A Brief History

of

Programmes, Services and Organizations

for

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Children and Adults

in Calgary

Compiled

By

Ann Kennedy and Sheila Cresswell

September 2014

Copyright: © 2014

Table of Contents

Process            3

Acknowledgements      5

Introduction            7

Brief biographies of the writers      9

Chapter 1:      Alberta Children’s Hospital: Services for

Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing      14

Chapter 2:      Parent Groups      18

Chapter 3:      Sponsors and Donors      22

Chapter 4:      Calgary Association of the Deaf      26

Chapter 5:      Hard of Hearing Associations      29

Chapter 6:      Pre-school Programmes      44

Chapter 7:      School Programmes:      46

Calgary Board of Education      46

Calgary Catholic School District      50

Chapter 8:      Post-Secondary Programmes      52

Chapter 9:      Services for Multi-Handicapped Deaf Children      68

Chapter 10:      Canadian Association of Educators

of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing      71

Chapter 11:      Speech Pathology/Audiology in

the Calgary Board of Education      76

Chapter 12:      Interpreting Services      79

Chapter 13:      Speechreading Classes for Adults      84

Chapter 14:      Deaf & Hear Alberta

(formerly Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society)      88

Chapter 15:      Johnson Report – 1961 – 1991      91

Process

This document is a compilation of written contributions from individuals or groups of individuals who were active in serving Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing children and adults during the last eighty plus years in the city of Calgary.

The idea to write this book emerged from the 100 year celebration activities of Stanley Jones School. In 2012, a book was written about the history of the school which included information about the programmes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children located in Stanley Jones.  Our compilation describes the complete educational programme including all classes in different locations.  It is also not limited to educational programmes. It includes facets of service from the medical field, rehabilitation, social associations and organizations with a focus on aiding communication.  Information was hard to find.  Active agencies are looking ahead and planning improvements.  They tend not to keep descriptive records and statistics of past service.

We are indebted to Marion and Albert Johnson who completed a report in the nineties. Their document followed the sequence of organizations, which advocated for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations in Calgary from 1961 until 1991. Their process was to use Minutes of meetings and Annual General Reports, which summarized activities. The Johnson report is included as the final chapter of this text. Our approach was to look at different facets separately but many of our facts came from the Johnson Report.

Many of those who worked on the text are retired now, (see biographies for more information).  They talked to former colleagues, searched their collective memories and used any resources they could find.  However, they were still dissatisfied with the lack of verifiable information.  We invite readers who were part of this journey to supply names, dates and other information to add to the material provided here.  Some writers included the names of individuals in their accounts whereas others, particularly those dealing with the school programmes, described the programmes but did not identify many participants.  There was a concern that inadvertent omissions would occur.   Readers may also want to supply their personal memories.  Any suggestions for additions should be sent to Ann Kennedy <akennedyAT_SIGNshaw.ca> where they will be collated and organized into a “second edition” for this document, which is seen by the Coordinating Committee as a beginning only.

Acknowledgements

Coordinating Committee

Sheila Cresswell—formerly Executive Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education

Doreen Dyer—parent, formerly President of the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children

Ann Kennedy—retired Special Education Administrator, Calgary Board of Education

Linda Slater—retired teacher of the Deaf from Calgary Board of Education

The Coordinating Committee would like to thank the following individuals who assisted us in a variety of ways:

Chapter 3

Ian Richmond,      Elks Lodge #4

Angie Wilton,       Elks Lodge #4

Chuck Tyler,          Elks Lodge #4

Chapter 4

Karen Simonson, Archivist, Alberta Provincial Archives

Chapter 6

Diann Allan, Archives Department of Mount Royal University

Lynda Martin,  Mount Royal University

Chapter 7

Shani Flint, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programme, Stanley Jones School

Ruth Robinson, Retired Director, Calgary Board of Education

Melanie Schulze, Records Technician, Calgary Board of Education

Dr. Ursula Steele, Principal, Stanley Jones School

Tania Younker, Calgary Catholic School District, Communications Department

Chapter 8

Ruth Fletcher, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Team, Lead Interpreter, Bow Valley College

Maureen Jones, Educator, Interpreter, Programme Developer, Bow Valley College

Richard Letourneau, Interpreter, Adult Educator, Programme Developer, Bow Valley College

Chapter 11

Marianne Flanagan, formerly Speech Pathologist, Calgary Board of Education

Linda Abercrombie, formerly Speech Pathologist, Calgary Board of Education

Chapter 14

Dianne Dickin, Calgary Herald

Cindy Pilz, Deaf & Hear Alberta

Chapter 15

Donald Johnson, son of Albert and Marion Johnson

Technical Support

Jackie Whitelock, Member of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

Michael Hallworth, Editor

Dr. Evelyn Hickey, Former Teacher of the Deaf, IT Specialist

Martin Leese, IT Specialist

Most of all, we would like to thank all of the writers who were so open to participating in the project. They were encouraging in their interest in the finished document and made many helpful suggestions beyond their specific written submissions.

Our final acknowledgement is of the limitations of this document. As stated in the Process section (above), we see this book as a first step in starting discussion amongst readers. We hope there will be memory searches, reminiscences and expressions of various points of view on the events of the past. With more input from more people, a more comprehensive history with anecdotes, humour and personal experiences could emerge. We look forward to this possibility.

Introduction

When reading descriptions of levels of service, technology and methodology from 100 years ago, it is tempting to make comparisons with present day standards and to lament or scoff at what was or was not available. The purpose of a history is to tell the story of how and when, and sometimes why, things changed, and to consider these in the context of services and resources available at that time for other groups.

During the last 100 years, there have been major changes in community awareness and public attitude towards the needs of special populations.  Rights of access are well established now so that communication processes and appropriate educational programming are available much more readily than in the past.  Parent groups and advocates had to work hard over many years to establish such rights.  These influences coupled with the advancements in technology in areas of medicine, rehabilitation, communication and education over the last century have resulted in many more options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

It is beyond the scope of this document to trace the history of attitude change or technology in the world but we must recognize that the history we are describing in Calgary reflects the changes in philosophy, policy and procedures across Canada and throughout the rest of the Western world.

Sometimes, those who are working in one programme are only vaguely aware of the work of other programmes. It is hoped that, besides reviewing the history of their own organization or personal experience, readers will develop a greater understanding of the other organizations serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities in Calgary.

Maybe this increased awareness will result in more communication and co-operation amongst those who are providing service in different ways and an increase in mutual respect.

Brief Biographies of the Writers

Carol Armitage

I was Past Member-at-large, Public Awareness Chairperson and President of the local branch of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) from 1986 to 1996.  I have advocated for many different things to help the hard of hearing community locally on my own time and nationally through the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association.

On my late mother’s side of the family there are six generations of genetic based hearing loss and I am one of those family members who has a hearing loss. In 1999, I received a Lions Foundation of Canada Dog guide, a Hearing Ear Dog, named Henrietta and in the year 2000, had the cochlear implant surgery done in one ear.

Janet Bremner (nee Lade)

I taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) preschool/kindergarten classes at Stanley Jones from 1986-1988 and Level One DHH classes at Queen Elizabeth Elementary from 1996-1998. I completed a diploma in DHH education at UBC in 1983 and completed a Masters in Special Education at UBC in 2010 (specializing in early intervention practices in DHH education).  I carried out several assignments as a consultant for DHH and Early Childhood Education with the Calgary Catholic School Board, from 1998-2012.  I am currently teaching Grade 3 DHH students at Stanley Jones School and am the Learning Leader for the DHH program.  When I am not busy in the classroom, you can find me walking my dogs in Bowmont Park.

Doreen Dyer

When my deaf son was a pre-schooler, I became involved with a group of parents who wanted their profoundly deaf children to have the opportunity to be educated while living at home. This was during the sixties. We wanted programmes starting at nursery school level.  We worked step by step to expand and improve the educational facilities, which are now available for the Deaf in the city of Calgary.

Jim Jarrell

I received my M.S.Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where I also spent three years with the Eugene School Board as a speech pathologist/audiologist at the Children’s Hospital School.  I was a Speech Pathologist for 19 years and a Special Education teacher for another 19 years with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). I also provided professional development workshops organized by the Alberta Teachers’ Association for regular classroom teachers who had special needs students within their classes. I continue to substitute teach for the CBE in classrooms having high needs students. As a co-founder of Mount Royal Gym Club in Calgary, I spent 30 years as a coach/administrator for the club’s International Gymnastic Programs.  Since retirement, I have followed my passion for travel as a navigator of spectacular vacation experiences with Expedia Cruise Ship Centres, Fish Creek, located in Braeside.

Marion and Albert Johnson (see further information – Page 92)

The Johnsons, parents of two deaf sons, were founding members of the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children, in 1961.  They continued advocating and assisting with the development of services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing until the nineties.

Dr. Ann Kennedy

I taught classes of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Calgary at James Short School for five years during the sixties.  Many of these former students are active now in the Calgary Association of the Deaf. I did a Masters and Ph. D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota and then ran a teacher of the deaf education programme affiliated with the University of Moncton for five years.  I carried out several assignments (staff training) in developing countries following retirement.  I also enjoy being a tourist in far-flung places.

Dr. Debra Russell

I am an American Sign Language (ASL)-English interpreter and interpreter educator from Canada. My interpreting practice spans thirty years, and is community based in a range of medical, legal, mental health and employment settings. As the Director of the Western Canadian Centre for Deaf Studies, my teaching has also taken me to six continents. In addition to teaching, I maintain an active research program, with current projects that focus on Deaf Interpreters, legal interpreting and mediated education settings for Deaf children. In 2001, I was elected President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters.  I am also a dedicated student of yoga, who loves to travel.

Rebecca Lehman

I am a research assistant on the History Project Committee of the Calgary Association of the Deaf (CAD) which is writing a history of their organization, due to be completed in the fall of 2015. The enclosed chapter of CAD is therefore short as their publication will present a detailed account in the very near future.

Mary Alice Saunders

I was manager of the Calgary Health Region Audiology Service from 1989 – 2009, resigning from the manager position in 2009. I work on a casual basis currently as an Audiologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. I volunteer for the Children’s Charity ``Dreams Take Flight`` and enjoy golf, biking, skiing and hiking.

Linda Slater

My career in working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students began in England in 1969, when I taught at a boarding school for “partially hearing” children. I was then seconded to Manchester University and earned my certification as a teacher of the Deaf and partially hearing. After teaching for another couple of years in England, I married and moved to Lusaka, Zambia.  A programme for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students was just being set up and I taught there for nearly three years.  My husband and I then moved to Calgary where I taught at Stanley Jones School for the school year 1974-75.  I took eleven years off to have babies and complete my B.Ed.  I went back to work in 1986 at Stanley Jones School for eight years and then as a hearing strategist for eleven years.  I retired in 2007, but have since done some substitute teaching and temporary contracts both at Stanley Jones and as a strategist. When I am not working in my retirement, I enjoy quilting, needlework, playing Scrabble, reading and travelling.

Susan Tompkins

I have been a Sign Language Interpreter for 33 years and worked as an Educational Interpreter at Queen Elizabeth Jr/Sr. High School from 1982 - 1986.  I left the high school to pursue a Bachelor of Education degree.   I worked at Van Horne High School, again as an Educational Interpreter from 1988 - 1990.  During my second year at Van Horne, I split my duties between the high school and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing programme at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School. The degree was awarded in 1991.   I am currently and have been since 1991, a full-time freelance interpreter.

Lynn Wheadon (nee Oliver)

I was born with a hearing loss caused by maternal rubella and I was twelve years old when my mother read in a newspaper about the effects of measles. So ladies, please ensure that you, your children and grandchildren get vaccinated. I have a B.Sc., a B.Ed. and a Diploma in Painting from the Alberta College of Art.  I taught Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf students for four years in Calgary and three years in Edmonton. I continue to be involved with the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association at both the branch and national levels.

Chapter 1

Alberta Children’s Hospital: Services for Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Mary Alice Saunders

Services at Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) began in the mid-1960s with Sally Rhondo, the first Speech-Language Pathologist at ACH.  Rudimentary Audiology services were provided, limited primarily to hearing screening.

Sally was followed by Caroline Dunsmore who became the Director of the Speech-Language Programme in 1968.  Audiology services expanded with the hiring of trained Audiologists.  In 1972, Terry Lewis was the first Audiologist hired, followed closely by Tom Moore.  Audiology test suites were installed and up to date audiometers and hearing aid testing equipment purchased.  Sylvia Wasylenko Lambert and Beth Kirby joined Audiology in 1974.  Loaner/evaluation hearing aids became available to facilitate hearing aid fittings and ACH became a hearing aid dispensary for children.

Early in the 1970s, a partnership was established with the Calgary Elks Lodge #4. The Elks had and still have early identification of hearing loss as a special mandate. The Elks Club’s very generous financial support allowed for the design and purchase of a mobile hearing assessment van. The Hearing Van travelled widely throughout Southern Alberta from 1976 through 1988 providing hearing assessments, hearing aid evaluation and fitting and parent education to children and their families living in rural areas.

The Elks were instrumental in providing funding for the early versions of the “Auditory Trainer”, today known as FM assistive listening devices. This device allows parent/teacher to transmit voice directly to the child’s hearing aid receiver, ensuring more reliable and consistent sound reception by the child. This technology remains a central piece of equipment for pre and school-aged children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D&HH). The Elks Club and the Campbell McLaurin Foundation (see Chapter 3) provided financial support for the ACH Hearing Aid Loaner Bank, allowing children to borrow up-to-date hearing aids when their personal aids were malfunctioning or lost.

Again with the financial help from the Elks Club Lodge #4, ACH established a Cochlear Implant (CI) programme. By 1986, this new technology for Deaf individuals was available in Calgary for adults, but only in Edmonton for children.  The ACH programme began in 1991 with children receiving the assessment and port-surgical implant training at ACH, while the surgery continued to be performed in Edmonton.  The surgical component of the programme was transferred to Calgary in 1994 when Dr. Phil Park moved to Calgary and assumed responsibility for all CI surgeries.

The DAT Centre - Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Centre - was established in 1970 to provide multidisciplinary services to children through specialty clinics.  The Hearing Clinic was one of many specialities established, providing audiology, speech-language, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and psycho/social programmes to D&HH children and their families.  Parent education and parent interaction were a central feature of the Hearing Clinic programme.

Speech-Language Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children:

Belinda Boleantu and Dorothy Matthews were among the first Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) to be hired into the ACH Speech department, both coming from England in the early 1970s.  Belinda had a special interest in communication development in D&HH children and worked to bring the Total Communication (see Chapter 7) option to ACH.   Oral communication had been the focus and in a time of marginal quality amplification, this option often failed to establish adequate communication skills in children who were Deaf.  Children were seen by the SLP for individual therapy and were also part of group treatment, which often included the physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

A close working relationship was established during the 1970s between ACH Audiology/Hearing Clinic and the Calgary Board of Education D&HH programme. Clinical reviews of children entering the CBE preschool programme occurred yearly in the spring and CBE personnel participated in Hearing Clinic parent education opportunities.

ACH Audiology provided yearly audiology reviews to CBE students until this service was assumed by the CBE with the arrival of Patricia Muir, their first Audiologist, in the mid-1980s. ACH Audiology continued to assess for and fit amplification to CBE students throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.

A joint ACH/CBE three year venture “Supporting Success in the Classroom”, (2001-2004) was sponsored by the Campbell McLaurin Foundation.  ACH Hearing Clinic Speech Language Pathologists provided therapy within the pre-school classroom as an integral part of the programme.  The classroom was located at Knob Hill School.  Parents were invited to observe through a one-way mirror and met with the SLPs, Psychologist, Social Worker to discuss the many topics related to raising and educating their D&HH children.

Genetics Programme, Vision Services and Hearing Clinic:

All families seen in the Hearing Clinic had, and continue to have, the option of genetic counselling, as a high percentage of hearing loss has a genetic component.  Vision assessments are also provided, as good vision is especially important to D&HH children.

____________________________________________________________________________

Editorial Note

The foregoing section describes historical progress in the provision of services through Alberta Children’s Hospital. We lacked a strategy to access information on the development of similar services for adults. Any assistance from readers to fill this gap would be appreciated.

Chapter 2

Parent Groups

Doreen Dyer and Ann Kennedy

There are references to, but very little information about, a parent group that formed in the early fifties.  These parent members joined with other parents of Deaf children across the province to lobby for a provincial school for the Deaf.  When the goal was accomplished in 1955, with the opening of Alberta School for the Deaf, Edmonton, this parent group disbanded.

