GLIN==> Press release: Young Boater Safety Training for Deaf Youth a First for New York State

PRESS RELEASE:  January 11, 2010
Note: This press release is signed in ASL at www.nysgextension.org

Contacts:          
Dave White, New York Sea Grant, 315-312-3042
Drew Wickham, CNY Boating Industries Association, 585-526-5460
Frieda Heckman and Maggie Russell, AURORA of CNY, 315-422-7263
 
Young Boater Safety Training for Deaf Youth a First for New York State
 
Syracuse, NY ­ New York Sea Grant and the Boating Industry Association of
Upstate New York are partnering with AURORA of CNY to offer deaf youth
boater safety training in American Sign Language (ASL) at the February
10-14, 2010 CNY Boat Show in Syracuse, NY.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
sponsors the New York safe boating courses and 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 course with their own interpreters.
This is the first time formal training has been offered with an interpreter
signing for the entire class group.²

AURORA of CNY Director of Deaf Services Frieda Heckman says, ³This is indeed
an exciting new opportunity for deaf youth in the Central New York area.
AURORA of CNY is pleased to partner with New York Sea Grant and the Boating
Industry Association of Upstate New York to provide the first-ever
ASL-facilitated edition of the Young Boater Safety training.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. New
York Sea Grant will teach the course with ASL interpreters from AURORA of
CNY signing the Young Boater Safety Certification instruction.

³New York Sea Grant is pleased to sponsor and teach this training that will
enable deaf youth ages 10 to 21 to join the ranks of their young peers who
legally and safely operate a boat on New York waters and enjoy our fabulous
freshwater recreational resources,² says New York Sea Grant Recreation &
Tourism Specialist Dave White.

The 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. Parents are
encouraged to attend the training with their children.

Each registered youth will receive three free admission passes to the
Central New York Boat Show.

³Offering boat safety training for deaf youth is definitely an exciting
first for the Central New York Boat Show. This new educational opportunity
is a great fit for the Boating Industry Association mission to create and
expand public access to our waterfront and waters,² says Boating Industry
Association of Upstate New York President Maureen Doyle.

Pre-registration for the limited free seating for the course is required.
Register with AURORA of CNY by phone: 315-422-7263, or TTY/TDD phone:
315-422-9746 or follow the registration process signed in ASL at videophone
number 315-422-7263.

For more information, contact New York Sea Grant Oswego office at
315-312-3042, www.nysgextension.org.
# # #

AURORA of CNY was created in 1991 when the Syracuse Association of Workers
for the Blind, Inc. (estab. 1917) and the Central New York Association for
the Hearing Impaired (estab. 1976, following a study in the 1970s
identifying the needs of deaf community members). The Marjorie Clere
Interpreter Referral Service, created in 1979, provides professional Sign
Language interpreting. Aurora of CNY predicts that by age 55, one of every
three individuals has some degree of hearing loss. Aurora of CNY is located
at 518 James Street in Syracuse, NY.
 
Contact: Director of Deaf Services Frieda Heckman or Interpreter Referral
Service Director Maggie Russell, phone: 315-422-7263, videophone:
315-422-7263, TTY/TDD phone: 315-422-9746, email: auroracny at auroraofcny.org,
web: www.auroracny.org
 
New York Sea Grant is one of the largest extension programs in the National
Sea Grant network. New York Sea Grant educators and specialists work with
shoreline stakeholders to conduct research and outreach to facilitate
understanding, appreciation and use of NY¹s Great Lakes shoreline¹s natural
and recreational resources. New York Sea Grant¹s Great Lakes Program has
offices on the State University of New York campuses in Oswego, Brockport
and Buffalo. 
 
Contact: Dave White, 315-312-3042; web: www.nysgextension.org
<http://www.nysgextension.org>
 
Boating Industry Association of Upstate New York informs the public of
federal and state boating rules and regulations for using New York¹s
freshwaters, including Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the Finger
Lakes, and for the Historic Erie Canal system. Association members represent
boat-related businesses from boat sales to boat restoration and canvas
makers. The annual February CNY Boat Show in Syracuse is one of the
Association¹s many different outreach.
 
Contact: CNY Boat Show & Sales Manager Drew Wickham, 315-447-9286; web:
www.cnybia.org <http://www.cnybia.org>
 
Central New York Boat Show
§  The Central New York Boat Show and Sale is New York State¹s largest &
oldest boat show.
§  You will see more than 500 power and sail boats, yachts, water recreation
equipment and marine accessories on display at the Central New York Boat
Show and Sale.
§  Show Hours:  1-9 pm Wednesday, February 10; Thursday, February 11; and
Friday, February 12; 10 am-8 pm Saturday, February 13; and 10 am-5 pm
Sunday, February 14.
§  Show Admission: $9 per person; children under 12 free. Parking and
parking lot shuttles are free.
§ More info: www.cnyboatshow.com <http://www.cnyboatshow.com> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/glin-announce/attachments/20100111/463aaadc/attachment.html