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CILCP will host
an Open House featuring a new free-of-charge
videophone.The videophone will enable people who
communicate through sign language to make and
receive phone calls. CILCP, the Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) are working in collaboration to provide this service. Sorenson Communications, a Utah-based provider of communication services for the deaf, is donating the videophone for CILCP's use. The videophone will enable people who communicate through sign language to make and receive phone calls with friends, business colleagues and family members who also communicate through sign language. The videophone also provides a qualified interpreter for individuals who communicate through sign language and need to contact a hearing individual. "For most individuals who are deaf, American Sign Language (ASL) is their first language," Sharon Behun, director of ODHH said, "and communications devices for the deaf that rely on written translations of a conversation forces an individual to use a second language, such as English, that they might not be as comfortable or familiar with." "This videophone will afford individuals whose first language is ASL to communicate in the way that is most familiar and clear to them," Behun added, "and we're proud to have helped inform the CILCP about this service that will benefit Central Pennsylvania's deaf community." Janetta Green, the director of operations with CILCP, says that her staff is excited to offer this state-of-the-art technology to the general public. "It has been a great team effort between ODHH, OVR, Sorenson Communications and CILCP," Green said. "ODHH and OVR were instrumental in helping us to identify this need and facilitating communication with Sorenson." In addition to the videophone demonstrations, there will be presentations on CILCP's services at 3:30 p.m., the Telecommunications Device Distribution program at 4:30 p.m., ODHH at 5:30 p.m., and a Social Security presentation at 6:30 p.m. Representatives from these organizations as well as OVR will be available until 7:00 p.m. Since the CILCP's inception, it has established more than a dozen programs, and the Independent Living philosophy remains the heart of its mission. This philosophy affirms that all persons with disabilities have the right to choose and fully participate in all aspects of society. The CILCP is wholeheartedly committed to this philosophy and diligently works toward a continuum of comprehensive services for people with disabilities in Central Pennsylvania. The Open House is being held at CILCP, which is located at 207 House Avenue, Suite 107 in Camp Hill. For more information regarding the Open House, please contact CILCP at 717-731-1900, Toll Free at 1-800-323-6060, or via email at office@cilcp.org. The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities and serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties. CILCP's vision is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. For more information on the CILCP visit www.cilcp.org or contact Nathan Pigott at 717-975-2148 or via email at npigott@hersheyphilbin.com. |
