[Nfb-krafters-korner] OT Deaf Blind Conference

[Blindhands at aol.com]

I just received the press release below, and thought it might be  of 
interest. World's First Online International  Deaf-Blind Conference translated by 
Translated Your World. With an  impressive line-up of presenters of Leaders 
from the  North American DeafBlind community and other leaders overseas, 
this event is  accessible in spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL), 
subtitled in 78  languages for the deaf, and spoken in 35 languages as 
synthesized voice for the  blind.  The world's first online across-language 
conference  for the DeafBlind will be held via the internet on  January 24th and 
25th and offered simultaneously as subtitles in 78 different  languages and 
as translated synthesized voice in 35 languages.  The public  is invited to 
attend this online event including teachers, counselors, medical  
professionals, diversity specialists, support service providers, corporate  
communication leaders, sign language interpreters, governmental representatives,  plus 
family and members of the Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind communities. This 2-day 
conference includes presentations and entertainment by some  of the top 
leaders of the North American DeafBlind community and  presenters from other 
countries.  The event is expected to be a  one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn 
about communication techniques and trends  within the DeafBlind community, 
as well as network and learn from leaders. For  the first time in history, 
this communication includes global deaf-blind  communities made possible 
through use of revolutionary new  technologies.
 
The event is the brainchild of Susanne Morgan Morrow.  Morrow is  the 
Director of the New York Deaf-Blind Collaborative, a federally  funded grant for 
children and young adults who are deaf-blind. She is also a  nationally 
certified sign language interpreter and the owner of DB-TIP  (Deaf-Blind 
Training, Interpreting and Professional Development).  Morrow  explains, "Today's 
technologies finally make it possible for the people across  communities and 
of different languages to come together across the miles, both  nationally 
and globally, on one platform.  New technologies permit  communication in 
ways that were never before possible.  At the same time,  these new 
technologies slash costs to a fraction making it affordable for any  office, hotel, 
school, or company to communicate with people who are Deaf, Blind  or DeafBlind 
from a webpage on any device." Morrow continues, "It  is critical that the 
general public learns directly from experts from within the community who 
are DeafBlind themselves.  Using these newly developed technologies allows 
people separated by distance and  language to view and interact with DeafBlind 
people. In addition to spoken  English and American Sign Language, the 
conference will be automatically  captioned and subtitled into 78 languages for 
sighted people of other countries  and translated into synthesized voice in 
35 languages for people who are  blind."
 
 
This unprecedented globalization of the world's first  International 
Deaf-Blind Conference uses a software called  Translate Your World 
(_www.TranslateYourWorld.com_ (http://www.translateyourworld.com/) ), makers of easy-to-use 
 speech translation software that generates text and voice directly from a  
speaker's words. This software enables hearing people to  communicate with 
people who are deaf or blind simply by going to a  webpage.
 
The line-up of speakers and presenters includes many stars from  the 
DeafBlind community in North America and overseas:
Helen Keller National Center:  Chris Woodfill, Associate Director  of HKNC.
Eugene Bourquin, international expert on travel techniques for  the 
DeafBlind. Maricar Marquez, specializing in Support Service  Providers, 
communication techniques and independent living techniques for the  DeafBlind.  
Usher Syndrome:  Krista Vasi, Executive Director of the Usher  Syndrome  
Coalition, and former Director of Operations of the Decibels  Foundation
CHARGE Syndrome:  Sheri Stanger, Director of Outreach with CHARGE  Syndrome 
foundation and former president of the National Family Association for  
Deaf-Blind, whose daughter has CHARGE.
DeafBlind Community Experts:  Chris Woodfill, board of directors of  the 
World Federation of the DeafBlind & Associate Director of  HKNC. 
Jelica Nuccio, the first DeafBlind director of the Deaf-Blind Service  
Center in Seattle. 
AJ Granda, developer of the first curriculum to teach Pro-Tactile to  
DeafBlind and sighted people. Bryen M. Yunashko, accessibility technology  
trainer for DeafBlind  and the open-source software community.
International speakers:  Geir Jensen, president of the World  Federation of 
the DeafBlind.
Deaf Community Consultants: Christopher Tester, multi-dialect  Sign 
Language interpreter. 
Yvette Brown, intervener in the classroom with a deaf-blind  student.
DeafBlind Community Guests: Mark Gassaway, president of American 
Association of the Deaf-Blind, Rene Pellerin from Vermont, 
Dana Tartar from Georgia and Tracey Gilbert-Dallow from New  York.
 
 
For more information, or to register, go to: _www.deafblindtip.com_ 
(http://www.deafblindtip.com/)  
Other languages: _http://TranslateYourWorld.com/contact_ 
(http://translateyourworld.com/contact)