WEBVTT

00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:17.120
[Anselmo]: Hello! This is DeafDots,
24 September 2021.

00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:22.664
Bringing alerts & news reports at
intervals for all Deaf Canadians!

00:00:38.435 --> 00:00:45.230
[Anselmo]: Linda Wall has become
the first Deaf superintendent of a

00:00:45.230 --> 00:00:49.198
school of the Deaf
anywhere in Canada!

00:00:49.198 --> 00:00:51.638
Last month, August 13th,

00:00:51.638 --> 00:00:57.949
the Ontario Ministry of Education
announced the appointment of two people

00:00:57.978 --> 00:01:01.712
to the Ontario Provincial
and Demonstration Schools Branch

00:01:01.712 --> 00:01:17.974
(PDSB)'s senior management team:
Linda Wall and Michael Skrzypek.

00:01:17.974 --> 00:01:21.228
Let’s meet Linda Wall!

00:01:21.732 --> 00:01:27.909
Hello,
I'm Linda Wall (namesign),

00:01:27.909 --> 00:01:37.981
I am the new superintendent of
PDSB starting August 16, 2021.

00:01:37.981 --> 00:01:47.384
I grew up in Toronto and went to
high school at Northern Secondary

00:01:47.384 --> 00:01:52.508
School (NSS) in
their Deaf program.

00:01:52.508 --> 00:01:55.145
After graduating,

00:01:55.145 --> 00:02:03.871
I went to Gallaudet University
and graduated with a B.A. degree

00:02:03.917 --> 00:02:08.689
then OISE - University
of Toronto graduating

00:02:08.736 --> 00:02:13.283
with a M.A. in Languages and Literacies.

00:02:13.283 --> 00:02:20.432
I wanted to become principal or
superintendent so I had to take

00:02:20.432 --> 00:02:25.357
principal and supervisory
officer courses.

00:02:25.357 --> 00:02:32.391
I started teaching at Metro
Toronto School for the Deaf (MTSD)

00:02:32.391 --> 00:02:34.553
for four years.

00:02:34.553 --> 00:02:40.141
Then I went to E.C. Drury
School in Milton for 15 years.

00:02:40.141 --> 00:02:45.338
I was involved in the ASL
Curriculum team for many years,

00:02:45.338 --> 00:02:48.819
and I was an
Educational Coordinator.

00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:55.124
Then I had the opportunity to
be vice-principal at Robarts so I

00:02:55.124 --> 00:02:58.937
moved to London
and became principal.

00:02:58.937 --> 00:03:06.334
Now I am thrilled to be superintendent
of all PDSB provincial schools.

00:03:07.088 --> 00:03:09.088
[Anselmo]: What is your vision?

00:03:09.589 --> 00:03:15.627
Our goals are to ensure
that Ontario and the rest of the

00:03:15.627 --> 00:03:22.851
country see our three schools for
the Deaf as centres of Excellence.

00:03:22.851 --> 00:03:29.638
The provincial schools for the
Deaf follow the Ontario curriculum

00:03:29.638 --> 00:03:35.365
and the Deaf community
values these three Deaf schools.

00:03:35.365 --> 00:03:36.747
This year,

00:03:36.747 --> 00:03:41.876
PDSB will focus on ASL as a
language of foundation for very

00:03:41.876 --> 00:03:45.376
young Deaf children
and its importance,

00:03:45.376 --> 00:03:53.438
and also ASL–English biliteracy
for older students who are already

00:03:53.438 --> 00:03:59.639
using ASL skills in all
three schools for the Deaf.

00:04:00.141 --> 00:04:04.594
[Anselmo]: You were appointed
along with one other person.

00:04:04.594 --> 00:04:06.645
What is your job title?

00:04:06.898 --> 00:04:12.187
My title is Superintendent
of Education,

00:04:12.187 --> 00:04:18.659
Provincial Schools and
Operations (human resources).

00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:24.303
We also have a
new superintendent,

00:04:24.303 --> 00:04:32.019
Michael Skrzypek as
Superintendent of Education,

00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:38.176
Demonstration
Schools and Curriculum.

00:04:38.176 --> 00:04:44.158
Although both positions focus
on specific areas of PDSB,

00:04:44.158 --> 00:04:48.689
we work as a team
to support all Schools.

