Deaf Support Center established in Nara Prefecture

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A DVD library and a chatting space are in the center.
(photo: http://mytown.asahi.com/)

September 2, 2012

The Nara Prefecture Deaf Support Center was established in the prefecture social welfare center in Kashihara city on September 1.

The sign language interpreter is full-time employed, ready to respond to consultation with a deaf visitor on personal problems.

The Deaf Support Center offers a space for the exchange with the residents, or a place for sign language interpreting training. It also lends out the movie subtitled and about 2,000 DVDs converted from TV programs.

According to Murakami Takeshi-san (56), chairman of the Prefecture Association of the Deaf which manages the new center, the prefecture has about 6,000 Deaf persons.

He says, "Because there was no counselor for the Deaf in nearby cities, towns and villages, many Deaf persons had suffered troubles. We would like to use this center for broad uses, such as consultation, information dissemination, training, etc."

Opening time:  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., weekdays.


Japanese original article:
http://mytown.asahi.com/nara/news.php?k_id=30000001209020002

Company donates the proceeds from its charity to school for the Deaf

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September 4, 2012

A press release dated of August 31 from The AXA Life Japan, an insurance company, it conducted the "Breakfast Charity" from June through August this year, and donated a total of 654,462 yen which was added the donation of the same amount from the company to the Meisei-Gakuen School for the Deaf, a private school for the Deaf in Tokyo.

The "Breakfast Charity" is the charity event which carries out charity sale of the breakfast for the employees, aiming to support an organization by deducting the cost price. It has been held every year since 2008.

Approximately 1,300 employees in the AXA Life Japan head office and about 40 operation branches across the country participated this year.

Meisei-Gakuen School for the Deaf is the first school in Japan to introduce the bilingual education for Deaf children with Japanese Sign Language as the first language and written Japanese as the second.

One of the Deaf workers employed by the AXA Life Japan introduced the school for the charity project in 2008.


Japanese original article:
http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2012/09/04/121/

Meisei-gakuen School for the Deaf official website:
http://www.meiseigakuen.ed.jp/english/index.html

Deaf students practice comic story in sign language

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Ayagaki Aoi-san practices a comic story telling at the Kumamoto School for the Deaf.
(photo : http://kumanichi.com/)

September 3, 2012

The sign language comic storytelling club of the Kumamoto School for the Deaf, located in Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto Prefecture in the southern island of Japan, is a unique group in the whole country continuing activity.

A sign language comic story telling was invented by the 4th generation Katsura Fukudanji (71), the director of a Kansai Rakugo Association who was temporarily unable speak because of the illness of a throat in the 1970s. It has the feature to express classical rakugo (comic story) using every part of the whole body, which was reportedly spread nationally with more awareness of sign language.

The sign language comic storytelling club was formed at Kumamato School in 2006. Eight club members from junior high school to advance course level strive for practice once per week with DVD at reference, in which the professional comic storyteller tackled the sign language comic story.

Ayagaki Aoi-san, a high school junior, has begun the sign language comic story when she was a junior high school student. She said, "it is difficult for me to express joy, anger, humor and pathos only with facial expression, without using the language. The members and my teacher check my performance repeatedly so that the audience understands it perfectly."

Since Iido Keiko-sensei, an advisory teacher, interprets using a microphone while a member performs a comic story in the hall, those who do not know sign language can also understand it.

These days, public requests from some of the people who saw performances by the storytelling club at the school cultural festival, etc., are increasing.


Japanese original aritcle:
http://kumanichi.com/osusume/toretate/kiji/20120903001.shtml

Education Board to close two schools for the deaf in Hokkaido Prefecture in 2014

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September 5, 2012

The Hokkaido Education Board meeting was held on September 4, and the board opted for the public high school layout planning in the 2013-15 fiscal year.

In the plan of a special support school, the Otaru School for the Deaf and the Kushiro School for the Deaf in the spring of 2014. Both have ten or less students, respectively.
 