The next parent group began to form in 1958 from two sources.  Mrs. Jill McLeod, mother of a young deaf girl, spent the summer at the John Tracy Clinic, California and wanted to bring parents of young Deaf children in Calgary together.  Also, Mrs. Reta Wilk, who was running the pre-school in Mount Royal College (see Chapter 6 on pre-school programmes), saw a need for parents to meet on a regular basis.  In the spring of 1959, Jill McLeod and her group began meeting with the parents of the children attending the Mount Royal College programme.  Following organizational planning, the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children (SHHC) received a charter from the Province on May 2nd, 1961.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 1963, there were 60 members present and support was maintained. At the 1973 AGM 53 members attended.

For detailed information about the work of the Society, see the last chapter in this document.  As the children of the leaders of the Society grew older, the word “children” was dropped from the name. It became the Society for Hearing Handicapped (SHH) and was later changed to the Southern Alberta Deaf Centre (SADC) when the focus became the establishment of the Centre. Following the establishment of the Centre, the support organization was again re-named to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society. See Chapters 14 and 15 for further information.

The major roles of parent groups were support for each other and advocacy for their children. In providing support, more experienced parents mentored parents of newly diagnosed Deaf children. Many strong friendships developed within the parent groups.

Advocacy occurred at different levels. The parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children served on committees along with parents and advocates for other children and adults with special needs. They lobbied governments at federal and provincial levels to develop laws for Human Rights protection, medical provision for diagnosis and rehabilitation and access to appropriate educational programmes, the work place and community participation.

The implementation of legal requirements was another level of advocacy at the local level. Parents also helped each other to advocate for individual children or adults when difficulties arose.

The sequence of parent groups also provided recreational and social opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children while the Calgary Association of the Deaf fulfilled that role for adults.  (See Chapter 4)

Members of the Parent Groups were involved in national and international activity in the field of Deafness.  Calgarians were members of the Alberta Coordinating Council on Deafness (begun in 1969, dissolved in 1981) and the Canadian Coordinating Council on Deafness (begun in 1974).

Another focus for parent groups was technology for the purpose of social communication. In 1971, there was a teletypewriter (TTY) demonstration held for parents.   For readers unaware of what telex equipment is, it is a precursor to fax messaging.  Person A types on the TTY and Person B receives the displayed message via telephone. In that same year Alberta Government Telephones (AGT) began to supply amplified handsets for telephones.  In 1974, AGT made TTYs available to Deaf people in their homes.  The couplers cost $140.00 each.  In 1980, each Junior and Senior High School Deaf student was given a TTY for home use. SADC began a message relay service in 1979 and in 1988 AGT instituted a province wide system for message relay. Distance communication has, of course changed dramatically with the use of e-mail and phones with text messaging capability.

The parent groups managed many donations. One of the largest was $10,000.00 worth of equipment to CBE in 1978 (see Chapter 3 on Sponsors).

Readers are referred again to the Johnson report (Chapter 15 in this document) for further detail up until 1991 and to the chapter by Deaf & Hear Alberta (Chapter 14) for more recent information.

Chapter 3

Sponsors and Donors

Ann Kennedy

Many programmes and services were able to start only because of financial support from charitable groups and the general public. The usefulness of a service had to be demonstrated before government funding was made available.

When the pre-school was being run by parents (see Chapter 6) there were door-to-door fund raising projects.  The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) provided a mini-bus for the transportation of the pre-schoolers in the early 1960s.  Early in the 1970s, a partnership was established between Alberta Children’s Hospital, Audiology Department and Calgary Elks Lodge #4 (see Chapter 1).  This partnership continues to this day.

The Elks, at the national level have a clearly defined commitment to carry out special projects in public awareness, early identification and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

The February 2014 edition of “Canadian Elk” had a focus on the work which the Elks have done nationally and which is on-going in support of people with hearing losses.  Programmes in seven of the 10 provinces and an Infant Hearing Screening Programme in the North West Territories were cited.  The total amount of money distributed in 2013-14 was $282,600.00.  The total amount for all of the programmes since first supported by the Elks was $8,854,159.11.  The Alberta programme that is receiving Elk support is the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research in Edmonton.

The Elks and Royal Purple of Canada have partnered with the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to advocate for the programmes and standards recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening across Canada. The Elks also provide scholarships for students at the Masters level in Speech Pathology and Audiology.

Although there is no nationally sponsored Elks programme in Alberta for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Calgary Elks Lodge #4 has provided a great deal of support locally. Like many active organizations, the Elks have a focus on current activity and future plans but do not keep detailed records on past events and donations. Information is, therefore, sketchy on help provided prior to 2006. Teachers and parents, however, remember with gratitude the books and classroom equipment donated over many years.

Donations by Calgary Elks to Audiology-related charities: 2006 to the present (2014).

• Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation – Audiology Department, 2006 ($26,300.00).

• Calgary Health Region – Hearing Aid, 2007 ($699.00) Bone Conduction Hearing Aid.

• Hearing Loss Clinic – Hearing Aid, 2008 ($690.00). A boy, 11 years of age required amplification for use in school and recreational environments.

• Donation to a family for a medical trip to John Tracy Clinic in US with hearing-impaired son (matched by Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children), 2009 ($2,620.00).

• Audio Hearing Centre – hearing aids, 2009 ($3,000.00).

• Hearing Aids for a single mother with two school age daughters, which enabled her to get more involved with helping her girls with their homework, and feel safer coming home from her night job.

Applications for assistance in the purchase of hearing aids are processed through the Burns Foundation.

The Campbell McLaurin Foundation was set up to assist individuals with hearing losses. Assistance is provided to individuals to purchase equipment. The Foundation also provides financial assistance for relevant research projects and programmes conducted by post-secondary, medical and community institutions.

The Honourable Campbell McLaurin was Chief Justice of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Alberta. He was appointed to Alberta’s Supreme Court in 1942 and named Chief Justice of Trial Division in 1952. He retired in 1968. Mr. McLaurin served as the first Chancellor of the University of Calgary.

Mr. McLaurin had a hearing loss in his latter years, and his Will directed that a Foundation be funded by his estate that would enhance the lives of individuals with hearing deficiencies.  In 1982, the Province of Alberta enacted legislation that established the Foundation in accordance with Mr. McLaurin’s wishes.  From when the Foundation was established in 1983 until December 31, 2013, approximately $5.6 million dollars have been distributed to futher the aims of the Foundation.

A request for information for this chapter was also made to the International Order of Daughter’s of the Empire (IODE).   The respondents were aware of the work that their organization does to assist individuals and programmes but were unable to provide facts and figures because of lack of records or for privacy reasons.  There are without doubt other organizations, which should also be recognized for the support they provided.  Unfortunately we do not have access to the specifics.   There is a reference in Chapter 5 to the financial aid provided by Suncor Inc. to the Hard of Hearing Organization. In Chapter 8 there is a reference to Shell Oil as a supportive employer of Deaf graduates from Bow Valley College at a time when such a hiring was unusual.   If any readers can assist with further information on sponsors and donors we would be delighted to hear from you.

We are pleased, however, to highlight the support of the Elks, the Campbell McLaurin Foundation and the IODE and to formally recognize other sponsors and donors who partnered with advocates and service providers to improve and enhance opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

Chapter 4

Calgary Association of the Deaf

Rebecca Lehman

Editorial Note

The Calgary Association of the Deaf (CAD) has a committee working on a book on the History of CAD, which is to be finished by September 2015. What is presented here is therefore very brief and we encourage readers to look forward to more information and detail in the forthcoming book. We do, however, want to include some information on CAD as this organization has played such a significant role over the last eighty years.

The first organization established to serve the Deaf in Calgary was the Calgary Branch of the Western Canadian Association of the Deaf (WCAD). This club started meeting in the early 1930s to meet the social needs of the local Deaf community. In 1935, the Calgary Association of the Deaf was formed as an affiliate of WCAD and it was primarily a social club intended for sharing information such as news updates and job availability. The major reason for bringing the Deaf together on a regular basis was to provide encouragement and moral support to members. There were opportunities to develop friendships with others who were experiencing similar lives on the sidelines of society as a result of their different method of communication.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE DEAF IN CALGARY IN 1935?

The population of the city was close to 83,407 (Dominion Census, 1936). The number of Deaf people in Alberta reported in the Canadian Census of 1941 was 342.

Conditions in the city were difficult for everybody. The Depression, the “dirty thirties” had created significant levels of unemployment, poverty and general misery. There must have been particular hardships for individuals who lacked job expertise and training and who had significant difficulties with communication. CAD fulfilled the social needs of a small minority who felt isolated.

WHAT WAS THE ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC TOWARDS DEAF PEOPLE IN 1935?

There was no talk of Human Rights in those days! There was no idea that each individual has rights. Public attitude towards people who were different in any way was curiosity, exclusion, disrespect or pity. The competencies of the Deaf were often not recognized or appreciated because of the communication barrier. The majority of work available was hands-on such as manufacturing, foods and maintenance. Any job they were able to get was typically menial and not one in which they could demonstrate their abilities to the fullest. However, when given the opportunity, Deaf people impressed their employers with tenacity and commitment to their work.

WHAT SUPPORT FOR DEAF ADULTS WAS AVAILABLE?

Essentially none. Deaf individuals strove to live a life of independence in their forced isolation while relying on family members for news and voice phone calls. Advocacy and interpretation was often obtained from family members or close friends. The network developed by these Deaf people was a lifeline that made their lives easier by sharing information and supporting each other.

WHO STARTED CAD?

John Kelly founded the Calgary Association of the Deaf in 1935, with a small group of friends, and he was the first elected President (see Chapter 8 for further information).

HOW DID CAD WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MEMBERS?

CAD provided a social group for a small isolated community and worked towards meeting the needs of members. It is possible that the increased awareness in the larger community led to the opening of the first class for Deaf children in Calgary in 1937 (see Chapter 7 for further information).

One of the major accomplishments of this organization was the founding of SADC in June 1984, in collaboration with the Christian Deaf Centre and the Society for the Hearing Handicapped.

CAD was heavily involved in the 1991 Winter Deaf Olympics held in Banff.

The Deaf Alberta Expo is held every other year, hosted in Calgary and Edmonton alternately.

More information will be forthcoming once the Deaf History Project Committee completes their compilation of history in 2015. This will be posted on their web site, www.cad1935.ca, as well as published in book form.

Chapter 5

Hard of Hearing Associations 1977 – 1979

Carol Armitage

The information in this document was supplied by Edna Albertson prior to her passing in 1996. She was a founding member of the first hard of hearing organization in Calgary. She wanted to share the history of this organization with anyone in the future and shared this with Carol before she passed away.

An interesting note here is that Edna advised Carol that some of the first hard of hearing organization members from 1977 helped found the second organization that began in 1985 under the name of the Calgary Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) – now called Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – Calgary (CHHA-Calgary).  Those members were:  Peggy Raitt, Walter Reid, Jean Campbell, Lynn Wheadon, Geneva McCue, Robert Harris and Edna Albertson. This organization was volunteer-based for all positions and programs.

This organization was formed in 1977 as the Hard of Hearing Organization (or HOHO as it would be called by the membership). The Hard of Hearing Organization was affiliated with the Society for the Hearing Handicapped (SHH), which is now called Deaf & Hear Alberta. The first election of officers was held on October 17, 1977 with the following members being elected:  Geneva McCue, President; Lynn Wheadon, Treasurer; and Edna Albertson, Secretary.

The committees that were formed were: Public Awareness (Reta Wilk and Al Nichol) and Programs (Lynn Wheadon).

The aim for this organization was “A Better Tomorrow” – for hearing impaired adults, working together towards better facilities, communication, improvements through hearing aids, technical aids, programs, speech therapy, sign language and socializing.

The objectives were:

Aids:

- Increased availability of hearing aids at reasonable costs

- TTY’s – telecommunication

- Telephone rate reduction for hard of hearing telephones

- Fire safety devices and technical aids devices

Government:

- Hearing aids and service covered under Alberta Health Care and Worker’s Compensation/or a reduction in costs for those who need these services

- Tax considerations on technical aids and devices

Counselling:

- Job counselling

- Job placement services

- Personal counselling

Any future members must join the Society for Hearing Handicapped to become a member of the Hard of Hearing Organization.    The organization applied to the Society for Hearing Handicapped for funding.  They also planned to apply for government financial assistance. Members wrote down the needs and they were submitted to Geneva McCue, the President, for inclusion in the Government application of the Society for Hearing Handicapped.  The organization contacted the Better Business Bureau to check into the qualifications of Audiologists to protect the hard of hearing in Calgary from “quacks”.

January 1978

The following were the goals and objectives for this organization:

Top Goals:

- Counselling –To submit a report on Job Counselling to be included in the Society for Hearing Handicapped appeal to United Way for funding.  Edna was asked to write up a case history for this purpose and submitted one on the difficulties in job searching for Hard of Hearing people. The need for job counsellors/agencies and employers to be educated to understand that hearing impaired people have special needs in the hearing workplace was also stressed.

- To hire a Counsellor/Interpreter for the hearing impaired. The successful candidate was Alice Hiscock.

- To meet the need for a permanent meeting place. (They were at that time meeting at various locations.)

January 1979

The following were the goals for that year:

- Derek Harvey, Channel 10 T.V., was a speaker and proposed that the organization start a T.V. program on Channel 10.  The program was called “Hearing Loss: The Invisible Problem”. The following members worked on this T.V. program. Production Manager - Derek Harvey; Coordinator - Edna Albertson; Hard of Hearing Volunteer - Ruth McAreavy; Deaf Volunteer - Robert Harris; Hearing Volunteers - Len McEwen and Mary McDonald; and Interpreters - Alice Hiscock and Maureen Jones (sign language).

Aims and Goals of TV Programs:

- To promote better understanding and public awareness of hearing loss;

- To promote better communication between the hearing and hearing impaired communities; and

- To keep the hearing impaired community informed on news and services available to them.

Oral and sign language interpreters were recruited to help solve the communication problems of the Working Committee. The Working Committee consisted of three hard of hearing, three deaf and one hearing members. Additional volunteers were welcome as needed on various programs.

- First Taping:  March 8, 1979 – ten programs were planned

- First Program was aired:  “Public Awareness”, May 1, 1979

May 1979

The organization was working on the following projects and goals:

1. To get amplified telephones installed at hospitals, the airport and malls; Ruth McAreavy;

2. To focus on Hearing Aids --- better information and services; to make an improvement in both areas;

3. To advertise the organization meetings – through pamphlets/posters and newspapers; and

4. To provide input as to our needs for the new Southern Alberta Deaf Centre building being planned – i.e. a permanent place to hold the organization’s meetings and a place in which they could expand their aims and goals.

Two members attended the Continuing Education meeting that was held; Lynn Wheadon and Edna Albertson attended for the organization.

Discussion for the need to become an independent group and break away from the Society for Hearing Handicapped was discussed. There are no records of when this separation actually took place.

CANADIAN HARD OF HEARING

ASSOCIATION – CALGARY (CHHA-CALGARY)

1985 – Onwards

CALGARY HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION (CHHA)

On May 28, 1985 the inaugural meeting of the Calgary Hard of Hearing Association was held with eight members present.  This organization was to become the second hard of hearing organization to be started in Calgary.

In the beginning, the Calgary Hard of Hearing Association was a member of The Society for the Hearing Handicapped (SHH) and was financed by this service organization under their name.

The members of the Calgary Hard of Hearing Association were advised late in 1985 to become a Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) member.  At that time group rates were in effect for this National organization.  The benefits of being a member of the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (a different organization from the local one) was not to only offer support to the National organization’s programs at the local level but also to access advice and increased resources from the National body for the local members.

On May 15, 1985 the local organization was only affiliated with the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) while under the umbrella for the Society for Hearing Handicapped, the service organization for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities.

At the September 30, 1985 meeting, a motion was passed that the local organization place an application for National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association branch status.  This was the first motion towards branch status, but it was not completed at that time.

On April 1986, the name was changed as well as the initials because of the concern that this would cause confusion for everyone outside of the organization.  The organization then became the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary.

HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION OF CALGARY (HHAC)

In August 1985, under the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary, a letter was forwarded to the President of the Society for Hearing Handicapped.  This letter was to inform them that this organization would incorporate itself as a consumer organization of and for the hard of hearing.

