Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Receives $5000 Grant from Verizon Foundation
Grant Will Provide Funding for Literacy and Technology Based Programs
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Verizon Foundation has made a $5,000 grant to enhance existing technology used by deaf and hard of hearing students at The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD). The grant was presented to PSD's first Deaf Head of School, Dr. Larry S. Taub, at PSD, 100 West School House Lane in Germantown, on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at 11 a.m. by Dan Reavy, Director of External Affairs, Eastern Region.
This generous grant will be used to complement the technology previously funded by the Verizon Foundation to enhance literacy skills of PSD junior high and elementary aged students. Specifically, the purchase of a Smartboard and Aver-media document projector in an elementary class at PSD to assist in instruction across all subject areas (including ASL-English, math, science, and social studies) to increase computer fluency as well as English literacy.
According to Dr. Taub, "Technology such as the Smartboard are critical tools in the education of deaf and hard of hearing children because these students are asked to learn simultaneously in two languages, American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Teachers must communicate in sign language and English at the same time and technology allows PSD's visual learners to better acquire literacy skills while learning interactively in class. Our goal is to use technology to equip our students to have the necessary literacy skills to succeed in jobs or advanced education once they leave PSD and we are very grateful to Verizon for their support in making this possible."
"Verizon is proud to improve the quality of life for youth and families in the Delaware Valley by empowering the community with innovative tools and resources," said Daniel J. Reavy, Director of External Affairs for Verizon Pennsylvania. "We're investing in programs, such as our partnership with the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, to reach every type of learner across the lifespan and to touch people's lives by focusing on education, health and family safety in the 21st century. We understand that education does not begin or end in the classroom." Visit www.thinkfinity.org to learn more.
Founded in 1820, The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and its Center for Community and Professional Services assist more than 7,500 individuals in the southeastern Pennsylvania area each year. About 220 deaf or hard of hearing students, preschool through high school, attend classes at the school, and more than 7,000 individuals are assisted each year by the many deafness related services coordinated by CCPS, including early intervention for deaf infants and their families, sign language programs, literacy classes, job training and placement, and AIDS prevention education.
SOURCE Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
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