Date: October 1, 2008
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC American Sign Language Game Night October 9

Westville – The Purdue University North Central American Sign Language (ASL) Club will host a Game Night on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall Room 02 for ASL students, the deaf community and the public.

The event will feature Nina Coyer, a deaf ASL interpreter and professor at Eastern Kentucky University , and

Roger Coyer, who is a retired teacher at the Kentucky School for the Deaf. ASL and English interpreting will be provided.

Activities begin with a Children's Hour and games from 6 to 7 p.m. featuring fun for children age 4 and older. Deaf and hearing are welcome to enjoy the event. Youngsters and parents are welcome to attend and leave early on this school night.

From 7 to 8:30 p.m. there will be the featured presentations and ASL story telling. Guests may come and go during the evening as desired.

Nina Coyer will discuss the time she spent working with deaf adults and children in the nation of Kyrgystan, a former Soviet Union state. She will detail her experience in learning Russian Sign Language. She will also address her background in instructing teachers at the School for the Deaf, how to deal with the issues of various cultures, educational backgrounds, poverty and the rising expectations for deaf students. Information about Croyer's trip can be found at www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=15097&format=html

Roger Croyer will share his story of growing up deaf and oral – he did not use sign language and how he learned ASL as a deaf adult and the culture shock that came as a result.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Karen Donah, continuing lecturer and coordinator of American Sign Language, at kdonah@pnc.edu. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Donah.

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