Urbandale Public Library, State Programs to Partner on Deaf Awareness Months Events
September 01, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITY AND MEDIA ADVISORY
9/1/2020
Contact:
Laura Sauser
Community Manager
Urbandale Public Library
lsauser@urbandale.org
515-331-6764
Urbandale Public Library, State Programs to Partner on Deaf Awareness Months Events
Urbandale, Iowa – In recognition of Deaf Awareness month, the Urbandale Public Library will partner with Telecommunications Access Iowa and Relay Iowa to host a series of virtual events this month. The purpose is to help educate area residents about Deaf culture and resources available to the deaf and hard of hearing. All events require advance registration, are free, and open to the public.
The main event, a Deaf Awareness Virtual Informational Fair, will take place Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. The fair will feature organizations that work with the Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or those who have difficulty speaking, including Iowa State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Deaf Iowans Against Abuse, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf, Heartland Area Education Agency, Telecommunications Access Iowa, and Relay Iowa. In addition, Hamilton Relay will announce the 2020 Iowa Deaf Community Leader Award that evening, and attendees will be eligible for door prizes. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services will be available.
In addition, two of the Library’s established programs for youth will focus on Deaf culture in the month of September:
To register for these events or learn more, please visit www.urbandalelibrary.org or call the Library at 515-278-3945 option 1.
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About the Urbandale Public Library:
Voted "Best Library" (2019) by CityView and "Favorite Library" (2017) by Des Moines Parents magazine, the Urbandale Public Library is committed to providing diverse resources for life-long learning and enjoyment. Part of the City of Urbandale since 1961, the Library is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees and serves the residents of Urbandale, the surrounding Des Moines metro area, and contracting cities within the state of Iowa.
For more information, visit www.urbandalelibrary.org.
About Relay Iowa and Telecommunications Access Iowa
Relay Iowa and Telecommunications Access Iowa are two programs of the Iowa Utilities Board that provide outreach throughout the state of Iowa to inform and educate potential customers and organizations who work with or serve Iowans who have hearing loss or speech difficulty and struggle when using telecommunication equipment.
Relay Iowa provides third party assistance while communicating on the telephone through a variety of free services. The services include TTY, Hearing Carry Over, Voice Carry Over, Speech To Speech and Captioned Telephone relay in English and Spanish. All calls are confidential.
Telecommunications Access Iowa (TAI) is an equipment distribution program that provides vouchers for specialized telecommunications equipment such as amplified phones, captioned telephone, Wireless Devices (iPads) and accessories for Iowans who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulty. Qualified individuals can receive a voucher that pays for approximately 95% of the average cost of the equipment.
For more information please visit www.teleiowa.com and www.relayiowa.com
COMMUNITY AND MEDIA ADVISORY
9/1/2020
Contact:
Laura Sauser
Community Manager
Urbandale Public Library
lsauser@urbandale.org
515-331-6764
Urbandale Public Library, State Programs to Partner on Deaf Awareness Months Events
Urbandale, Iowa – In recognition of Deaf Awareness month, the Urbandale Public Library will partner with Telecommunications Access Iowa and Relay Iowa to host a series of virtual events this month. The purpose is to help educate area residents about Deaf culture and resources available to the deaf and hard of hearing. All events require advance registration, are free, and open to the public.
The main event, a Deaf Awareness Virtual Informational Fair, will take place Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. The fair will feature organizations that work with the Deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or those who have difficulty speaking, including Iowa State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Deaf Iowans Against Abuse, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf, Heartland Area Education Agency, Telecommunications Access Iowa, and Relay Iowa. In addition, Hamilton Relay will announce the 2020 Iowa Deaf Community Leader Award that evening, and attendees will be eligible for door prizes. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services will be available.
In addition, two of the Library’s established programs for youth will focus on Deaf culture in the month of September:
- The Zoom into Reading Book Club for ages 8-12 will discuss the book “You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!.” by Alex Gino, a critically acclaimed book that addresses themes such as Deaf culture, faux pas, and manners when interacting with Deaf people, and correcting one’s own misconceptions. The Zoom into Reading Book Club will meet virtually each week in September. An ASL interpreter will be available for the 9/28 session.
- A special Saturday session of the Library’s Making History program for ages 6-10 will focus on the story of William Hoy, a Deaf baseball player who revolutionized the game. This event will take place on Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. An ASL interpreter will be available; CART services will be available upon request.
To register for these events or learn more, please visit www.urbandalelibrary.org or call the Library at 515-278-3945 option 1.
###
About the Urbandale Public Library:
Voted "Best Library" (2019) by CityView and "Favorite Library" (2017) by Des Moines Parents magazine, the Urbandale Public Library is committed to providing diverse resources for life-long learning and enjoyment. Part of the City of Urbandale since 1961, the Library is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees and serves the residents of Urbandale, the surrounding Des Moines metro area, and contracting cities within the state of Iowa.
For more information, visit www.urbandalelibrary.org.
About Relay Iowa and Telecommunications Access Iowa
Relay Iowa and Telecommunications Access Iowa are two programs of the Iowa Utilities Board that provide outreach throughout the state of Iowa to inform and educate potential customers and organizations who work with or serve Iowans who have hearing loss or speech difficulty and struggle when using telecommunication equipment.
Relay Iowa provides third party assistance while communicating on the telephone through a variety of free services. The services include TTY, Hearing Carry Over, Voice Carry Over, Speech To Speech and Captioned Telephone relay in English and Spanish. All calls are confidential.
Telecommunications Access Iowa (TAI) is an equipment distribution program that provides vouchers for specialized telecommunications equipment such as amplified phones, captioned telephone, Wireless Devices (iPads) and accessories for Iowans who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulty. Qualified individuals can receive a voucher that pays for approximately 95% of the average cost of the equipment.
For more information please visit www.teleiowa.com and www.relayiowa.com
Contact:
Laura Sauser, Community Manager- Urbandale Public Library
lsauser@urbandale.org, (515) 331-6764