Newsletter – Fall/Winter 2023

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Letter from the Executive Director

A big hello from Durham Deaf Services (DDS)! It is hard to believe that Fall is almost over. Are you all ready for the cold weather and snow? I sure am not, but I’m looking forward to skiing with my children. 

It has been several busy months since I started working at DDS. The experience has been amazing, and working with a wonderful team has been great. I am sure you have all seen some changes on our website, as well as our staffing and other activities. 

We had a really successful Family Halloween Party, a lot of families and children showed up and we had fun. 

Christmas is just around the corner, and we have launched a new merchandise line, which will be shown in our Christmas catalogue. If you are wondering what to give your loved ones for Christmas, you can order something from our catalogue, and the item will be ready for you before Christmas. We will also have our annual Family Holiday Party on December 9th at DDS. 

Our office has been busy with more people coming to visit and requesting support services, and it is nice to see our community growing. 

We have received some donations from our sponsors, and I have submitted some grant proposals in hopes of more funding in the new year! Keep our fingers crossed! 

If you have any ideas for DDS, please feel free to share them with me. We all would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday with your loved ones!

Sincerely,

Sarah Colbeck

Executive Director 

Letter from the Board President

Hello everyone,

I hope that this newsletter finds you and your family healthy, happy, and safe!

I would like to thank everyone for all the support that is being provided to Sarah. Sarah is Durham Deaf Services’ new Executive Director, and she welcomes any and all support that she can receive.

Sarah’s ability to learn and develop in the role will be key to DDS’ continued success. Please continue to support Sarah as she continues to become acclimatized to her role.

DDS has held a few events in the fall months. There were two Halloween events and the Walk for Your Cause event. Please continue to support DDS by participating when called upon.

As we head into the winter/spring seasons, please watch for any planned events that you can support. These events are pivotal in helping DDS raise funds. Please help by donating money, volunteering your time or both. As you all know, DDS relies on these events to help support its programs and activities. Please continue to help support DDS in any way that you can. 

Follow DDS on Social Media & check out our events

Sarah is constantly looking for volunteers. Please reach out if you can spare a few hours a month to help. We could use volunteer help at our monthly Bingo, which is a big source of funds for us. 

Also, just a reminder, since it is now cold and flu season, let’s all do our part to stop the further spread of COVID-19. Please continue to follow all the protocols that have been established to enter the DDS premises.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. 

Please stay safe!

Rob Lalonde

President

DDS Board of Directors

Literacy Program Update

Hello! My name is Behishta Mushtaq. I’m working at Durham Deaf Services as a literacy instructor and have been working here for 18 years. We have exciting news to announce that we have a new hybrid camera. You can see a photo of the camera in the ASL video. It is so cool!

Students who live close to Durham Deaf Services can come to the literacy program in person while I am teaching,

but there are some learners who live far from our office. They can now simply connect to Zoom and watch me teach while the new camera captures the class so they do not miss anything. Hands waving! Thank you.

 

Hello, I am Patrizio, an LBS instructor at DDS, and I have been teaching since May. When I started, the number of students enrolled was small, but later, student enrollment grew. I’ve become very busy, but it has been wonderful. I have been teaching English, math, and digital technology to students who want help to improve their literacy skills to find work. I also volunteered for events such as the Halloween parties and car washes and will be volunteering for the upcoming Christmas event. It has been awesome to help out at these events and increase awareness of DDS in the community.

Behishta Mushtaq & Patrizio Presenza

DDS Literacy Instructors

Skills For Success Program Update

This year has been full of opportunities for DDS to grow and pilot numerous projects. This opportunity has granted us the ability to go through the trial and error experience for the benefit of DDS, LBS and the Deaf community that we serve. This experience has allowed us to test new hardware and software, while also creating resources that will benefit LBS as a whole in Ontario, such as developing teaching aids for First Aid Instruction in ASL, as well as establishing First Aid lesson plans and sourcing equipment and materials for First Aid Instruction at DDS.

The variety of projects that we are working on is something we are very proud of, and we are looking forward to the right time to share them with you all!

We recently completed our first Workplace Literacy Pilot project that supports ASL employment positions such as ASL instructors, ASL hosts, ASL teachers and ASL teaching assistants. Our first module was a Professional presentation. Confidence building, as well as learning to work with others in the workplace, was the focus. We followed the SFS framework to develop this module. Feedback from participants was well received. We are now starting the next module discussing Workplace accommodations and rights in the workplace. We look forward to another great module.

We are still working on reaching out to more rural Durham participants who would like to join online literacy sessions. We welcome new learners to DDS and look forward to reviewing our findings of the pilots over the next four months.

Stefanie Gibbons & Sylvia Doucet

Skills for Success Instructors

DDS Project Development Team Update

The winter season is just around the corner and is already fast approaching! What a year we’ve been experiencing in the last couple of months while working here at DDS.
As you may know, DDS has hired us to work on developing a special project that will be revealed sometime in 2024. We’re focusing on developing new modules while collaborating with other organizations, who will share their resources as well, to make this project feasible and simultaneously

establish a simplified and innovative digital approach for Deaf adults in the community wanting to gain skills or further their learning. This will support them in living independently and empowering them to make better choices in life.
We will give further details in the coming year; stay tuned!

Julio Luna & Jessica Cano-Jáuregui

Project Developers of DDS

Welcome Julio!

Welcome Jessica!

Interpreting Student Update

Hello! My name is Andy Glendinning, and I am a fourth-year student pursuing American Sign Language interpretation at George Brown College. I am hard of hearing and grew up here in Oshawa. I attended a local elementary school with a Deaf and hard-of-hearing program before transferring to another school. Growing up, I participated in Durham Deaf Services programming and holiday events, and I am so thrilled to be completing my internship here at Durham Deaf Services!

Since I have been here, I have been able to assist the staff here in developing their DDS resource library, and support the staff in developing the Skills for Success project that will provide key services to the Deaf community!

Andy Glendinning

Interpreting student

 

Welcome Andy!

Meet the Board of Directors

Are you curious about our current Board of  Directors and their current roles? We created a Board Bio section so you can learn more about who currently sits on the DDS Board.

News

DDS & Victim Services Partnership

DDS and Victim Services Durham have partnered together to ensure Victim Service’s invaluable information can be accessible to the Deaf community.

Victim Services worked with our Executive Director, Sarah, to have an ASL video added to their “We Will Help You” video embedded on the front page of their website to explain how Victim Services can provide support and how individuals can reach out. They are also in the process of updating their “Contact Us” section with ASL Videos, so each field will have an accompanying ASL video, and the contact method will also be updated with VRS as a contact option.

Victim Services wants to ensure their website provides barrier-free access for the Deaf Community to access their support services. Durham Regional Police is a close partner to Victim Services, and they will also be embedding the “We Will Help You” video with ASL onto their new page about Intimate Partner Violence. Once these items are all complete, they intend to present the updates to the various committees they sit on and encourage all of our community partners to do the same. As funding permits, Victim Services will move forward with having more content provided in ASL.

They are also working on an awareness campaign for seniors in partnership with DDS, DRPS and 211 Information Services. They have created over 10,000 magnets with information on how to seek help if you are a victim of a scam or fraud. They are travelling to various community and seniors centers, distributing magnets and speaking to seniors about fraud and how/where they can seek help. They have reached over 200 seniors to date.

DDS is Looking for Inspiration – Help Us Change Our Look

We are welcoming ideas for a new logo/design for DDS. We want a new brand! Your ideas are welcome!

Submit your ideas for our new logo!