The Otaru School will be unified to the Sapporo School for the Deaf in the prefecture, and the Kushiro School will be changed to the Deaf Education Department in the new special support school which will be established in Kushiro city.


Japanese original article:
http://mytown.asahi.com/hokkaido/news.php?k_id=01000001209050004

Saddest days of my life!

To contact us Click HERE








 It comes with great sadness to come on here to tell you that the love of my life who has fought the hardest battle I've ever seen someone fight but has lost the battle.

6/7/63 -  8/2/12

My husband passed away on Wednesday from Melanoma Cancer that found its way into every part of his body!

I have spent the last nine months in a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from.  So many of you have sent us well wishes and it has been impossible to take time away from my family to keep you updated.

Please continue to keep my children in your prayers and I hope to be back soon telling you about the amazing progress that Lucas has made. 


I've included his funeral information for those friends that we've met that would like to pay their respects.

http://www.facebook.com/events/356667517744783/

Again, I can't tell you how much Chuck appreciated all of the prayers and well wishes for him.


May the Lord cradle you in his arms as I have for the last 15 years.  Rest in peace my love, rest in peace.  Thank you for our beautiful children and amazing life together!

Deaf children enjoy learning the "Railroad City" history

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The children observe the model of old Nogata Station.
(photo: http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/

September 7, 2012

About 130 third graders of Kanda Elementary School and the Nogata School for the Deaf, both located in Nogata-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture in a southern island of Japan, visited the "railroad and train club" in the city, and enjoyed the model of the railroad and the steam locomotive.

The children were picked up at each school by the bus manufactured in 1986 which had run with a boarded retro atmosphere around in the city.

In front of the large-sized model of Nogata Station, the children learned that the rail yard in Nogata is still used even the vehicles were changed from the diesel locomotive and the old train.


Japanese original article:
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/322710

Training for policemen stationed in a police box through sign-language interpreting in Hokkaido

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September 5, 2012

There was training through a sign language interpreter to meet the daily needs of a Deaf person, etc. at the Sapporo Station north entrance police box in Hokkaido Prefecture.

Takahashi Yumiko-san (57), a Deaf woman , visited the police box with the interpreter. She works for the planning office and is a sign language lecturer in Sapporo City in the prefecture.

By assumption that she lost the wallet at the airport, Takahashi-san explained to the policeman about how she lost it, etc., and then answered the questions from the policeman in sign language.

One of the policemen who participated said, "I thought that it was difficult to tell something to check by sign language. I would prefer written communication for an actual case, but I will try to ask more details to make the Deaf visitor feel comfortable."


Japanese original article:
http://mainichi.jp/area/hokkaido/news/20120905ddlk01040279000c.html

Survey on persons with disabilities in the areas hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake

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September 24, 2012

It turned out by the survey of the three prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima) that 1,655 persons with disabilities who owned the disability card fell victim to the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011.

Based on the survey concluded on September 7 of these prefectures, the mortality rate which accounts for the whole possessors of the disability card was 1.5%, about twice of all the residents' mortality rate (0.8%).

The serious issue was clarified on how a person with disability is supported in society at the time of a disaster.

The most casualty count of the disability card possessors at a prefecture level was Miyagi as 1,103 persons, followed by Iwate (436 persons) and Fukushima (116 persons).

In Miyagi the persons with disabilities occupied about 90 percent of the whole prefecture; 519 persons with physical disability, 75 Deaf/hard of hearing, and 69 visual impairment.


Japanese original article:
http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2012/09/20120924t73030.htm

Deaf man expresses a song in sign language

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September 25, 2012

Hirahara Keisuke-san (36), the Deaf man who lives in Saga Prefecture in the southern island of Japan, is tackling the "sign language song."

He translates a song into sign language so that it may be easy to transmit the meaning of words rather than expresses the words directly.

"Those who do not know sign language will even enjoy the song in sign language with music. I hope people learn the fun of sign language."

