Posted on Monday, March 06, 2023

A pilot program was launched today at City recreational facilities and parks to improve communication resources for the hearing-impaired community.

New signage depicting the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet and common language and phrases is being installed at the entrances of select City recreational
facilities and parks to improve communication between deaf and hearing residents in public spaces.

Avril Hertneky, a hearing-impaired resident, first approached City staff with her ideas and worked closely with City staff to find solutions.

“This initiative aligns with the Accessibility Advisory Committee’s goal to promote a barrier-free and inclusive environment for all, and the Recreation
Master Plan’s goal to make St. Catharines the city where everybody can play,” said Eric Lamothe, manager-of-business-planning-and-strategic-services for
the City. “We hope that other municipalities will follow our lead and install similar signage in their recreation facilities and parks.”

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/city-launches-new-resources-at-city-facilities-for-hearing-impaired-community-st-catharines/

Just For Laughs apologizes, refunds ticket and hotel costs
CBC News
Posted: Jul 22, 2022

A deaf man from New York says Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival denied his request for accommodation despite asking for live captioning three months in advance.

Tom Willard, who is a stand-up comedian himself, planned to attend the festival for the first time, buying his ticket and booking his hotel, but without the captioning service, he was forced to cancel.

Just For Laughs says logistical and technical issues are to blame, but Willard said the technology is readily available and it’s time for the annual comedy festival to join the modern era.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/deaf-fan-denied-captioning-accommodation-at-montreal-just-for-laughs-festival/

Masks made return to classroom impossible for Amy Nicholas, who is hard of hearing Anchal Sharma, CBC News
Posted: Mar 17, 2022

Grade 3 students share what they enjoy about Ms. Nicholas’s virtual class and describe what it was like to find out that she uses a hearing aid.

Amy Nicholas knew she wanted to teach ever since she was a little girl, so she couldn’t wait to start her career when she graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2019.

But just six months into her first teaching job with the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), the pandemic hit.

And though it changed life for just about everybody, it’s been particularly challenging for Nicholas, who is hard of hearing and reads lips to communicate.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/how-this-teacher-who-reads-lips-has-navigated-mask-mandates/