WEBVTT

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Hello! This is DeafDots, 
12 December 2025. 

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Bringing alerts & news reports 
at intervals for all Deaf Canadians. 

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Don’t forget to subscribe, 
like, and follow 

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DeafDots to get 
new video updates! 

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[DAWN]: Hurricane Melissa struck the 
island of Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea 

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on October 28th. Jamaica is south of Cuba 
and west of Haiti and Dominican Republic. 

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The powerful storm was classified as 
Category 5 with winds around 295 km/h. 

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The Jamaica Deaf Community was 
severely impacted by the hurricane. 

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Andrea Zackary, who was born in Kingston, 
Jamaica and moved to Canada 

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in 1994 when she was 13 years old 
but still maintains ties. As owner 

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and founder of Def Events & Beyond, 
an event planning company 

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in Brampton, ON which bridges the gap 
between Deaf and hearing community, 

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she partnered with Andre Witter 
in Jamaica and Black Deaf Canada 

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last month to raise 
funds for the victims.

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On November 22nd, Def Events & Beyond 
(Deb) hosted a fundraising event 

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in collaboration with Black Deaf 
Canada and Deaf Leaders in Jamaica 

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including Andre Witter. Our goal was 
to support everyone in Jamaica. 

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We asked the Deaf Community here 
in Canada to donate different things - 

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food, diapers, baby clothes, 
men's clothes, canned food and 

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non-perishable food. We also 
established an Amazon Wish List where 

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members of the community not 
in Toronto can order and ship to my home. 

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We also set up drop off areas... 
we have Brampton, Milton and Hamilton. 

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We need some volunteers for Toronto 
and Durham. We want to thank 

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those of you who supported us 
and please continue to support us. 

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Our goal is to put together and 
ship to Jamaica before December 31 

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because Jamaica has discounted 
taxes, so if you can send us 

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any used or new, 
it doesn't matter... foods... 

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or a minimum of $20 to 
support Jamaica. Thank you!

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[DAWN]: Andrea says, 
“the community in Jamaica needs us... 

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it will be 6 months in some
 parts of the island before 

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they can get power back.” 
DeafDots asked Andre Witter 

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in Jamaica how big the 
Deaf Community is there?

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We have two ways to show this: 
a few weeks ago, a Senator 

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in the government announced in recognizing 
JSL that 54,000 Deaf people 

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reside in Jamaica. I must inform 
you that four years ago when COVID 

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impacted Jamaica, we collected 
data for support related to COVID... 

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masks, support parcels, etc... 
records showed almost 3,000. 

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But is this the complete 
data on Jamaica Deaf, no. 

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I could say approximately 7,000 however 
the government group says 54,000.

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[DAWN]: In what ways did Melissa 
impact Deaf people in Jamaica?

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How the hurricane affected the 
Jamaica Deaf community... lots of impact. 

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Deaf people lost their jobs, lost 
their homes and lost communication. 

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Not just that but it also affected 
their mental health and emotions. 

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Now that the hurricane has gone, 
our usual life, culture and habits 

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in the Deaf community has 
changed focus to their own lives, 

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future and what to do tomorrow. 
What should I do? Will I find a job? 

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Being short of food, short 
of water, health care, many issues. 

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Where before it was cultural 
values, now it has changed 

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to myself and what I should do.

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[DAWN]: Do you know of any 
accessibility or communication issues 

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in the Jamaica Deaf community 
because of Hurricane Melissa dealing 

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with public safety or 
government agencies, etc.?

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The Jamaica government has 
interpreters onboard for events that 

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are scheduled. That is the only 
time when interpreters are used. 

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Jamaica has two sign languages: 
JSL - Jamaica Sign Language 

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for the local community while 
a special language related to 

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Africa heritage which we call SAIN. 
No interpreters are provided 

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so this group is lost so urgent 
announcements or available support 

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opportunities are not available. 
How does the Deaf community keep 

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track of what's happening... they 
have to rely on family or technology. 

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Bear in mind technology is 
still limited as internet access is 

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not widespread with weak 
signals. Running out of batteries. 

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Life is hard without being able to 
communicate and be accessible.

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I saw your "Support Relief Drive" 
post on Facebook for donation 

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of food packages, fundraising, 
essentials and volunteers. 

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Could you tell me more about this? 

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Who are the 3 organizations 
that are collaborating on this?