Hirahara-san went to the Saga Prefecture School for the Deaf in Saga City at the beginning. Later, in order to learn how to speak Japanese, he attended the hearing elementary school in his hometown.

After he graduated from the hearing high school, he was spoken to by the Deaf man in the same class by sign language while studying printing technique in the industrial training school in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Hirahara-san hardly used sign language till then. Talking with the hearing people using the spoken language, he had "always felt teased," but know he has come to be happy with the signed communication.


Japanese original article:
http://mainichi.jp/area/saga/news/20120925ddlk41040454000c.html

New sumo grand champion knows Mongolian sign language

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September 23, 2012

The Associated PRESS reported that Mongolian wrestler Harumafuji has been promoted to sumo's highest rank, becoming the 70th grand champion in the history of the sport.

He came to Japan from Mongolia in September, 2000 to play sumo, one of the Japanese traditional sports. Even if exercise was severe, he wanted to prove that he was one of the best sumo wrestlers.

He is the youngest of three brothers, and knows how to sign because the eldest brother is Deaf.

Five years ago, he established the foundation "ABAAZAN" in Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital, where eight persons with disabilities are making eco-friendly bags and aprons.

English edition:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/sumo/AJ201209260010

Japanese edition:
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20120923-1021646.html

PA Supreme Court one judge short

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The Legal Intelligencer published an editorial this week, titled "Absence of Seventh Justice Impairs Court's Ability to Act," commenting on the current situation of the PA Supreme Court since Justice Joan Orie Melvin was suspended earlier this year. This leaves the Court with 6 justices, which is a concern because it is very possible that there will be 3-3 split decisions and default affirmation of appellate court rulings.  The editorial points out that the result of this is that the PA appellate courts - Superior Court and Commonwealth Court - may be the last stop in the state judicial process. Says the Intelligencer: "This is madness. Members of the appellate bar and law professors agree that the votes will effectively neutralize the Supreme Court in many cases and leave in place rulings that litigants believe are dubious at best."

hat tip:  Joel Fishman

Blue Book comparison

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Law librarian Mary Whishner, at the University of Washington, has written a comparison of the 3 formats of the Blue Book: print, online, and iPad/Phone/Pod app. Her article is on LLRX.  The cost of the print Bluebook is now $34 from the publisher, and it weighs 1 lb, 6 oz. A subscription to the online version, available at www.legalbluebook.com, is $32 for one year, $42 for two years, and $50 for three years. The app is a very recent option.  Users need to download the app Rulebook and then purchase the Bluebook content for $39.99.  

JSTOR goes (more) mobile

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JSTOR has announced improvements to using JSTOR on a mobile device. Rather than a device-specific app or a separate mobile site, they have used responsive design to implement an under-the-hood overhaul that enables the JSTOR interface to adapt to the screen size of a device automatically. This means that areas of the pages on the site are "reflowed", moved, or hidden to present a simpler but fully functional experience for researchers.  The new mobile design works well on a wide variety of mobile phones and tablets. Via mobile devices, researchers may now use the Institution Finder to log in from remote locations, complete advanced searches, save and manage citations and alerts, and access full-text content. There's a video explaining Institution Finder on the JSTOR video tutorial page. They are also offering a free webinar, called "Learn How to Get the Most from the JSTOR Platform", on October 19, 2012. 

New Congress.gov site in beta

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Last week, the Library of Congress (LC) announced that the LC, the U.S. Congress and the Government Printing Office (GPO) launched the new beta Congress.gov, which combines Congress's internal LIS system with THOMAS. The Congress.gov site includes bill status and summary, bill text and member profiles and some new features:

• Effective display on mobile devices; 
• Ability to narrow and refine search results; 
• Ability to simultaneously search all content across all available years, with some files dating from the 93rd congress; 
• Easier identification of current bill status; 
• Members’ legislative history and biographical profiles; 
• Maintenance of existing features such as links to video of the House and Senate floor, top searched bills and the save/share feature. 