Durham Deaf Services will be refreshing our look next year, and we are asking for your help with designing our new logo! We would welcome design options submitted on a volunteer/pro bono basis for a logo that:

  • Incorporates the name of our organization, Durham Deaf Services
  • Has a modern, fresh, vibrant and uplifting feel, including colour palette
  • Incorporates one or more of the following concepts that are relevant to our mission to promote independence and autonomy for all in the Deaf, deafened, and hard-of-hearing community: ASL, deafness, literacy
  • Reflects unity, diversity, openness, inclusivity, and belonging – in keeping with our commitment to welcoming and celebrating all people of diverse backgrounds and supporting a barrier-free society
  • Is legible and easy to identify when rendered in a smaller size (e.g. business cards, social media profile photos)
  • Translates well to grayscale (when printed in black and white)

Please send your questions and submissions to info@durhamdeaf.org by January 15th, 2024, and feel free to share this information with others who might be interested.

Upcoming Events

DDS Family Holiday Party

Join us on Saturday, December 9 for some Family Holiday Fun with games, crafts, decorating and a special visit from Santa!

The cost is $5 per family with food and drinks included.

RSVP on our event page and send E-transfers to info@durhamdeaf.org. Please add the names of everyone attending to the message box in the e-transfer. Cash payments will also be accepted at the door.

Day & Time: December 9, 12- 4 p.m.

Place: Durham Deaf Services, 900 King Street East, Oshawa ON – Second Floor Gymnasium

Please bring a wrapped gift ($20 max) for Santa to hand out to your child.

December 50/50 Raffle 

We’re hosting a 50/50 raffle to celebrate the holidays and close out the year. There is still time to participate – ticket sales end on December 18. We’ve awarded $900 this year. 
Don’t forget – the more people who participate, the bigger the pot! Don’t wait too long to buy your tickets. 

Volunteer Appreciation Social

DDS will be hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Social sometime in the new year to honour and thank the hard work of our dedicated volunteers. Please keep an eye out for details.

Durham Deaf Services Community Champion Award 2023 - Call for nominations

Durham Deaf Services’ Community Champion Award celebrates individuals, businesses, and organizations who have shown an outstanding commitment to breaking down barriers and enriching the lives of Deaf, deafened, and hard-of-hearing children, youth, individuals, and families in our community.

Durham Deaf Service awards a member/group in our community with the DDS Community Champion Award. Nominations are accepted annually. The winner will be announced in January.

Nominate a Business, Organization or Individual - Answers will be sent to DDS Communication Committee

Community Club Updates

Durham Deaf Club

DDC hosts a social night once a month at the Royal Canadian Legion #43 on Simcoe St. S in Oshawa. We play darts and socialize. Members are encouraged to regularly check our Facebook group for updates and upcoming events.

For more information, please contact durhamdeafclub@gmail.com.

Oshawa Senior Citizens Club

The club is hosting a Festive Christmas Lunch on December 20 and hosting their first annual New Year’s Celebration with the members of Durham Deaf Club on December 31.

Must be 55 years or older to join.
For more information, contact Ken Jackson at: jacksonken455.kj@gmail.com.

 

What You've Missed

Giving Tuesday – November

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Giving Tuesday Fundraiser for our children’s programming. We sincerely appreciate your generosity. Funds raised will go toward improving and growing our children and youth initiatives so we can support the community as it grows.

Walk for Your Cause 2023

In late October, DDS participated in Durham Community Foundation’s annual Walk for Your Cause fundraising event. Thank you to everyone who came out and endured the cold weather to support DDS at this event! We hope to see better weather and more faces next year.

Halloween Events

Last month we hosted two wonderful Halloween events, a children’s party for families, and an adult party. These were very fun and successful events. Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to all of the volunteers, coordinators, and the fundraising committee! We hope to make these annual events.

We would also like to give a shout-out to No Frills! Three different No Frills stores supported our Halloween parties through donations. Thank you to Qais’ No Frills, on Garden Street in Whitby, for the gift card and to Dylan’s No Frills, on Simcoe Street N., and Agostino & Nancy’s No Frills, on Bloor Street E., both in Oshawa for the total donation of 24 pumpkins.

View more pictures from our Halloween events on Facebook:

DDS Family Fun Fair

This past summer was a time of many firsts – In August, we hosted our first-ever Family Fun Fair Event and it was a grand success! It was incredible to see so many people come out to support us and it was great to see the community children have so much fun. We hope to host this event again this coming summer – stay tuned!

