User:Hurstm19/Ontario Deaf Community

Introduction to Ontario Deaf Community
The Deaf community in Ontario, Canada, is thriving with various organizations, schools for the Deaf, avenues for higher academia, and a rich history. Deaf individuals in Ontario are proud of their community and the incredible opportunities it provides the next generation of Deaf students. In this article, information is provided about the Deaf community in the city of Ontario and dives deeper into the establishments that are in association with the Deaf community.

These establishments include: Ontario Association of the Deaf, Canadian Hearing Services, Silent Voice Canada, Ontario Deaf Sports Association (ODSA), three schools for the Deaf, fun facts on the Deaf population in Ontario, and colleges/universities who offer degrees in Deaf Education and Interpreting Training Programs.

Brief Introduction to Ontario
Ontario is a province in the central part of Canada. It borders several U.S. states, such as Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Ontario has a population of 14.57 million, making it the most populous province in Canada. Its capital city is Toronto, the most populated city in Canada. Canada’s national capital, Ottawa, is located in Ontario and on the border of Ontario and Quebec. Ontario has over half of the best farmland in Canada, with most of the land being located in the southern part of the province, as per Britannica, making it one of the largest agricultural regions across the country. The White Trillium is Ontario’s national flower, representing the True Love of Canada (Doppler). Ontario leads multiple categories, including the most seats in the House of Commons, the best land mass, the most populous province, and the chief manufacturing province. Britannica.

Organizations
Deaf Organizations in Ontario have been through a lot in history, including dwindling numbers, political issues, pyramid schemes, interior issues, money disappearing, and so many more. Those listed organizations remain vital to this day. Here is a quick summary of each organization:

Ontario Association of the Deaf


 * OAD has been serving Deaf Ontarioians since 1886, one of the longest reigns in history. “OAD has placed particular focus on educating and advocating for the interests of all Deaf Ontarians. “OAD provides resources, support, and advocacy to the Deaf Community of Ontario and individuals and organizations seeking information and assistance.
 * OAD was initially founded as a social club for Deaf Ontarioians to gather. However, it has transformed into a political and advocacy organization, providing initiatives such as Access Advocacy, Mayfest (an annual community festival), and Consultation and Training.

Ontario Deaf Sports Association, Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf, and the Deaf Outreach Program are all under the umbrella of OAD, operating as one entity. Canadian Hearing Services Silent Voice Canada
 * CHS was founded in 1940 to further the cause of deaf and hard-of-hearing people and elevate those populations as productive members of Ontario’s society.
 * CHS delivers professional services and products to Deaf Ontarioians and Canadians, such as hearing aids, speech therapy, counseling, programs to help new Canadians who have just moved, American Sign Language classes, and more.
 * Silent Voice was founded in the early 1970s to transform the community and help the disadvantaged, especially in Ontario.
 * Silent Voice became a not-for-profit in 1975, providing programs and services for all Deaf Ontarians.
 * Silent Voice provides ASL Classes, newcomer programs, referrals, and many more.

Athletics
Ontario Deaf Sports Association (ODSA) is Ontario's athletics organization. It partners with the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA) and provides a barrier-free environment for recreational and competitive sports across Ontario. ODSA is involved with event planning, such as the Canadian Deaf Games, and it will send representatives to the games.

