Fall 2000

Lighthouse Staff Offers Deaf-Blind Community Class

Every other Wednesday evening, members of the Deaf-Blind community and sign language interpreters gather in Seattle Central Community College room BE-120 for Deaf-Blind Community Class. Coordinated by Lighthouse staff, each class typically involves 20 to 30 Deaf-Blind participants and between 40 and 60 sign language interpreters. "About 50 percent of these interpreters are students in local training programs," explains Tami Berk, Deaf-Blind Community Class Coordinator. "So the class also helps to prepare qualified interpreters for the community."

Many experienced professional interpreters also volunteer their time during community class. "We match up an experienced interpreter with a novice," Tami continues, "It's a mentoring program run by the Deaf-Blind Service Center and it really works well."

Some of the classes offered this fall cover the following topics:

• Stories from summer travel. (Ten community members recently traveled to London as the second half of a Deaf-Blind exchange)

• Discussion of the Presidential election.

• Dr. Kimberling from Boys' Town discusses Usher's Syndrome, a leading cause of Deaf-Blindness. o How to vote. The mechanics of casting votes.

• Two teachers from a school for deaf children in Kenya talk about their experiences.

"We offer six classes in each academic quarter, except summer," Tami continues. "Some people come because they want information and knowledge and are pretty serious about class. Others come mainly for the social aspects, to get out of the isolation many Deaf-Blind people experience in their daily lives. But most come for a combination of the two."

For more information about Deaf-Blind Community Class contact Jackie Engler, Community Class Assistant, at TTY only 206-436-2207 or email jengler@seattlelh.org

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