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2009
Contact: Kim WallPublic Relations Program Coordinator
Marketing and Community Relations Office
University of New Hampshire, Manchester
(603) 641-4306
kim.wall@unh.edu
Celebrating 30 Years in Manchester!
Sign Language Interpretation Program at UNH Manchester
Manchester, NH– The Sign Language Interpretation (SLI) program at UNH Manchester celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2009. SLI program director, Jack Hoza, program faculty and students invite the public to join a 30th anniversary celebration on Friday, April 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, Manchester. The doors open with refreshments available at 6:30 pm.
The schedule for the evening will include: a PowerPoint presentation -- "A Thirty Year Journey: Then and Now"; a performance by Rosa Lee Gallimore entitled “The Rosa Lee Show”; and awards & refreshments. The Rosa Lee Show is a renowned Deaf one-woman show that combines live multimedia performances with traditional storytelling, American Sign Language poetry, comedy skits, video shows, signed songs, and much more.
The events are free, open to the public, and will be conducted primarily in American Sign Language (ASL), with interpretation into English provided via a closed loop FM system (headsets). The 30th anniversary celebration is cosponsored by the Sign Language Interpretation Program, the American Sign Language (ASL) Club, the Humanities Division, and the Associate Dean's office.
In 2007, the SLI program became the first, and remains the only, interpreting program in the U. S. accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). The CCIE promotes professionalism and national standards in the field of sign language interpreter education. The reputation of UNH Manchester’s SLI program has attracted students from New England and beyond.
The SLI program offers students the opportunity to learn American Sign Language, the interpretation process, Deaf culture and history. Students gain real world experience through field studies, learn in a small classroom environment, and prepare for certification exams for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Graduates pursue careers as bilingual teachers or tutors, self-employed interpreters, staff interpreters, community educators or they may work in fields such as government, law or medicine.
Last fall the college installed three video phones (VP) and access to video relay services (VRS), provided free from Sorensen Communication. Through the Sorenson VRS, the Deaf and hard of-hearing community has access to a free 24-hour service that enables anyone to conduct video relay calls with family, friends, or business associates. Calls are placed and received through a professional American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter via a high-speed Internet connection and VRS equipment, which operates much like a web camera. If both parties sign, they can communicate directly and hearing callers can place video calls to any Deaf and hard-of-hearing person by dialing their direct VP number. The equipment expands access and increases communication between the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing communities.
Please contact Jack Hoza, SLI Program Director, jack.hoza@unh.edu or Patrick (Pax) McCarthy, SLI Program Assistant Director, patrick.mccarthy@unh.edu, for more information about the 30th anniversary celebration or the SLI program at UNH Manchester. UNH Manchester, the university’s urban campus, brings undergraduate and graduate programs to people who live and work in New Hampshire. Please visit us on the web at www.unhm.unh.edu.
UNH Manchester, UNH's urban campus, offers liberal arts and applied majors in business, science, and technology, all with an urban focus. UNH Manchester is UNH. Learn more at www.unhm.unh.edu.
