Advocates for Deaf to Speak at GCC

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A group photograph from Discovering Deaf Worlds

BATAVIA, NY (02/24/2015)(readMedia)-- In developing countries, at least 90% of deaf people do not go to school. That's according to Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), a Rochester-based non-profit organization that's working to change that. On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, DDW co-founder David Justice and executive director Davin Searls will visit Genesee Community College. Their presentation "Understanding Diversity of Language and Culture in the International Deaf Community" will begin at 4 p.m. in Room T102 of the Conable Technology Building. Organized by GCC's American Sign Language (ASL) Club and Student Activities Board (SAB), the presentation is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and voice interpreters will be available.

DDW began eight years ago through the efforts of Justice, who now serves as the organization's International Programs Director, and Christy Smith, who became a role model for the deaf community when she appeared in 2003 on CBS's "Survivor: The Amazon," coming in sixth place.

DDW partners with deaf advocates in developing countries. Working collaboratively, they seek to improve the standards of education, communication accessibility, employment opportunities and human rights for deaf people. DDW also researches and promotes pressing issues and success stories of deaf people in developing countries. It facilitates the exchange of information between deaf advocates, schools and institutions worldwide.

DDW has worked in more than a dozen countries, including Australia, China, India and Nepal. Current partnerships are in place in the Philippines and Costa Rica.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

For a group photograph from Discovering Deaf Worlds go to:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/DDWGroupSigningPhoto.jpg