Past Events
Language Learning by Eye or by Ear
Language Learning by Eye or by Ear is designed to introduce educators, parents, interpreters, aspiring linguists, and sign language users to the basics of language acquisition and development milestones of babies and toddlers from birth to 36 months. The course is taught in both English and American Sign Language.
For more information http://www.gallaudet.edu/ccs/learning-language.html
WCCDS at the 2016 ACE-DHH Conference
Each year approximately 200 professionals working in the field of Deaf Education attend the Association of College Educators-Deaf & Hard of Hearing conference. This year Dr. Lynn McQuarrie, Director of the Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies, attended the conference in New York from February 11-13.
2015 Jones Memorial Lecture: October 22, 2015
Dr. Gina Oliva presented a lecture titled "I have a CI" is the new Hard of Hearing: Using the Lens of Social Capital to Make Life Better for Hard of Hearing Schoolchildren.
This presentation provides participants with background information from sociology and psychology that support an empowering way of looking at the social relations of the up and coming generation of hard of hearing/deaf children. The concept of social capital from Robert Putnam's landmark best-seller, "Bowling Alone" will be used to help participants envision strategies for enhancing these social relationships.
View our Lectures Page for additional resources from Dr. Oliva.
Video Relay Service Coming Fall 2015
Deaf & Hear Alberta is delighted that Video Relay Services (VRS) will be implemented starting in Fall 2015, as announced by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on Monday.
Canadians who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired will have access to a new telecommunications service. The CRTC is requiring that VRS be made available in Canada for users of American Sign Language, (ASL) and Langue des signes québecoise (LSQ) starting as early as the fall of 2015.
Video Relay Service is a critical service for Deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired individuals who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) - a visual language, enabling Canadians to conduct telephone calls using ASL and to communicate with voice telephone users,and vice versa. With this service, full and equal access to communication is brought to the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. The introduction of VRS will impact the lives of over 20,000 Deaf and hard of hearing individuals nationally who are expected to use the service.
Representatives of the Deaf and hard of hearing communities and their advocates have contributed countless hours providing expert testimony, impact statements and personal experience in response to the calls for public input and they are to be saluted on this resounding success from their efforts.
Linda Cundy, Secretary of the Alberta Association of the Deaf explains: "In 2003, the Alberta Association of the Deaf started advocacy towards VRS implementation as a result of VRS development in the U.S. We now know it is not hopeless for Deaf people to make a simple phone call anywhere in Canada and around the world, come Fall 2015. Little do people realize how long we have waited." Deb Flaig, President of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Alberta emphasized "Today is a huge victory for all."
"It is a great achievement for the Deaf community and its leaders who championed this issue, and all the allies who stepped forward to support the community. Congrats to all on our collective hard work!" stated Dr. Debra Russell, Director, Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies.
Peter Menzies, Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications for the CRTC promised "....we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that this service is introduced in an efficient manner and as quickly as possible."
ASL Immersion: July 6-10, 2015
A 5-day event coordinated by the Alberta Cultural Society of The Deaf. ASL Immersion offers different levels of ASL classes from Beginner to Advanced.
CHHA-ED Mini Conference: May 2, 2015
Edmonton Canadian Hard of Hearing 2nd Annual Mini Conference.
Enbridge/NEADS Strategies to Employment Workshop Edmonton: March 13, 2015
Enbridge Pipelines and the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) invite post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities to a one day interactive forum "Strategies to Employment" to be held in Edmonton, Alberta on March 13, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the King Edward Room, 3rd Floor, Manulife Place Conference Centre, 10180 - 101 Street NW. More information about this event can be found on the NEADS website.
Western Canada Conference on American Sign Language (ASL) and English Bilingual Education: October 17, 2014
The theme of the conference will be "The State of the Art in Language and Literacy Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students." Guest speakers include Jim Cummins (University of Toronto, OISE), Robert Hoffmeister (Boston University), Kristin Snoddon (Carleton University), and Charlotte Enns (University of Manitoba).
This conference is sponsored by the University of Regina, the David Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies and the Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Alberta and the Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society (SDHHS).
Theresa Fleming - Finalist for the 3M Health Leadership Awards
We are thrilled to announce that Theresa Fleming, Director of Silent Voice Deaf Adult Services Program, is one of the finalists for the 3M Health Leadership Awards, a national award that recognizes leaders who inspire change in the world. Please click here to read more about Theresa and the award.
Theresa received her MEd in Deaf Education at the University of Alberta in 2006.
Please join us in extending our congratulations to Theresa on this amazing achievement!
D/HH "Just in Time" Summer Institutes: August 20 & 22, 2013
Building capacity of school teams working with students who are or Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH)) in the upcoming school year. Locations: Calgary and Edmonton. See Professional Development Resources for additional information.
B/VI "Just in Time" Summer Institutes: August 21 & 23, 2013
Building capacity of school teams working with students who are or Blind/Visually Impaired (B/VI) in the upcoming school year. Locations: Calgary and Edmonton. See Professional Development Resources for additional information.
Functional Assessment & Positive Behaviour Support in Classroom Settings PD Workshop: March 26 & 27, 2012
Dr. Brenda Fossett, BCBA-D (University of British Columbia)
The Emotional Brain & Child-Guided Assessment Strategies Symposium on Dual Sensory Loss: October 17 & 18, 2011
Dr. Jan van Dijk (Emeritus Professor, Radboud University, Nijmegan, Netherlands). See Professional Development Resources for additional information.