Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies (WCCDS)

Based in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education, the Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies (WCCDS) works to bridge research and community development and functions as a research, training, and development base in deaf studies and deaf education.

Established in 1986, WCCDS was founded on the belief that equity is a cornerstone of education.  As a collaborative, multidisciplinary hub for scholarly and community work, WCCDS combines innovative research with outputs and project activities that contribute to the empowerment of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals locally, nationally, and globally.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jones Lecture 2023

Join Dr. Joanne Weber as she presents Your Deaf Brain on Arts (And What We Can Do About It).

There is a growing, robust body of research that proves that the arts have a positive benefit on literacy development, language development, and general academic achievement in hearing children. But what about Deaf and hard of hearing children? Dr. Joanne Weber explores the role of the “Deaf Aesthetic” and how it can play a positive role in improving the quality of deaf education. Dr. Joanne Weber is the Canada Research Chair at the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. She took up her post in 2020 after 17 years of teaching Deaf youth in Regina Public Schools. During that time, she developed an innovative arts and literacy program to meet the needs of the hard of hearing, Deaf, Deaf immigrants, and other deaf with learning needs. Her work led to a PhD dissertation affirming the positive role of the arts in deaf education and the establishment of Deaf Crows Collective which aims to provide opportunities for Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing actors (allies) of all ages to develop their artistic skills.

October 13, 2023
Lecture at 4:00 pm
Reception at 5:30 pm (light refreshments provided)
Westbury Theatre, Arts Barns
Free admission
10330 84 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB