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Thursday, March 15.2001 - Page 4 WMC deafeducatlon'department takes many ~tlew'le_aps " II ;., TAMMI SLATER dents. 1\<' d. .c !;p not set up classrooms in the traditional way- communityputreach.jmd the ~SL Special- Staff Writer Janet Conley, Ph.D. assistant coordina-, 'Of row-by-row desks. We use semi-circles ist Program. At WesternMaryland College the sounds tor/student teacher of deaf education feels" so everyone can see each other signing, and Correspondingly,the department is striv- of silence around campus represent a sign in that "The college has been very.supportive 'J, Classroom'sthat are designed this.rway are ing to reach more high school students in- the growth of alanguage which fascinates of our requests with the ASL Immersion critical to.our learning environment. Tech- retested in deaf education. Therefore, a web many, and continues to spread among stu- House, soI expect that if there is increased nology is another big thing-since Deaf, .page for high school students learning ASL dents. The students are not communicating demand, they will do what they can to re- people rely heavily on visual aides, cornput- is being started, as well as the addition of a through' verbal communication, but with spond." ers and e-mail, which are all fully accessible first year seminarcoursethat incoming fresh- their hands through sign language. Since last May when the deaf studies means, but we lack in this area. Not just in men interested in ASL can take. Sign language at WMC has undergone minor was approved, Coryell and Conley our program but the campus as a whole." In the future, deaf studies at WMC aim manysignificantchanges withinthe lastyear, agree that the recent addition of Professor Despite the need for specific classroom to produce more interest in students to be- with the addition of the minor in Deaf Stud- David Martin, teacher of ASL classes and and technological advances, members of the come teachers for deaf and hard-of-hearing ies being the most influential. coordinator of the ASL Lab, has been instru- department feel confjd~nt that the recent students, while extending theirprograms and Dr. Judith Coryell, associate professor mental in the changes of the department. changes are conducive for the study itself services further. and coordinator of deaf studie~/cieareduce- '1 'n"Coryell credits Martin for all the posi- and for the college. Though the tasks will take time, the de- tion explained that last February the minor tive changes he has brought-to the-depart- Deane feels that the additions are "help- partment has already set a standard for itself was -approved.by.the.Curriculum Commit- ment and for his dedication to improving the ing in bridging.the gap that we have had for that it can continue to improve. tee, where it had originally been proposed deaf studies minor. so long.Anyone interested indeefedueation __ . In the process of working to refine the as a major. "He has hiredeightASLmemors, brought is already aware of our outstanding gradu- department. 'members hope for enjoyment Coryell believes that the minor is a great many undergraduate students in, and is co- ate program. They come here looking for and gratification from a job which so many opportunity for"undergraduate students who ordinatingthe week-long events for Deaf something that will automatically lead them involved love greatly and have a huge sense come to WMC interested in deaf education Awareness Week," Coryell said. into that program - the minor is a start." of respect for. to begin their studies early and develop a Deane also compliments Martin noting Conley, who has been at WMC since While every job has its ups and downs, solid background in American Sign Lan- that "he has some dynamite ideas for Deaf 1978,said, "I have seen lotsof changes. I've Conley feels that the best part of this job is guage, developing the necessary fluency Awareness Week this year, and his energy, seen incredible growth in the staff and fa- "the students because we work with an in- needed to enter the deaf education graduate enthusiasm, and commitment to the under- cilities on the campus. Within the deaf edu- credibly gifted group of people who are en- program." y. graduate students is evident not only in his cation program, I've seensignificantchanges thusiastic and committed to improving the According to Sheila Deane, deaf pro- teaching but in the ASL Lab and various jas, w.e refine courses to meet challenging quality of the education of deaf and hard-of- grams manager, WMC is believed to have events he isplanning as well.Weare so lucky standards and to maifitain professional cur" hearing children." the largestDeaf Education program in world, to have him as a part of the program." _ rency in adapting to philosophical changes." Deaneagrees saying that the positives for so there is much to be said for this program Although the department has undergone Currently,the department is inthe middle her are "seeing the enthusiasm and learning and the individuals wbo make it all happen. many positive changes within the last year, of implementing a large federal grant that take place, The students give me energy so I "The number o'f\deaf graduates from there are still many areas for improvement. was awarded last year to the deaf education love having them around." WMC is increasing-everyyear," said Coryell. Coryell feels that within the department department. v Considering how far this program has l Deane, deaf programs manager for five "there is always a need for more space, more There are several programs that will be come in the past several years, goals of more years now, feels that, with the new $1.5 mil- people, and more technology." affected by the grant, including: the Literacy growth in the near future are reasonably set, lion dollar grant from Deane stresses that, "In our field, we do Specialist Program, th"etdeafstudies minor, she said. \ (." \, r and immerse themselves inthe language and culture of deaf individuals," said Deane. Through this grant the department will be able to support many more opportunities for learning on all levels, and for further ex- tending students' knowledge and experience. The deaf studies minor is also believed to be the start to bringing in more under- graduate students to a designed program that helps lead them to their future goal of a master's degree in deaf education or work with deaf people in other professional ca- pacities. This experience expands studenrs.sensi- tivity level to deaf people, and their cultural awareness to the deaf community, which is essential for teachers and deaf students. Sophomore biology major Jennifer O'Hara, a recent transfer student, already feels confident in praising the deaf educa- tion department. '''1 can tell that deaf ed is a very impcr- lam part of WMC," she said. "People seem to have a good sense of its meaning, and I feel that it is a very positive thing for the college," O'Hara continued. In addition to the minor, WMC has made several other improvements to the program suchas new courses, the opportunityto spend a semester at Gallaudet University, and the ASL Immersion House on campus. The Immersion House, starting in the fall, will provide an authentic language environ- ment for students to live in, where they can develop fluency inASL inan interactive way while learning about a new and different way ,I of life through deaf graduate students and models. There will be two deaf graduate students living in the house serving as house manag- ers and language models, as well as nine stu-