A new initiative enables users to find deaf organizations and schools in 149 countries around the world. Launched by the Gallaudet University Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS) in October 2009, the World Deaf Information Resource Project provides contact information for hundreds of international-, national-, and local-level organizations and schools globally. The website also links to on-line reports about the human rights conditions and living situation of deaf people around the world and other information resources for deaf individuals and organizations.

“Deaf people always benefit when deaf organizations, schools, and individuals are able to exchange ideas and information,” says Mason. “But before organizations can communicate with each other, they need a way to find each other. The new World Deaf Information Resource Project lets them do that. It is our hope this can become a powerful information resource for the global deaf community.”

In addition to browsing the website, users also may download most of the same information in an electronic file in either Word or PDF format. The file provides users an easy way to produce a hard copy for contacts who might not have Internet access. The new website can be accessed at

http://cips.gallaudet.edu/wdi.xml

CIPS intends to continue expanding the website and file over time. People are invited to submit information about deaf organizations or schools not already included in the project to World.Deaf.

Info@gallaudet.edu

CIPS is a unit within the Gallaudet University College of Professional Studies and Outreach (CPSO) and is the university’s one stop office for all things international. Gallaudet University is the only liberal arts university for deaf students in the world. Dr. Asiah Mason, director of CIPS, credits the website as being the brain-child of Dr. Amy Wilson, Director of Gallaudet University’s International Development program, and Dr. Jay Innes, the Dean of CPSO. Andrea Shettle began the work of gathering information for the website during an internship for the MA degree program in International
Development at Gallaudet.

The Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS), a unit of CPSO, has announced the China Study Abroad program, which takes place June 11-30, 2009.

This exciting program offers opportunities for graduate course credit, school curriculum development, and international school partnerships for deaf and hard of hearing participants.

The China Study Abroad program allows participants to discover Chinese history and culture, to enjoy the exciting nightlife of Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, to see old and new architecture, to meet cool deaf people, and to experience deaf education in China.

For more information, please contact CIPS at cips@gallaudet.edu.  To view the news story and download the flier, brochure, and more, click here.

The flag of India

Dr. Asiah Mason, the Director of CPSO’s Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS), is excited about the upcoming India Study Tour that CIPS will be taking from December 31, 2008 until January 10, 2009. Here, Dr. Mason discusses what to expect on the tour of this vast and diverse country:

What a great and exciting opportunity! Gallaudet University Center for International Programs and Services is thrilled about this upcoming tour of India. It is going to be a rewarding experience as we tour and study the historical cities in India. India present itself in a dizzying, creative burst of cultures and religions. It is impossible not to be astonished by India with its beautiful landscapes, national parks and mountain ranges.

During the tour, we plan to visit the following cities; Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi (New Delhi), Jaipur, Agra and Khajuraho.

Mumbai

The city is the bubblegum glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls full of designer labels, cricket on the Oval Maidan, promenading families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses queuing in grinding traffic jams and the infamous cages of the red-light district.

To read the rest of this story, click here.

Dr. Asiah Mason, Director of CPSO's International Programs and Services (CIPS)

On October 3, 2008, the Center for International Programs and Services hosted a luncheon meeting

for the Gallaudet International Work Group.  This a group for Gallaudet’s faculty and staff members who are interested and are involved in doing international work.

They met to share each others’ work and interests and also to discuss and provide feedback on the new proposed guidelines and procedures for Gallaudet’s international work.  This monthly event also allows faculty and staff members to highlight the work their students are doing overseas.

A special guest at the event was Dr. Jordi Serat, a Visiting Researcher at Gallaudet.  He is a professor at the University of Vic, Barcelona.

To view photos of the event, click here.

Thanks to CPSO staffer Peck Choo-Kim for taking the photos.

On September 25, tribal chiefs from Plateau, Nigeria visited with CPSO staffers to learn more about Gallaudet University and its resources for educating deaf and hard of hearing people.

One of the Nigerian tribal chiefs (left) discusses deaf education. (Photo by Peck Choo-Kim)

His Royal Highness Nglong Ngas of Pankshin, His Royal Highness Long Gomai of Shendam, and His Royal Highness Mishkaham Mwaghavul of Mangu, and CPSO staffers discussed deaf education topics during a luncheon and formal discussion.

To see photos of the event, click here.

Special thanks to CPSO staffer Peck Choo-Kim for taking the photos.