Schools for the Deaf
Ontario has three main schools for the Deaf, so residents can send Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to obtain quality education. The three schools include Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf, Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf, and Robarts School for the Deaf. These schools have a unique history, and students receive a well-rounded education in each. Here is a quick summary of each school:  Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf  Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf Robarts School for the Deaf
 * Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf is a residential school that provides opportunities to acquire and develop language, literacy, numeracy, and inquiry skills in both ASL and English. Through diverse, multiculturally enriched learning environments, ECD empowers its students to thrive in their academic journey. ECD uses a bilingual-biliteracy curriculum and residence program to promote strong family and community partnerships, appreciation of various cultures, and equity and diversity for all students.
 * The principles the school emphasizes are as follows:
 * develop biliteracy, numeracy, and inquiry skills in ASL and English;
 * develop an understanding of ASL and English culture within a diverse, multicultural society; and
 * develop a cultural identity that supports well-being and active engagement within the ASL, English, and global communities.
 * Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf encourages and empowers students in their bilingual learning environment. Teachers and administrators are committed to providing students a fun, safe, and caring academic experience. The values of Sir James Whitney are to respect every individual’s needs and learning styles, respect one another, foster open communication, use technology responsibly, be professional in how we stimulate student experiences, and develop positive relationships with the broader community and colleagues in various network programs
 * The vision of Sir James Whitney is as follows:
 * Sir James Whitney will be known for its focus on learning and citizenship.
 * Sir James Whitney will be known for graduating students prepared for post-secondary education and the world of work.
 * Sir James Whitney will be known for its leadership in the Deaf and broader communities.
 * The Robarts School for the Deaf uses a bilingual education model where literacy is developed in two languages and gives bilingual students linguistic and cognitive advantages. This bilingual education is in ASL and English. This model promotes academic success, positive self-image, successful interactions with others, appreciation of ASL and multicultural identities and heritage, and a strong language foundation for students to use for further language development. Parents are also involved in the literacy education of their students as well.
 * Here are the instructional strategies used in the bilingual approach:
 * Meta-cognitive linguistic analysis: studying, comparing, and contrasting two languages
 * ASL PM benchmark
 * Manipulative visual language
 * Cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Cities in Ontario with a high Deaf population
According to The Canadian Association of the Deaf, they estimate there are approximately 357,000 culturally Deaf Canadians and 3.21 million hard-of-hearing Canadians. For the current year, 2024, this number could have changed since the data was published in 2016.

The Percentage of people in Ontario who are Deaf
The percentage of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Ontario has increased as the population grows. As of 2021, the approximations show an estimate of 382,700 Deaf and 3,827,000 Hard of Hearing people in Canada (CAD., Malkowski, 2021). After understanding these figures, there are approximately 144,990 Deaf and 1,449,000 Hard of Hearing people living in Ontario, Canada (Malkowski, 2021). These numbers are derived from people who do not use the traditional telephone by speaking verbally and receiving information through listening. Instead, they use other modes of technology like video chat or video relay services. For Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language and la langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) the numbers are smaller. There are about 38,270 people in the entirety of Canada who use sign language, and of that figure, 14,490 of them live in Ontario (Malkowski, 2021).


 * Malkowski, G. (2021). 2021 Canadian Population: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Statistics (Statistics Canada). [Document]. Statistics Canada.

Deaf Programs/ASL Interpreting Education Programs in Ontario
In Ontario, Canada, a few programs offer further education in Deaf education, Deaf studies, and American Sign Language Interpretation. It is important to note that these programs prepare students in different fields but are connected, but not identical. Here is a summary of the different fields:


 * Deaf education is a field in which teachers are trained specifically to teach students with different hearing levels. These students can attend residential schools for the Deaf (Students attend school and live on campus), day schools for the Deaf (Students attend school Monday through Friday and return home each day when the school day is complete), or mainstream schools (Students attend school with hearing peers).
 * Deaf studies is a field where students gain insight and perspective into the Deaf world. Oftentimes, Deaf studies are included in interpreting programs and Deaf education programs to provide professionals with a well-rounded knowledge of the Deaf world subjects. Common areas of focus include etiquette when communicating with Deaf individuals, Deaf history, and American Sign Language courses.
 * American Sign Language Interpreting programs train individuals in interpreting American Sign Language into spoken English or spoken English into American Sign Language. This process is complex and requires significant time to learn ASL and the various steps involved in faithfully delivering each message. Often, this training process requires hands-on experience, mentorships, internships, and hours of dedication to study.
 * The following resources provide more information regarding various programs.


 * George Brown College
 * Ontario College Certificate program: American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
 * Full-time (1 year -  2 semesters)
 * Honours Bachelor of Interpretation (ASL - English)
 * Full-time (4 years - 8 semesters + 420 hours internship experience = to 14 week term
 * Ontario College Certificate program: DeafBlind & Intervenor Studies.
 * Full-time (1 year - 2 semesters
 * York University
 * Post-Baccalaureate Diploma: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Teacher Education Program
 * Full-time & part-time