In 1985, the first Constitution and Bylaws were drafted under the organization’s name of the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary and were voted on by the membership.

CALGARY BRANCH – CANADIAN HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION (CB-CHHA)

On May 12, 1986, a second motion for branch status was passed and approved by the membership under the name of the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary.  This was approved by the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and the local organization became a branch on August 23, 1986.

The organization was given the name Calgary Branch Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CBCHHA or Calgary Branch CHHA) when it finally received branch status.  The membership approved the name change on December 14, 1987 but that name change did not go into effect until January of 1988.

In 1988, the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association gave the “branch” (now called this because it was a part of the National organization) the Standard Branch Bylaws and Constitution. Today the branch still follows those Branch Bylaws and Constitution.

CANADIAN HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION - CALGARY

Sometime in the middle of 1996 the name was changed again to the current Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – Calgary (CHHA-Calgary or CHHA-C) and that name remains in effect today in 2014.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The main goals and objectives of this organization from the beginning are to provide support and information on hearing loss and what is available for a Hard of Hearing individual within Calgary and area. The age group that the National and local branch reach out to are from 18 years.

COMMITTEES

In 1985, the committees in the branch were:  Membership/Publicity, Hearing Aids/Technical Devices, Coping Skills/Speechreading Instruction, Facility Improvements, Funding/Ways and Means, Social Club, and Newsletter.  Under each new President for the branch, these committees and programs were changed, added or deleted.  But the goals and objectives of each committee have remained the same, to help consumers learn about hearing loss and hearing loss issues.

FUNDRAISING

On March 19, 1987 the local organization received a Charitable Registration Number. This number went into effect when the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association accepted the organization for branch status on August 23, 1986. This number was issued under the National organization’s banner and has helped the branch over the years to raise funds and receive donations for many projects that the branch has undertaken.

The organization’s first major source of revenue, as the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary, came in 1986 when the organization applied for and received a Federal Government Grant from the Secretary of State. The organization applied for and received this grant three more times for various other projects. At that time, local donations came from service organizations, corporations, and individuals.  The largest corporate donor at that time was Suncor Inc.  At the 1994 National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Conference that was held in Calgary the branch acknowledged Suncor's donations with a certificate from the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association.

Today other sources of funding have been sought and received. In 2014, the branch receives funding from the Alberta Gaming Commission through their casinos and this has funded the various projects that have been undertaken within the community.

ACCESSIBILITY

In 1986, the meetings of the branch first became accessible to hard of hearing individuals when an Infrared Listening System was purchased. Receivers and batteries had been added to this system to allow more individuals accessibility to the monthly meetings. Today in 2014, there is a different system being offered for those who wish to hear the meetings and it is installed permanently at Deaf & Hear Alberta’s meeting room where the branch holds monthly meetings.   With hearing aids and Cochlear Implants improving, so has the equipment that is used for meetings by hard of hearing Calgarians.

In 1992, a Lectern Public Address System for more amplification was added for those individuals with a mild to severe hearing loss, allowing them to hear the monthly meetings better.  This is no longer used because other technologies have come into effect.

Also introduced to the members in 1992 was Real-Time Captioning, which provided improved accessibility at monthly meetings for individuals with a severe to profound hearing loss. Captions are simultaneously typed when the speaker is giving a presentation and projected onto a screen.  Specially trained real-time captioners, using a stenotype machine, provide this service at monthly meetings. Today in 2014, the captioning is still offered, but the technology used has vastly improved since the first captioning.

In December 1995, a Portable Infrared System (PortaIR) was purchased by the branch to allow accessibility for the various committee meetings. This system has been replaced by new technology that has improved this means of accessibility.

PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM (1987 - 1988)

The organization's first Public Awareness display was held at the Southcentre Shopping Mall on May 22 and 23, 1987.  The first display consisted of a cardboard backdrop, telephone equipment from Alberta Government Telephones (AGT), a loaned display case to lock the telephone equipment in, loaned audiovisual equipment from the Foothills Hospital Audiology Department, pamphlets and posters.

The first posters displaying the name Calgary Branch – Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, for the display were made by an art student in 1988 with the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s colours of brown on buff background.

A fold up banquet table was purchased for use at the displays and a member of the local organization made a skirt matching the brown on the posters. A sandwich board was also made by another member’s husband for use on the first display tables.

PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM (1988 – 1993)

In May of 1989, the first Open House for the branch was held and was very successful. These open houses were held for another three years before Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, took them over.  These events were held during May because May is Hearing Awareness Month.

In 1990, the first information booklets were designed and printed in the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s blue and white colors.  The pamphlets and posters were printed to match the information booklets.

These first information booklets were designed by three branch members and printed with funding from the Federal Government Secretary of State Grant. The information booklets were distributed to Audiologists, Hearing Aid Practitioners, City Hall, MLAs, other organizations that worked with hard of hearing individuals and to the general community.  They were also handed out, free of charge, at Public Awareness displays. The booklets were well received. They were the first to be developed and distributed to anyone in Canada. In 1992, the information booklets, posters and pamphlets were updated with the help of another Secretary of State Grant and again distributed with the same results as the first booklets. They were the same colors as the first edition, blue on white background.

During this time the branch purchased a display backdrop, TV, closed captioning decoder, some assistive listening devices and posters for the backdrop. All the equipment was available for people try out.

Sometime during the time that the displays were being held from 1988 to 1996, a resource binder was added to ensure that the volunteers would have the information needed at their fingertips.  This helped them to provide information to those who asked questions regarding hearing loss.

In 1991, the branch was acknowledged by the National organization for the Public Awareness Program in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was presented with the first Bette Moulton Award.   The President and Public Awareness Chairperson went to Winnipeg to receive this honour. At the next branch meeting the members celebrated the success of this special award.

In 1992, the National organization asked the branch to give a presentation at the Conference in Vancouver, B.C. on the Public Awareness Program and the branch agreed to this endeavour. Two of the Public Awareness Committee as well as two members went to present this program to the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association membership. This was the first presentation on Public Awareness that was given to Canadian Hard of Hearing Association members from across Canada and it was also well received.

PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS (AFTER 1993)

In 1996, the third edition of the information booklets was produced and split into two booklets, one called Technical Devices and the other Hearing Loss information.  These information booklets were in the new National organization’s colors of green on a beige background. Since the third printing, with the new colors, the information booklet has gone through many changes with a new name, “Ear Smarts”, and is currently to be revised again.

The public awareness displays continued until the early part of 1996 and then were discontinued. Today, in 2014, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – Calgary is starting these public awareness displays again with several displays being held over the course of the past year, 2013 - 2014.  This part of the public awareness program is in the process of beginning again with a whole new look, current and easier to take to the display location.  But the goal is the same – to reach the public with information about hard of hearing issues that will help people to better understand hearing loss and learn about the newest technologies available.

NATIONAL CANADIAN HARD OF HEARING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCES

On May 27-30, 1994 the branch hosted the National Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Conference in Calgary.  This event was a success with many lessons learned by branch volunteers who worked very hard.  The Stampede theme, especially Harry the Horse, was a big hit with all the visitors.  The conference was set up with several up-to-date types of Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) available for hard of hearing delegates to use.  The PortaCap (Portable Captioning) allowed the individuals with a severe to profound hearing loss better accessibility.  Equipment from I.S.T.S. allowed individuals, with a moderate to severe hearing loss, better accessibility with an Infrared System.  This same Infrared System from I.S.T.S. also allowed French Translation simultaneously on a separate channel.

In 2003, a second Canadian Hard of Hearing Association conference was also held in Calgary where a newer version of captioning was offered, much more sophisticated than the one that was used in 1994.  This event was also a success with many arriving from all over Canada, like the 1994 conference, to learn more about hearing loss issues, make new friends and meet old ones.

MEMBERSHIP

Over the years, the branch has seen many people come to join and learn more about hearing loss, common problems, and to meet with other hard of hearing individuals. The membership has always been vital to this branch because it is only with increased membership and dedicated member volunteers that the goals and objectives can be pursued and achieved. For example, dedicated branch volunteers manned our displays.

WHAT THE MEETINGS HAVE TO OFFER?

The branch has offered its members and the public a variety of guest speakers on hearing loss issues over the years.  Topics have included:  the latest technical and assistive listening devices; new products for hearing aids and Cochlear Implants; Cued Speech; Speechreading and an assortment of other topics. There were also social events like the annual picnic, Christmas party and the Annual General Meeting.  All the monthly meetings were open to the public to come and learn about the branch as well as information that was given at any meeting.

SPEECHREADING

The branch offered Speechreading/Lipreading courses in 1987 and 1988.  When funding became too difficult for the organization to obtain for these classes, a request was made to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service to take over these courses.  Today Deaf & Hear Alberta offers these courses  (For further information on this please see chapter 13).

DEAF & HEAR ALBERTA

Since the beginning of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – Calgary, Deaf & Hear Alberta has supported the branch in many ways.  Over the years the branch monthly meetings were held in the basement of Deaf & Hear Alberta.  There has been equipment and other items stored at various times and mail received. At the time of starting the branch, there was an office within the building as well.

Over the years the branch has supplied or purchased equipment and funding for what is now Deaf & Hear Alberta (under their various names) for their various accessibility needs for the hard of hearing community at large.  Today in 2014, funding has been made available through the branch for various projects that Deaf & Hear Alberta has undertaken.

Through the SADC, money was raised by volunteer branch members working at casinos.  The branch thus gained some of the funding necessary for the various projects that it was undertaking.  Today in 2014, casinos continue and branch members volunteer in helping to raise money.

The branch also supported the move to dissolve the Society for Hearing Handicapped and SADC when they became Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.  In 1988, the branch was asked to write a proposal for the position of Volunteer Coordinator for the hard of hearing branch. This was successfully achieved and the position was filled by a hard of hearing individual.

There has been some tension from time to time between Deaf & Hear Alberta (and all the various names) and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association-Calgary (and all the various names), but both organizations have always worked towards the same goals:

- better accessibility and services for the hard of hearing community and

- an informed hard of hearing community.

Chapter 6

Programmes for Pre-Schoolers

Doreen Dyer and Ann Kennedy

The first pre-school programme for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children was provided at Mount Royal College (MRC), beginning in September 1961.  At that time MRC (now Mount Royal University) was located at 7th Avenue and 11th Street SW (where the Kerby Centre is now) and the prime mover of the project was Mrs. Reta Wilk.  Discussions had begun in September 1958 with leadership provided by Dr. Collett, Principal of MRC and Mrs. Leona Paterson, Director of the Speech Department.  Dr. Howard Wright, Chairman of the Board of Governors obtained donations from personal friends for equipment.  After a few years the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) began providing space for the programme, but the Parents’ Group continued to be responsible for all other aspects including teacher salaries, equipment and transportation. The programme served 3, 4 and 5 year olds at Queen’s Park School and the Parents’ Group began negotiating with CBE to take over full responsibility for the pre-school classes. At that time there were no kindergartens in schools. There were some community run kindergartens.

By 1967, the nursery class of 3 and 4 year olds had 14 children and the kindergarten had five.  A major difficulty in running the programme was transportation (School age children in those days rode the Calgary Transit System).  Parents drove their children for some time before the IODE donated a van. Later there was also a school bus.

Several families and Bernice McNamee, head teacher of the pre-school, went to California to participate in pre-school training programmes at the John Tracy Clinic.  The materials and methodology from there formed the basis of pre-school programming at that time.

In 1968, CBE took over responsibility for the pre-school, but not yet for transportation!  There were two teachers provided and CBE also partially funded a programme for two Deaf-Blind students who were taught by Bernice McNamee in her home.

By 1969, the pre-school was located at Stanley Jones School and served 14 students.

The continuation of the history of pre-school programming is included in the chapter on programming for school age students (Chapter 7).

Chapter 7

Programmes for School Age Children

Calgary Board of Education

Ann Kennedy

In 1937, a class for hearing impaired (the term used then) students was established by CBE at Connaught School. At that time, the population of Calgary was 85,726. No other information about this class could be found but there was a reference that Deaf children were sent to residential schools in Vancouver, Winnipeg or Montreal. It would seem that the Connaught class was for Hard of Hearing students. Special education provision was minimal in those days. Children with significant special needs were refused school placements. It would be interesting to know how the decision was made to start a programme for this particular group.

In 1938, the class was moved to James Short School and at some point before the 1950s, the name of the class was changed to Speech and Hearing.  In 1958, the class was divided and there were then two teachers in the programme.  It is also important to note that the Alberta School for the Deaf opened in Edmonton in 1955.  The Speech and Hearing classes served both Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.  Placement was by parental choice.

A class at Colonel Macleod Junior High School had started in 1966 and by 1967 there were four classes of elementary aged students at James Short School.  When James Short School was demolished, the classes moved to Central School (1969) and by the time that the name of that school was changed to Dr. Carl Safran School (1972), there were five classes.  All classes were taught orally.

In the early 1970’s, discussion among parents began on a “Total Communication” system of teaching and they decided that the sign language to be used was a signed version of English. For these readers not familiar with the variants of signed languages, we should explain that, during the 1970s, there were several versions of English in sign.  They had been developed as visual assists to speechreading.  They used the grammatical structures of English along with English word order.  The names of some of these systems were Signed English, Siglish and Seeing Exact English.  In a Total Communication programme, the students use amplification (of various types) and the teacher uses voiced English along with signed English simultaneously.

American Sign Language (ASL) is not signed English. It has a different word order and grammar and therefore cannot be used along with voice and speechreading.

In the mid seventies, the programme at Dr. Carl Safran School was divided and relocated Stanley Jones Elementary, Queen Elizabeth Elementary, and Queen Elizabeth High School.  The difference between programmes was the method of communication.  Placement was by parental choice.  Different sources give different dates for the pilot projects which preceded the move but we do know that by 1976 there were three classes in each of the elementary schools.  Each of the elementary schools also had an Early Childhood Class and Queen Elizabeth High School had two classes.  In 1975, a pilot project in Total Communication began at Queen Elizabeth Elementary and an oral class was placed at Stanley Jones School.  By 1976, there were three teachers in each of these school programmes.   By 1977, each school also had an Early Childhood class and two Junior High classes were at Queen Elizabeth Junior/Senior High School.

The first Deaf teacher of the Deaf was Marilyn Nixon. She taught at Queen Elizabeth Elementary for two years (1977-1979). Marilyn left because she wanted to complete her Master’s degree and also she was somewhat lonely in Calgary. At that time, the Deaf community was very small.

In 1978, the first interpreter was hired to assist Junior High students at Queen Elizabeth to be integrated into some regular classes there. The enrollment for that school year was:

- Stanley Jones                  17

- Queen Elizabeth Elementary      20

- Queen Elizabeth Junior High      20

By 1979, there were also five Itinerant teachers who provided tutoring to 40 hard-of-hearing students who were attending their neighbourhood schools.

During the eighties Total Communication was replaced by the use of ASL in the Queen Elizabeth programmes.

In 1991 the programme enrollment for CBE was:

Stanley Jones Elementary                   4 teachers - 31 students

Queen Elizabeth Elementary             5 teachers - 31 students

Queen Elizabeth Jr High                  2 teachers - 18 students

Colonel MacLeod Jr High Oral Program       ½ time teacher - 5 students

Van Horne Vocational                  1 teacher - 11 students

The Itinerant teachers served 252 integrated students. Not all of these students required tutoring but their teachers had access to advice when needed. The Itinerant teachers (now called Strategists) provided in-service training at the beginning of the school year. They were subsequently available to the mainstreamed student and/or their teachers on request.

Classes within the CBE programme were established or discontinued depending on numbers and need.  For example, the Junior High oral programme at Colonel MacLeod was provided only if a group of students elected for an oral programme rather than the Queen Elizabeth setting or neighbourhood school placement.  There was a programme in Sir William Van Horne Vocational School for several years.  It was discontinued because Van Horne and other vocational schools were closed.

If a particular student requested alternative assistance, attempts were made to honour the request.  For example, in the early 1980s, one student at Queen Elizabeth High School was dissatisfied with interpreter service in science classes. He felt that signing was not precise enough for the subject.   A grant from Alberta Education was obtained to hire a court reporter who provided a written version of the teacher’s presentation, student questions and discussion in “real time”.  This was a precursor to Communication Access in Real Time (CART), a system not yet developed.   This particular student continued his education at the University of Calgary and became an engineer.  CART is now one of the options available for Deaf students.

