Education
American Sign Language (ASL)
Q. When are ASL courses offered and how are they organized in Winnipeg?
A. There are two types of ASL courses offered: courses that follow the Signing Naturally Curriculum, and courses with their own curriculum (for example the ASL Immersions).
The regular year-round Winnipeg courses that offer the Signing Naturally Curriculum are held during the semesters of September - December; January - April; and April - June. Occasionally courses are offered during the summer.
Courses are 40 hours in length, and run during the evenings or on weekends (for example, 4 hours on a Saturday). Courses are run based on student demand and teacher availability. There are 2 places to take ASL year round:
Red River College
Phone: 204 694 1789 (Voice)
ASL Teaching Services
These courses are held at Deaf Centre Manitoba (DCM), but they are not run by DCM. There is no one in the ASL Teaching Services office during the day, but they do have an answering machine and will reply in the evenings.
Phone: 204 452 5358 Voice and TTY
Fax: 204 475 7657
Email: aslteach@mts.net
Website: aslteachingservices.ca
SMD ASL Immersions – These are one-week programs, held in the summer every year. They run Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. For parents and families attending the Immersion classes, there is a Fun & Sign Recreation program, run by the City of Winnipeg Department of Community Services and SMD, for children 5 to 12 years of age. For more information, contact Sandy Lysachok or Rita Bomak at the Winnipeg phone numbers or email addresses below.
Sandy Lysachok
Email: slysachok@smd.mb.ca
Rita Bomak
Email: rbomak@smd.mb.ca
Phone: 204 975 3080 (Voice)
204 975 3083 TTY
1 866 282 8041 (Voice Toll Free)
1 800 225 9108 TTY Toll Free
(Source: SMD)
Q. I don't live in Winnipeg. Are there ASL courses in other locations in Manitoba?
A. Special and regular ASL courses are set up throughout the province based on demand. A school or group may wish to sponsor a course, or they may request the assistance of SMD's offices throughout the province. SMD's Thompson, Dauphin and Brandon offices offer ASL Immersion programs similar to the Winnipeg program, but on a smaller scale. These courses may be 1 week long, or held over 2 weekends. They will also organize ASL courses that use the Signing Naturally Curriculum. For more information or assistance you may contact:
Brandon
Sandra Koch-Gensiorek
Email: skoch@smd.mb.ca
Phone: 204 726 6157 Voice and TTY
1 800 813 3325 Voice/TTY Toll Free
Dauphin
Diane Maydaniuk
Email: dmaydaniuk@smd.mb.ca
Phone: 204 622 2293 Voice and TTY
1 800 844 2307 Voice/TTY Toll Free
Thompson
Brenda Davidson
Email: bdavidson@smd.mb.ca
Phone: 204 778 4277 Voice and TTY
1 888 367 0268 Voice/TTY Toll Free
(Source: SMD)
Q. I would like to take an ASL course to help me communicate with my Deaf child / relative, but I can't afford to pay for the course. Is there any financial assistance available?
A. The provincial government offers a subsidy to help parents and other family members pay the registration fees for ASL courses. The subsidy is offered to families whose Deaf or hard of hearing children are 17 years of age and under.
For more information, contact SMD Services. Phone 975 3010 Voice or 975 3012 TTY, and ask for the Supervisor of Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. (Source: SMD)