House approves use of Pinoy sign language in news programs

By Paolo Romero, The Philippine Star Posted at 02/05/2014 2:26 AM | Updated as of 02/05/2014 2:26 AM MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a bill mandating the use of Filipino sign language insets in local television news programs to allow the hearing-impaired to understand the broadcast. The House plenary approved on Monday with 208 votes House Bill 1214 authored by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez that amends Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities. Under the bill co-authored by Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, television stations are required to provide Filipino sign language insets. The bill also wants closed captions or subtitles in at least two news programs every day and special programs covering events of national importance. It further provides that television networks on free television may choose to provide Filipino sign language insets in other programs such as cultural affairs, livelihood and children programs. “With the advances of information technology and the relevance of television programs, motion pictures and other audio-visual presentation as tools of learning, there is a need to enable persons with hearing impairment to take advantage of such technology and enjoy audio-visual presentations with their seemingly unbounded innovation,” the bill stated. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/02/04/14/house-approves-use-pinoy-sign-language-news-programs#.UvJFDqKT358.facebook

Bilingual Education for the Deaf

Left-right Back: May Cabutihan, Marecel Aljo, Sarah Talibong, Theresa Christine dela Torre Left-right Front: Dr. Susan Lane-Outlaw, Nora Shannon, Erin Esposito

To help improve the lives of Deaf individuals, two (2) teachers from La Salle University School for the Deaf: Marecel Aljo and Sarah Talibong attended the 7 – day seminar-workshop on Bilingual Education for the Deaf at DLS-CSB, 6 – 14 January 2014. The seminar-workshop was also participated in by the teachers of the Deaf from La Salle Green Hills Adult Night High School, School for the Deaf in Iligan, and School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of the College of Saint Benilde. The speakers were from the Rochester Institute of Technology - National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT-NTID) Dr. Susan Lane-Outlaw, Erin Esposito, and Nora Shannon. The highlight of the seminar-workshop was the presentation the unit plan of each participant incorporating word study, reading, and writing strategies. The seminar-workshop was initiated by the Center for Education Access and Development of DLS-CSB through Miss May Cabutihan, head, Secondary Education Initiatives and Ms. Theresa Christine B. dela Torre, director, Center for Education Access and Development.

Deaf Lasallians celebrate 5th Deaf Week

La Salle University Ozamiz City School for the Deaf celebrated its 5th Deaf Week with the theme" ANO DAW??? Dynamic, Engaged, Attuned Family ", November 17-23, 2013. The activities conducted were: Holy Signed Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Opening program and photo exhibit, Film Viewing on Deaf related videos, Deaf role play, Facial expression (FSL through picture), Deaf master chef, Amazing race, Sign Language Instruction to hearing students of the Integrated School (IS), Deaf dress to impress, Deaf got talent year 3, Seminar on Deaf awareness and strategies for mainstreaming for teachers, Seminar on supporting and loving a Deaf child for parents. The week-long celebration was started with a Holy Mass followed by deepening of the gospel at OSROX park. Miss May Cabutihan, faculty from DLS-CSB and UP Diliman SpEd professor was the speaker during the seminar for parents and teachers. The Deaf students showcased their talents during the Deaf got talent. The students were divided in four groups according to color. Fire for red team, thunder for yellow team, sea for green team, and ice for blue team. A group of deaf students together with the three Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) volunteers: Yamie Fiestado, Basil De Leon, and Jonathan San Juan conducted the sign language instruction at the IS from grades 4-10. They were accompanied by Sarah Talibong. In celebrating this year’s 5th Deaf Week, LSU School for the Deaf not only pays tribute to Deaf individuals who despite their hearing and other impairments but also endeavor to have access to education for the Deaf community. The School for the Deaf has urged everyone to support every effort to bring Deaf students into the mainstream, where they too have a rightful place, and help them gain access to opportunities to become productive members of the community. Thank you to the teachers, SpEd interns and observers, volunteers, and most especially to the Deaf Lasallians who contributed much effort to the success of the 5th Deaf Week celebration. THE DEAF CAN!!!

Certificate in Basic Sign Language

College Deaf Graduation 2013

Eight (8) Associate in Hospitality Management (AHM) Deaf students received their college diploma 23 March 2013 at La Salle University Arts Center. Their teachers served as their sign language interpreters. Also, they had their tribute to parents together with the March 2013 graduating class of La Salle University Ozamiz City held at LSU Arts Center 22 March 2013. Six Deaf students received their Loyalty award: Agnes Bergado, Chicky Brizo, Mira Pebida, Sherlyn Mamhut, Janice Pasagdan and Jenny Marie Canonizado. All the graduating students of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management including the Deaf students showcased their dance presentation.Their parents, relatives and friends were very proud of their great accomplishments. They have proven to themselves that the DEAF CAN.

High School Graduation 2013

The School for the Deaf of La Salle University Ozamiz City joined in the high school graduation of the Integrated School (IS) together with the Night High School (NHS) and the Brother Martin Simpson Laboratory School (BMSLS), 23 March 2013 at La Salle University Arts Center. Five (5)deaf students received their high school diploma: William Kane Conol, Monna Daomilas(with Highest Honors, Athletic Awardee in Swimming and Service Awardee) Jason Paolo Dapat, Mary Jhoy Tabuco (Achiever and Excellence in Deaf Poetry), and Franzlin Rodessy Banua (With Honors and Service Awardee). The parents, benefactors, teachers and friends of the School for the Deaf, IS, NHS and BMSLS were in attendance.

Deaf children benefit from learning sign language, says research

By: Carola Finch source: http://www.examiner.com/article/deaf-children-benefit-from-learning-sign-language-says-research Recent research into the language acquisition of deaf children has challenged some long-held beliefs by some medical personnel, educators, and professionals providing speech/language and other services for deaf people. When parents first hear that their child has hearing loss, a doctor or audiologist may say, ”If you allow your child to sign, they won’t learn to speak” or “Teaching your child to sign and speak English the same time will confuse the child.” What the experts say Leading researchers and educators of the deaf such as Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York State say that there is no evidence for these claims and that sign language can actually enhance a deaf child’s acquisition of spoken language. Recent research results Researchers at La Trobe University in Australia studied deaf adults who learned to sign either at birth, between the ages of 2 to 8, or as a second language later in life. Their findings reported that children who learned sign at birth were more accurate in British Sign Language (BSL) and more successful in learning language than children who were exposed to sign later on. “The advantages of early sign language exposure remain clear even with rapid advances in hearing aids and cochlear implants,” researcher Dr Adam Schembri, Director of the National Institute for Deaf Studies and Sign Language at La Trobe University said in a press release. “Bilingual education is the best way of ensuring that deaf children have early exposure to both a signed language and a spoken/written language, which will provide the deaf child with the best chance for successful language acquisition, in either or both languages, Says Schembri. “We know that bilingualism comes with a range of cognitive benefits, so we would advocate early bilingualism in both signed and spoken language for all deaf children.”