We owe the following businesses a huge thank you for helping to make the Family Fun Fair a grand success it turned out to be:

Costco – 130 Ritson Rd N, Oshawa
Wild Fork – Taunton and Garden in Whitby
Giant Tiger – Taunton and Ritson in Oshawa
Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park – 1400 Victoria St E, Whitby
Pathwise Credit Union – 322 King St W
Castle Kid Jumping Castles – 3282 Trulls Rd, Courtice
William’s Chocolate – 460 Hopkins St, Whitby
Kettlemans Bagel – Taunton & Garden in Whitby
Costco – 100 Windfields Farm Dr., Oshawa
Putting Edge – 75 Consumers Drive, Whitby

Car Wash for a Cause

Another first for DDS – Car Wash for a Cause! Although the weather was not kind to us, this fundraiser was still a lot of fun! Thank you to everyone who volunteered and stayed around even in the rain. We are also grateful to everyone who stopped by for a car wash despite the weather.

Thank you to the following stores and businesses for donating to our car wash fundraiser: Metro Whitby (Taunton and Thickson), Metro Oshawa (Ritson and Beatrice) and Loblaws Bowmanville (2375 Durham Regional Hwy 2) for donating gift cards and a big thank you to Oshawa Community Credit Union for donating car wash supplies and a $100 Sobey’s gift card!

 

ASL Classes

We are gearing up for ASL classes in the New Year!

Email info@durhamdeaf.org to join our waitlist or to inquire about private classes.

DDS Holiday Catalogue

The DDS Holiday Catalogue is here! We’re been hard at work developing this Holiday Catalogue for all of your gift-giving needs! It is the launch of our brand-new merchandise line, so you’ll be sure to find something for everyone on your list. Be sure to visit our Estore to check out the items or view our PDF catalogue.

Things to keep in mind:

  • There will be both a paper and an online version
  • You can order online or using a printed form
  • Orders placed online are due by December 18. If orders are placed after that date, they will not be available until January.
  • Orders for pickup will be available only on December 19 – we will offer extended office hours
  • Orders for shipping (cost not included) must be placed by December 14. Orders placed after this date will not be shipped until January.
  • Please note that we cannot guarantee that shipped orders will arrive on time.
  • The cost of shipping is not included in these prices – we will communicate the cost before accepting payment

Resources

DDS Resource Library

We’re in the process of updating our resource library – You can check it out now:

ASL Interpreting Services List

We have compiled a simplified list of ASL Interpreting Services available to the local community. The list contains details of both emergency and non-emergency services, what they offer and how to contact each agency.

Join the Board of Directors

We’re looking for community members to join our board!

Board of Directors members actively help support DDS and the community. From fundraising efforts to Social Media to day-to-day financial decisions, board members are able to help DDS thrive. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to info@durhamdeaf.org.

Watch this short video from Board Member Tristan Kong:

Become a Volunteer

We need volunteers for our events!

Volunteering with us and helping out at our events is a great opportunity to network and mingle with the community while having lots of fun as we fundraise. If you have any questions, please send us an email at info@durhamdeaf.org. Visit our “Get Involved” page and scroll down for more info.

Thank you for choosing to support DDS

Thank you to our partners, funders, corporate sponsors, and community members!

Thank you to all of our partners, funders, corporate sponsors, and community members who have offered DDS financial support or have sponsored our events and fundraisers. We are very grateful to you and all of your support.

Fall/Winter 2023 Donation Honour Roll

$1000 or more

Share Your Thoughts

Do you have a comment, question or concern? Put it in the box below and we’ll see what we can do!

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Durham Deaf Services

900 King Street East
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1H2
Phone: (905) 579-3328 Voice/Text
Fax: (905) 728-1183                                            Email: info@durhamdeaf.org

Office Hours:
Mon - Thurs
8:30 - 4:30
​Fri - Sun: closed

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