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We worked with three groups together 
as one. The groups are Ready to Sign, 

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an organization devoted to 
teaching and training in sign language 

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to help the hearing community 
become sign interpreters or 

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develop basic communication 
with the Deaf Community. 

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Secondly DSJ which is government 
funded and responsible 

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in federal sports area training 
the Deaf Community prepare 

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for competition locally and 
internationally. The third group is JDYA - 

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a training youth group to prepare 
for work, leadership or advocacy. 

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These three groups are collaborating. 
We are raising funds to 

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focus on Deaf communities who
 live individually, independently 

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or with families. We focus 
on them, we don't focus on schools, 

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churches or organizations. 
We focus on Deaf people at homes 

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who live independently who 
cannot search for help. We work together 

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to help support their needs 
and search and communicate to 

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get help to give to these people.

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[DAWN]: Nancy Economou, founder 
of Watts of Love, a nonprofit 

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organization in the U.S. posted 
on Facebook that they are providing 

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solar-powered lights to 
disadvantaged communities in Jamaica. 

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In the post she 
mentioned that they are 

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“targeting 500 deaf 
families in particular.”

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Plain Language Standard. This is the first standard intended to 

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help organizations establish communication clear and smooth.

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How to identify the audience, their needs 

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and their language preferences 

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and preferred format to get information in and how 

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to overcome communication barriers.

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[DAWN]: On October 13, Accessibility 
Standards Canada (ASC) announced 

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the CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 Plain 
Language standard. It is the first standard 

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from the National Standard of Canada 
focused on plain language. 

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Does the Plain language standard 
meet the needs of Deaf people 

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whose primary language is sign language?

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DWCC welcomes the new 
"CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 Plain Language Standard." 

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This is a positive step for accessibility 
in Canada. Plain Language 

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helps information become clear, 
simple, and easy to understand. 

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Many Deaf people benefit from 
straightforward English or French, 

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especially when written language 
is a second or third language. 

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But importantly, Plain Language 
alone is not enough. Deaf Canadians 

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need both: Plain Language and 
ASL, LSQ, ISLs access. What that means... 

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sign language videos, interpreters, 
and visual-first communication. 

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What is our reaction? Good progress, 
yes. But for true equality, 

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Plain Language must work together 
with sign language access.

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CDGM is happy to see this new standard. 
It is a positive step because 

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it says communication must be 
clear and understandable. 

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But plain written English or 
French alone does not meet 

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full access needs for Deaf, 
DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, 

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and Deaf Indigenous people. 
We still need ASL, LSQ, 

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Indigenous Sign Languages, and 
tactile access to be required, 

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not optional. So, it is a good beginning — 
but more work is needed.

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The Standards itself is interesting. 
It is very broad, no details. 

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Who it is intended for... everyone. 
Including Deaf and hard of hearing. 

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What it includes... communication 
in 5 areas: written text, posters, 

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audio messages, visual messages, 
and sign language. These are covered 

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under plain language. What is Plain 
language? If a person looks 

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at written paper, can they find the 
information? Can they understand 

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the information? Can they 
use the information? If all is Yes, 

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it passes as plain language. The standard 
doesn't mention reading level. 

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Plain language doesn't have to 
be the same for each group of people. 

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For example, CRA taxes usually 
have two separate documents - 

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one for general people... me, 
you to read, the other document 

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for accountants or those actually 
filling out the tax forms for you. 

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The first document is more 
simple language to explain, short, 

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sweet and simple. The other 
one is more complex with advanced 

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vocabulary i.e. "If the amount 
on line 121 is 0, put 1,000 

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on line 155..." for example, 
lot more detailed. Both documents 

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are considered both in plain 
language for separate groups.

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[DAWN]: How would the 
standard benefit Deaf people?

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The standard says organizations 
must think about their audience 

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and remove barriers. It says 
communication must be tested 

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with real people, including 
persons with disabilities. 

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It also recognizes ASL, LSQ, and 
Indigenous Sign Languages 

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as valid languages for communication. 
This acknowledgment 

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is important, and it creates 
an opportunity to push 

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for equal access 
in sign language formats.

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The Standard requires writing to 
be clear, direct, and easy to follow. 

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Less jargon. Shorter sentences. 
Better structure and layout... 

