the service offered.
"She was one of the individuals that came forward and said that we needed to move forward to be able to allow sign language interpreters in this process. That it would open it up to a far greater community," Tessier said.