Progress in technology has also had a significant impact on the use of residual hearing through improved hearing aids and the most dramatic option now available is the surgical procedure known as cochlear implanting (see Chapter 1).

The impact of technological progress with regard to programme placement is that more children with hearing losses can benefit from regular school attendance and/or oral teaching such as is provided in Stanley Jones School and fewer children require ASL. These trends are reflected in current enrollments. Concurrently, however, there is an increase in the number of students who have other challenges besides a hearing loss (see Chapter 10). Technology in the classrooms has expanded greatly to include computers, smart boards and on-line learning. There are now so many ways to teach visually.

Calgary Catholic School District

Janet Bremner

As far back as the 1950s, the Calgary Catholic School Board redirected students to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing programmes in the Calgary Public Board. (Alberta Education student special education funds were transferred). The Calgary Separate School Board (CSSD) has never provided specialized classes for Deaf or Hard of Hearing students.

Toward the late 1980s, however, when students were ready to integrate from the Public Board into their community schools, the Calgary Separate School Board provided coordinating teachers to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in regular classrooms.

Chapter 8

Post-Secondary Programmes

Ann Kennedy

Information was requested from four major post-secondary institutions in Calgary.  Their responses were limited by compliance with Privacy legislation and by their respective computer programmes, some of which keep data for only a few years.

The four institutions that graciously supplied information are:

- University of Calgary

- Mount Royal University

- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Polytechnic

- Bow Valley College

We also are aware through social channels that the Alberta College of Art and Design graduated a Deaf student this year (2014).

The following section was written by Judy Smith, Administrative Coordinator, Student Accessibility Services, University of Calgary

Our current database tracks students for the past 10 years and in that time 68 students have been registered with our area for hearing impairment.  Each student comes to us with different situations, which require individual solutions.  For some students with hearing loss just to have priority seating can make a huge difference, others require FM systems and/or note-takers.  Fourteen students have required sign language interpreters or captioning.  These students have been in most of the University faculties including Medicine and the Veterinary-Medicine program.  Students with hearing impairments have successfully completed undergrad, masters and doctoral degrees.

In addition to arranging for interpreters, Merlin Keillor, the advisor who supported students with hearing impairments had to research and purchase specialized technology to facilitate different needs across the years.  A stethoscope that could be used by a totally Deaf student was developed.  Other technology was amplified stethoscopes, ICommunicator, and FM systems. Our office has also made arrangements for students in distance educational programmes to be able to participate using relay captioning.

Our office determines accommodations for these students in the classroom.

- Permission to use FM systems

- Access to paid note-takers

- Access to sign language interpreters

- Copies of lecture notes

- Priority seating

We facilitate funding for technology, note-takers and interpreters (plus the coordination of services) and help students connect with awards specific to students with hearing impairments.

It is difficult to say the number who have graduated – many started degrees at the U of C then transferred to other universities. I would say about 35 have received their degrees at U of C and at present 10 are still enrolled.

The following information was supplied by:

Dr. Patricia Pardo, Manager, Accessibility Services, Mount Royal University

Debbie Mork, Access Supports Coordinator, Mount Royal University

During the 2011-2012 academic year:

- 2 students used Captioning and

- 6 students used Sign Language Interpreters

In 2012-2013:

- 1 student used Captioning and

- 6 students used Sign Language Interpreters

In 2013-2014:

- 2 students used Captioning and

- 4 students used Sign Language Interpreters

The most recent students and graduates were enrolled in: Massage Therapy; Communications; Education Assistant Programme; Bachelor of Applied Science-Sports and Recreation; Open Studies; Bachelor of Arts – Sociology.

The following information was supplied by:

Shan Robertson, M.Sc., Manager, Learner Success Services Centre for Academic Learner Services, SAIT Polytechnic

Since 2011, we have had 66 students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing registered with Accessibility Services. Depending on the students’ specific needs, we provide FM systems, sign language interpreters, CART, note-takers, copies of classmate’s notes, extended time for exams, meetings with an academic coach, and tutors for challenging subjects. If the student is eligible, we assist them in applying for funding through Student Aid Alberta for various grants for students with disabilities.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing students have been attending SAIT for at least 15 years. I do not have easy access to the programmes they have taken or their success rates.  However, here are some specifics for the last 3 years:

Programmes of Study

Accounting; Administrative Information Management; Architectural Technology; Avionics Technology; Geographic Information Systems; Broadcast Systems Technology; Business Administration; Energy Asset Management; Drafting Technology; Exploration Information Technology; Print Technology; Information Technology; Library and Information Technology; New Media Production and Design; Non-Destructive Testing Foundations; Petroleum Engineering Technology; Professional Cooking.

Since 2011 - 19 graduated; 4 graduated with Honours.

History of Bow Valley College Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Programmes, Liz O’Shea, Coordinator of Counselling and Specialized Support, Bow Valley College

The history of post-secondary programs and services that increase access to education for Deaf adult learners in Calgary is quite recent and has depended significantly on the development of Federal and Provincial Human Rights legislation as well as commitment from some key individuals. Bow Valley College (BVC) has been an important part of that history.

In Alberta now, it is a legal requirement to provide Sign Language Interpreters, CART, both, or a variety of other accessibility services and resources to ensure that Deaf students have fair and equitable access to learning.  Federal and Provincial Human Rights legislation ensures this access - but that was not always the case.

Prior to the 1980s, access for Deaf students was much more limited. Colleges and universities did not typically hire interpreters or provide CART or any other communication services or programming for Deaf learners. Students had to arrange their own communication services or figure out their own ways to learn in a hearing classroom. Even if the Deaf learner was ready, willing and able to attend post-secondary, the prevailing notion was that colleges and universities could not teach Deaf learners.   To the hearing post-secondary world, deafness created insurmountable educational barriers and unacceptable financial commitments.  To members of the Deaf community, the message was: “We are telling you that you are not able to learn at our school because you are Deaf”.

Funding to assist the development of services and resources for Deaf learners began to shift in 1961 with the passing of the Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons Act. This legislation established a federal-provincial partnership for funding for training and employment for persons with disabilities, including funding to assist Deaf adults. Nonetheless, until 1981, change was slow.

In the Future Starts with You, Deb Russell notes:

The earliest efforts to support students with disabilities can be traced back to the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981. In Alberta, the Department of Education had an opportunity to use $1 million to reduce barriers for learners with disabilities in post-secondary settings. Post-secondary institutions were invited to submit proposals, and many of the initial efforts focused on creating physical access, establishing counselling services to serve those with disabilities, and establishing transitional vocational programs for those deemed as mild to moderately handicapped. The quality and quantity of supports appears to have been directly tied to the staff members who championed for the changes. In many ways, the staff members were ‘‘agents of change” for both the institutions for which they worked, and for the students who accessed the supports. One of the greatest challenges was to maintain the access once students were aware of the opportunities.

Prior to 1981, Deaf learners found their own ways to learn without the use of sign language interpreters. A good example in Calgary was John Kelly, first Deaf student at SAIT. John took carpentry and mechanics in the 1930s but without the use of an interpreter for his courses. We are all lucky he did persist with learning, because later, among his many achievements including Rotarian of the Year and founding president of the Calgary Association of the Deaf, he also volunteered at Bow Valley College. Not every Deaf adult was able to access education without an interpreter, however, and access to post-secondary education remained elusive.

It is not surprising that sign language interpreters were pioneers for Deaf programming and services in the post-secondary milieu at that time.  Interpreters could see the capacity for learning, and the barriers that were raised for Deaf consumers, families and friends. They could see the resulting incidence of unemployment, unhappiness, and reinforced image of the Deaf learner as “disabled.” Interpreters working with Deaf consumers could see that Deaf adults were very able, and it was the system that needed to change. They could hear and speak. They became the link between the Deaf community and the hearing world.

Among the first to begin to level the post-secondary playing field for Deaf adults in Calgary were Richard Letourneau and Maureen Jones, both native Albertans, who came together as a powerful force at Bow Valley College (then Alberta Vocational Centre). Richard was a sign language interpreter with a talent for organizing, educating adults and developing programs. He was a founding member of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada and served in various capacities including president for nine years. This was only one of his many achievements in improving the quality of sign language interpreting. Maureen Jones was a child of Deaf adults (CODA) who became an educator and interpreter. Both were excellent communicators themselves, and passionate and uncompromising about Deaf rights to quality communication and education.

In late 1981, Alice Hiscock, based on her past experience working with the Deaf Community in Winnipeg and representing the Society of the Hearing impaired in Calgary, wrote a letter to Beth Cunningham, Vice President Academic at Alberta Vocational Centre (AVC) requesting that AVC start a program for Deaf College students.  Beth hired Richard Letourneau to write a proposal for funding to create the “Hard of Hearing” program.  With a grant from Alberta government (using the Year of the Disabled grant funding), AVC started a full time program that combined academic upgrading with work readiness and life skills, specifically aimed at the Deaf adult learner. Kathy McLeod was hired as the first Deaf instructor for Deaf learner programming at Bow Valley College. Her first class in January 1982 consisted of four students!

Maureen Jones came in September 1982 to replace Kathy as instructor and ultimately became Deaf programming and services coordinator.  Together, Maureen and Richard worked to expand the access to Deaf programming to include upgrading, career development and practicum placements.  Maureen notes that the “upgrading” provided to Deaf adults really had to focus on the development of English as a second language for Deaf adults. Many had reading, writing and math skills but they did not have access to English vocabulary for their competencies and they knew that to succeed in the hearing world they needed increased English proficiency.

A separate one-year career training program, Computers in the Workplace for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing also ran in 1992, putting twelve new Deaf computer graduates into the booming Information Technology job market. The courses included Spreadsheets - Lotus 123, Operating Systems- MS-Dos, but also included Professional Development – Deaf Perspective, and three practica.

Opportunities Training Program for the Deaf came into being as a program in 1996. This four-month program aimed at increasing the employability of Deaf adults and included courses such as Work Skills Portfolio and Employability Skills for Deaf/Hard of Hearing.

While there had been classes to teach English to Deaf students for a long time, it may seem surprising that it took until 1994 for Bow Valley College to begin to deliver a basic American Sign Language class (ASL) for Deaf learners. It became clear that due to the wide variety of communication levels, sign languages and sign language systems that students had used previously a common language had to be adopted. ASL was the language of the Deaf community in Calgary and it made practical and political sense for the language of the BVC Deaf community and classrooms. For Deaf learners intent on a college or university education there was a need to develop highly sophisticated use of ASL and to intensify the Deaf learners’ understanding of the differences in ASL and written English, so they could communicate effectively in an academic setting in both languages.

By the late 1980s, Maureen also began to be a voice for the educational service needs of the Deaf learner so that access to all programming could be available - not just Deaf programming.  Colleges and universities in the early 1980s were still not providing sign language interpreter services or other communication services to Deaf learners, citing cost as a prohibitive factor.

Maureen grew up in a family where Deaf was normal. What was “abnormal” for Maureen was to see the limitations put on Deaf adults by the larger community based on lack of understanding of the Deaf community, culture and language. She challenged assumptions in the post-secondary hearing community through requests for accommodation before that word was regular parlance in the human rights world.  She asked for sign interpreters, insisting that admissions requirements include consideration of Deaf applicants.  She also questioned post-secondary systemic barriers to Deaf learner access through educating her hearing colleagues about Deaf individuals, culture, community and capacity.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Supreme Court of Canada was more clearly defining reasonable and unreasonable discrimination with regard to employment. The precedents set in employment soon crossed over to education, and Deaf adults were among the first to demand their right to access a post-secondary education. The employment of Sign Language interpreters by colleges and universities began to increase in the post-secondary settings in the late 1980s.  By 1990s, legal precedents such as Eldridge v British Columbia, Berg v UBC, Howard v. UBC were establishing that:

• Services and programs available to the public had to be available to all of the public (so Deaf students could not be refused access to post-secondary programs because they were Deaf)

• The standard for “undue hardship” was high and there had to be compelling evidence of the hardship, financial or otherwise (so the relatively smaller cost of accommodations such as interpreters, when compared to the institution’s overall budget, could not be considered financial undue hardship)

• Right to access services cannot be refused even if the “private” provider is providing the service in a public setting (so public institutions still had a requirement to provide interpreting services, even if the interpreting services were performed by a private agency).

As the law began to mandate access based on human rights, post-secondary institutions began to request greater control over the capacity to make decisions about how funds should be accessed and distributed.

In Calgary, Richard, Maureen and Beth Symes at AVC, and Judy Murphy at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) joined together to improve post-secondary funding access. Beth had worked as a teacher and in Social Services before coming to AVC to work as a counsellor, so had an intimate knowledge of provincial and other funding available to students.  Judy had been working in the Disability sector in England, where the Independent Living movement had been active since the late 1970s.  She brought this experience with her to SAIT when she became the “Disabilities counsellor”. All were determined to improve the educational experience of Deaf learners in the post-secondary environment. They were finding that the current methods of disbursing funding, at the community level, for Sign Language Interpreters or other types of accommodations were not working for postsecondary learners. With their efforts, although there was still a lot of processing to do, (applications for grant funding for accommodations had to be made for each learner) VRDP funds (later known as Disability Related Employment Supports, or DRES) and other grants for learners with disabilities began to be provided directly to the post-secondary institutions to allow for more efficient and equitable disbursement.

Maureen and Richard also began to develop relationships with businesses to help them understand and provide for the needs of Deaf employees. In Alberta’s hot job market, employers were keen to hire people with the skills they required and were accepting diversity in the work place as an important and helpful recruiting strategy. They just needed guidance for welcoming Deaf employees and in ensuring effective communication could occur. The work done by AVC for these employers focused on developing an understanding of the key communication requirements of Deaf employees. It was very successful. In fact, in 1991, one of the employers who used this service was so positive about the experience that she nominated Maureen for the YWCA Capital Woman of the Year in Education and Maureen’s work spoke for itself when she became the recipient of the award.

It was an exciting and challenging time.  Graduates from the Deaf programs at Bow Valley College went on to employment at such places as Shell and even Bow Valley College itself, while others went on to attend programs at SAIT and Olds College. Bow Valley College graduates from integrated programs go back to 1988, when we have records of Deaf adults graduating from our Building Service Worker program. We also have graduates from Personal Care Attendant programs, Computer Technician Certificate, Office Administration certificate, as well as from high school.  As the world has changed, so has the post-secondary environment.  AVC became Bow Valley College – but it still is a hub of Deaf adult learning.

New Canadian Deaf students brought with them a diversity of countries, languages and educational backgrounds.  Some learners had virtually no language or education at all, aside from a few family signs.  In their countries, Deaf adults were hidden away as a source of shame for their families.  Others had sign language other than ASL.  The Reading, Writing and ASL and ASL for Academic Learning courses have run for 10 years creating ASL Language proficiency and introducing Deaf culture and community along the way to Deaf adults and their families.

Bow Valley College’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) programming has committed to a bi-cultural bi-lingual classroom for ASL instruction and hires Deaf instructors for Deaf programming; Robyn Mackie, a local Deaf rights activist and the first Deaf woman to graduate from the University of Calgary; Ali Behmanesh, who incorporated music and dance into Deaf instruction (to the joy of our Deaf students); Brent Novodvorski, now on his way to his Ph.D., who provided applied research and curriculum development components along with teaching; and Dayn Hornberger, a Calgary native who has completed his M. Ed. and is providing current classroom instruction. They each have been powerful role models to Deaf adults who have come to Bow Valley College to learn.

In 2004, Debra Russell did an environmental scan of services, programmes and funding of academic accommodations in Alberta.  She worked closely with the Postsecondary Service Providers for students with disabilities group and the Government of Alberta, and her recommendations have provided significant and clear directions to the Alberta Government and post-secondary institutions for learner access, services and funding.  As of 2006, funding is delegated by the province for management to each post-secondary institution.  This has dramatically streamlined the process for accessing academic accommodations by learners.

BVC now has six continuous sign language interpreters working at the College. One of them, Wanda Becker, is Canada’s first Deaf Interpreter (DI) to be hired on a continuous basis in a postsecondary institution. Her skills as a DI became necessary as Deaf learners from all over the world with virtually no language began to attend Bow Valley College, an institution that is fully committed to Alberta Human Rights legislation in the provision of programmes services and activities. Wanda’s expertise and role as a DI allows her to take ASL to a level that dramatically increases the level of meaning available to the new Deaf Canadian, without compromising the concurrent and necessary language modeling of Deaf instructors or sign language interpreters. Her role is a powerful statement about increasing access to all Deaf adult learners.