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line by line, read down. It encourages 
good headings, visual support, 

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and information organized logically. 
This helps Deaf people understand 

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government notices, telecom 
contracts, health instructions, 

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emergency messages, and 
forms. It reduces confusion and 

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supports safer, independent 
decision-making.

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Again, the standard is 
not detailed. It is very general. 

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This standard talks 
about the process, how information 

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should be put together and 
should be shown for feedback and 

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revised before it is used. 
An example is the use of headers 

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to organize the information. 
Topic 1, 2, 3... may be unclear. 

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Instead, Who Can Apply, When 
You Can Apply, How To Apply... 

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more plain than 1, 2, 3. Just an example. 
The standard is 171 pages long.

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[DAWN]: They all share concern 
about the Plain Language standard 

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not addressing the needs of Deaf 
people whose primary language 

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is sign language. The purpose 
of the standard is to be clear 

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to people, right? But is the standard 
related to written language? 

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DeafDots asked Accessible 
Standards Canada.

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For the members of the Deaf community, 
the Accessibility Standards Canada 

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(ASC) Plain Language standard 
helps by requiring organizations to 

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create communications for their 
intended audience. This includes 

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using signed languages when 
that is the most effective way to 

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inform the intended audience. 
ASL and LSQ have their own grammar 

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and structure. Short sentences, 
common words, and a clear structure 

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of information helps ASL or LSQ 
or Deaf interpreters identify 

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the key ideas. It also helps automated 
tools, such as caption systems 

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and speech-to-text tools produce 
more accurate results. 

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Plain language supports 
equitable access to information. 

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It gives people more accessible 
options, including ASL, LSQ, captions, 

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and other tools that meet 
different communication needs. 

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This reduces communication barriers 
in workplaces, healthcare, education, 

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and government services, which is
 a core accessibility principle. 

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Are all businesses and agencies required 
to use this plain language standard?

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The standard itself is voluntary 
meaning government departments, 

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companies or organizations can 
look at the standard and approve 

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to use all or selected points and 
disregard the rest. They could also 

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even decide not to follow the standard 
at all. There is no hand wringing 

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or requirement that they must use 
the whole standard, it's voluntary.

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[DAWN]: Researchers studied how 
children who lack early language input 

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experience delays in cognition, literacy, 
social skills, and mental health. 

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Is this an area that ASC 
took into consideration 

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when working on the 
plain language standard?

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ASC considers a different range 
of research and evidence when developing 

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its standards, including factors that 
can affect how people understand 

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and use information. The Plain 
Language Standard is designed to 

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support clear communication 
for everyone, including 

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people who may experience barriers 
related to language and literacy. 

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The goal is to help people access 
information, make informed decisions, 

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and participate fully 
in their communities.

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PetSmart, a pet store chain 
in Canada provides interpreters 

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for its dog training classes. 

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I asked Robyn Mackie, DeafDots 
reporter, to find out more about it.

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[ROBYN]: PetSmart Inc., a privately 
owned American chain of pet superstores 

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that sells pet products, services, and 
small pets with over 1,650 stores 

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in the United States and Canada 
was founded in 1986 by Jim and 

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Janice Dougherty. They offer a wide 
range of services including grooming, 

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dog daycare, boarding, 
veterinary care, and dog training. 

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The company also focuses 
on pet adoption through its 

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in-store adoption centers, supported 
by the non-profit PetSmart Charities. 

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DeafDots interviewed 
two Deaf clients who recently 

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participated 
in dog training classes.

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I researched different dog 
training classes and costs and 

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chose PetSmart because they were 
cheaper and conveniently located. 

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I didn't know they would 
provide ASL interpreters.

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All my life I have loved dogs! 
Done a lot over 35 years! 

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Why I went to PetSmart, I did 
research which was a good fit 

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for my dog who is young 
and eager to learn. I decided to 

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come into a store to meet
 the trainer which I loved. 

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But how could we communicate 
in sign with other hearing people 

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showing up every week for the 
6 weeks course? The trainer asked 

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headquarters and after a wait, 
got approval which was awesome 

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so I went once a week which was 
awesome! I felt equal access, awesome! 

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Both Ruby and I enjoyed it and 
the trainer also learned too! 

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[ROBYN]: How did you request an 
ASL interpreter from PetSmart?

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I didn't ask for an interpreter, in determining 
how we would communicate, 

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she said she would contact the company. 
It's awesome what they did!

