Miss-Delectable
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Former deaf school student writes childrens book - Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA
Alexis Domney reaches deaf community with her own language.
The 26-year-old, who grew up in Belleville, attended Sir James Whitney School (the oldest school for the deaf in Ontario, and travelled extensively over the last few years, is about to release her first children's book Splish, Splat this Saturday.
Through a series of original illustrations created by deaf professional graphic designer and illustrator Alice Crawford, Splish, Splat tells the story of Colin who makes two new friends 'with a splish of paint and a splash of fun". Crawford's whimsical collage illustrations are made from scraps of paper, catalogues, and discarded printed-paper stock from distributors, fabric, and her photos of found objects and of nature.
"The book is about Colin and his mom who hires painters to paint his bedroom," said Domney. "The company she calls recommends that she hire two women who happen to be deaf. The company explains that she can call a relay service to book the painters for the job, and she does. Heather and Molly come to Colin's house. They are the first deaf people he has met, and they communicate with him by writing on a pad of paper and using gestures. The painters spend the day painting his room blue. At the end of the day they start chatting – signing – as they paint the white trim. Without realizing it they speckle the blue walls with white paint. Heather and Molly are upset when they realize their mistake, but when Colin comes into the room he loves the effect and they decide to keep it that way."
The square-format colourfull book is meant to be a "fun" introduction to the world of sign language and "expose people to the deaf culture," she said.
Splish, Splat was produced in partnership with the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, will be launched at Chapters at the Quinte Mall Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.. Domney and Winnipeg's Crawford will give a short presentation about their book. An American Sign Languge (ASL) interpreter will be present during the launch. The event is sponsored by Second Story Press in conjunction with the Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto.
Domney, who studied communication studies at Gallaudet University in Washington DC – the only university dedicated to deaf people – spends her time volunteering at deaf community events and is currently volunteer staff for the Canadian Deaf Youth Leadership Camp in 2012.
"My Grade 12 teacher told our class about The Ladder Awards, a story swap program from the second competition from the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf in Toronto, which has for purpose to increase the small amount of published Canadian children's ASL literature that exists today," said Domney.
Winners of The Ladder Awards range in age from seven to 70 and come from across the country. The student and one of her classmates were selected in 2003-2004 by the editorial team at Second Story Press in Toronto.
"Margie, who works for the publisher, loved my story so much that she offered me to having my story go solo, so I said yes," said the young author. "Other stories selected for the award were published as an anthology, but mine was saved to publish on its own as a children's picture book."
For more information about Splish, Splat, visit Second Story Press | Homepage or Untitled Page .
Alexis Domney reaches deaf community with her own language.
The 26-year-old, who grew up in Belleville, attended Sir James Whitney School (the oldest school for the deaf in Ontario, and travelled extensively over the last few years, is about to release her first children's book Splish, Splat this Saturday.
Through a series of original illustrations created by deaf professional graphic designer and illustrator Alice Crawford, Splish, Splat tells the story of Colin who makes two new friends 'with a splish of paint and a splash of fun". Crawford's whimsical collage illustrations are made from scraps of paper, catalogues, and discarded printed-paper stock from distributors, fabric, and her photos of found objects and of nature.
"The book is about Colin and his mom who hires painters to paint his bedroom," said Domney. "The company she calls recommends that she hire two women who happen to be deaf. The company explains that she can call a relay service to book the painters for the job, and she does. Heather and Molly come to Colin's house. They are the first deaf people he has met, and they communicate with him by writing on a pad of paper and using gestures. The painters spend the day painting his room blue. At the end of the day they start chatting – signing – as they paint the white trim. Without realizing it they speckle the blue walls with white paint. Heather and Molly are upset when they realize their mistake, but when Colin comes into the room he loves the effect and they decide to keep it that way."
The square-format colourfull book is meant to be a "fun" introduction to the world of sign language and "expose people to the deaf culture," she said.
Splish, Splat was produced in partnership with the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, will be launched at Chapters at the Quinte Mall Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.. Domney and Winnipeg's Crawford will give a short presentation about their book. An American Sign Languge (ASL) interpreter will be present during the launch. The event is sponsored by Second Story Press in conjunction with the Deaf Culture Centre in Toronto.
Domney, who studied communication studies at Gallaudet University in Washington DC – the only university dedicated to deaf people – spends her time volunteering at deaf community events and is currently volunteer staff for the Canadian Deaf Youth Leadership Camp in 2012.
"My Grade 12 teacher told our class about The Ladder Awards, a story swap program from the second competition from the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf in Toronto, which has for purpose to increase the small amount of published Canadian children's ASL literature that exists today," said Domney.
Winners of The Ladder Awards range in age from seven to 70 and come from across the country. The student and one of her classmates were selected in 2003-2004 by the editorial team at Second Story Press in Toronto.
"Margie, who works for the publisher, loved my story so much that she offered me to having my story go solo, so I said yes," said the young author. "Other stories selected for the award were published as an anthology, but mine was saved to publish on its own as a children's picture book."
For more information about Splish, Splat, visit Second Story Press | Homepage or Untitled Page .