Deaf learners coming to Bow Valley College now assume they will complete high school and go into careers of their choice.  Learners and postsecondary institutions consider sign language interpreters and a variety of other accommodations for classes and other college activities an educational right.  Bow Valley College learners complete career programmes there, or go to university or other colleges after high school.  They still worry about whether they will find employment, but they have the confidence of their education and the support of Human Rights legislation in Canada and Alberta to support them.  Perhaps more importantly, their core beliefs and assumptions about what is fair for them as Deaf persons are different. They believe that postsecondary education is theirs if they want it. Such a change since 1982!

Approximately 250 Deaf adults have been students at Bow Valley College since that time. They have influenced the College and the College has influenced them. The relationship is a powerful and healthy one that continues to flourish and we are proud to be partners in the development of access for Deaf adult learners in the post-secondary community.

Disability Policy in Canada: An Overview, Lyn Jongbloed, University of British Columbia, JOURNAL OF DISABILITY POLICY STUDIES VOL. 13/NO. 4/2003/PP. 203-209.

http://video.med.ubc.ca/videos/osot/faculty/lj/Disability_Policy_in_Canada.pdf

The Future Starts with You - Accommodating Learners with Disabilities in Post-Secondary Education in Alberta: A Review of Policies, Programs, and Support Services. Debra Russell, Ph.D., Robin Demko, B.A., 2004 http://eae.alberta.ca/media/134909/aldpss.pdf

Human Rights Cases in Post-secondary Education: Applications in Accommodation Planning

© Barbara L. Roberts, M.Sc. (OT), Ph.D. (Candidate) Coordinator, PACT Post-secondary Accessibility Consulting Project, January 20, 2009 http://www.queensu.ca/hcds/rarc/pact/documents/Human%20rights%20cases%20in%20post-secondary.pdf

John Kelly, obituary

http://www.mhfh.com/kelly-john-albert/

Editorial Note

Another component of post-secondary learning is Continuing Education.  Since the 1980s, ASL has been taught in several institutions. Specifically, classes were provided in CBE Continuing Education, Mount Royal University, Bow Valley College and in a variety of other settings.

Primarily these classes were for parents of Deaf children who were learning sign language, individuals who were planning to become teachers of the Deaf or interpreters for the Deaf and for members of the public who took the classes for general interest.

Chapter 9

Services for Multi-Handicapped Deaf Children

Marion Douglas

In 1986, the REACH team (Regional Educational Assessment and Consulting Services) was created by Alberta Education. Housed originally in Emily Follensbee School and administered by the Calgary Board of Education, the role of the REACH team was to provide consultative service to those schools and teachers in southern Alberta working with students with low incidence disabilities.  Low incidence was intended to include individuals with more than one disabling condition, such as children with sensory impairments and other challenges.  Part of the REACH mandate, therefore, was to help serve the needs of Deaf & Hard of Hearing children who have another disabling condition, be it physical, cognitive or sensory.

The REACH team is a multi-disciplinary team made up of occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, teachers of the deaf and teachers of the visually impaired. The idea behind the creation of this team was to provide equitable service to students with complex needs all over southern Alberta, in rural as well as urban areas. Prior to the creation of REACH, parents and teachers relied on specialized assessments in urban hospitals for information as to how to support their children with complex needs. The REACH team was able to bring both assessment and consultation to these students’ classrooms.

Since 1986, the REACH model of service delivery has not changed a great deal. However, over that period of time, I feel it is safe to say that we have seen greater numbers of children who have more complex challenges. Advances in medical care have seen more premature babies survive, and medical attention and care have decreased mortality rates for children born with complicated and previously life-threatening conditions. As a result, we have begun to see more Deaf and Hard of Hearing children with physical and cognitive challenges. More early intervention programs and pre-schools have been established and REACH has provided consultative services to these as well, ensuring that children as young as two-and-a-half have access to the specialized service they need and deserve.

The particular challenge with low incidence conditions is precisely that: they are low incidence and therefore uncommon.  A school in Elnora or Coleman, for example, may need help to provide an effective education for a student who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing and also has cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.  Specific assistance from REACH might take the form of the following:

• Onsite support by an audiologist to in-service staff regarding the care and maintenance of hearing aids and other amplification devices. Current information for families and teachers on technology available to support students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

• Onsite consultative support by a trained teacher of the deaf who can provide advice regarding curriculum, necessary adaptations, in-service on sign language and support in all areas of education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

• Psychologists familiar with the administration of nonverbal cognitive assessments so that fair and unbiased information can be provided on the student’s level of cognitive and adaptive functioning.  Consultations surrounding specific learning disorders that may co-exist with hearing loss are provided.

• Speech and language pathologists familiar with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students who can also provide consultation and in-service on the use of sign language and other adapted forms of communication, if sign language is not an option.

• Occupational and physical therapists familiar with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students who can provide appropriate support for fine and gross motor challenges, through adaptations in curriculum and technological support.

Students who are Deaf-Blind present a particular challenge to schools.  REACH Educational Consultants for Visually Impaired and Educational Consultants for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have collaborated over the years in providing service for these students.  As well, REACH has hosted experts in the area of Deaf-Blindness, such as Dr. Linda Mamer, on more than one occasion to provide in-service and individual consultation in southern Alberta for children who are Deaf-Blind.

The goal of the REACH team and its model of collaborative and consultative service has always been to help families with children with complex needs, including deafness, to find the service and support they need in their local school.  With the move to greater inclusion in the regular education classroom for all students, this support has become increasingly critical.

Chapter 10

Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Linda Slater

An Association of Canadian Educators of the Hearing Impaired (ACEHI) was founded in 1973. Several years later the name was changed to the Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CAEDHH).  This was done in deference to the objection of the Deaf to the use of the term “hearing impaired”.

The purpose of the association was to establish communication processes amongst schools for the Deaf across the country, to share information on educational programming and methods of instruction and to hold a conference every two years in July in different provinces.

A major project of ACEHI and continued by CAEDHH was to set up a certification programme to establish a consistent standard in the qualifications of teachers of the Deaf. It was originally hoped that all provinces would require teachers to be certified by CAEDHH before being appointed to teach the Deaf. Sadly, this goal was never achieved and the current shortage of trained teachers of the Deaf makes it increasingly less likely.

I took an active part within the association between 1996 and 2007.  One of my roles was as Provincial Director.  National meetings were held twice a year in different provinces.  This was a great opportunity to meet other teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to see their schools and to exchange ideas on good teaching practices.  Back home, the Provincial Directors could share what they had learned.  The Calgary Chapter represented Alberta at the National Level.

During the eleven years that I was an active member of CAEDHH, the teachers from Queen Elizabeth and Stanley Jones schools and the Hearing Strategists (teachers who provide assistance/tutoring to students integrated in their neighbourhood schools) took turns in running meetings.  In the early days, there were joint meetings in Edmonton and Lethbridge, but the travelling proved to be too much and the meetings became entirely Calgary based.  These monthly meetings were planned around professional development.

The topics of some of our meetings were:

• Visiting each other’s programmes.

• Visits to Audiology Departments at the Children’s Hospital to learn about cochlear implants, and new hearing aids and how they are tested.

• A visit to the Foothills Hospital to learn about the pilot project on Newborn Infant Screening, presented by David Brown (Sadly the programme was discontinued).

• Mike Keeping from Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services came to talk to us in 2002 and demonstrated new devices to help Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people, like vibrating pillow alarm clocks.

• Susan Christou, an educational audiologist who worked for the Calgary Board of Education came to share the highlights of two conferences that she had recently attended in 2002.

• We attended a meeting with the Speech Pathologists to learn about their work with our students.

• Any teacher in our group who had recently taken a course would be encouraged to give us a presentation.

• Marianne Flanagan gave us a talk on Cued Speech.

• Jack Jardine came to talk to us about being an itinerant teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing in Newfoundland.

• Dr. Daniel Ling honoured us by coming to talk to us about his work on speech and children with cochlear implants.

We made time for social get-togethers at our first meeting of the school year, at Christmas, at Teachers’ Convention and at the end of the year.

CAEDHH also brought in speakers from different parts of Canada and the United States for weekend workshops. On these occasions the presentations were held at the Foothills Hospital. One of the most memorable was Carol Flexor’s presentation, who talked about the importance of early intervention. Speech pathologists, parents, classroom teaching assistants, as well as teachers attended her session.

In 2005, Calgary hosted the CAEDHH Biennial Conference.  Our keynote speaker was Dr. Christine Yoshinago-Itano.  She spoke about the Colorado model of service, which aims to break down barriers between the different modes of communication as well as early intervention.

Other presenters at the conference were:

• Linda Cundy – Classroom Conditions That you Don’t Know About and 3rd and 4th Grade Reading Levels – Get Over It.

• Sonja Jovanovich – Listening, Speaking, and Learning with the Auditory – Verbal Approach.

• Mike Keeping – Assistive Technology for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing.

• Anne Wooliams Ross – Today’s Causes of Hearing Loss.

• Charlotte Linford – Resiliency and Hearing Loss.

• Dr. Mary Ann Bibby-Zimbabwe – The Challenges and Triumphs of Deaf Children and Adults.

• Dr. Connie Schimmel – Learning Links for Reading and Language: An Overview of Program Components.

• Susan Hayward – A parent speaking about raising her deaf child.

• Marion Douglas – Psycho-educational Assessment.

• Dr. Ann Kennedy – Special Needs in Developing Countries.

• Cindy Pilz – My Personal Experience with a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid.

• Dr. Brenda Poon – Creating a Provincial Hearing Loss Registry: What Can We Share?

• Marianne Flanagan – Latest Research on How Cueing Helps Reading.

• Dr. Mary Ann Bibby – A discussion on the state of Deaf education in Canada.

• Dr. Kristy Stewart – En Par Precision Educational Transliteration, Grade/Age Level Achievement for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students.

• Dr. Sandra Vandenhoff, audiologist – FM Systems – Hear to Live.

• Krista Yusko – FM Systems.

• Megan Watt, a student – Choosing the Hearing Path.

Although CEADHH exists to support educators, we also did a session for parents on reading at one of our public libraries.

CEADHH also runs a List Serve on the Internet, enabling teachers with questions about their work to pose them to other members across the country.  SKYPE is now used to keep other parts of the province in the loop. Enabling the sharing of experience and problems and, hopefully, to find some helpful solutions, is a prime role of CEADHH.

CEADHH membership provides members with learning opportunities as well as social ones.  The trust that is built up with the friendships is a valuable foundation for communication between the different programmes, which in turn supports our students, especially when they move from one programme to another during their educational journey.

Chapter 11

Speech Pathology/Audiology in the Calgary Board of Education

Jim Jarrell

One of the earliest special programmes provided by the Calgary Board of Education was for children who were Deaf or Hard of Hearing  (See Chapter 7).  In the early 1960s, support services for that program were developed.  These were Speech Pathology and Audiology.  At that time these two disciplines were not separate as they are today.  Speech pathologists were trained in basic audiology.  Parents, teachers and students welcomed this additional assistance to the programme.

In the mid to late 1960s, the Speech and Hearing Department began to grow in numbers under the leadership of Mr. Jack MacTavish, Senior Speech Pathologist. As the department took on more therapists, more schools received services within all quadrants of the city. An important tool for each therapist to carry with them into the schools was an audiometer, the one instrument that would be the key to assisting in the diagnosis and follow-up for students having hearing impairments. Specific therapists were also assigned to support parents and teachers who were involved with children already identified as needing support for their hearing impairments.

Diagnostic testing for hearing, especially for those students having speech and/or educational delays, took place as a regular screening tool by the therapists. If hearing losses were diagnosed, the therapists would follow up with parents and teachers involving referrals to ear, nose and throat medical specialists. The specialists would continue to identify the care a referred child would need to address the type and severity of the hearing loss. Understanding the importance and need for more comprehensive hearing assessments on a child who was found to have a significant loss during a school screen, the Speech and Hearing Services of CBE hired a clinically certified audiologist.  This service helped decrease the time a child had to wait for a more comprehensive hearing assessment.  It also provided parents and physicians with more accurate test results.  This service continued over the years with the advent of soundproof booths in two of the schools.

As time progressed, a number of speech therapists began to specialize and to take professional development in specific areas.  This helped them to provide a more sophisticated level of support to parents, teachers and students.  For DHH programs they learned additional skills such as signing and up-dated their knowledge about hearing aid use and care.  They also provided assistance in the use of hearing aids outside the classroom.

Their effectiveness in support of teachers both in special and regular classrooms was noted as hearing impaired students were subsequently involved in more activities, thus developing confidence in learning, social relationships and extra-curricular activities. There were therapists who turned their attention toward the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society and assisted with their work.  This type of relationship contributed to a better understanding towards preparing students for a future beyond the CBE.

As the years have passed, notable changes have occurred with regard to the provision of special services by CBE.  However, the DHH populations are still served in special programmes with access to integrated activities and support systems of Audiology and Speech Pathology still available. In 1989, a political decision was made which resulted in the transfer of responsibility for speech pathology in schools to Alberta Health Services.  The service continues to be provided within the schools and the teamwork of speech pathologists with teachers is strong.  Early diagnosis is so important in order to identify children with mild to profound hearing loss so that remedial action can be taken before children experience severe difficulties in their learning and lose self-confidence.

Chapter 12

Interpreting Services

Debra Russell and Sue Tompkins

Introduction

As we look to describe Calgary’s history of interpreters who work with the Deaf community as well as with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, it is important to recognize that the development of interpreting services parallels that of other Canadian communities. While in today’s world people who facilitate communication between Deaf people and Hearing people are called interpreters, the people providing interpretation in the early days were often known as the “go-betweens” or “signers”.  The earliest “interpreters” were often clergy members working with Deaf congregations, or they were children of Deaf adults, or other relatives of Deaf individuals.  These people performed the work of interpreters in a variety of settings.  For example, young teenagers were called upon to interpret in courtrooms, for job interviews and to make everyday phone calls that were part of managing life, regardless of whether or not they were qualified to do so.  Clergy members often acted as social workers, psychologists, counsellors and so on, helping Deaf people access services and supports, while often making decisions for, and/or offering advice to Deaf people.

Some Key Events

In the late 1970s, as in many North American communities, Calgary started to experience a more systematic approach to meeting the needs of Deaf citizens than the previous ad hoc system. For example, interpreters were starting to mobilize and form interpreter associations, while at the same time post-secondary institutions were beginning to recognize the need for interpreters in classrooms. Some of the earliest interpreters worked at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and they were paid for their work by the provincial government.

Around 1978, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (at the time known as the Society of Hearing Handicapped Children) hired their first counsellor/interpreter, although the major emphasis was on the interpreting role.  The counselling portion of the work involved helping to make phone calls, dealing with renting apartments, and looking for employment.  That first interpreter remembers that she was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, receiving calls at all hours to provide interpreting at the police station or the hospital, and occasionally she would take calls to order pizza at 1am!  She may have been the first Message Relay Service!

In 1978, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) hired the first interpreter for Queen Elizabeth Junior High.  At the same time the community was beginning to offer sign language classes at Mount Royal College and CBE Continuing Education, with interpreters teaching the first classes.  These same interpreters requested that Deaf assistants work with them.  Eventually, Interpreters eased themselves out of the teaching roles, ensuring that Deaf teachers led the classes.

Two other events occurred during this same time period.   Bow Valley College (known as Alberta Vocational Centre at that time) began to offer literacy and upgrading programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults, which also resulted in more interpreters being employed in post-secondary settings.  Secondly, based on lobbying from community members, Shaw Cable began to offer the evening news with sign language interpreters during the early 1980s and this continued for several years.

Interpreter Organizations and Training

The Calgary Deaf community members and interpreters were aware that the Edmonton community was creating an interpreter association, and they too moved in that direction. Calgary’s first formal organization of interpreters was created in 1982 and was known as the Calgary Interpreters Association (CIA). Later this was changed to the Southern Alberta Chapter and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (SACRID) and finally the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Southern Alberta (AVLISA). The Calgary chapter affiliated with the Canadian national organization, the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC) that was founded in 1979. In the early 2000s, AVLISA ceased to exist, and interpreters began to be represented by one provincial organization instead of two, with the Alberta Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (now known as the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Alberta).

