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5/13/2011 - First Event For Local Deaf Community Is May 21 - Happenings - Chattanoogan.com
Say It In Sign, will host a Deaf & Hard of Hearing Picnic on May 21 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga.
Very often those with hearing loss feel a sense of isolation from the hearing world around them. Say It In Sign strives to build bridges between the hearing and non-hearing worlds by building friendships, opportunities for networking, fellowship groups, entertainment, and free Sign Language classes.
The Deaf Picnic on May 21 will be the first such event in the Chattanooga region. “Interest is running very high in the deaf community," said Angel Miller, director. "We have even received numerous inquiries from outside our area such as Memphis, Knoxville, and Atlanta. We are expecting a strong turn out.”
The event will be catered by Rib ‘n’ Loin. Planned activities include vendor booths (some vendors scheduled are: Pampered Chef, Closed Door Entertainment, and Sorensen Communications), volleyball, basketball, a group hiking trip, and drawings for door prizes.
The goal of Say It in Sign is “building bridges between the deaf and hearing worlds” by providing opportunities for social activities, organizing special events, serving the community as volunteers, promoting deaf awareness, supporting Deaf culture, and teaching Sign Language.
Say It In Sign began in 2007 with a simple request, “Teach me to sign a song.” They began offering free sign language classes to the community in September of that year. Seventy-nine people attended the first 12-week class, which is now offered twice yearly. Insurance rarely pays for sign language classes when a family has a member become deaf or has a child born deaf. Say It In Sign exist to serve the needs and interests of the community, and soon recognized needs in other areas as well.
In February of 2009, the company started a new group, Deaf Chat-Chattanooga, which meets monthly at Starbucks for coffee and sign language conversation. Eight people attended the first meeting, and the group attendance now averages 60 people each month. Most of the participants are deaf or hard of hearing, and many are ASL Interpreters, CODA’s (Children Of Deaf Adults), or just simply have an interest in Sign Language.
“We often have a strong number of ASL students from several area colleges and universities, such as Tennessee Temple, Lee University, Chattanooga State, and Southern Adventist University,” said Ms. Miller. “We also offer sign language classes free to the community, and we require our own students to attend Deaf Chat-Chattanooga. When you are learning a new language, it is important to expose yourself to the language and culture as much as possible.”
From there, Say It In Sign has continued to expand. Other groups now include Metropolitan Deaf Theater (a dance and drama troupe), Sign ‘N’ Dine (averages 20-30 weekly) and Deaf Chat- Ft. Oglethorpe (averages 50 monthly). Say It In Sign also offers special events such as interpretation of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition, season finale viewing party on May 15, featuring the Sharrock family of Rossville. Cindy Sharrock is hard of hearing and has attended Deaf Chat-Ft. Oglethorpe.
From one person’s request four years ago, “Teach me to sign a song,” the company is now ministering to over 350 people.
Say It In Sign, will host a Deaf & Hard of Hearing Picnic on May 21 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga.
Very often those with hearing loss feel a sense of isolation from the hearing world around them. Say It In Sign strives to build bridges between the hearing and non-hearing worlds by building friendships, opportunities for networking, fellowship groups, entertainment, and free Sign Language classes.
The Deaf Picnic on May 21 will be the first such event in the Chattanooga region. “Interest is running very high in the deaf community," said Angel Miller, director. "We have even received numerous inquiries from outside our area such as Memphis, Knoxville, and Atlanta. We are expecting a strong turn out.”
The event will be catered by Rib ‘n’ Loin. Planned activities include vendor booths (some vendors scheduled are: Pampered Chef, Closed Door Entertainment, and Sorensen Communications), volleyball, basketball, a group hiking trip, and drawings for door prizes.
The goal of Say It in Sign is “building bridges between the deaf and hearing worlds” by providing opportunities for social activities, organizing special events, serving the community as volunteers, promoting deaf awareness, supporting Deaf culture, and teaching Sign Language.
Say It In Sign began in 2007 with a simple request, “Teach me to sign a song.” They began offering free sign language classes to the community in September of that year. Seventy-nine people attended the first 12-week class, which is now offered twice yearly. Insurance rarely pays for sign language classes when a family has a member become deaf or has a child born deaf. Say It In Sign exist to serve the needs and interests of the community, and soon recognized needs in other areas as well.
In February of 2009, the company started a new group, Deaf Chat-Chattanooga, which meets monthly at Starbucks for coffee and sign language conversation. Eight people attended the first meeting, and the group attendance now averages 60 people each month. Most of the participants are deaf or hard of hearing, and many are ASL Interpreters, CODA’s (Children Of Deaf Adults), or just simply have an interest in Sign Language.
“We often have a strong number of ASL students from several area colleges and universities, such as Tennessee Temple, Lee University, Chattanooga State, and Southern Adventist University,” said Ms. Miller. “We also offer sign language classes free to the community, and we require our own students to attend Deaf Chat-Chattanooga. When you are learning a new language, it is important to expose yourself to the language and culture as much as possible.”
From there, Say It In Sign has continued to expand. Other groups now include Metropolitan Deaf Theater (a dance and drama troupe), Sign ‘N’ Dine (averages 20-30 weekly) and Deaf Chat- Ft. Oglethorpe (averages 50 monthly). Say It In Sign also offers special events such as interpretation of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition, season finale viewing party on May 15, featuring the Sharrock family of Rossville. Cindy Sharrock is hard of hearing and has attended Deaf Chat-Ft. Oglethorpe.
From one person’s request four years ago, “Teach me to sign a song,” the company is now ministering to over 350 people.