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I hadn't requested an ASL interpreter 
due to common unwillingness 

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to pay the ASL interpreter, 
I had assumed until the dog trainer 

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contacted me and asked 
if I'd like an ASL interpreter. 

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I said "Yes please!" Then they 
booked and arranged it. 

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Their manager was already aware to 
provide accommodations access, great!

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[ROBYN]: DeafDots contacted 
PetSmart if they have a policy 

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on how PetSmart handles encounters 
with its customers with a disability? 

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How many classes 
does PetSmart offer 

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more than one choice 
of dog training classes?

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There are 6 classes. They offer puppy 
classes 10 weeks old to 5 months, 

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beginning 5 months old and up, 
intermediate and advanced classes. 

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I paid all three as a training package.

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[ROBYN]: Which class 
did your dog participate in, 

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did you join the class 
yourself with your dog, 

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or do they train your dog 
independently away from you?

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It was a basic class to learn basic 
techniques before moving to 

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advanced classes. 
You cannot go up right away, 

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step by step just 
like baby steps.

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My puppy joined the puppy 
class 10 weeks to 5 months old. 

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The dog trainer taught me what to 
do and follow the training of my puppy. 

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I also did training at home 
everyday continually.

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The two of us, my trainer didn't do, no... 
taught me and I trained with my dog. 

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Showed me how and I did accordingly, 
it was awesome. Ruby loved it, 

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she became so excited every time, 
tail wagging going there!

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[ROBYN]: Did you benefit from having an ASL 
interpreter during dog training classes?

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Yes, it was a huge benefit for me! 
Oh yes! Learning to improve, 

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getting to understand... some I overlooked 
even though I know a lot 

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over 35 years I missed this and that. 
Tried to get by and researching 

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but picking up from others it 
was unbelievable; I enjoyed it, 

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we both did! We will go back again. 
I prefer to go during wintertime. 

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In spring and summer, 
she loves to go outside

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The ASL interpreter helped me 
in communication with the dog trainer 

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so I can train my puppy, 
communication is essential to interacting.

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[ROBYN]: PetSmart not only 
sees their corporate responsibility 

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to accommodate needs of its 
customers but it is also a smart 

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business decision: which dog training 
class would a Deaf person choose?

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Exactly, I would go with a dog training 
class that has an ASL interpreter. 

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A world of difference!

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[DAWN]: Toronto Association of the Deaf 
(TAD) has hosted the Grand Ball 

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every several years since TAD 
was launched in 1937. In a video produced 

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for TAD's 85th anniversary 
in 2022, narrator Erika Stebbing 

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explains how this tradition started. 

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[DAWN]: Last month, TAD hosted a Grand Ball 
to celebrate its 88th anniversary. 

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We contacted TAD before the Grand Ball 
to ask why TAD decided to host 

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the Grand Ball again after several years?

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The Grand Ball has been held 
for many years, it's TAD's tradition. 

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This year many TAD members have 
requested the Grand Ball be held again. 

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The last Grand Ball was 
before COVID and not since. 

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This time the Board discussed and 
decided to host the Grand Ball again.

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[DAWN]: What is the
 purpose of the Grand Ball, 

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is it a fundraising event 
or is it a social event?

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The Grand Ball has two purposes: 
fundraising and social activity. 

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Why social activity? TAD members 
want to reconnect our Deaf community, 

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empower, reenergize and share 
this TAD tradition. Funds raised would 

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support our new programs, provide 
workshops and we also want to 

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develop new website content to 
provide our Deaf community in Toronto.

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[DAWN]: How many people 
are you expecting to attend the event 

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and what activities 
are part of the program?

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We expect the Grand Ball 
to have over 100 people. 

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During the Grand Ball we provide 
meals and, also a Silent and 

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Loud Auction, prize drawings and 
showing of TAD history video and so on.

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[DAWN]: How many 
members does TAD have, 

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what kind of activities and 
membership benefits?

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TAD currently has more than 75 members. 
Membership benefits include 

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voting privileges at Annual General 
Meetings and being able to voice. 

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Also discounts on events or 
purchases, also get a newsletter 

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with information first and 
participate in different events like 

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workshops and attend entertainment 
activities and other benefits.

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[DAWN]: Thanks Daniel. 
Thank you for watching DeafDots. 

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Please send your news suggestions through 
our website www.DeafDots.ca 

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or email to news@deafdots.ca. 

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Don’t forget to subscribe, 
like, and follow 

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