May 10th, 2012 
Georgia Association of the Deaf will host the inaugural Deaf Children’s Literacy Gala on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the J.W. Marriott Atlanta Buckhead to raise money and awareness.
The event is meant to bring exposure to the fact that there are approximately 1,500 deaf children in the Georgia school system. Region 3 representative on the Board of the National Association of the Deaf, Chris Patterson, suggests, “because of technology, some deaf children can hear, but speech training, lip reading, etc. needs to be learned at a younger age.” The National Association of the Deaf is the nation’s leading civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. They focus on impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more dedicated to improving the lives of millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans.
GAD is an advocate for American Sign Language to be the first language a deaf child learns and then English and other essential languages for easier comprehension and development. The organization recognizes that when a deaf child learns English before ASL is it difficult and some teachers aren’t as qualified to teach them because they are not as skilled in American Sign. The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf advocates for ASL as the natural language for deaf youth and assists with academic as well as social opportunities.
Although this is the first year for the GAD gala, the association is very excited about hosting one every two years. The keynote speaker is Howard Rosenblum, a civil rights attorney and the CEO of the National Association of the Deaf. The guest speaker for the night is Atlanta’s own Nene Leakes Star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Celebrity Apprentice and Glee. There will be a large auction with paintings made by deaf children; a Safari vacation package will be auctioned off as well. All of the proceeds will go to funding for school projects, ASL, and literacy projects at the AASD & Georgia School for the Deaf.
WHEN: Saturday, May 26, 2012. Doors open at 6 p.m. Program from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
WHERE:
J.W. Marriott Atlanta Buckhead
3300 Lenox Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30326
Ph. 404-262-3344
TICKETS: Tickets are $125 for admission and 3-course meal; $50 for admission alone. Please click here to purchase tickets. Ticket sales will end on May 22nd.
