Discovering: Shuktara now in production!

DDW has been hard at work these past few weeks! In addition to settling back into our American routine and working our way towards becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we've been focused on producing our first short film, Discovering: Shuktara.

Discovering: Shuktara is an extraordinary story about the Shuktara home, which some of you may remember from our newsletters. Shuktara is the home of 18 boys and girls who have been abandoned or run away from abusive situations. Many non-governmental organizations pass over disabled or deaf homeless youth, but Shuktara seeks them out.
You will be amazed at how far these kids have come, and how they have created a loving family of their own. Check back soon for the trailer!!

For more information on this film, visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com/discovering_shuktara.php

Reid found guilty on all six charges of Emma Agnew's murder

Last year, we began our adventure with Discovering Deaf Worlds in Christchurch, New Zealand. On our very first day we met and connected with an outgoing, happy go lucky girl named Emma at the Canterbury Deaf Club. She was a leader, a good friend, and committed to improving the lives of deaf people in NZ. She invited us to her home for NZ-style fish fries and we got to know her circle of friends, trading off ASL for NZSL. When we parted a week later, we had no idea it would be the last time we would see her.

During our travels through the South Island of NZ, Emma had gone missing. Eleven days later her body was found. A man named Liam Reid was quickly arrested for the rape and murder of Emma Agnew, as well as the rape and attack on another woman from Dunedin.

On October 29, 2008, the grueling four-week trial finally closed with a sense of relief, tears and bursts of anger at the man who could have done such a thing. Reid was found guilty on all six charges and sentenced to life in prison. Over 100 witnesses testified before the jury reached it's verdict.

Emma...we hope you are up in heaven finding peace, that your family and friends are finding comfort in the sentence, and that your NZ community will continue to be reunited. It was an honor for us to know you and you will be remembered, always.


To learn more about the trial go to
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/2249945
http://news.google.com/news?client=safari&rls=en&q=liam+reid&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&hl=en&ncl=1263412554&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=

DDW back in the USA!

We made it home! After a year of discovering and documenting deaf worlds in eight countries, we are now back in Rochester, NY. Things that once seemed so familiar, like using tap water to brush our teeth or flushing toilet paper down the pipes instead of in a garbage bin, seem so unfamiliar now. Reality TV, yards, and paved roads are things we haven't seen in a long, long time so it will take a while for us to readjust.

But their will be time for that later, as we've hit the ground running! For the next several months we will continue to travel throughout the country sharing all the joys and pains of our experience.

On October 23rd, we will be giving our first presentation at the Rochester School for the Deaf for their "Adventures in Education" program. If you're in the area, come on down to check out what we have discovered in the past year. More info and tickets found at

www.rsdeaf.org/strategic_adventures.asp

Or if you are interested in having Discovering Deaf Worlds visit your hometown to share with your community, contact info@discoveringdeafworlds.com for details.

We have big visions for DDW as we enter the next phase and hope to make it all a reality with your support. Stay tuned to our website for more updates and future adventures. Thank you for believing in us!

www.discoveringdeafworlds.com

Jaipur Deaf Friendship Club

One of many common themes we have seen throughout our travels in eight different countries this past year is the importance of a deaf club environment. When your day to day life is surrounded by communication barriers and people who do not understand you, a socializing outlet is a natural remedy to keep you going.

After traveling throughout Northern India for the last 6 weeks, our discovery of deaf clubs has been scarce, zero actually. Once we arrived to Jaipur, Rajasthan however, we were thrilled to be invited to a Jaipur Deaf Friendship Club gathering. Finally we found that crucial atmosphere for a supportive deaf community in India! Through mostly gesturing and broken ISL/ASL, we shared our mutual curiousities about each other’s cultures…everything from pre-arranged marriages to the upcoming Obama/McCain election.

Twice a week this group of 40+ members gets together. It is an opportunity to talk freely and fluently with friends about school, work, relationships and future opportunities for the local deaf community. Perhaps most importantly, it is a place to instill a sense of pride and belonging in a culture that often poses a harsh perception on deafness.

Thank you Jaipur Deaf Friendship Club…for teaching us ISL, showing us how to dance, and allowing us to document your thoughts for Discovering Deaf Worlds. We hope there are many more clubs like this throughout India, and around the world.

The Oral School for Deaf Children – Kolkata, India

When we first stepped into the Oral School for Deaf Children in Kolkata, we were pleasantly surprised by the messages spread throughout the walls, written on brochures, and spoken directly from the teachers who work there:

“I hear with my heart, listen with my eyes, and speak with my hands”
“Come share our world of silence”
“Make friends with a deaf child”

Understanding the complexities of poverty, the caste system, and a common negligence towards any disability in India, The Oral School for Deaf Children seeks to give deaf children a chance in this world. The teachers show great passion for their work and students are encouraged to continue onto college or find employment. Where there is opportunity, they can prove themselves by giving back to their society the same as anyone else.

The title “Oral” school can be misleading, since their approach is actually total communication, using speech, signing, lip reading, mime, and gestures. “What is most important is that there is communication…an understanding,” says Senior Head Teacher Mrs. Jaya Gangulie.

Now working with 38 students and 12-15 teachers, the Oral School for Deaf Children will celebrate it’s 44th anniversary on August 10th. During our two all-day visits to the school, the students wore bright, genuine smiles, despite the severely limited space they had to work in. Current fundraising projects seek to find a more appropriate physical environment to accommodate for the school’s growth over the years.

First Deaf Member of Parliament in Asia Selected!

We've arrived to Kathmandu, Nepal with a warm welcome from Australian Philip Waters of the Volunteer Service Organization (VSO). After greeting us at the airport and a quick stop by The Bakery Cafe where several deaf employees work, we were lead to our accommodation at the Hotel Metropolitan Kantipur which is owned by a deaf couple.

The following day we visited the Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH) and were invited to a very important ceremony, recognizing Raghav Bir Joshi, a deaf man from Nepal who has recently been selected into a government position.

"Raghav will be the first Deaf member of Parliament in Asia. He has for 25 years worked for the effective rights of Deaf people. He is a sign language user and uses Sign Language interpreters to communicate. It is not a success only for him, but also for the thousands of deaf people". With Radha Bohara interpreting, he promised, "he will work hard for the rights of Deaf people, physically challenged, and intellectual disabilities in the new constitution."

We look forward to interviewing Raghav in the next couple of weeks, as he is an instrumental leader to the deaf community.

Our first impression of Kathmandu is very "deaf-friendly". We have met over 30 deaf local deaf people in our first 24 hours here and recognize that many hearing people are comfortable with written and gesture communication. With our Nepali Sign Language dictionary in hand, thanks to NFDH, we are learning new signs the best we can to communicate more effectively.

For more information about Raghav Bir Joshi and the Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, visit www.nfdh.org.np/newsdetail.php?id=19

Photos:
NFDH President Bikash Dangol with Raghav Bir Joshi
Christy Smith, Bikash Dangol, Raghav Bir Joshi, Dave Justice

Change of Plans for DDW

Hello friends! We are 7+ months into our travels of discovering deaf worlds and realize we are well overdue for an update. We are currently in Kolkata, India and originally planned to travel throughout this country for the next 6 weeks. However, there is currently a major protest happening in Northern India that may escalate with more potential violence. In the last nine days, over 15,000 protestors, many Gujjar tribe, have gathered to block railways in and out of Delhi and Jaipur. They are pressuring the government to reclassify them as members of the lowest caste so they can benefit from government quotas. Clashes with the 45,000+ police have already occurred and at least 43 people have been killed.

We planned to visit both Jaipur and Delhi within the next couple weeks but have decided to change our plans. Between the current political issues, and the nearly unbearable pre-monsoon heat, we instead will visit Nepal. After the dust settles, we plan to return to India in August and pick up where we left off.

In the meantime, we are spending much of our time in Kolkata at the Shuktara house, a residential care for boys and girls with disabilities who have no families. We are stunned by the stories of each of these children and have fallen in love with the family they have created amongst each other.

We will continue to post blogs when internet access is convenient. But a more reliable way to hear from us for the remainder of our trip is through our monthly newsletter that you can sign up for at: www.discoveringdeafworlds.com

For more news on the protest, visit http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/05/30/2_lower_caste_protesters_killed_in_india/

Not Your Typical Mainstream Environment

After seven months of travel through six different countries, today was the first time we observed an environment where balanced numbers of future interpreters and deaf students share the same classroom. At Ratchasuda College in Bangkok, Thailand, the goal is hearing/deaf integration. The philosophy of this program has been rooted in bi-lingual, bi-cultural education since the official acceptance of Thai Sign Language by the government in 1999.

