GLIN==> News release: Boating family inspires State's first safety training for deaf youth

PRESS RELEASE:  February 1, 2010
Contacts:          
·  Dave White, New York Sea Grant, 315-312-3042
·  Drew Wickham, Boating Industry Association of Upstate New York,
585-526-5460
·  Frieda Heckman or Maggie Russell, AURORA of CNY, 315-422-7263
·  Kevin Cooper, Cooper¹s Marina, 315-635-7371
 
Boating Family Inspires State¹s First Safety Training for Deaf Youth
Course Begins at CNY Boat Show February 10-14
 
Syracuse, NY - Kevin Cooper and his 10-year-old sons Adam and Jacob have
boated as a family since the boys were born. The twin brothers are now ready
to be certified safe boaters and thanks to a partnership of New York Sea
Grant, the CNY Boating Industries Association and AURORA of CNY, both boys
can begin earning their certificates at the Central New York Boat Show
February 10-14, 2010.
 
Jacob will take the Young Boater¹s Certification course for ages 10-17
offered at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY, on Thursday,
February 11, 6-8:30pm, and Saturday, February 13, 10am-3:30pm.
 
Adam, however, is hard-of-hearing and, although his dad Kevin operates
Cooper¹s Marina in Baldwinsville, Kevin did not know of any courses to help
deaf youth obtain the certification needed for youth to legally and safely
operate a boat on New York waters.
 
³One day at a Boat Show Committee meeting I asked Dave White of New York Sea
Grant how a youth who is deaf could receive boating certification. The next
thing I know Dave is calling to say Sea Grant and the Boating Industry
Association of Upstate New York (BIA) have the opportunity to partner with
AURORA of CNY to offer young boater safety training with American Sign
Language interpreters at the Central New York Boat Show in 2010. My vote was
yes,² says Kevin, who serves on the BIA CNY Boat Show Committee.
 
AURORA of CNY, based in Syracuse, provides services to people with hearing
or vision loss.
 
Boating Industry Association of Upstate New York President Maureen Doyle
says, ³The Association is pleased to combine resources with New York Sea
Grant and AURORA of CNY to sponsor this first-ever interpreter-facilitated
young boater training at the February boat show to extend the enjoyment of
boating to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.²
 
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
sponsors the New York safe boating courses. Director of Marine Services
Brian Kempf says, ³This new training for the deaf is a first for New York
State. Deaf individuals have taken the boater safety course with their own
interpreters. This is the first time formal training has been offered with
an interpreter signing for the entire class.²
 
Deaf/hard-of-hearing youth ages 10 to 21 may register for the free training
required for youth to legally operate a boat in New York State waters.
 
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters from AURORA of CNY will sign the
Young Boater Safety Certification Course in American Sign Language for the
youth and their parent(s).
 
The free course will be held in four 5:30-7:30pm sessions, starting
Wednesday, February 10 and Friday, February 12 in the Horticulture Building
Seminar Room at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The series will
conclude with Wednesday, February 24 and Friday, February 26 sessions at the
AURORA offices at 518 James Street, Syracuse.
 
The free Young Boater Safety Certification Course for hearing youth will be
held in two sessions at the boat show: Thursday, February 11, 6-8:30pm, and
Saturday, February 13, 10am-3:30pm, including certification exam.
 
New York Sea Grant will teach the deaf/hard-of-hearing youth in cooperation
with AURORA¹s American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. US Coast Guard
Auxiliary and Syracuse Sail & Power Squadron instructors are teaching the
traditional Young Boater Safety course.  Youth must attend all 8-hours of
training and complete a proctored exam to receive their certificate.
 
The courses are offered free. Each registrant receives three free admission
passes to the boat show.
 
Seating for both editions of the safety course is limited and
pre-registration is required. Deaf youth may register with AURORA of CNY by
phone: 315-422-7263, TTY/TDD phone: 315-422-9746 or follow the registration
process signed in ASL at videophone 315-422-7263. Hearing youth may register
with the New York Sea Grant Oswego office at 315-312-3042,
www.nysgextension.org <http://www.nysgextension.org> .
 
The Central New York Boat Show, the state¹s largest and oldest boat show
with more than 500 boats of all types on display. Show admission is $9 per
person; children younger than 12 free. # # #

Jpg available from karalynn at gisco.net, 315-465-7578:
Adam (right) and Jacob Cooper will begin earning their Young Boater Safety
Certificates at the February 10-14, 2010 Central New York Boat Show. The
training is being offered for hearing and, for the first time at the show,
for deaf youth.


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