 While the site is in beta, it’s important that the Library of Congress hear feedback from legal researchers. The Library is releasing Congress.gov as a beta site to enable a period of time for collecting user feedback and refining functionality while other content is incorporated. The Library anticipates Congress.gov will operate as a beta site for approximately one year as this work is completed. During that time, both THOMAS and LIS will continue to operate as usual.

Gov Doc wins the 2012 Ig Noble Prize for Literature

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The Ig Noble Prizes are awarded each year by Improbable Research Inc. The winners are announced at a gala ceremony at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre and prizes are physically handed out by genuinely bemused genuine Nobel laureates. This year's Ig Noble Prize for Literature was awarded to: the US Government General Accountability Office, for issuing a report about reports about reports that recommends the preparation of a report about the report about reports about reports.The winning title: "Actions Needed to Evaluate the Impact of Efforts to Estimate Costs of Reports and Studies," (32 page pdf, including a helpful link where you can report fraud, waste and abuse in federal programs)  US Government General Accountability Office report GAO-12-480R, May 10, 2012.

Baby Sign Language - Hot

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A good time to introduce the baby sign for hot is when you are cooking, boiling water, or have a hot cup of coffee. From a safe distance, show your baby that steam and stove are hot.

Hot is signed with your right hand at mouth level. Use a clawed 5 hand shape with your palm toward your face. Move your hand away from your mouth and downward quickly as if removing something hot from your mouth. You can show a pained facial expression for greater effect.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Cold

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A cold winter day, entering a swimming pool, or playing with an ice cube are all good times to introduce the baby sign for cold.

Cold is signed with both hands at chest level. Use the A hand shape with both hands, held apart, palms facing. Shake your hands back and forth as if shivering. You can add a facial expression for greater effect.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Hurt (Pain)

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Unfortunately boo-boos are a part of discovery and growing up. They are also a good time to introduce the baby sign for hurt.

Hurt is signed with both hands at chest level or near the hurt area of your body. Use the 1 hand shape with both hands facing the body. Tap your fingers together indicating the site of the hurt.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Cat

To contact us Click HERE

Pointing to your pet cat is a great way to introduce the baby sign for cat. Even if you don't have a pet cat, you can point to a picture of a cat in a story book.

Cat is signed with your right hand at the side of your mouth. Use the F hand shape and move your hand outward several times as if stroking the whiskers of a cat.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Dog

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Pointing to your pet dog is a great way to introduce the baby sign for dog. Even if you don't have a pet dog, you can point to a picture of a dog in a story book.

Dog is signed with your right hand at your thigh. Use the B hand shape with your palm facing your body. Tap your thigh several times as if calling a dog.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Judgment in braille at court: "blind culture was recognized"

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September 7, 2012

The Nagoya District Court responded for the request from Umeo Akemi-san, the totally blind woman who started the civil action, by giving the sentence in braille on September 7.

It met the flow of the improvement of the disability right with internationally increasing opportunity.

However, it is only the 2nd example in a civil action. According to lawyer Takeshita Yoshiki who is totally blind (the Kyoto Bar Association member), the Nagoya High Court gave the Deafblind defendant only the main sentence in braille at the trial to make him understand in 1984, but it was not a formal decision and is said to be expedient.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations adopted in 2006 states about the use of Braille, sign language, etc. in the 21th article. Moreover, simply the 13 article states that "the persons with disability is able to use all the legal proceedings effectively" (judicial right to access).

Although Japan has not ratified the convention, the movement which still accepts the disability right gradually has grown.


Japanese original article:
http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20120907k0000e040225000c.html

Ministry of Education changes the conventional policy for children with disabilities

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September 5, 2012

There is a policy that the children with disabilities attend a special support school in principle.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will revise it so that these children are allowed to attend ordinary elementary or/and junior high schools.

The ministry will appropriate for the budgetary request of the next fiscal budget to hire more teachers and staff to help the children in study and develop the barrier-free environment in schools.