Jitprapa Sri-oon, Dean of Curriculum for Deaf Education, explained to us the importance of deaf and hearing students working together, using Thai Sign Language as the main mode of communication, in an equal learning environment. With an integrated classroom, the goal is for interpreting students to develop sign language skills and exposure to deaf culture from their peers and deaf students to learn more about working in the hearing world after they graduate. The focus is on peer education and support to break down barriers between the hearing and the deaf world.

Does this system exist in your country? Should interpreting students and deaf students share the same classroom at the university level?

Do you know who I am?

Charles Dittmeier with F4

Last September 19th, a young deaf man was dropped off at the Deaf Development Programme (DDP) house in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. No passport, no identification, no documentation….and no language….no signing, no speaking or lip reading and no writing ability. He appears to be ethnically Khmer, but no one knows where he was born or where he came from or how he got to Cambodia. He is around 19-years-old and currently goes by the name F4 because of a tattoo on his right forearm (likely done by himself, as he is left handed). It reads the English letter ‘F’ written backwards and the number 4.

DDP Director Charles Dittmeier and his staff have patiently worked together for the last seven months to try and fill in the gaps. But without a language to communicate, it has been a real challenge. Through pictures, gesturing and teaching F4 some basic Cambodian Sign Language (which recently began development only 12 years ago), the DDP have been very creative in their ways to find out more information. The challenge now, however, is the time frame in which F4 communicates. When he signs a thought or statement, is he referring to his past, or just using the signs he has learned in imitation?

Searching for symbols of his past, Dittmeier has taken F4 to mosques, temples, and churches to see if that stirs up any familiarity. In December, he showed F4 pictures of Santa Claus to see if that meant anything. But no such luck. It is not likely that F4 is even from Cambodia. He doesn’t like Khmer food and his gesture for “food” is to make the shape of a sandwich or hamburger near his mouth.

The government has been unresponsive to Dittmeier’s requests to take responsibility for this lost identity. For example, when one crosses the border into Cambodia, a photo is taken. Dittmeier has asked the immigration department to search the database for F4’s photo to discover his name and identity. The immigration department has declined, saying it would be too time consuming.

Currently, F4 is living in Phnom Penh and getting along well with the other deaf students. Despite his lack of language, he is friendly and outgoing and well liked by others.

The search for more information continues. Have you seen F4 before? If you have any information, please respond to our blog and we will pass on your comments to DDP.

First Impressions of the Deaf Community in Thailand

Within a few hours of arriving in Bangkok, we met a deaf womyn selling cell phone “I love you” ornaments for 30 baht each ($1.00 USD) on the Khao San market. Moments later, we turned the corner and bumped into another deaf womyn selling bathing suits to make her living. We quickly found out that on Silcom and Nai Lert Roads in downtown Bangkok, it is required by law for vendor permits to be reserved for those who are deaf, blind or physically handicapped. Deaf vendors up and down these streets sell their merchandise by day and end their evenings socializing on the sidewalks with family style Pad Thai, curry and Singha. These are the faces of Bangkok.

On day two, we met up with Gallaudet Alumni and native to Thailand, Jay Bunnag, who is striving to bring the deaf community together by hosting academic bowls and other gatherings. The challenges Jay faces in bringing people together are often financial. In this environment where everyone, deaf or hearing, is trying to make a living to get by, can they afford the 250 baht for a social event? Also, there are very few deaf of deaf families here, perhaps less than 1%. While many deaf people have smaller circles of friends, the culture of deaf clubs/events or larger community socials, which can be common in other countries, are not so much a part of the deaf culture in Thailand.

Jay currently works at Suan Dusit University to educate deaf students. He was inspired to first earn his MA, knowing that he would be teaching up and coming deaf leaders earning their BA. Many of these deaf students will later give back by becoming teachers themselves, raising the bar for deaf education in Thailand.

There are many similar signs between Thai and American Sign Language, which has been a relief for these initial, get-to-know-you conversations we have had our first few days. But we now have our five pocket Thai Sign Language books in hand and are connected to the local deaf community. Each day we stroll through the markets of Khao San en route to our hostel to say hello to the deaf vendors. So before we leave Thailand two months from now, we hope to learn and document more of their stories…in their native sign language.