While SACRID was a small group in the early years, it was active in offering social events and professional development workshops.  SACRID hosted the national AVLIC conference in Calgary in 1986 – Spectrum ’86, which highlighted the talent and commitment of Calgary interpreters, and put Calgary on the map. In 2012, the Calgary community of interpreters hosted the AVLIC conference once more, raising the most funds ever for the national and provincial interpreter organizations. Two of the committee members from the 1986 conference were involved in the 2012 conference, lending their experience and talent to ensure Calgary was once more claiming an important role in the Canadian history of interpreters.

The earliest structured training offered to interpreters began during the late 1970s.  Short courses, workshops, and eventually college programs shaped the profession of interpreting.  AVLIC passed its Code of Ethics in 1980, and began conversations about the assessment of interpreters and a certification system.  Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton began offering a ten-month interpreter-training program in 1983. Many Calgary students enrolled over the years, and returned to Calgary to work in our community.

Calgary Board of Education

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the CBE began to hire interpreters for Queen Elizabeth Junior and Senior High School to work with Deaf students.  In the late 1980s, CBE created a vocational program at Sir William Van Horne High School, and interpreters began to work there with Deaf students.  As well, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School worked with their first interpreter in 1989, expanding their model from “signing assistants” to interpreters. Over the years, interpreters have worked full time with the CBE, providing services to countless Deaf students and continue to do so.

And in 2013…

Calgary is a vibrant city that has a strong and active Deaf community, and has attracted Deaf people from across Canada and around the world. This has led to the increased need for interpreters in all walks of life, from birth to death. Interpreters enjoy many employment opportunities in our city, and may work for a number of employers and agencies, as staff interpreters and freelance interpreters.

Chapter 13

Speechreading Classes for Adults

Lynn Wheadon

Speechreading is a relatively new term.  It replaced the old one of lip-reading in 1947 when an American, Marilyn D. Pauls, stated that she preferred speechreading because we watch not only the speaker’s lips, but also gestures and facial expressions. Today, speechreading is the desired term but it is still not well established as many people refer to lip-reading, which has been used from the 16th century in teaching the deaf to speak. Lip-reading was the preference of some educators over those using manual methods but, even today, the debates between manualism and oralism continue. That is the history of lip-reading in a nutshell! The reader desiring more information on these most interesting topics can readily access them on the Internet.

Now for the local history in Calgary.  It started with the beginning of the Hard of Hearing Association of Calgary in 1985, which, a year later, joined the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association as a Branch, now known as CHHA - C.  CHHA - C provided speechreading classes through arrangements made with audiologists or speech language pathologists.  The classes and CHHAC meetings were held downstairs in the SADC.  Prior to this, audiologists or speech language pathologists taught speechreading in classes scattered throughout Calgary. There were no set programs established and classes appeared upon request.  If anyone has information about these early classes, please contact the author; it will be gratefully received.

In 1988, DHHS received funding from Calgary’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) for a Coordinator, Volunteer Services for the Hard of Hearing. I was hired for this position, possibly a first, to work with hard of hearing adults in Alberta. CHHA – C then turned the responsibility for speechreading classes over to DHHS and I became the Society’s first speechreading instructor. For the first year I developed a speechreading program, using various materials.  Then I met Catherine Shearer, author of the “LIVING with Hearing Loss” program. During the next three years, I attended Shearer’s training sessions in Winnipeg, Manitoba as an observer, completing the program in September 1992. DHHS paid the costs involved for this training.

From then on, “LIVING with Hearing Loss”, a communication program of three levels, was used in DHHS’s classes, becoming quite successful and popular.  It was more than just speechreading for the program also included additional coping strategies such as communication tips and technical devices, etc.

As I became quite busy with the numerous aspects of my DHHS work, instruction was carried out by two competent speechreading students, Bonnie Tarchuk and Catherine Tudhope.

Then, in February 1992, DHHS received funding to train speechreading instructors throughout the province of Alberta.  With the assistance and support of Catherine Shearer, a proposal was written and submitted to the Seniors Independence Program.   It was accepted.  The money came from Health Canada but was administered locally.  I resigned my position with DHHS to become the Coordinator for the “Coping with Hearing Loss Program” (CHIP). This meant training older adults from throughout Alberta to become speechreading instructors, helping them to set up and instruct classes in their communities.

Twenty-one Albertans and four observers (one from New Brunswick, two from Saskatchewan and one from British Columbia) completed the three level courses.  Training for each level was a very intensive six days session held downstairs at DHHS.  Over the three-year duration of the program, 50 classes were held in 13 communities with a total of 365 students of whom 267 were seniors.

After CHIP was completed in January 1995, National CHHA and I adapted this program for a similar project across Canada that was funded by Human Resources Canada. This “Working and Coping with Hearing Loss Program” (WCHLP) operated from November 1997 to March 2000. It trained twenty Canadian speechreading instructors (fifteen completed all three levels and received certificates). They taught 95 classes in nine provinces, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories serving a total of 454 students. They produced Canada’s first speechreading video, ”Sound Ideas”, under the expert guidance of Bonnie Tarchuk and printed the outstanding “Working with Hearing Loss” manual written by Gael Hanan. I was the Coordinator, and worked out of my home for this project, but all training sessions were again held in downstairs DHHS.

Ian Kershaw, the DHHS Executive Director for all those years, was most encouraging and helpful during these two projects, CHIP and WCHL. He and DHHS fully shared the materials produced during the projects with the hard of hearing community, especially with National CHHA.  DHHS provided speechreading instructors and classes not only for Calgarians but was instrumental in helping hard of hearing Albertans and those across Canada.

Soon after these projects, DHHS developed their own speechreading program and trained their own instructors.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society can be very proud of its role in the history of speechreading for the Hard of Hearing in Calgary.

Chapter 14

Deaf & Hear Alberta

(formerly Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society)

Mona Hennenfent

Deaf & Hear Alberta would like to acknowledge these leaders who have shaped the history and development of this organization that serves the Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing within Alberta.

Kay Shaver, Executive Director            1984 – Building Opened

Rachel Patton, Executive Director            1984 – 1986

Ian Kershaw, Executive Director            1986 – 1999

Interim Executive Directors                  1999 – 2001

Suzanne Belisle, Executive Director            2002 – 2007

Christina Smith, Executive Director            2007 – 2012

Mona Hennenfent, Chief Executive Officer      2013 – 2014

Joanne Pavelek, Chief Executive Officer      2014 – Present

For detailed history of this organization from 1961 – 1991, please see Chapter 15.  Please also see the website, www.deafandhearalberta.ca, for information on current services.

In 2011, there were celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of organized support for services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children and adults in Calgary.  For that occasion the Calgary Herald, in partnership with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society, produced a special publication.  Following is an excerpt providing highlights from 1961 until 2010.

- 1961. On May 2, 1961, the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children was incorporated. A group of parents and professionals related to the field of deafness was the founding body of the Society. There was a staff of one, Kay Shaver, who acted as a secretary and referral agent.

- 1970. In 1970, the Society’s name was changed to The Society for Hearing Handicapped omitting the word Children in order to encompass adults in the community.

- 1978. In October 1978, the need for a staff interpreter was recognized because the children of 1961 were now adults. Alice Hiscock was hired which made a staff of two.

- 1983. On October 15, 1983 the ground-breaking ceremony for the SADC took place.

- 1984. On June 2, 1984, SADC became a reality after 20 years of hard and dedicated work by members of the Deaf community and parents.  DHHS moved from the United Way building downtown to the more spacious, bright quarters of SADC.  At this time there was a staff of five: a coordinator, two interpreters/counsellors, a secretary and a receptionist.

- 1987. Society became Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services.

- 1990. First turkey dinner (still running).

- 1991. In 1991, DHHS had eight staff with the addition of one more Interpreter, a co-ordinator for the hard of hearing program and full-time accountant.

- 1996. DHHS staff increased to 17.

- 1997. Eldridge Decision – Supreme Court ruled in support of Deaf people having Interpreters in healthcare settings.

- 2003. Last graduating class of Interpreters in Alberta for the next seven years (Grant McEwen College, Edmonton).

- 2007. DHHS expanded Interpreting Services provincially with the acquisition of a Government of Alberta contract.

- 2008. DHHS changed its name to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society.

- 2009. DHHS conducted its first provincial community-based needs assessment.

- 2009. DHHS developed a five-year strategic plan.

- 2010. DHHS developed a bilingual website (ASL and English).

- 2010. First graduating class of Interpreters in seven years (Lakeland College in Edmonton).

- 2012. Board, Staff, D&HH Stakeholders developed 2013-2016 Strategic Plan.

- 2013. DHHS rebranded to Deaf & Hear Alberta.  The focus of the rebrand is on improving communications with Deaf Alberta staff and Hear Alberta re-design to broaden our impact and reach.  The organization also renovated and updated their building.

- During the summer of 2014, Mona Hennenfent left her position at Deaf & Hear Alberta. The new CEO is Joanne Pawelek.

Chapter 15

Johnson Report

Marion and Albert Johnson, who were next-door neighbours in Red Deer when they met and fell in love, compiled the following report.  They were married on July 18, 1953 and made their home in Bowness and then Calgary.  They were blessed with five children, Ross, Ralph, Donald, Vicki and David.

When she found out that two of her boys were deaf, Marion became involved with what became the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children.  Over a period of 35 years, she and Albert helped build the Southern Alberta Deaf Centre and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Calgary, acting as Treasurer, keeping the books and running the office.  She taught sign language and lip reading courses and relayed phone messages for the Deaf.  She was passionate about meeting the needs of Deaf people.  She realized early on that her Deaf children would become Deaf adults who would need a core set of resources to help them navigate through their adulthood.  In 1983, she received the Government of Alberta Achievement Award for “outstanding service in Activities for the Hearing Handicapped”.

From 1980 – 1983 Marion spent five weeks a year in Brandon, Manitoba interpreting for her son, Ralph while he took his Heavy Duty Apprenticeship Program. There was a shortage of interpreters in Manitoba and she wasn’t going to let his dream die because of that.

Ralph received his Diploma and has a successful career as a Heavy Duty Mechanic. Marion always used to joke that Ralph was the youngest college graduate having graduated from the old Mount Royal College (preschool programme) at age 5. He was destined to become a scholar.

Marion was also active with the United Church Women and earned the Calgary Presbyterial 50 year award in February, 2012.  She and Albert enjoyed many trips over the course of their lives and spent twelve winters as snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona.  Marion passed away in September 2012, having been pre-deceased by her husband Albert.

Editorial Note

The content of this report provided an invaluable basis for this entire document.

Our History

1961 – 1991

Compiled by Marion and Albert Johnson

Society for Hearing Handicapped Children

Society for Hearing Handicapped

Southern Alberta Deaf Centre (SADC)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

May 2, 1961

The Society for Hearing Handicapped Children Incorporated

President      Barbara Scott

Vice Pres      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Albert Nichol

Rec. Sec.      Doreen Dyer

Treasurer      Gordon Scott

Directors      Reta Wilk

Mrs. Manolsen

Meetings were held at Mount Royal College- 7 Ave & 11 St SW.

Support was received from the Bowness-Montgomery Moose Lodge for teachers’ salaries—this support continues.

Kinsmen and Kinette Club supported bus driver’s salary.

The Mental Health Association donated a bus.

Family visiting committee established.

B’Nai and B’Rith give us constant support for many years.

Teacher’s salary $50.00/month- Bernice McNamee and Edith Wilson

1962

President      Barbara Scott

Vice Pres      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Albert Nichol

Rec. Sec.      Lynn Oliver (Wheadon)

Corr. Sec.      Doreen Dyer

Directors      Reta Wilk

Audrey White

Gordon Scott

Dorothy Larsen

Phyllis Cornock drove the Bowness run for $25.00 per month for gas.

Passengers - Ralph Johnson, Debbie Wilson, Wesley Hawkins, and Bernice McNamee.

Teachers at Mount Royal College Preschool—Bernice McNamee and Mrs. Kines.

Dr. Ann Kennedy and Percy Baxter taught at James Short School.

Doreen Dyer presented a corsage on behalf of the Society to Dale Evans. She and Roy Rogers were Stampede Parade Marshalls that year.

1963

President      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Larry Hodgins

Vice Pres      Allan White

Corr. Sec.      Doreen Dyer

Treasurer      Beryl Axenty

Directors      Mrs. Ellis

Lauretta Anderson

Lynn Oliver

Albert Johnson

Reta Wilk

Villa Rasmussen

March 20- Executive meeting adjourned at 11:30 pm

September 23- General meeting had 60 members present

Budget item- 5.00 for cookies for school

Swimming classes at Beltline YWCA on 12 Ave SW.

Bernice McNamee sponsored to the University of California for summer course- Cost $700.00.

Audrey White volunteered at preschool and continued to 1968 or longer.

Bow-teen Club helped with Christmas party.

Two new buses received from private patrons through Dr. Wright of M.R.C. Cost of insurance donated by Bannerman agencies. Drivers- Jerry O’Connor, spare, Mr. Walsh-south run and Walt Goodkey- north run.

Preschool education cost - 14 pupils for 9 months - $160.00/pupil or $1.00/pupil/day.

Junior League of Calgary provided classroom volunteers

1964

President      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Dave Cunningham

Vice Pres      Doreen Dyer

Rec. Sec.       Dorothy Larsen

Corr. Sec.       Mrs. Zimmerman

Treasurer      Beryl Axenty

Directors      Albert Johnson

Norm Anderson

Ken Cartwright

Lynn Oliver

Barbara Scott

Absent Tea Fund Raiser- 11, 000 letters sent out at a cost of $687.50—profit of $1,083.42.

Active 20/30 Club sponsored Bernice McNamee to the Clarke School for the Deaf (summer session). Bow-Mont Moose Lodge invited our children to their annual Halloween party—this activity continued for many years.

1965

President      Doreen Dyer

Vice Pres      Dave Cunningham

Vice Pres      Barbara Scott

Treasurer      Irene Hughes

Rec. Sec.      Ann Kennedy

Corr. Sec.       Mrs. Robertson

Directors      Beryl Axenty             Norm Anderson

Ken Cartwright        Allan White

Villa Rasmussen Albert Johnson

First “Calgary Cord” newsletter published.

Regular meetings held at Molson’s Brewery Auditorium on 11 Ave SW.

Don Kitson competed in Deaf Olympics

School Board began providing space for our preschool at Queen’s Park school.

Swimming program at YWCA- 14 swimmers enrolled. Audrey White was our representative.

Teachers- Bernice McNamee- Principal

Mrs. Weidmark      }

} $150.00.month

Mrs. Timms            }

10 children in the kindergarten class, 9 in the Nursery class.

Classroom volunteers came from the Queen’s Park Home and School Association and the Volunteer bureau.

Miss Willie was Principal at James Short School.

1966

President      Doreen Dyer

Vice Pres      Dave Cunningham

Vice Pres      Albert Johnson

Treasurer      Irene Hughes

Rec. Sec.      Olive Bolander

Corr. Sec.       Mrs. Robertson

Directors      Ann Kennedy

Josie Urban

Del Jamieson

Mrs. LeCours

Joyce Cotton

Al Kitson

Door to door canvassing was part of our Absent Tea Fund Raiser—

Proceeds- Door to door $6, 344.00

Tea at Central United Church $235.00

Mail $3 832

Expenses      $10, 411

Net profit      $7, 949

Alberta Coordinating Council for the Hearing Handicapped organized.

President John Cotton, Secretary Mr. Stevenson of Edmonton, Ann Kennedy was the second secretary.

The Society sponsored an adult education class.

A Jr. High School program began at Col. Macleod school- Lynn Oliver, teacher, students- Lynn Anderson, Ron Healy, Linda Davies, Jack Hodgins, Carol Pruden, Robert & Sylvia Hilterman, Steven Thomson, and David Baxter.

The Society is negotiating with the School Board for their take-over of the preschool classes.

Preschool teachers this year are Bernice McNamee, Mrs. Edith Dykstra and Mrs. Kerslake.

Enrolment - 25 students.

1967

President      Dave Cunningham

Vice Pres      Marion Johnson

Vice Pres      Oliver Bolander

Treasurer      Irene Hughes

Rec. Sec.      Mrs. Brosteaux

Corr. Sec.       Joan Jukich

Directors      Ann Kennedy

Joyce Cotton

Josie Urban

Jo-Anne Kasha

Del Jamieson

Phil Parker

Absent Tea stuffing bee at Hector’s Steel Lunch Room.

