Let me introduce myself...

Mon Mar 23 16:30:03 UTC 2009

Dear Val,
It is wonderful to hear from you again. I am so excited about your program and your board.

Yes. We sign in ASL here although Nigerian's are a little more "English" in their signing so they use more signs but we understand each other without any problem. That was really a concern of mine before I came here because when I met my first deaf person here I didn't know if we would understand one another but we did. 

I believe that NTSC will work. Most of the equipment here allows us to play U.S. DVDs and if it will work on my laptop or a computer then it is perfect because that is what I will be using most of the time for things like that in training.

I'm going to email you a copy of a little newsletter that I put out to give you a better idea about what is happening here.

I really appreciate all that you are doing and I know that God is going to bless you for your help.

Take care,
Sharon

________________________________
From: Valerie Sutton <sutton at signwriting.org>
To: SignWriting List <sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 9:39:40 AM
Subject: Re: [sw-l] Let me introduce myself...

SignWriting List
March 20, 2009

Hello Sharon!
I join Maria, to welcome you to the SignWriting List!

Thank you for posting your message and describing your wonderful work with Deaf people in Nigeria. Maria asks a good question...Do you use ASL with your Deaf friends in Nigeria? The materials I can donate to your group are written in American Sign Language (ASL). And can you view dvds or videos? in PAL or NTSC format?

I would like to ask a favor...If I send you a box of books and materials, can you share the materials with the local schools for the Deaf, which you mention in your message? We would like to reach Deaf Education as much as possible...

And for your information right now while you are waiting for your materials....if you can access the web...you can learn SignWriting on the web, use our software SignPuddle on the web, and also read and download Bible passages written in ASL...

Lessons in SignWriting
http://www.signwriting.org/lessons/

SignPuddle Dictionary for Nigeria
Write Signs from Nigeria
(ready for you to add new signs)
http://www.signbank.org/SignPuddle1.5/index.php?ui=1&sgn=32

Download Documents
http://www.signwriting.org/library/

Thanks for sharing with us and please write back here on the List about the dvd formats in Nigeria...and the schools for the Deaf there...

Val ;-)

On Mar 20, 2009, at 8:03 AM, MARIA AZZOPARDI wrote:

> Hi Sharon,
> 
> Welcome on the list! I'm Maria, and I work with the Deaf in Malta - we use
> Maltese Sign Language here (it's quite similar to BSL and AUSLAN). One of
> the tasks at present is translating into LSM sections of the Bible, using
> signwriting.
> Do you use ASL with the Deaf there or have you picked up their sign
> language? If so, what sign language is it?
> 
> God bless you and your work,
> 
> Maria
> 
>> Hello all.
>> 
>> I am really new to Sign Writing but it looks like a wonderful concept!
>> 
>> My name is Sharon Valentino and I am an American Missionary who has been
>> ni Nigeria since May 2007. I love this country so much and don't have any
>> immediate plans to go back to the U.S. to live right now. There is just
>> too much to do here.
>> 
>> I have been in Deaf Ministry for more than 15 years and since I have
>> arrived in Nigeria I've been connecting with a lot of Deaf people,
>> including children. I visit and work with two Deaf residential schools
>> here, The Imo State Secondary School for the Deaf in Orodo and the primary
>> school in Orlu. There are not many interpreters for these children at
>> religous services so I am so happy to be able to help in that way. These
>> schools are so overcrowded and there is a very big lack of resources
>> available to the kids. The seconday school should house under 200 but
>> there are 500 full time students there and they are sleeping two in a
>> small bed. Most of their families are very poor so there is even a lack of
>> materials that our children in the States take for granted.
>> 
>> Great news is that we now have at least 11 deaf adults attending our
>> church and I am trying to start some classes to help train interpreters
>> for them. Bad news is that the is a very big lack of materials here to
>> teach with so if anyone has any books or videos they can donate for
>> training, they will be well used and much appreciated.
>> 
>> I contacted Val recently to let her know about the situation with the Deaf
>> children here. I think they would really benefit from this SignWriting
>> program and she is kind enough to have agreed to donate some books for the
>> children.
>> 
>> If anyone would like further information and the great things that are
>> happening here in Nigeria, I do a newsletter about my work with the deaf
>> and I would be happy to put you on my mailing list.
>> 
>> You can contact me by email at svalentino at yahoo.com or my mailing address
>> is:
>> 
>> Sharon Valentino
>> c/o WAAST
>> 11 Waast Ave., Ikenegbu Layout
>> Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
>> 
>> I hope to hear back from some of you with suggestions on how to proceed
>> with helping the children learn to Sign Write.
>> 
>> Thank you for your time and be blessed.
>> Sharon
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ____________________________________________
>> 
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>> 
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>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ____________________________________________
> 
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> Post Message
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