00:04:48.689 --> 00:04:53.819
My area of focus are the
provincial schools for the Deaf,

00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:57.446
and the ASL Curriculum;
and Operations.

00:04:57.949 --> 00:05:01.495
[Anselmo]: Thanks, Linda.

00:05:01.495 --> 00:05:07.634
On this DeafDots program we also
have a “Deaf Employment in Canada”

00:05:07.634 --> 00:05:12.082
report which mentioned there were
few Deaf people

00:05:12.116 --> 00:05:16.215
in highly visible
leadership positions.

00:05:16.215 --> 00:05:20.929
The Canadian Deaf Community
congratulates Linda Wall

00:05:20.968 --> 00:05:25.974
and looks forward
to following her career!

00:05:38.735 --> 00:05:46.576
[Anselmo]: Do Deaf Canadians have
the same employment opportunities

00:05:46.576 --> 00:05:49.249
as Deaf Americans?

00:05:49.249 --> 00:05:55.502
Do Canadian laws
protect our rights?

00:05:55.502 --> 00:06:03.546
DeafDots compared figures and
found results interesting:

00:06:03.612 --> 00:06:14.745
There are 382,000 Deaf
Americans who use sign language,

00:06:14.745 --> 00:06:18.276
53.3% have jobs.

00:06:18.276 --> 00:06:20.335
In Canada,

00:06:20.335 --> 00:06:30.491
there are 38,000 Deaf Canadians who
use sign language and 60% have jobs.

00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:34.253
Does this mean more
Deaf Canadians have jobs

00:06:34.253 --> 00:06:36.792
than Deaf Americans?

00:06:54.065 --> 00:06:59.989
[Anselmo]: How can Deaf person
get off disability income support

00:06:59.989 --> 00:07:03.321
from their province
and find a job?

00:07:03.824 --> 00:07:11.157
Employment here in Canada you
should check with your local province.

00:07:11.195 --> 00:07:17.296
Each provincial government has
separate employment services.

00:07:17.334 --> 00:07:21.052
My advice is general for
everyone no matter where

00:07:21.090 --> 00:07:25.621
- three things you can't ignore
when looking for a job:

00:07:25.655 --> 00:07:33.469
requires English literacy (English,
math and so forth) you cannot go without.

00:07:33.363 --> 00:07:37.411
This leads to the next thing
that can't be separated:

00:07:37.445 --> 00:07:40.075
digital knowledge.

00:07:40.109 --> 00:07:43.992
Today with technology
and when a problem arises,

00:07:43.992 --> 00:07:48.924
you do need English to
understand and solve the problem.

00:07:48.924 --> 00:07:53.743
English, digital knowledge,
and thirdly,

00:07:53.743 --> 00:07:59.302
knowing Canadian hearing culture
and work culture because these

00:07:59.302 --> 00:08:03.131
hearing people are
hiring the Deaf person.

00:08:03.131 --> 00:08:07.321
We need to play the
game in dealing with

00:08:07.321 --> 00:08:09.577
them so they accept you.

00:08:09.577 --> 00:08:14.143
So, you cannot ignore
these three things.

00:08:14.645 --> 00:08:22.232
I retired from a Deaf and hard of
hearing agency serving across Canada.

00:08:22.270 --> 00:08:26.154
I'd like to discuss
Deaf employment services.

00:08:26.154 --> 00:08:29.740
There are many offerings,

00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:35.452
for example job search meaning
finding jobs

00:08:35.503 --> 00:08:41.420
using technology and
personal contacts.

00:08:41.420 --> 00:08:48.413
Then is job match where you match
your skills with employer's needs

00:08:48.413 --> 00:08:50.930
to ensure good fit,

00:08:50.930 --> 00:08:55.946
then job interviews where you
prepare for questions that may be

00:08:55.946 --> 00:08:59.652
asked and be able to answer and
stand confident

00:08:59.683 --> 00:09:02.944
with the employer
during interviews.

00:09:02.944 --> 00:09:09.057
Some may ask how to work
with a deaf worker on the job.

00:09:09.057 --> 00:09:14.131
You need to be ready to answer
their questions

00:09:14.173 --> 00:09:18.454
and show that you
can do your job.

00:09:18.454 --> 00:09:25.528
Employment services offer varied
supports so you need to figure out

00:09:25.528 --> 00:09:30.218
how to work with them
in looking for a job.

00:09:30.218 --> 00:09:36.660
Employment services are available
across Canada but it depends on

00:09:36.660 --> 00:09:43.405
your province and municipality so
you need to research how you match

00:09:43.405 --> 00:09:48.236
your needs with resources
available in your area.

00:09:48.739 --> 00:09:58.905
[Anselmo]: Research shows there
are over 20,000 Deaf professionals

00:09:58.905 --> 00:10:06.256
in the USA and 700 Deaf
professionals in Canada.

00:10:06.256 --> 00:10:14.939
What about Deaf CEO of private
businesses or Deaf executive

00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:21.021
directors of agencies
and organizations?

00:10:21.021 --> 00:10:29.438
There are over 100 Deaf CEOs
or executive directors in the USA

00:10:29.438 --> 00:10:38.545
while we count less than 10 Deaf
CEO/executive directors in Canada.

00:10:38.545 --> 00:10:40.787
Is this true?

00:10:41.292 --> 00:10:46.185
Hello,
my name is Frank O’Sullivan,

00:10:46.185 --> 00:10:50.533
executive director of Society of
Deaf and

00:10:50.574 --> 00:10:55.304
Hard of Hearing Nova
Scotians (SDHHNS).

00:10:55.304 --> 00:11:03.436
I’ve been executive director since
1999 which is like a total of 22 years.

00:11:03.473 --> 00:11:08.344
My understanding is that I
am the only executive director or

00:11:08.344 --> 00:11:10.567
CEO across Canada.

00:11:10.567 --> 00:11:16.122
The number of Deaf executive
directors and CEOs is not big

00:11:16.122 --> 00:11:19.370
regardless of
nonprofit agencies,

00:11:19.370 --> 00:11:23.025
private businesses
and in government,

00:11:23.025 --> 00:11:25.583
the number is not large.

00:11:25.583 --> 00:11:29.088
Looking back to the past,
we had more Deaf CEOs

00:11:29.088 --> 00:11:32.343
and executive directors
compared to today.

00:11:32.343 --> 00:11:34.095
I do not know the reason.

00:11:34.095 --> 00:11:37.533
We need to investigate
why and how to improve,

00:11:37.533 --> 00:11:41.858
make changes so that in the
future rather than one person,

00:11:41.858 --> 00:11:43.850
there would be several.

00:11:51.859 --> 00:11:57.078
Different projects in different
provinces you should check out but

00:11:57.078 --> 00:12:00.867
I can tell you about
Ontario... in my work,

00:12:00.867 --> 00:12:06.103
Abilities to Work has "Enabling
Trades" which encourages people

00:12:06.103 --> 00:12:10.832
with disabilities to do
apprenticeships for people needed

00:12:10.832 --> 00:12:17.103
to do these jobs in the future when
people retire and new people are needed.

00:12:17.135 --> 00:12:19.880
Again
as I mentioned earlier,

00:12:19.880 --> 00:12:22.279
English is a requirement.

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:24.944
Digital knowledge is a must.

00:12:24.944 --> 00:12:27.896
Knowledge of culture is a must.

00:12:27.896 --> 00:12:35.483
Another option is "Employability
Health Care Support Services".

00:12:35.483 --> 00:12:40.836
Support services in
healthcare include PSW,

00:12:40.836 --> 00:12:46.827
day care aides,
hospital porters and runners,

00:12:46.827 --> 00:12:50.907
many different
support positions.

00:12:50.907 --> 00:12:55.267
We have goals to recruit 300
people over the next 3 years.

00:12:55.267 --> 00:12:59.092
I also notice restaurants
are screaming for people,

00:12:59.092 --> 00:13:03.682
people who were waiting to
get back to work after restaurants

00:13:03.682 --> 00:13:07.979
were closed have found other
jobs and now that restaurants have

00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:10.939
reopened,
they are short and need workers.

00:13:15.195 --> 00:13:20.428
[Anselmo]: Various statistics
indicate there are more real

00:13:20.428 --> 00:13:25.568
employment and professional
job opportunities in the U.S.