According to the Ministry, about 85,000 children with disabilities were expected to be enrolled in special support schools in the last fiscal year (about 0.8% of the whole country).

Among these, about 65,000 children attended the special support schools, and the rest participated in the "special support class," exceptionally prepared in elementary and junior high schools, etc.


Japanese original article:
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120905-00000054-mai-soci

Hearing staff involved in sign language training in Myanmar

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September 7, 2012

Ogawa Mitsuko-san has undertaken the sign language instructor/interpreter training project in Myanmar since five years ago.

In Myanmar, Deaf people have a difficult time in social participation, because there is no person able to interpret the sign language, and mutual communication between the Deaf and hearing persons does not often work, either.

Then, Japan International Cooperation Agency started support and dispatched its staff Ogawa-san to Myanmar. She has been advancing activity so that the social participation of the Deaf persons can be carried out.

Ogawa-san said when she was in Myanmar at the beginning, the Deaf persons were unable to take communication with even their family.

Then, she made the singed conversation collection. "I began from the place which I collected the data of signs, analyzed them, photographed each sign, and traced it on a sheet one by one."

The number became 850 sheets of signs for the collection, which helped the Deaf and hearing people communicate better for the first time.

"I want the sign language instructors in Myanmar who are learning now to become a leader who goes to the place where support to Deaf persons is not prudent."

In Myanmar, the first sign language interpreter is going to be born next year.


Japanese original article:
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/chikyu-v/back122.html

Kyoto Prefecture School alumni association opens a print exhibition

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September 13, 2012

The work show of the "Kyoto 100 Views," which continued work by the print and printing technique which the high school students of the Kyoto Prefecture School for the Deaf located in Kyoto City once called a silk screen, is held in the National Sign Language Training Center in the city till September 30.

The school alumni association held the exhibition. The students of the old design course began the lesson of Kyoto's 100 views from 1982. They studied the basic to make a silk screen in the first year, and finished several works in 2 or 3 years.

The students reportedly went out for place selection, or visited repeatedly some place also during the long vacation.

The exhibition off campus was also opened in 1987 when the "50 Views" completed, and again in 1993 when the "100 Views" were finished. Then, the works were kept in the school.

The Association Director Hagiwara Makiko-san (63) was glad saying, "All the works are the recollections of our high school days, and the alumni members are happy to see the exhibition."


Japanese original article:
http://news.nifty.com/cs/domestic/societydetail/kyoto-20120913-P20120913000031/1.htm

National Deaf athletic meet held for the first time in Chiba Prefecture

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September 15, 2012

The opening ceremony of the National Deaf Athletic Meet" was held in Chiba Prefecture on September 14. Holding of the event within the prefecture was the first time.

At the opening ceremony, the dance and the Japanese drum by local high school students heaped up the hall.

The National Deaf Athletic Meet is a national conference which also serves to select the Japanese team for the Deaflympics from ten games of baseball, table tennis, volleyball, etc.

About 1500 athletes, and the convention persons concerned and rooters participated in the opening ceremony.


Japanese original article:
http://www.chibanippo.co.jp/c/news/local/101044

Children with disabilities aim at social participation through a sport

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The high school students shed sweat for tug of war.
(photo: http://mytown.asahi.com/)

September 15, 2012

The Akita Special Support School Athletic Meet ("The Challenged Sport Festival"), which aims at the social participation of the children with disabilities through the pleasure of a sport, was opened in the Akita municipal gymnasium, etc. in Akita Prefecture on September 14.

Over 1,000 children and students of 26 schools from the elementary through high school level participated in seven games such as a basketball, soccer, and tug of war, etc., shedding sweat.

Before the games started, the junior high school student from the Prefecture School for the Deaf declared, "We promise to fight fairly so that every of us may shine."


Japanese original article:
http://mytown.asahi.com/akita/news.php?k_id=05000001209150003

Convention for persons with disabilities held in Wakayama Prefecture

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September 17, 2012

The Wakayama Prefecture Federation of the Persons with Disabilities which aims at improvement in welfare for persons with disabilities was held the 55th Wakayama Welfare Convention for the Persons with Disabilities in Wakayama City on September 16.

