Wednesday Blurb: Making Read for the Record Accessible to Deaf Audiences (UPDATED)

UPDATED:  The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind link was not working so I have come back to change them out.

As you know, tomorrow is Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. This is an annual, early literacy initiative that uses the motivation of setting a world record to raise awareness not only of the importance of reading with our children, but the long-term impact it has on their learning. The presenting sponsor for the event is the Pearson Foundation.

The goal is to have millions of children and adults read the same book, on the same day. This year’s chosen book is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Like the books before it, this is a classic, timeless story. On a personal note, I particularly like that it features a child of color.

In this morning’s mail, I received a press release from Carrie Hill, of Carrie Hill Public Relations. Her client, American Sign Language (ASL) Storyteller and Performing Artist Keith Wann, is participating in a live, interactive performance as a way to broaden the ASL Community’s access to Read for the Record event. From the press release:

Wann will be appearing in a live interactive and streaming performance of The Snowy Day at the Safety Harbor Public Library at 10:00 am on October 7th. The event venue is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, which houses one of the largest deaf libraries in the state of Florida. Keith’s performance will be accessible in live access, for all interested parties through the following link http://www.wegivebooks.org/pf/rftr/index.html.

“The Pearson Foundation is delighted to share Wann’s ASL video with children and adults in the hard of hearing and deaf community,” said Kathy Hurley, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Pearson. “We are committed to including as many people as possible in this day of service and Mr. Wann’s ASL version of The Snowy Day provides one more way to expand the reach of Read for the Record.”

Performing artist Keith Wann, renowned for his ASL advocacy and stand-up comedy among deaf and Coda(Children of Deaf Adults) society, has performed and produced an American Sign Language version of TheSnowy Day for deaf participants in schools, libraries, homes, communities and other institutions of learning.Free access to Wann’s ASL video can be found on You Tube, KeithWann.com, Volunteer USA, Jumpstart and Pearson Foundation websites. Wann’s ASL video will also be distributed to all school districts in Floridathrough the Florida Knowledge Network.

When asked about the importance of Wann’s role in broadening the ASL community’s access to the Read for the Record event, Education Commissioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith said, “I’m thrilled that the Department of Education is able to use the Florida Knowledge Network to share this special video with students throughout the state. The Snowy Day is a fantastic story and this effort by Mr. Wann creates the perfect opportunity for more of our families to take advantage of such an enriching experience.”

Wann will be appearing in a live interactive and streaming performance of The Snowy Day at the SafetyHarbor Public Library at 10:00 am on October 7th. The event venue is part of the Pinellas Public LibraryCooperative, which houses one of the largest deaf libraries in the state of Florida. Keith’s performance willbe accessible in live access, for all interested parties through the following link.

If you would like to see a previously-recorded version of Mr. Wann reading The Snowy Day, you can go to this link, on the Pearson Foundation YouTube channel.  Keith also has an ASL-performance version of Eric Caarle’s classic (and previous Read for the Record selection), The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

You can learn more about Read for the Record … and pledge to read tomorrow — at the Read for the Record website.