During the summer months Deaf/Hard of Hearing children often experience isolation and a breakdown in communication skills. From August to June the youth are generally active within their schools and interact with piers. However, when the summer hits they are often separated from their piers due to geographical locations. Friendships and relationships are temporarily interrupted. Such interruptions in social relationships can result in a decline of social-interpersonal and communication skills.
The Community Centers for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have taken on the challenge of confronting this issue by planning and providing summer activities for the youth that focus on personal development, social and communication skills, self-confidence, and positive self-identity.
The Mansfield Community Center for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, located at Catalyst Life Services, is one of 10 Community Centers for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Ohio. We serve Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot counties.
Mansfield, along with Centers from Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown, are coordinating resources to provide a variety of summer activities for Deaf/Hard of Hearing youth.
Activities include:
- Do It Deaf Kick Off – June 12
- Do It Deaf Camp June 12 – 15, 2013
- One day Activity in Canton – Open Captioned Movie and an Afternoon in the Park June 26
- One day Activity in Akron – Professional Deaf Performer July 11
- One Day Activity in Cleveland – A Day at the Beach July 24
- Activities with Youngstown Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services August 7
Detailed information on summer activities can be obtained by calling Lynn Feldman, Coordinator for The Mansfield Community Center for Deaf/Hard of Hearing at 419-774-2255, or email at [email protected].
Summer Deaf/Hard of Hearing programs are provided through a generous grant from Advocates for Kids, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, Michael Repas, Executive Director.
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