DeafTown
Join us for the first DeafTown experience in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 16 – 18, 2019.
On October 16 – 18, 2019 the Utah School for the Deaf is partnering with Gallaudet University Regional Center – West to host the first DeafTown experience in Utah for middle school and high school deaf and hard of hearing students! Previously Washington State CDHL has hosted a similar event that has been met with great success. (View here)
DeafTown will combine in-class learning with a two-day summer camp that includes a visit to the Junior Achievement City in Salt Lake City. This city is a fully-interactive simulated learning facility. Through personalized lessons, hands-on activities and active participation in running the city, students learn to connect the dots between what they are learning in school and what they will need to know in their life beyond graduation.
During this camp, students will be taught directly in American Sign Language on important employment tasks, including self-advocacy, self-care and interviewing skills. The goal is that more than 90% of the instructors are Deaf. All others will be fluent users of American Sign Language. During the second day of the camp, students work as employees in various businesses facilitated by Deaf volunteers and business professionals. Students are “paid” for their labor and they manage personal and business checking accounts. Throughout the day students also learn first-hand about time and money management as they work, bank and shop as consumers. This DeafTown experience will help the deaf and hard of hearing students develop competitive skills and confidence.
To reserve your spot, please complete the DeafTown Initial Interest Form and submit it to Sheri Ramirez at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind at sherir@usdb.org no later than September 30, 2019.
English DeafTown District Interest Form
English DeafTown Single Sign-Up Interest Form
Spanish DeafTown Single Sign-Up Interest Form
English print version of Parent Permission Form
Spanish Print version of Parent Permission Form
Interested in volunteering to help at DeafTown?
If you are an adult who signs ASL fluently, we need you! You don’t have to have a specialty in any certain area including banking, shopping, etc in order to volunteer. Just basic budgeting, money management and supervision skills. If you have friends, invite them too!
The only two things that volunteers need to attend are:
October 16th 6:30-7:30 PM – Attend the Volunteer meeting to learn what your responsibilities will be on the 18th at DEAFTOWN: 444 W 100 S 4th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (Junior Achievement Center at the Gateway).
October 18th 9-3 PM – Help prepare students for the real world by showing them how to manage money in a career based setting, apply for jobs to make their communities more robust, and apply entrepreneurial thinking in the workplace.
If you are a Deaf adult and would like to volunteer for DeafTown, fill out this Google form to register.
For questions contact Michelle Tanner, Superintendent of the Deaf at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, at michellet@usdb.org.
Learn more about Junior Achievement BizTown
Sponsored by:
