Deaf Community,
We are excited to offer you the opportunity to participate in improving our community. The Dallas Deaf community is once again presenting Deaf Celebration “Expo”. Deaf Celebration has its roots in the Deaf President Now movement that occurred in 1988 at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC through which a Deaf president was finally appointed at Gallaudet University serving D/deaf students.
Deaf Celebration, here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, began in 1992 to celebrate that event. The organization became inactive for about 10 years and we are excited to bring it back to life on September 24, 2016!
The goal of Deaf Celebration is multipurpose. First, we wish to provide a forum where Deaf people can gather, learn from exhibitors and workshops, and enjoy entertainment targeted to an audience of D/deaf individuals. We wish to broaden the public’s knowledge of Deaf culture and Deaf heritage and create an environment where parents, professionals, children, teachers, doctors, educators, students, and other interested people can come together to learn about and celebrate the vibrancy of Deaf Culture. Another purpose of this spectacular event is to create public awareness of organizations of, for, and by the Deaf. Finally, Deaf Celebration provides a forum for artists, performing artists, and craftspeople that are Deaf.
We are asking for your help in three areas. First, we have booths available for exhibitors if you would like the Deaf Community and others to learn more about your organization. Booth rental is $50 for a Non-Profit Organization and $100 for a Profit Organization. For those who need an electrical outlet, there is a $25 additional cost. The college provided free Wi-Fi access to anybody.
Our second request from your organization relates to our desire to make this event accessible to all individuals. Interpreters and ASL students will donate their time to be available to facilitate communication between individuals who use sign language and those who cannot. But the barrier that is most difficult to overcome is that of cost. We have sponsors available if you are interested.
Finally, we request that you provide door prizes such as gift certificates, merchandise, coupons, services, or anything else that could be given as gifts or raffled off.
Please consider supporting your local Deaf Community. Deaf Celebration is a 501c (3) organization, and you can learn more about it at our website at http://www.deafcelebration.org. Please feel free to contact me to discuss this request further. My e-mail address is info@deafcelebration.org. Our mailing address is Deaf Celebration, Inc. PO Box 698, Lake Dallas, Texas 75065.
Thank you!
Grant W. Laird, Jr.
Chairperson