For more information on Discovering Deaf Worlds, visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com

"We Share the Same Sky"- Wuhan Deaf Community

With only a 30-day visa in China, we were blessed to have visited so many cities. This meant several long, sun-up to sun-down days and overnight train rides, but worth every second to arrive and see how thrilled our hosts were to greet us. Our final chance to emerge in the deaf community was a three-day stop in Wuhan. With amazing hospitality, they showed us what China is really about…friendship, support, and encouragement. They succeeded in changing many negative perceptions of China often portrayed in the news.

At the No.1 and No.2 Deaf Schools of Wuhan, we witnessed brilliant art work and dance performances from students. Many of these students will move on to ChangChun University and become well known artists and dancers in the country, as well as throughout the world (the famous Dream Team Deaf Dance Group is from Beijing). These schools are where leaders start to grow their roots.

We were also welcomed by organization leaders to the Association for the Deaf of Wuhan and Hubei Province Disabled Persons Federation. They shared their visions for helping deaf people find jobs, recover from their hearing loss (getting hearing aides adjusted to your hearing loss and speech therapy), and advocate for deaf rights. Through these associations we were able to visit several worksites that hire hundreds of deaf employees, including the Titanium Dioxide Co., LTD and Wuhan Spaceflight Corrugated Pipe Co., LTD. Deaf employees are treated equal to hearing employees and encouraged to move up in the ladder through experience and training programs offered in sign language by the company. They also have a yearly disabled day where employees take the day off (with pay) to travel to another city.

We met a famous deaf 84-year-old artist, Mi Wen Mo, whose paintings are sold for up to 3,000 RMB. He welcomed us to his home for tea and shared stories of his lifetime, including how he became the first President of the Association for the Deaf of Wuhan.

We can’t thank this community enough for their warm welcome, guidance and hospitality. We were treated like royalty as visitors to their hometown. A special thank you to Zhang Peng and Jun Peng Li, who taught us that we do in fact, “share the same sky.”

Yang Cui, raising the bar in Changchun

In a country where people with any kind of disability (deaf, blind, physical, etc) are grouped together, often left out, and provided with minimal opportunities, there stands a proud deaf woman out to make change.

In China, deaf people are not allowed to drive. There are no interpreting services or interpreting schools, only translators who are often friends or family. Job and education opportunities are limited. For example, deaf university students can only choose their major from four options: painting, scroll calligraphy, animation/comics, or graphic design. (Blind students only have the option of massage and acupuncture).

This is not the wish of many deaf students, but this is what they are offered. The perception from the education system is that deaf people are visual and therefore should be limited to study visual arts. Yang Cui, a 23 year old student at Changchun University Special Education College, has a dream to make change. Her university is the first of it’s kind in China, beginning in 1987. Her dream is to help expand more options for deaf students, because when given the opportunities, deaf people can do anything.

Yang Cui recently received a community award as an up and coming deaf leader. She is a “go-to” person among her peers, and a communication facilitator within her university. We had the opportunity to spend five days with Yang Cui and witness the impact she is making as a leader of her school, her community, and her country. Next month Yang Cui will make her way to England for the PEN-International leadership conference with several other deaf leaders to come together and talk about current issues.

Keep doing what you do best Yang Cui. We are honored to have met you!

A Bump In The Road

On day two of our arrival to China, our video camera went kerplunk. After 4 ½ months of over use and abuse, bouncing around in a backpack through 5 different countries, it has gone to video heaven. Cannon HV10, you've been good to us until now....R.I.P.

So now we are in a jam. dam. The formatting system in China is different from U.S., so buying a new camera here is no easy option. And having one sent to us from home isn’t easy either...We have heard story after story of mail never arriving, or being tampered with, or just sitting in the post office for weeks because the postal workers were unable to read mailing addresses written in English, only Chinese characters.

DO-DO!? We have spent our first 3 days in China, talking with sketchy local electronics dealers, trying to find a solution. We've spent loads of time on SKYPE with with friends, family, and our sponsor Rowe Photo at midnight (b/c of the time difference) to get a new video camera. We are now trying our luck to find someone traveling from the US to China in the next 30 days before our visas expire to deliver a new video camera. Any volunteers?! (smiles)

In the next few weeks, we will be visiting deaf schools/organizations, connecting with the deaf community in Beijing, Changchun, Xi’an, Wuhan, etc. Unfortunately, filming may not be an option for this leg of our trip. But we will continue to document what we learn through our newsletter, pictures, blogs, etc.

Keep us in mind and send some wishful thinking that our tech problems will be solved soon.

