Miss-Delectable
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Weekend festival for deaf a big hit - LA Daily News
There was a quiet hum from the crowd Saturday at Woodley Park, but the flurry of moving hands signaled the excitement in the air as hundreds of participants gathered for DEAFestival Los Angeles.
The annual event mixes entertainment and education in the region's largest fair for the deaf and hard of hearing. Attendees could learn about the latest in communication technology and gather information on arts and education programs - but socializing was the order of the day.
"Really, the deaf community is like a deaf family, and it's nice to see everyone get together," said Steven Lopez, 22, through an interpreter. "I'm seeing waves of hands and I love it."
A junior at California State University, Northridge, Lopez had dyed his hair green to attract attention for a fundraiser that will help pay for a service trip to Jamaica, where 20 students will teach American Sign Language and help make repairs at a deaf school.
"We'll be there to say, We're here and we're willing to help in any way we can," Lopez said.
It was that sense of commitment and community that impressed Lisa Boatwright. The Lake View Terrace mom brought her family to the DEAFestival so her 15-year-old son, Maaleec Pledger, could learn more about college programs for the hard of hearing.
"There's a lot of information for him so he can see all the options open to him," Boatwright said.
And, as a hearing person among a majority deaf crowd, she got to see things from her son's point of view.
"They're all signing to me and I'm saying, `Maaleec, what are they saying?' Now I know how he feels."
DEAFestival Los Angeles is sponsored by Councilman Tony Cardenas and spearheaded by his aide Bertha Velasquez, whose daughter, Stephanie, is deaf.
When Stephanie was young, Velasquez had a hard time finding a day-care center that could accommodate a deaf child. Later, Velasquez had to stop working so she could dedicate herself to finding services to help Stephanie get the education she needed to succeed.
Stephanie graduated from the California School for the Deaf in Riverside and now attends California State University, Long Beach.
And Velasquez decided to use her knowledge of deaf services and programs to coordinate the DEAFestival. The event brought together colleges, community groups, city agencies and vendors.
"Ninety percent of people who are born hearing-impaired or deaf are born to hearing families," Cardenas said. "We wanted to be a part of putting together the people and services."
There was a quiet hum from the crowd Saturday at Woodley Park, but the flurry of moving hands signaled the excitement in the air as hundreds of participants gathered for DEAFestival Los Angeles.
The annual event mixes entertainment and education in the region's largest fair for the deaf and hard of hearing. Attendees could learn about the latest in communication technology and gather information on arts and education programs - but socializing was the order of the day.
"Really, the deaf community is like a deaf family, and it's nice to see everyone get together," said Steven Lopez, 22, through an interpreter. "I'm seeing waves of hands and I love it."
A junior at California State University, Northridge, Lopez had dyed his hair green to attract attention for a fundraiser that will help pay for a service trip to Jamaica, where 20 students will teach American Sign Language and help make repairs at a deaf school.
"We'll be there to say, We're here and we're willing to help in any way we can," Lopez said.
It was that sense of commitment and community that impressed Lisa Boatwright. The Lake View Terrace mom brought her family to the DEAFestival so her 15-year-old son, Maaleec Pledger, could learn more about college programs for the hard of hearing.
"There's a lot of information for him so he can see all the options open to him," Boatwright said.
And, as a hearing person among a majority deaf crowd, she got to see things from her son's point of view.
"They're all signing to me and I'm saying, `Maaleec, what are they saying?' Now I know how he feels."
DEAFestival Los Angeles is sponsored by Councilman Tony Cardenas and spearheaded by his aide Bertha Velasquez, whose daughter, Stephanie, is deaf.
When Stephanie was young, Velasquez had a hard time finding a day-care center that could accommodate a deaf child. Later, Velasquez had to stop working so she could dedicate herself to finding services to help Stephanie get the education she needed to succeed.
Stephanie graduated from the California School for the Deaf in Riverside and now attends California State University, Long Beach.
And Velasquez decided to use her knowledge of deaf services and programs to coordinate the DEAFestival. The event brought together colleges, community groups, city agencies and vendors.
"Ninety percent of people who are born hearing-impaired or deaf are born to hearing families," Cardenas said. "We wanted to be a part of putting together the people and services."