Tannahills tea and fashion show at Crescent Heights United Church.

University of Alberta urged to establish a course in Deaf Education.

Two audio trainers given to the preschool.

Bus Drivers - Mr. Campbell and Mr. Goodkey

James Short teachers- Miss Anderson, Mrs. Cornwall, Miss Hogan and Mrs. Torvick

Diane Axenty received a scholarship and a medal for her ballet achievements.

Mrs. Dykstra’s Nursery Class- Glory Ann Borody, Cheryl Cronk, Mark Duncan, Bradd Goodman, Tracey Jadeske, David Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Shelley Jukich, Marlene Koester, Werner Pilz, Della Lee Piper, Laura Sherry, Deborah Vroon and Shane Westerlund

Mrs. McNamee’s Kindergarten Class- Marjorie Bosch, Sean Cotton, Beverley Roberts, Brenda Rosekrans, and Linda Toews.

1968

President      Marion Johnson

Vice Pres      Joyce Cotton

Vice Pres      Oliver Bolander

Treasurer       Harry Nickel

Rec. Sec.      Grace Piper

Corr. Sec.       Irene Hughes

Directors      Al Kitson

Josie Urban

Percy Baxter

Finn Jamieson

Mrs. Foote

Joan Jukich

Rod Bolander

Ruth Bruce

Annual fund raising netted $13, 333.08

Funds received from the Orange Lodge Ladies for another bus.

Piano for preschool received from IODE

Rather than running our own buses we contracted with Handi Cabs. This did not work out, so we contracted with Cardinal Coach.

Began negotiations with United Fund.

September 1- School Board took over our preschool.

Adult education classes began with our financing.

Two deaf-blind students taught by Mrs. McNamee in her home for two years. This program partially funded by Calgary School Board.

1969

President      Marion       Johnson

Vice Pres      Joyce Cotton

Vice Pres      Olive Bolander

Treasurer       Harry Nickel

Rec. Sec.       Grace Piper

Corr. Sec.      Irene Hughes

Directors      Al Kitson

Josie Urban

Percy Baxter

Finn Jamieson

Mrs. Foote

Joan Jukich

Road Bolander

Ruth Bruce

Name of Society Changed to Society for the Hearing Handicapped.

Lutheran Church celebrates 75 years of service to the Deaf.

August 1969 Harold Ziprick came to Calgary.

December 1- Leased our first office at Medical Arts Building, 6 Ave & 3 ST SW.

Alberta Coordinating Council on Deafnesss formerly ACCHH- President- Percy Baxter, Secretary- Doreen Dyer, Treasurer- Albert Quinton.

In the swimming programs this year- 11 at Scenic Acres and 23 at VRRI.

Busing cost with Cardinal Coach $75.00 per month for two buses.

Appreciation certificates given out to volunteers in our preschool- Mrs. Allard, Mrs. Sexton, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Honeychurch, and Mrs. Cook

Teachers at Central School were Bill Berezowski, Miss Hogan, Mrs. Cornwall, and Mr. Baxter.

Oral preschool program began at Stanley Jones School- Mrs Gwen Cook teacher with 14 students.

1970

President      Joyce Cotton

Vice Pres.      Harry Nickel

Vice Pres.       Rod Bolander

Treasurer      Irene Hughes

Rec. Sec.      Ruth Bruce

Corr. Sec.       Del Jamieson

Directors      Pat Gehrke

Joan Jukich

Audrey White

Grace Piper

Jessie Williamson

George Marshall

Rolly LeBlanc

Harold Ziprick

Gladys Stables

January 1, 1970- we became a United Fund Agency with a budget of $27, 181.00.

April 1, 1970- Kay Shaver was hired as our Executive Secretary.

$5, 000.00 was received from the Active 20/30 Club to put a loop system into Central School.

CKXL had an open line program on drug problems (not a new thing today)

Cost of transportation increased to $84.00 per month.

Pool rent at VRRI $8.50 per hour.

Scenic acres pool donated for our program by Mr. Sam Nickle for many years.

1971

President      Dick Piper

Vice Pres.      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres.       Rolly LeBlanc

Treasurer      Irene Hughes

Rec. Sec      Ruth Bruce

Corr. Sec      Harry Nickel

Directors      Mrs. Bossert

Ken Cartwright

Fay Chomoway

Blanche Jadeske

Finn Jamieson

Marion Johnson

Joan Jukich

Dorothy Larsen

Jessie Williamson

Harold Ziprick

Joy Stuber

Gladys Stables

Audrey White

Eli Planidin

We shift our emphasis on preschool to a broader spectrum of service.

Chinook Charity Bazaar began- Audrey White was our convenor.

TTY demonstration held

AGT have amplified hand sets for phones at an extra rental cost of $1.25 per month.

Alberta School for the Deaf institutes a Learning Centre program for multi-handicapped deaf children.

1972

President      Rolly LeBlanc

Vice Pres.      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres.       Ken Cartwright

Treasurer      Audrey White

Rec. Sec      Gladys Stables

Corr. Sec      Myrtle Nickel

Directors      Doreen Dyer

Marion Johnson

Finn Jamieson

Blanche Jadeske

Rodd Bolander

Edna Osterberg

Fay Chomway

Irene Hughes

Joyce Keating

Harold Ziprick

Mel Stuber

Central School name changed to Dr. Carl Safran School.

Handi Bus took over our transportation- a representative from our society sat on their board.

Ralph Johnson won an award for the art work on the Student bus passes for the Calgary Transit System.

Donations were received from Eaton’s employees group and the Whirley Bird Badminton Club.

Teachers at the Dr. Carl Safran School were Mrs. Demarest, Mrs. Torvik, Mrs. Longmuir, Mrs. Derricott and Mr. Baxter.

Fashion show held at Hillhurst United Church.

We raffled two Stampeder Football seasons’ tickets.

1973

President      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres.      Mel Stuber

Vice Pres.       Blanche Jadeske

Treasurer      Audrey White

Rec. Sec      Addie Marshall

Corr. Sec      Gladys Stables

Directors      Doreen Dyer

Jessie Williamson

Fay Chomoway

Mr. Coachman

Marion Johnson

Joan Jukich

Gaye Mackie

Mrs. Huitt

Maxine Richardson

Annual General Meeting - 53 members present.

Video equipment given to Dr. Carl Safran School.

Annual dance held at Scenic Acres.

Began discussions regarding the use of Total Approach in our Deaf Children’s Education using S.E.E.- Signing Exact English.

Terry Gogol audiologist, Susan Quinn, Marianne Flanagan, all were working as tutors at Van Horne and Shawnessey Schools.

1974

President      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Fay Chomoway

Treasurer       Audrey White

Rec. Sec.       Addie Marshall

Corr. Sec.       Gladys Stables

Directors      Joan Jukich

Gaye Mackie

Irene Hughes

Elaine Klassen

Joyce Keating

Marion Johnson

Gwen Manning

Beryl Axenty

Joy Stuber

A Consortium met in Ottawa and out of these meetings came the Canadian Coordinating Council on Deafness.

AGT made TTY’s available to deaf people in their homes through the use of old Telex equipment. The coupler cost $140.00.

Alberta Children’s Hospital received a travelling diagnostic van for hearing assessment from the Elks Purple Cross Fund. It began operation in 1976.

September 1 a pilot project began with Total Communication:

Oral at Stanley Jones

Total Communication at Queen Elizabeth.

Phonic Ear equipment used.

E.C.S. lowers its grant age to 3 ½ years.

1975

President      Marion Johnson

Vice Pres      Elaine Klassen

Vice Pres      Gwen Manning

Treasurer      Gladys Stables

Rec. Sec.      Kathy Tompkins

Corr. Sec.      Fay Chomoway

Directors      Gaye Mackie

Ruth Bruce

Percy Baxter

Cecil Hards

Joan Jukich

Caroline Dunsmore

Jack MacTavish

Art Jeal

Dr. Magadahan

Beryl Axenty

Addie Marshall

Marianne Flanagan

Harold Ziprick

John Cotton

Audrey White

Joe Richardson

Transportation costs for the preschool assumed by the Calgary Board of Education.

Susan Quinn was awarded our bursary to attend Moncton University in a Teacher Education Programme (for teachers of the Deaf) located at the School for the Deaf in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

Closed Caption or signing on T.V. discussed by C.B.C. with A.C.C.D.

Dr. Sangster approached by the Active 20/30 Club with the proposition that they might be major funders of a Deaf Centre. A Committee of John Cotton, Jack MacTavish, Marion Johnson, Kay Shaver and Cecil Hards was responsible for the follow up.

1976

President      Maxine Richardson

Vice Pres      Heather Davidson

Vice Pres      Elaine Klassen

Treasurer      Cecil Hards

Rec. Sec.       Phyllis Wilson

Corr. Sec.       Pat Gehrke

Directors      Art Jeal

Caroline Dunsmore

Jack MacTavish

Neil Webber

Harold Ziprick

Tom Moore

Henry Minto

Roy Davis

Glenna Schultz

Joe Richardson

Liz Guggenberger

Marion Harte

Meetings held at Pacific 66 building.

S.A.D.C. board established with broad representation from all areas.

Blair Larsen chosen to play Bantam football with an Edmonton team. Blair attended A.S.D.

School program extended into Jr. High.

Supported JAM project- a social/recreational program out of the YWCA on 12 Ave for about 27 handicapped people, six of whom are deaf. Beryl Axenty was our coordinator.

Teen Club in operation at the Christian Deaf Centre.

Stanley Jones teachers- Cienwin Cumming, Miss McTavish, Miss Meery and Miss Hart. Support staff- Mrs. Keating & Miss Yanitski.

Queen Elizabeth teachers- Mrs. Eliason, Mr. Baxter, Miss Sue Barker, Connie Gillis, Myrna Hogan and Marianne Flanagan. Resource teachers- Tom Inkster and Glen Miller

Audiologist- Terry Gogol.

1977

President      John Waterfield

Vice Pres      Phyllis Wilson

Vice Pres      Gladys Stables

Treasurer       Yvan Boetz

Secretary      Elaine Klassen

Directors       Jona Jukich

Marion Johnson

Mrs. Pilz

Liz Guggenberger

Elenora Wagner

HOHO Club organized:

President      Geneva McCue

Vice Pres      Lynn Wheadon

Secretary       Edna Albertson

Our offices moved to Community Services building.

Our schools:

1 ECS class at Queen Elizabeth

1 ECS class at Stanley Jones

2 Elementary Classes at Stanley Jones and Queen Elizabeth

2 Jr. High classes at Queen Elizabeth

Marianne Flanagan Received our bursary toward her year at Gallaudet. She specialized in Cued Speech.

1978

President      John Waterfield

Vice Pres      Gladys Stables

Vice Pres      W.E. Panasiuk

Treasurer      D. Brosteaux

Secretary      F. Kelemen

Directors      Peggy-Ann Bradcoe

Joan Jukich

Glad McCue

Marion Johnson

Ann Kennedy

Donated almost $10, 000.00 worth of equipment to the school system.

Alice Hiscock hired as Interpreter Counsellor.

17 Students in Stanley Jones

20 Students in Queen Elizabeth Elementary

20 students in Queen Elizabeth Junior High.

Len McEwen hired as Project Manager/Coordinator of S.A.D.C.

1979

President      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Gladys Stables

Vice Pres      Carol Hilterman

Treasurer      Albert Johnson

Secretary      F. Kelemen

Directors      Kay Bonner

Dianne Brissette

Gwen Manning

Joan Jukich

Deafness Studies Program established at University of Alberta- Dr. M. Rodda, Director.

15 students - Stanley Jones Preschool - Mrs. Lynn Heffler and Mrs. Cumming, teachers.

12 students - Queen Elizabeth Elementary - Miss Cook, Mrs. Matheson and Miss Nixon, teachers.

21 students - Queen Elizabeth Jr. High with 3 teachers.

5 itinerant teachers on staff and 40 children integrated.

Pilot project costing $5,000.00 begun by S.H.H. to provide interpreters to Junior and Senior High Schools. Maureen Jones hired.

S.A.D.C. office established in Belt-line Y.W.C.A.

Summer project manager- Frank Lilley Jr.

Volunteer on Practicum- Marg McDonald

S.A.D.C. begins relay message services

A.G.T. installs amplified handset pay phones at prodding of H.O.H.O.

Interpreting at House of Commons sessions began.

“I love you” jewellery now available.

1980

President      Percy Baxter

Vice Pres      Dianne Brissette

Vice Pres      Carol Hilterman

Treasurer      Marion Johnson

Directors      Colleen Fettes

Paul Brissette

Gladys Stables

Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada established.

Mount Royal College begins A.S.L. classes.

Junior and Senior High School students given TTY’s.

Creative Employment Services (CrES) established.

U.S. networks begin Closed Captioning TV.

S.A.D.C. moved to St. Peter’s School. Roger Hebbes, Director. Fern Elgar, Staff person.

S.A.D.C. received $18,000.00 from the Alberta Government Birthday Fund for the display of assistive devices for the deaf.

Mrs. Gwen Cook retires from Stanley Jones School after 10 years.

1981

President      Carol Hilterman

Vice Pres      Diane Brissette

Vice Pres      W. Harrigan

Treasurer      Judy Novodvorski

Secretary       D. Jamieson

Directors      Gladys Stables

R. Stevens

Liz Guggenberger

Gillian Waterfield

Myrna Hogan Memorial Bursary established.

Alberta Coordinating Council on Deafness dissolved.

June 24,1981 Percy and Jo Baxter retire to Whitecourt, Alberta.

Calgary Board of Education fund interpreter service in schools.

CBC to begin closed captioning on TV.

Sharon Stables attended the Youth Leadership Camp.

1982

President      Carol Hilterman

Vice Pres      Diane Brissette

Vice Pres      W. Harrigan

Treasurer      Judy Novodvorski

Secretary      Rose Beart

Directors      J. Hornberger

Wayne LeTourneau

Mrs. Poulin

Agnes Ptelski

Wayne Harrigan

62 “Visual Ears” donated and distributed to students, seniors and others in the community.

Joan Kazakoff joins the Society’s staff.

Registered Interpreters of the Deaf Chapter in Southern Alberta is established, this became S.A.C.R.I.D. and then A.V.L.I.S.A.

Wayne LeTourneau, President

Maureen Jones, Vice President

Queen Elizabeth High School Graduating Class:

Tim Cole                  Kathy Cleveland

John Jonke                  Debbie Vroon

Juanita Miller            Rod Richardson

Mark Duncan            Shelley Jukich

Bev Roberts                  Werner Pilz

Bruce Gibson                  Kevin Wilson

Christian Deaf Centre moves to their church at 1732 Avenue SW.

A.G.T. gives 50% reduction on long distance TTY charges.

Dr. C. Sangster retires from the Calgary Board of Education.

Chinook Charity Bazaar- Convenor- Gladys Stables, proceeds used to send children to Camp Horizon.

1983

President      Dianne Brissette

Vice Pres      Jim Davie

Vice Pres      Terry Hassen

Treasurer      Judy Novodvorski

Directors      Jake Kuiken

Gillian Waterfield

Diane Turner

Brian Campbell

Christmas party budget $1,000.00.

10 students participated in an exchange program with Belleville School for the Deaf

October 15, 1983, Ground breaking ceremony for S.A.D.C. Officiating were Mayor Ralph Klein, Honourable Neil Webber, Sam Milliken, Albert Quinton, and Judy Novodvorski.

1st Annual Conference for Hard of Hearing held in Toronto.

Our United Way budget set at $50,400.00. (United Way Goal $4,000,000.00).

Society funds Interpreted News on Channel 10.

US President Ronald Regan gets an in the ear hearing aid. The first hearing aid circa 1900 was a desk top model weighing about 200 lbs.

TTY installed at the Calgary General Hospital.

Joyce Hickson joined our staff as a counsellor-interpreter.

Marion Johnson received a Provincial Award of Achievement.

1984

President      Dianne Brissette

Vice Pres      Judy Novodvorski

Vice Pres      Judy Hornberger

Treasurer      Marion Johnson

Secretary      Rose Sutherland

Directors      Gillian Waterfield

D.D. Turner

Tammy Ali

Lynn Davies

Maureen Jones

Susan Robertson

Kay Shaver becomes our Executive Director. Full time receptionist/clerical person hired- Jan Kimmel.

June 2, 1984 S.A.D.C. opens

Parents support group from Alberta Children’s Hospital meets at S.A.D.C.

