April is National Deaf History Month, and the Edison Public Library is celebrating the contributions, milestones, and accomplishments of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community with some special events and programs.
On Thursday, April 2, the Main Library will serve as the host site for this year’s Deaf Culture Celebration. Join us from 6:00 to 7:30pm for a showcase featuring the work of Deaf artists, authors, musicians, and other creatives, including the month-long display by DeafBlind artist Jon Gabry. Attendees can also peruse the physical and digital collections of books and movies from Deaf creatives and learn about ASL Deafined, a platform that enables Edison cardholders to learn American Sign Language for free.
Gabry, a New Jersey native born with Usher syndrome who communicates by reading Braille and using Tactile American Sign Language, will return to the Main Library on Tuesday, April 7 for a special two-hour showcase of tactile, mixed media art. During the 6:00pm program, Gabry will create a piece of art live and teach attendees how to make their own drawings by touch.
Additionally, to celebrate the Deaf community, a special family-friendly Sign Language Storytime and Craft will also be held. Taking place on Tuesday, April 14 at 11:00am at the Main Library and held in collaboration with the Trenton-based Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf, the event will include a story about Deaf culture presented in both spoken English and American Sign Language followed by a fun craft.
In support of its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and serving the needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, the Edison Public Library offers cardholders access to ASL Deafined. Through this online platform, American Sign Language (ASL) learning tools, including a variety of video lessons and interactive content, are available. ASL Deafined features lesson plans tailored to meet specific needs and patrons can access materials at any time and learn at their own pace.