00:13:25.568 --> 00:13:30.709
while Deaf Canadians are
more likely to be underemployed.

00:13:30.709 --> 00:13:41.058
Many US states still have
vocational rehabilitation services

00:13:41.058 --> 00:13:49.478
to support Deaf clients
and help pay for college.

00:13:49.478 --> 00:13:55.233
In Canada after 1998,

00:13:55.233 --> 00:14:01.019
the federal government transferred
funding and entered into

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:07.404
agreements with each province to
provide programs and services to

00:14:07.404 --> 00:14:14.968
help working age adults with
disabilities get into the labour market.

00:14:15.005 --> 00:14:25.264
Instead of giving full grants for those
going to colleges, and universities,

00:14:25.264 --> 00:14:33.553
they now only provide student
loans and less grants from both

00:14:33.553 --> 00:14:42.532
federal and provincial governments
for skill development programs.

00:14:42.532 --> 00:14:49.192
Deaf Canadians wanting to
enroll at Gallaudet University in

00:14:49.192 --> 00:14:53.260
Washington DC or
NTID in Rochester,

00:14:53.260 --> 00:15:00.149
NY have to find the money to
pay for their education as their

00:15:00.149 --> 00:15:05.053
provinces are not
willing to support them.

00:15:05.053 --> 00:15:11.233
Both federal and provincial
governments need to do more to

00:15:11.233 --> 00:15:15.524
help Deaf people
find good paying jobs.

00:15:34.082 --> 00:15:39.423
[Anselmo]: Last July DeafDots
reported on services to Deaf

00:15:39.423 --> 00:15:41.882
people in Vancouver, BC.

00:15:41.882 --> 00:15:44.342
How about western Canada?

00:15:44.342 --> 00:15:49.031
I asked Nicole Musey,
our reporter,

00:15:49.031 --> 00:15:51.099
to do a report.

00:15:51.099 --> 00:15:54.603
What did you find out, Nicole?

00:15:55.105 --> 00:16:00.154
[Nicole]: It was interesting
finding out more about services to

00:16:00.154 --> 00:16:02.360
Deaf community in Alberta.

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:06.988
Although organizations merged
and names changed over the years,

00:16:06.988 --> 00:16:11.616
would you believe services have
been provided to Deaf people in

00:16:11.616 --> 00:16:13.871
Alberta for over sixty years!

00:16:13.871 --> 00:16:20.127
I asked Cindy Pilz to tell
us about their services.

00:16:20.631 --> 00:16:23.798
I represent Deaf
& Hear Alberta,

00:16:23.798 --> 00:16:26.372
we have been serving Deaf,

00:16:26.372 --> 00:16:29.638
and Hard of hearing
over 60 years.

00:16:29.638 --> 00:16:35.072
We used to be called
South Deaf Alberta Centre.

00:16:35.072 --> 00:16:40.831
We provide equipment,
mentoring program,

00:16:40.831 --> 00:16:44.399
interpreting and ASL program.

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:49.418
The COVID pandemic has impacted
our organization as we have lost

00:16:49.418 --> 00:16:51.410
40% of our revenues,

00:16:51.410 --> 00:16:56.184
but we continue to provide
services by adapting to technology

00:16:56.184 --> 00:17:02.350
like video calls, emails,
and texts for our services and programs.

00:17:02.350 --> 00:17:07.282
We just launched VRI On Demand
- video remote interpreting - on

00:17:07.282 --> 00:17:10.680
throughout Alberta
for rapid interpreting.

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.566
VRI is available Mondays through
Saturdays during the daytime.

00:17:14.566 --> 00:17:16.691
For longer
interpreting bookings,

00:17:16.691 --> 00:17:19.685
it’s best to book in
advance through our office.

00:17:19.685 --> 00:17:21.690
We provide zoom
and other options.

00:17:21.690 --> 00:17:25.311
We also partnered with Calgary
Emergency Management Agency

00:17:25.311 --> 00:17:29.249
Training and provided training
to help arrange interpreters for

00:17:29.249 --> 00:17:31.696
media across the
province and Calgary.

00:17:32.451 --> 00:17:37.101
[Nicole]: There are 40,000
Deaf people in Alberta.

