NEW ZEALAND SIGN LANGUAGE WEEK

New Zealand Sign Language Week (NZSL) will run from 4 – 10 May 2009. The week promotes New Zealand Sign Language as an official language as well as raise awareness about the Deaf community.

NZSL Week is organised by Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand (formerly Deaf Association of NZ), a not-for-profit organisation, which works with government and other organisations to provide information and resources on life for Deaf New Zealanders, Deaf culture and New Zealand Sign Language. Deaf Aotearoa also represents New Zealand Deaf internationally through the World Federation of the Deaf.


Throughout NZSL there will be a range of activities, including:

· school-based educational activities (NZSL Tool Kit)
· Taster sign language classes in all areas (employment, community, etc)
· Regional/national business awards ‘NZSL in Action Award’
· And lots of promotions (billboard, website, posters, etc)

We also have cool website – have a look at www.nzsign.co.nz

Thank you for supporting Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand!

Help Expand DDW's International Network

Happy Spring from Discovering Deaf Worlds!

Everyday, we receive e-mails from individuals and organizations searching to connect with deaf communities in other countries: backpackers looking for an international host or friend, school administrations seeking advice on deaf education, non-profit organizations and humanitarians establishing themselves in a new country, and so on.

Part of DDW's mission is to serve as a bridge between deaf communities and their advocates; putting the right people in touch. While we have our roots established in 8 different countries, we are always looking for more connections. Now we'd like to turn it over to you-


Have you traveled recently and connected with a deaf community? Do you have any stories, research, or pictures to share? Do you know any deaf/hard of hearing people, CODAs, or interpreters from other countries?


Please take a moment to share your experiences with us. Your connections will help Discovering Deaf Worlds expand our international network of deaf schools, associations, and organizations.

Feel free to e-mail us or post your response on this blog.

Enjoy the warm weather!

Namaste,

Christy Smith, David Justice, and Davin Searls
The Discovering Deaf Worlds Team

Discovering Deaf Worlds is dedicated to empowering and advocating for deaf and hard of hearing communities around the world. We believe everyone deserves accessibility to language, education, and community. If you would like to learn more or make a donation, please visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com

View the Discovering: Shuktara trailer!

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