From: Earl.Appleby@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Earl Appleby)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: International deaf
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:43:13 GMT
Reply-To: Earl.Appleby@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV
X-Fidonet: Able News Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 24749

[This is from the AbleNews Conference]

ABLEnews PSA

           I N T E R N A T I O N A L   D E A F    E D U C A T I O N
                A N D    A D V A N C E M E N T    F U N D

It's not easy being deaf if you happen to be born in a developing
Third World nation.

      Less than one-fifth of all deaf people in poor countries receive
      any education.

      Most deaf people in poor countries cannot read their own names.

      Most deaf peole in developing countries cannot count to ten.

      Many developing nations deny basic human rights to their deaf
      and hard of hearing citizens.

         According to statistics released by the World Federation of
         the Deaf, at least 26 countries do not permit their deaf
         citizens to earn a driver's license.

         A few countries have put legal limits on the rights of of
         deaf people to marry and raise the family they choose.

         Deaf people in some developing nations do not have the right
         to vote in elections.

      Unemployment rates in the deaf community are high.

But what can we do to help?

Plenty -- just read on!

      On August 12, 1991, the International Deaf Education and
      Advancement Fund (International D.E.A.F.), an endowed
      scholarship fund, was established at Gallaudet University to
      help the deaf communities of developing countries. Gallaudet is
      the only liberal arts university for the deaf in the world.

      The fund was founded thorugh the generosity of Gallaudet
      students and their families.

      Scholarships will be given to deaf students:

         who come from a developing country and

         plan to go home after graduation to help the deaf community
         of their country in educational and social advancemen

                  Why Give to International D.E.A.F.?

"Deaf education in this country has enabled us in the deaf community
to take our rightful role as important contributors to U.S. society.
It is now time we help those in less developed countries to reach
their full potential."
                                Andrea Shettle
                                Author, Flute Song Magic
                                Founder, International D.E.A.F.

"We are very grateful to [International D.E.A.F.'s] founder, Ms.
Andrea Shettle, for her quick response to the depressing WFD report
about education of deaf children in developing countries. Deaf
children around the world will certainly appreciate your exemplary
efforts.

"The fact that 80 percent of deaf children in developing countries
have no access to education is a serious challenge for us."

                                Dr. Yerker Andersson
                                President
                                World Federation of the Deaf

"I was very pleased to learn . . . about the establishment of
International D.E.A.F.  Its goal of providing scholarships to
needy foreign students at Gallaudet University responds to an
urgent requirement for deaf leadership in developing nations.
I have witnessed first hand the desperate plight of deaf people in
several African countries where educated deaf people are so rare
they are widely believed to be ineducable, unemployable and
unmarriagebale.  Many Eurpoean nations have recognized the
necessity of extending a helping hand to deaf people in the
Third World; it is long past time we did the same."

                                Dr. Harlan Lane
                                University Distinguished Professor
                                Northeastern University
                                Recipient, MacArthur "Genius" Grant
                                Author, When the Mind Hears

Please make a donation to support this important cause!

When you give to International D.E.A.F., remember:

        THE IMPACT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE FELT AROUND THE WORLD.

                THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!

Donations to International DEAF may be mailed to:

     International D.E.A.F.
     c/o Development Offile
     Gallaudet University
     800 Florida Avenue, N.E.
     Washington, D.C. 20002-3625
     United States of America.

For more information, contact:

     Andrea Shettle
     5504 Uppingham St.
     Chevy Chase, MD 20815
     IN%"RED_TREK@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu"

Historical note:  Shettle, founder of International D.E.A.F., may also
                  be the first person born deaf to publish a novel,
                  Flute Song Magic.  Published in November, 1990,
                  Flute Song Magic was the winning entry in the 1989
                  Avon Flare Books biannual novel-writing competition
                  for teenagers.

This notice may be crossposted or redistributed at will.

We have crossposted it from the Yellow Dream Machine's 504 Club,
with a tip of our ABLEnews hat to its host, Bill Scarborough.

...For further information, contact CURE, 812 Stephen Street, Berkeley
Springs, West Virginia 254511 (304-258-LIFE/5433).

 * SLMR 2.1 * Care enough to make a difference. --ABLEnews (1:275/429.4

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