Tsukuba University, Paving the Way for Higher Deaf Education in Japan

The Deaf community is fortunate to have Tsukuba University of Technology (TUT), a sister school to NTID through the PEN International Progra. It is the only higher education university for both deaf students and blind students in Japan. Classes for deaf students are taught or interepreted in JSL. Therefore they can focus on their education fully instead of splitting time advocating for interpreting services, notetakers or lipreading while studying. Students can chose to major in Engineering, Computers (IT), Electronics, Architecture, etc. The most fascinating statistic we learned from Dr. Mayumi Shirasawa in the Research and Support Center is that TUT has a 100% job placement percentage for graduates!

TUT is currently developing a Remote Sign Language Interpreting System to make more university level courses readily available to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. We had an opportunity to view a demonstration of this technology and look forward to learning more about it's future availability. It is wonderful to know that this kind of techology is breaking through to help better the lives of deaf people all over.

We Need Your Help to Connect in China!

Yesterday was met with mixed emotions as we exchanged our Lonely Planet book from Japan to China. We have had such an amazing time and felt so well embraced in Japan, but also eager to move on. So off to Bejing, China we go!

Do you know anyone connected to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community in China? Someone who works for a Deaf or mainstream school, organization, or business? Someone who can help us translate from English to written Chinese characters?

Please send us an email if you have any contacts, resources or input for us as we travel throughout China. We will be there from Feb 26thーMarch 26th.

info@discoveringdeafworlds.com

Hearing Japanese Woman, Bridges the Gap

With only six weeks to explore Japan, so many locals kept asking us “Why would you spend a week in Kochi of all places!?”

Kochi is a smaller non-touristy city off the beaten track from the ‘bright lights, big city’ atmosphere of Tokyo and Osaka. But it was the motivation, commitment, and unprecedented generousity of a woman named Koko that brought us there.

Koko, a hearing woman fantastically fluent in spoken/written Japanese and English, has always been an intermediary for those two worlds. Throughout her life, Koko has been sensitive and passionate about breaking down barriers of race, gender, and cultural diversity, yet has had minimal exposure to the deaf community (common for most hearing people). But when Koko heard about our project through a mutual friend, she decided to roll up her sleeves, get involved and fulfill a new curiosity.

Offering to be our personal coordinator and interpreter for the week, Koko arranged visits to the Kochi Deaf School, Kochi Deaf Association, and a meeting with an inspirational calligrapher named Shunsuke where local TV and newspaper reporters joined (see previous blog). She also earned permission for us to visit & interview deaf employees at a local hospital and hearing aid company…and even tapped into family connections to line up a short DDW presentation at the Kochi Rotary Club International!

In between visits, Koko and her equally dedicated mother Kihoko, began learning Japanese and American Sign Languages. We all learned incredible amounts about the educational opportunities and communication access for deaf people in Kochi. Watching Koko jump right in head-first to meet and learn about the Kochi deaf community shows she is bridging the gap, not only between Japanese and Western culture, but between deaf and hearing subcultures as well.

Through people like Koko, a ripple effect of awareness is created. She is now working on an article of her experience to submit to the local newspaper.


Photos:
Koko interpreting at Shunsuke's house
Kochi Rotary Club International with President Morimoto-san and our generous host Sugimoto-san
Kihoko & Koko sharing a traditional Japanese lunch

The Power of Communication

Discovering Deaf Worlds has widened our spectrum. Yesterday we had the honor of meeting Hiura Shunsuke, an amazing young man who has a passion for inspiring everyone around him to live a happy life. In a time where negativity and violence take over the news, Shun offers a message of hope and “dai-jyou-bu” (no worries).

Although Shun is unable to speak many words and has severe limited body mobility from his wheelchair, he has found a unique and creative way to express himself. One day he asked his mother to tape a paintbrush to his middle finger and hold a small canvas on his lap. Through the art of Japanese calligraphy, Shun wrote the Japanese characters for “family” which brought tears to his mother’s eyes. Communication doors had opened. Since that day one year ago, Shun has published two books, a CD, and often does public street performances of his calligraphy. His message is powerful and his energy in person enhances his words even more: “Smile and keep looking forward. Don’t let your challenges keep you from smiling!”

While creating his artwork, Shun communicates with his mother through eye movements and simple sounds. He expresses where he wants the canvass moved or if he needs a break to rest his hand, and never hesitates to just pause with a smile to show his gratitude.