00:17:37.101 --> 00:17:41.638
Deaf Hear Alberta changed its name
over the years

00:17:41.673 --> 00:17:45.712
after merging with
other local groups.

00:17:45.712 --> 00:17:53.020
Cindy Pilz tells DeafDots the name
changes in the past were due to

00:17:53.020 --> 00:17:58.978
funding changes related to
“community” and “services”.

00:17:58.978 --> 00:18:04.363
Deaf & Hear Alberta now serves
across Alberta not just Calgary.

00:18:04.363 --> 00:18:09.488
They now have staff of 13
people and get not only government

00:18:09.488 --> 00:18:17.228
funding but also financial
support from corporations,

00:18:17.228 --> 00:18:21.972
foundations, Rotary Clubs,

00:18:21.972 --> 00:18:26.005
Lion Clubs and United Way.

00:18:26.005 --> 00:18:31.753
Deaf & Hear Alberta’s head office
is in Calgary and they have a

00:18:31.753 --> 00:18:34.264
branch office in Edmonton.

00:18:50.029 --> 00:18:55.292
[Nicole]: They are trying to meet
the needs of many Deaf people

00:18:55.292 --> 00:18:59.537
across Alberta through
their VRI On Demand service.

00:19:00.040 --> 00:19:04.131
[Anselmo]: It is good to see
they are keeping current with

00:19:04.131 --> 00:19:08.221
technology through video
calls and providing VRI services.

00:19:08.221 --> 00:19:11.062
Thanks Nicole for
bringing this report!

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:33.070
[Anselmo]: Last July,

00:19:33.070 --> 00:19:38.449
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S.

00:19:38.449 --> 00:19:43.487
updated their guidance that
included information on how more

00:19:43.487 --> 00:19:46.334
infectious the Delta variant is.

00:19:46.334 --> 00:19:52.842
The Delta variant was
first detected in India,

00:19:52.842 --> 00:20:00.599
and is as much as 60% more
transmissible than Covid-19.

00:20:04.350 --> 00:20:09.193
[Anselmo]: The current
vaccinations for Covid-19 is about

00:20:09.193 --> 00:20:13.863
87% effective in preventing
us from being hospitalized.

00:20:13.863 --> 00:20:20.502
Delta has higher
risk of hospitalization.

00:20:20.502 --> 00:20:26.535
Delta has spread to over 130 countries

00:20:26.595 --> 00:20:34.382
according
to the World Health Organization (WHO).

00:20:34.382 --> 00:20:36.632
What should we do?

00:20:56.653 --> 00:21:04.972
[Anselmo]: The vaccine
pharmaceuticals manufacturers

00:21:04.972 --> 00:21:14.923
including Pfizer-BioNTech and
Moderna are developing boosters.

00:21:14.923 --> 00:21:21.470
Pfizer said their research shows
that the third dose produced at

00:21:21.470 --> 00:21:27.185
least five times more
antibodies to fight against Delta.

00:21:27.185 --> 00:21:35.117
Israel became the first
country to give the booster shot.

00:21:35.117 --> 00:21:44.465
A survey of 1.1 million people who
received the booster shot showed

00:21:44.465 --> 00:21:50.071
that 12 days after
getting the booster,

00:21:50.071 --> 00:22:00.915
the risk of getting infected or a
severe disease dropped by ten times.

00:22:00.968 --> 00:22:09.158
Israelis are required
to wait five months after their

00:22:09.158 --> 00:22:17.485
second dose before
they can get the booster.

00:22:17.485 --> 00:22:19.191
In Canada,

00:22:19.191 --> 00:22:26.290
the booster is being offered for
select populations in Ontario and

00:22:26.290 --> 00:22:31.594
Quebec for people who are severely
immunocompromised

00:22:31.635 --> 00:22:36.256
or elderly in
high-risk environments.

00:22:36.256 --> 00:22:41.259
It is under consideration in BC.

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:49.268
It will be awhile before the
booster is offered to all Canadians.

00:22:49.268 --> 00:22:53.931
Thank you for
watching this report.

00:22:53.931 --> 00:22:59.279
DeafDots welcomes
your news suggestions,

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:09.469
please visit www.DeafDots.ca
or email to news@deafdots.ca