About 500 persons concerned participated. Chairman Yoshida Kiyoshi-san (75) greeted at the opening ceremony, saying "Our organization will strive for a disabled person's independence and promotion of social participation aiming at a disability welfare system suitable for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

The meeting group of Deaf/hard of hearing persons, persons with visual impairment, and physically handicapped persons, respectively presented a speech. Also a request for the Prefecture and announcement were made.

Members of the sign language circle performed a signed play.


Japanese original article:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/120917/wky12091702040002-n1.htm

Special lesson on the Peruvian culture for Deaf children in Aichi Prefecture

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September 20, 2012

Nakasone Anna-san, the lecturer of the Peruvian national dance, had a special class in the Aichi Prefecture Toyohashi School for the Deaf on September 20. Ten elementary school children learned about ethnic costume, food, etc. of Peru.

Nakasone-san in the ethnic costume explained the gastronomic culture of Peru, traditional textiles, the meaning of the colors of the Peru national flag, etc., using the photographs and the images.

Moreover, there was also dance instruction. The children wore ethnic costume made from the traditional textiles in Peru, such as the best, a skirt, and a poncho, and had stepped on the step joyfully following Nakasone-san and rhythmical music together.


Japanese original article:
http://www.higashiaichi.co.jp/news/news_culture/120920/12092001.html

Disability art exhibition base established in Wakayama Prefecture

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The art works by the DeafBlind were exhibited in the shopping mall in Wakayama City.
(photo: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/)

 September 21, 2012

The "Art Support Center RAKU" which exhibits original art works of persons with disabilities opened in the shopping mall in front of JR Wakayama Station in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture.

The "Mutual Help in City Planning Association" located in the city which advances disability art is managing the center "RAKU."

Shima Kumiko-san, chairman of the association, said, "Although art has power which makes everybody's heart rich, there are few opportunities to get attention in the prefecture. We hope more laborious and good works to be displayed."

The first exhibition focused on about 50 textile works, such as stoles, tapestries, hats made by the members of the atelier "Heart to Hand." The atelier is managed by the Wakayama Prefecture DeafBlind Society.


Japanese original article:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/wakayama/news/20120920-OYT8T01320.htm

Work experience program for Deaf students in Osaka Prefecture

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NIshida Nao-san (right) learns how to hold a tray as a part of the work experience program at the wedding hall in Osaka.
(photo: http://www.jiji.com/)

September 24, 2012

The Junior High School In the Osaka Municipal School for the Deaf in Osaka Prefecture has provided a training program for its students by obtaining cooperation of a bookstore, a convenience store, etc. since about ten years ago.

Although sign language is used at the school, the students learn how to work or meet with people who do not know sign language through the work experience program.

Nishida Nao-san (13) had the training program in the cafe of the wedding hall "PAL Houensaka" near the school using the summer vacation in August. She who uses a hearing-aid can communicate by motion of the mouth and the voice which can be heard slightly.

"Although I was afraid whether I could take communication, as people around me talked slowly and in loud voice, I was able to do well happily," said Nishida-san, "Even if I am Deaf, I know I can do well."

President Nomura Eiji-san (50) of the PAL Houensaka said, "It will be a good stimulus for our employees who work with a Deaf person. We hope to be helpful in philanthropy."

Uehara Akane-sensei  (37), one of the teachers responsible for guidance counseling, said that they hope that the students have a positive image in working with hearing people through the program."

Although the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology does not require the work experience program in the special support schools, it started around in 2000 all over the country as part of integrated study, and it is reportedly carried out widely now.


Japanese original article:
http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2012092400025

Website Unredesign

Whew! Thank goodness for Google Analytics. It looks like prettyis not always better. After giving the new website redesign about a week it was obvious that the new layout and navigation design were confusing people - traffic dropped by 50%. All the CSS trickery and XHTML optimization were for naught so it's back to the old design with a few minor tweaks.

