Who We Are
The Saint John Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Inc. (SJDHHS) is a non-profit fee for services organization partially funded by the United Way of Greater Saint John and local fundraising events.
The SJDHHS was formed in 1979 in response to a growing recognition of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The agency's goal is to enable deaf, hard of hearing and deafened people to live independent productive lives, with full access to the services and opportunities available to the hearing populations.
In order to accomplish this, our new vision is to foster self-sufficiency through transitional and early intervention services bridging the gap between the hearing and hard of hearing/deaf world.
SJDHHS provides a wide range of services to the Southwestern New Brunswick (Grand Falls to Sussex) deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened communities. Our programs and services are extensive. Our office and staff is always open to new and innovative ways to provide services.
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For more information check out the following links
AVLIC 2012 Website
AVLIC 2012 Blog
AVLIC 2012 on Facebook
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And the Spotlight is on...
Chrissy Montgomery
Chrissy is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia and graduate from the NSCC AEIP program in 2003 as a Deaf Interpreter. She currently lives in the Fredericton area and works in the community as a community support worker. She is an active member of both the provincial (AVLI-NB) and national (AVLIC) professional associations. She also teaches in our VISTA Signing Naturally Program out of Fredericton, as well as provides language development services in our early intervention program
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Deaf Culture vs. Medicalization
The Issue
What is Deaf Culture? What is "the medicalization of deafness"?
CAD's Position
Deaf Culture is a healthy sociological community of Deaf people. "The medicalization of deafness" is the treatment of deafness as a defect that must be fixed at any cost. The two approaches cannot be compatible.
A culture is generally considered distinct when it has its own unique language, values, behavioural norms, arts, educational institutions, political and social structures, organizations, and "peripherals" (such as ethnic clothing, rituals, or special/unusual possessions).
To read the entire article from the Canadian Assocition of the Deaf click here.
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