The afternoon was an impressive whirlwind of language facilitation for all of us. Shun communicated to his mother, who spoke Japanese to Koko who translated in English to Dave, who interpreted in ASL to Christy. The local Kochi television station and newspaper were there as well to help us all spread a positive message of what can be done through the power of communication. Shun’s next dream is to travel the world to spread his message.

Many thanks to everyone who made that inspiring day so wonderful.

Gallaudet Connects

Gallaudet University is truly well known around the world. It’s worldwide reputation is equivalent to the universities that US presidents attend, like Yale, Oxford or Harvard.

Students and alumni should have pride in attending Gallaudet University. It helps in the long run. Whether you are traveling the world or just applying for a job, the name Gallaudet gets your foot in the door. For example, the principal at Ikuno Deaf School in Osaka allowed us to visit because I went to Gallaudet.

Another unique aspect of Gallaudet is the strong social network. I met up with Emilio (who also graduated from Gallaudet) in an apartment in Japan. We truly are leaders in the world. I have met many deaf people from New Zealand, Australia and Japan who dream of attending Gallaudet University. Gallaudet has given us courage, education, pride and ambition to make a difference in the deaf world.

Thank you Gallaudet!

Arigato Sakai Deaf School!

When was the last time you jumped rope? Does your mom observe your classroom in elementary school? Do you know how to greet someone in Japan?

The day after we arrive in Osaka, we were honored with the opportunity to visit the Sakai Deaf School. Before visiting the school, our friend Miro helped arrange communication accessibility.

Japanese Sign Language
American Sign Language
New Zealand Sign Language
International System Language
Spoken Japanese
Spoken English
Cued Speech

...were all the languages used throughout the day for us to understand each other. And during our presentation, we communicated through two deaf interpreters in international system language.

We were given a tour by the Principal and Vice Principal, and impressed with how visual their education system is. In the elementary school classes, chairs were pushed aside for more interactive activities. Mothers often sit in on classes to observe and apply what the kids learn at school to their home life as well.

We were offered rice cakes in the preschool and jumped rope at lunchtime with the Jr High kids. The students were in awe of our blue eyes and wavy hair and asked us questions like, Do Americans have a gun at home? Have you met Paris Hilton? Do you like Dragonball? and Who will you vote for in the next presidential election?

After a nine hour visit, we left knowing that we made a difference in each others lives. More adventures lie ahead as we continue our journey through Japan.

Help us make contact in Japan!

We are nearing the end of our time in Australia and starting to prepare for Japan. So far we have done a pretty darn good job communicating in New Zealand and Australian sign. But from this point on, we will no longer have English as a default language. We are researching on line for schools and organizations to visit, and recognizing we will most likely need to work through multiple interpreters (JSL-spoken Japanese-spoken English-ASL).

Do you know anyone connected to the deaf community in Japan? Someone who works for a Deaf school, organization, or business? Someone who can help us translate from English to written Japanese?

Please send us an email if you have any contacts, resources or input for us as we travel throughout Japan. We will be there from Jan 17th - Feb 26th.

info@discoveringdeafworlds.com

Opening Day for Australia Deaf Games

After two weeks of working on wildlife and rainforest sanctuaries with the WWOOF program throughout the holidays, we have arrived at the Gold Coast. Queensland is known as the "sunshine" state, but is currently being bombarded with much needed heavy rains and the forecast doesn't look to change. The weather was no deterrent, however, for the 1200+ people who gathered at tonight's opening ceremony to honor the 700 athletes that will compete in this weeks games.

All five Australian states as well as New Zealand will challenge each other in Track n Field Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Darts, Eight Ball, Golf, Lawn Bowling, Netball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, and Tenpin Bowling. The games are a long standing tradition since the late 1800s when New South Wales and Queensland first went head to head in a game of cricket.

After signing the Australian National Anthem, Aboriginals of Australia shared a visual storytelling performance set to drums. Local Maoris from New Zealand also performed the infamous and intimidating "haka" war dance. A team of 6-8 interpreters and CART captionists made tonight's event accessible to all hearing and deaf people. Throughout the week, social events such as a deaf joke comedy competition, signing karaoke, and a debate on hot topics in the deaf community will be held. We are pumped to be here this week for the games, and also have the opportunity to meet and interview many leaders in the Australian deaf community.

For more information, visit http://www.austdeafgames.org.au