The new/old design makes more room for content by moving the navigation bar to the top of the page next to the logo. This should hopefully make it easier for people with smaller screens to be able to see everything without scrolling horizontally.

Unnecessary large images have also been removed to speed up page loading.

I can't say that this new/old design is beautiful, but it seems to work better than the version that I thought was beautiful - traffic went right back up to normal levels as soon as the new/old design was posted.

Hope you like the new/old design. Now I'm back to creating widgets...

Baby Sign Racer

Test your baby sign language knowledge with Baby Sign Racer, a free baby sign flash card game.

A baby sign word appears at the top of the game and you have to select the corresponding baby sign animation. Select the correct baby sign as quickly as you can and race against your best time.

Before playing the game you'll probably want to visit the Baby Sign Language Video Dictionary to learn a few baby signs.

Meet Andy - the new baby sign baby!

Andy is Babystrology's new baby sign language baby. Andy enjoys short walks between the couch and coffee table, afternoon naps, and enjoys playing with toilet paper rolls and colorful blocks. Andy's favorite foods are milk and bananas for eating and avocado for pure squishy fun. When not sleeping, Andy loves communicating with baby sign language. Maybe Andy can help you learn baby sign language too?

Each day over the next several weeks Andy will be showing off a new baby sign language sign based on American Sign Language (ASL).

Baby Sign Language - Milk

The baby sign for milk is a great one to start with because it is easy to perform and is often one of your baby's favorite foods.

Milk can be signed with one or two hands. Hold your hand(s) at chest level and use the S hand shape with your right hand, palm(s) facing inward. Open and close the S shape several times as if milking a cow.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Sleep

Bed time is the perfect opportunity to introduce the baby sign for sleep.

Sleep is signed with your right hand at head level. Use a relaxed 5 hand shape with your palm toward your face. Close your fingers into a flat O shape as if closing your eyes. You can try closing your eyes as your hand closes and add an appropriate facial expressions for greater effect.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Saddest days of my life!

 It comes with great sadness to come on here to tell you that the love of my life who has fought the hardest battle I've ever seen someone fight but has lost the battle.

6/7/63 -  8/2/12

My husband passed away on Wednesday from Melanoma Cancer that found its way into every part of his body!

I have spent the last nine months in a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from.  So many of you have sent us well wishes and it has been impossible to take time away from my family to keep you updated.

Please continue to keep my children in your prayers and I hope to be back soon telling you about the amazing progress that Lucas has made. 


I've included his funeral information for those friends that we've met that would like to pay their respects.

http://www.facebook.com/events/356667517744783/

Again, I can't tell you how much Chuck appreciated all of the prayers and well wishes for him.


May the Lord cradle you in his arms as I have for the last 15 years.  Rest in peace my love, rest in peace.  Thank you for our beautiful children and amazing life together!

Kyoto Prefecture School alumni association opens a print exhibition

September 13, 2012

The work show of the "Kyoto 100 Views," which continued work by the print and printing technique which the high school students of the Kyoto Prefecture School for the Deaf located in Kyoto City once called a silk screen, is held in the National Sign Language Training Center in the city till September 30.

The school alumni association held the exhibition. The students of the old design course began the lesson of Kyoto's 100 views from 1982. They studied the basic to make a silk screen in the first year, and finished several works in 2 or 3 years.

The students reportedly went out for place selection, or visited repeatedly some place also during the long vacation.

The exhibition off campus was also opened in 1987 when the "50 Views" completed, and again in 1993 when the "100 Views" were finished. Then, the works were kept in the school.

The Association Director Hagiwara Makiko-san (63) was glad saying, "All the works are the recollections of our high school days, and the alumni members are happy to see the exhibition."


Japanese original article:
http://news.nifty.com/cs/domestic/societydetail/kyoto-20120913-P20120913000031/1.htm