SIUC Disabled Student Services is planning several activities next week for Deaf Awareness Week to create a way SIUC students can learn more about deafness and deaf culture, a service interpreter says.

Heather Timmons, an interpreter at the service, said there are many misconceptions about deaf people that need to be cleared up.

Deaf people are not dumb creatures as portrayed on TV, Timmons said. There are deaf people in every socioeconomic group, every slice of life.

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We want to encourage people to learn American Sign Language this week, she said. SIU does offer (sign language) classes through the Foreign Language Department here.

Amy Brown, also an interpreter at the service said, People should not force deaf people to speak or read lips or wear hearing aids. People who force deaf people to wear hearing aids and talk instead of using sign language is like giving a blind child glasses.

John Brenann, a biological science major from Chicago who has been deaf since birth, said it is important that all people develop a better understanding of what it means to be deaf.

Being a deaf student at SIUC, I feel that Deaf Awareness Week is a good idea, Brenann said. People should be more open about approaching a deaf person. People often think I will bite or think, Oh a deaf person.’

There is only a small group of deaf people here at SIUC, but I think that will change. A lot of my friends at John A. Logan are planning on transferring here, he said.

Brenann said once people learn more about deaf culture, there are many ways they can help deaf people.

SIUC students can do a lot to help deaf students and interpreters by taking notes in class for deaf students, since it is hard to watch an interpreter and take notes all at the same time, he said. Volunteers do get paid $4.25 an hour to help.

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The service will be passing out cards on how to learn the alphabet letters in American Sign Language at noon on Sept. 19 in front of Faner, Timmons said.

The service is also planning on showing a movie titled The Land of the Deaf at John A. Logan College Sept. 19 and 20. A pizza party is planned Sept. 20 for Deaf and hearing impaired students at Woody Hall B142 starting at 11 a.m. A picnic is also planned for Sept. 30 at noon at the DeSoto park.

For more information concerning Deaf Awareness Week contact Disabled Student Services at 453-5738 or stop by Woody Hall B150.