We give $200.00 towards hockey lessons for our deaf children.

Joyce Keating retires from Calgary Board of Education.

Vera Ferguson retires as Supervisor of Special Education. Ann Kennedy takes her place.

Labatt's fund Summer Program for language stimulation at the SADC in conjunction with the provincial STEP Program. 10 students, 8-12 years.

We provided tutorial/interpreter support service for 10 students attending apprenticeship programs.

Alice Hiscock received the second Edward C Bealer award.

Wayne Letourneau received a subsequent one.

*The “Edward C. Bealer” Award of Merit is presented in co-operation with the Canadian Hearing Society, in memory of the late Ted Bealer. The recipient, chosen by a committee, exemplifies dedication to the growth and development of the profession of interpreting.

1985

President      Judy Novodvorski

Vice Pres      Judy Hornberger

Vice Pres      Merv Goodman

Treasurer      Marion Johnson

Secretary      Kath-Ann Terrett

Directors      Gaye Mackie

Susan Gauer

Gillian Waterfield

Tracy Grams

Susan Curkan

Tammy Ali

Stephen Wilkins Memorial Scholarship fund established for Grade 12 students at Queen Elizabeth.

Calgary Association of the Deaf celebrates 50th Anniversary.

Donna Winter (Hodgins) joins our staff.

We sponsor Mike Quinlan to attend the Hard of Hearing Conference in Toronto.

We provide partial funding for 14 students to go to Gallaudet for orientation.

This was our last year in the Chinook Charity Bazaar.

We provided partial funding for 2 girls to play on the National Volley Ball team in Los Angeles World Summer Games.

1986

President      Judy Novodvorski

Vice Pres      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres      Peter Schultz

Treasurer       Kath-Ann Terrett

Secretary      Vanessa Gibson

Directors      Gaye Mackie

Tammie Ali

Gillian Waterfield

Sylvia Curkan

Susan Gauer

Mike Quinlan

The S H H celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Calgary Seniors of the Deaf organized- Edna Bombarderi is the first president.

The Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada is hosted by Calgary.

Infra Red system purchased for our Hard of Hearing Organization- the Rotary Club was the major donor of funds.

Interpreter/Tutorial services given to 17 apprenticeship students.

We got our first computer.

1987

President      Marty Goldstein

Vice Pres      Pat Gehrke

Vice Pres      Peter Schultz

Treasurer      Allan Novodvorski

Secretary      Kathryn Wollenberg

Directors      Tammy Ali

Gayle Mackie

Gillian Waterfield

Kay Shaver retires after serving us for 17 years.

Rachel Paton is hired as our new Executive Director.

Rod Richardson wins the Sales and Marketing (SAM) award for art at the Red River Community College in Winnipeg.

The Society for Hearing Handicapped becomes Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

We arranged a bus tour to the Olympic venues- great fun.

Calgary Sports and Recreation Association of the Deaf organized.

“David Piekoff Chair” established at the U of A.

S A D C board phased out.

1988

President      Marty Goldstein

Vice Pres      Wanda Mithaug

Vice Pres      Salma Sayani

Treasurer      Allan Novodvorski

Secretary      Doris McMillen

Directors      Errol Thompson

Jim Shaw

Alnasir Kanji

Marilyn Beale

Betty Bowden

Gaye Mackie

Gillian Waterfield

Tom Stables

Neil Marshall

Lynn Wheadon

A.G.T. institutes Province wide Message relay services.

Calgary hosts Western Canada Deaf Summer Games- our Volley-Ball team won the Gold medal- Edmonton took the Silver.

Lynn Wheadon establishes a comprehensive Hard of Hearing assistance program at the Centre.

1989

President      Alnasir Kanji

Vice Pres      Susan Stenenga

Vice Pres      Lorne Weber

Treasurer      Allan Novodvorski

Secretary      Doris McMillen

Directors      Salma Sayani                      Tammy Ali

Erroll Thompson             Diana Kay

Marilyn Beale Gaye Mackie

Tom Stables Barbara Forrest

Wanda Mithaug              Kay Van de Camp

Leanne Jones

Sandra Hosler

Terry Anderson

Neil Marshall

Kevin Albertson

Gaye Mackie resigns from the Education Committee after 15 years of service.

Educational Award fund established from a bequest of $29, 000.00 from the estate of Nell Mae De Beaudrop.

Speech reading program begun.

Ian Kershaw comes to Calgary from Great Britain.

Turkey supper netted $903.00 profit.

Sports group becomes a part of the Alberta Deaf Sports Association.

1990

President      Lorne Weber

Vice Pres      David Poffenrtoh

Treasurer      Allan Novodvorski

Secretary      Sandra Hosler

Directors      Gaye Mackie

Tom Stables

Kevin Albertson

Albert Quinton

Closed Captioned News on C.F.C.N. began September 24.

Ian Kershaw became our Executive Director in April.

C.A.D. celebrates 55 years.

Calgary Warriors win Canadian Slo-pitch championship.

New format for the Calgary Cord chosen.

New logo for D.H.H.S. designed by Fraser Monaghan.

A.S.L. recognized as the cultural language of the Deaf in Alberta.

Jim Kyte joins the Flames.

Jim Terrion’s silent walk across Canada goes through Calgary in October and ends in Prince Rupert November 24th at 12:30 pm.

1991

President      Lorne Weber

Vice Pres      Albert Quinton

Treasurer      Allan Novodvorski

Secretary      Sandra Hosler

Directors      Tom Stables

Gaye Mackie

Kevin Albertson

Marilyn Kingdon

Neil Marshall

Mary Ann Bullard

Our allocation from the United Way is $113,772.00,

Our allocation from F.C.S.S. is $41,400.00.

Our allocation from Social Services is $97,000.00.

Susan Rae and Lorraine Laverdure join our staff.

World Winter Games for the Deaf comes to Calgary.

We celebrate our 30th anniversary with a reunion, June 7-8-9, 1991.

DHHS Staff 1991

Executive Director                        Ian Kershaw

Finance/Administration                  Maureen Grant Hayes

Coordinator of Interpreter Services            Ron Hahn

Volunteer Coordinator                  Lorraine Laverdure

Program Manager                        Lynn Wheadon

Outreach Worker                        Karen Jenkins

Interpreters                              Judy Delawsky

Peggy Maddox

Alice Hiscock

Receptionist/Secretary                  Susan Rae

Before 1937 there was nothing available for deaf children in Calgary.

In 1991 we have:       Stanley Jones School with 4 teachers and 31 students

Queen Elizabeth Elementary with 5 teachers and 31 students

Queen Elizabeth Jr. High with 2 teachers and 18 students

Col. Macleod Jr. High Oral Program with ½ teacher and 5 students

Van Horne Vocational with 1 teacher and 11 students

There are itinerant teachers serving 252 integrated students.

At Mount Royal College, there are 15 Hard of Hearing students- no special help requested.

At SAIT, there are 26 Hard of Hearing Students, three of whom use an FM system.

At the University of Calgary there are three Hard of Hearing Students, two of whom use an FM system.

At the Alberta Vocational Centre:

- In the literacy program there are 12 students and one teacher plus volunteers.

- In the Computer Program there are 15 students and one instructor. Also there are five interpreters available to attend on-the-job training. *IBM donated 10 computers to this program.

- For integrated students there are 1 and sometimes 2 interpreters available.

- There are 4 or 5 Hard of Hearing students in AVC programs using FM systems.

There have been two important firsts- a deaf Bank teller and a deaf person working the Attorney General’s office.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY!

From the Calgary Cord- September 1965

Training Facilities for Hearing Handicapped Children

Alberta Children’s Hospital Diagnostic Clinic

Pre-school classes run by the S H H C

Queen’s Park School- 4th St & 24th Ave NW

Principal                        Mr. Trimble

Principal of Pre-school classes      Mrs. McName

Kindergarten teacher                  Mrs. Weedmark

Nursery teacher                  Mrs. Tims

Public School Classes

Director of Special Education            Dr. C. Safran

Asst. Director of Sp. Ed.            Dr. C. Sangster

Speech Pathologist                  Mr. J. MacTavish

Consultant in Sp. Ed.                  Mrs. V. Ferguson

James Short Elementary School- 5 Ave. & 1 St SW

Principal                        Miss. E. Willie

Asst. Principal                        Mr. P. Baxter

Teachers                        Miss. A Kennedy

Mss. M. Sherwood

Col. MacLeod Jr. High School- 1610 6th St NE

Principal                        Mr. A. Fredell

Teacher                        Miss. L. Oliver

Mount Royal College

Private speech therapy on Saturdays.

Hearing Handicapped young people in the School System

Nursery Class

Sean Cotton                   Marjorie Bosch

Jeffery Jacobi            Laurie Hughes

Susan Palko                   Brenda Rosekrans

Bradley Williamson            Bill Parker

Kindergarten Class

Dawn Kasha                  Karen Mayer

Scott Jamieson            Brenda Essey

Cindy Jamieson            Edith Ross

Grant Robertson            Eddie Toft

Lorraine Warren            Joseph Urban

June McMahon

Miss Kennedy’s Class

Diane Axenty                  Jeffery Nakaska

Darlene Crowchild            Blair Larsen

Wanda Huculak            Patrick Graff

Allen Smith                  Cheryl Smith

Stanley Staples            Jane Rasmussen

Bruce White                  Eileen O’Connor

Miss Sherwood’s Class

Wendy Jeffries            Allen Dyer

Cindy Smith                  Marja Malais

Joe Olar                  Terry Anderson

Anthony Scott            Brenda Lachumuth

Rosemarie Kiefer            Deborah Wilson

Mr. Baxter’s Class

Mary Arthur                   Ronald Steenbruggen

June Kachmarski            Jack Hodgins

Werner Rose                  Robert Patterson

Brian Benetchez            Dale Bogstie

Gerald Mabley            Dale Ross

Miss Oliver’s Class

Lynn Anderson             Linda Ann Davies

Sylvia Hilterman            Bill Kraft

Deborah Mahon            Robert Hilterman

David Baxter                  Carol Pruden

Ron Healy

Alberta School for the Deaf- Edmonton

Janice Lachmuth             Jim Norris

Ronald Bell

St. Joseph’s Institute- St. Louis

Kathy MacLeod

Gallaudet College- Washington, D.C.

Douglas Bernhardt             Donald Kitson

Andy Murison            Marilyn Beale

Olaf Hilterman

Regular Classes in Calgary

Mark Backous             Samuel Hepbur

Janice Bolander            Terri Burke

Lawrence Pelletier            Pat Duke

Bruce Baxter                  Ricky Zimmerman

Brenda Cunningham            Brian Budd

Juergen Wettberg            Diane Rogers

Wendy Bruce            Bob Ellis

Ralph Johnson

From the Calgary Cord- May 1970

Scenic Acres Swim Report

The Family Swim and Awards Day was held at Scenic Acres on Saturday, April 25th. A lunch was served to everyone. Buckshot was present to entertain the children and presente the awards as follows:

Pre Beginners Crest                  Brenda Rosekrans

Beginners Crest                  Sean Cotton

Junior Crest                        Barry Killingbeck

International Crest                  Laurie Hughes

Senior Crest                        Debbie Wilson

Survival Crest                  Dennis Potter

Tom Sharkey

David Sinclair

Barry Potter

Doris Kerry

One Mile Crest 1969                  Tom Sharkey

Jay Brookes

David Sinclair

Beginners Trophy                  Brenda Rosekrans

Intermediate Pin                  Linda Davies

Half-mile Trophy                  Debbie Wilson

Linda Davies

Laurie Hughes

Bronze Bar to Mile Crest            Barry Potter

Ray Brooks

Silver Bar to Mile Crest            Ray Brooks

Junior Achievement Trophy            Barry Killingbeck

Achievement Trophy for

Performance at Pan American Games      Tom Sharkey

Achievement Trophy for Silver Bar            Ray Brookes

Mrs. Kerry would like to thank the parents for their attendance throughout the year and their help and participation in the Family Swims and Awards Day Activities. This has been a very good and successful year at Scenic Acres.

Mrs. B. Jadeske.

From the Calgary Cord- June 1970

Swimming Report

Handicapped Swim Club Awards Day- Sunday April 26th, 1970, 2:00 pm. Held at St. Barnabas’ Church. The awards were presented by Ken Batty as follows:

Perfect Attendance

David Macdonald

Red Ribbons for Achievement

Toni Lynn Alloro

Wayne Graham

Cheryl Austin

Bruce Parnell

Bradley Williamson

Diane Axenty

Shawn Penny

Ingrid Baumaun

Tom Poulson

Charlene Beecher

White Ribbons for Special Mention

Brant Spooner

Kim Berger

Charlene Taylor

Ron Bullard

Winona Wagenaar

Darwin Farrell

Clayton Gehrke

Teddy Williamson

Dawn Glover

Randy Wintrip

Bruce Cook

Blair Magee

Cathy Corns

Karen Marzocco

Della Kruchkowshi

Eileen O’Connor

Shawn Leonard

Mr. R. Smallwood

From the Calgary Cord- January 1973

To fully understand the nature of the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children and to appreciate it as a vital and dynamic force in our community, it is necessary to know something of the early ideas, hopes, aspirations, and even dreams which led to its inception.  Although no one realized it at the time, the start was made in the fall of 1958. It was then that Mrs. Jill McLeod, who had just returned from a summer at the John Tracy Clinic, felt that parents of young deaf children should meet together.

Another movement was also taking form. Reta Wilk, who had moved to Airdrie that summer with her husband, a United Church Minister, had begun working with the hearing handicapped children at James Short School in September of 1958. The association of her husband, Rev. Stephen Wilk, with Mount Royal College provided an opportunity to approach Dr. J Collett, Principal of the College, with the idea of starting a training program for these children. Discussions concerning the possibility for such training were under way as early as September 1958. A meeting was held with Dr. Collett, Principal of Mount Royal College. Among those present were Dr. Collett, Mrs. Leona Paterson, Director of the Speech Department of Mount Royal College, Mrs. Hilda Manolson, Speech Therapist for the Speech Department, Dr. C. Safran, Director of Special Education for the Calgary Public Schools and Mrs. Reta Wilk.

Dr. Collett felt very keenly that special training should be offered to the pre-school hearing handicapped. As a result, Mrs. Wilk worked out arrangements with Mrs. Leona Paterson, and began offering training for pre-school age youngsters who had speech problems due to hearing losses. Dr. Howard Wright, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Mount Royal College recognized the importance of the program and soon appeared with sufficient money, donated by personal friends, to provide a group training unit to help Mrs. Wilk with her work. Mrs. Wilk also saw the need for parents to meet together if the training programs at Mount Royal College and James Short School were to be optimal in their achievements.

In the spring of 1959, Jill McLeod and her group began meeting with the parents at the College. During this time, the parents learned much from their discussions and the programs presented. Several hearing aid consultants from the city met with them from time to time and gave them the benefit of their knowledge of developments in this important field. One of them was Albert Nichol, who was to become a particularly driving force for the group to become an incorporated body with full legal status. At a meeting of the group, Mrs. McLeod moved that application be made for incorporation as a Society under the Societies Act of the Province. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Marie Ross and carried.

At this same meeting, the first formal election of officers was held, and Mrs. B. Scott became president. Others elected were Albert Nichol and Percy Baxter as vice presidents, Mrs. Doreen Dyer, recording secretary; Mrs. Jill McLeod, corresponding secretary, Gordon Scott, treasurer; Mrs. R. Wilk and Mrs. H. Monlsen, directors. This meeting also produced a committee to prepare by-laws and a constitution for the new society. This committee consisted of Doug McLeod, a local lawyer and husband of the group’s pioneering Jill McLeod, Albert Nichol, Gordon Scott, and Percy Baxter. Its work was ratified at a general meeting a few weeks later and formal application was made to the Province. On May 2nd, 1961, the Society for Hearing Handicapped Children received its charter.

From the Calgary Cord- May 1974

Handicapped Swim Club Awards  Swims held Sundays at V R R I

1st Level                        2nd Level                  3rd Level

Sonja Oswald                  Tom Brant                  Shelley Jukich

Heather Simpson                                          Shawn Leonard

Della Lee Piper

Jason Buck

Rod Richardson

½ Mile Swim- 36 laps                              1 Mile- 71 laps

Kathy MacMullen- Swam 60 laps                        Scott Jamieson

Cindy Jamieson

Joseph Urban