On February 5th, 2010 Mr. Rogelio Figueroa, Environmental Activist and Governor Candidate for the PPR Party (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico) arrived to the Gracias VRS Hatillo Call Center. As he toured the premises, he admired the building and its presentation. He recognized the significance of our competent and professional interpreters for the Deaf Community. Mr. Figueroa expressed that Gracias VRS and ASL Latino “are opening doors for the communication and education of the Deaf Community”.

Company Director and Call Center representatives answered his questions about the interpreting field, ASL Services: Latino, and shared our company’s history as well the achievements of it’s president and CEO Angela Roth.

Mr. Figueroa also had the opportunity to experience a VRS call from one of PR’s Deaf leaders.

Mr. Figueroa commended Gracias VRS and ASL Services: Latino for the educational and informative role to hearing society. His general impression was, that we are fulfilling our purpose, as we become the access point for the “voice” of the Deaf Community, so they can be heard through us.


On Saturday, February 6, 2010, from one to four PM, the Deaf Library Friends: Puerto Rico will present a deaf cultural program in American Sign Language (ASL), “Bridging Deaf Cultures in Puerto Rico.” ASL/Spanish Interpreters will be provided.

Co-sponsored by the St. Gabriel School for the Deaf and Gracias VRS (Video Relay Service), the program will be held in the auditorium of the St. Gabriel School for the Deaf. The address is Prolongación Calle 19 N.E. Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico 00920.

Jose Carrasquillo, the school principal, will greet the audience. Three guest speakers will give a brief history about these two American schools for the deaf.

Edgardo Figueroa, Vice President, SOS Inc, will narrate Laurent Clerc and Thomas H. Gallaudet’s 52-day ocean voyage from France to America. Clerc and Gallaudet, along with Dr. Mason F. Cogswell, co-founded the American School for the Deaf in 1817. This was the first permanent school for the deaf in the West Hemisphere.

Alice L. Hagemeyer, President of the Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (FOLDA), will invite deaf audience members to share their cultural experiences, describing what happened when they first learned ASL. Alice Cogswell, daughter of Dr. Cogswell, first learned signs from Laurent Clerc. Alice wrote later about this thrilling moment. She said, “My heart glow”.

Juan A. Lopez, School Librarian, will display pictures on the history of the first school for the deaf in Puerto Rico – San Gabriel School for the Deaf, founded in 1904. Lopez believes that if the deaf community does not know its own history, there can be “no school future”. Libraries in Puerto Rico can make a difference.

In closing, there will be a special workshop. Anthony “Tony” Eaddy, a deaf library friend, will share his experience with computers. He and Alec McFarlane will discuss technologies used in communication among deaf and hearing people. Gracias VRS will also explain how the technology works and available services.

Deaf Library Friends’ mission is to promote library access and quality deaf resources in local Puerto Rican communities. The program has been developed to facilitate cultural exchange and to raise appreciation for the deaf cultures and libraries that make America great.

Contact
Alec McFarlane, President
Deaf Library Friends: Puerto Rico
Phone: 866-791-8535

Submitted by Alice L. Hagemeyer
E-newsletter: Deaf Community and Library News
www.folda.net