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Imagination Stage’s Deaf Access Program Stages Exhibit on Deafness with Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2008
CONTACT: Laurie Levy-Page (301) 280-1650
WHO: Imagination Stage’s Deaf Access Program in residence at Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School
WHAT: Interactive exhibit and brief visual theatre piece led by a third grade class of deaf and hearing students
WHEN: June 4 at 9:30 AM
WHERE: All-purpose room at Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School, 14516 Nadine Drive, Rockville, MD
WHY: The culminating activity of a 10-week Literacy & Learning Residency
Bethesda, MD, May 23, 2008—Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School third grade students, some of whom are hearing and some of whom are deaf, will serve as “docents” for the exhibit Language for the Eye and share it with their school community and parents on Wednesday, June 4 at 9:30 AM. Language for the Eye is an exhibit about deafness and deaf culture created by Imagination Stage and the National Children’s Museum. Each student will be assigned to teach about a particular piece of the exhibit that they have previously encountered during the10-week Literacy & Learning Residency. In addition, the students will perform a brief visual theatre piece. This is the culminating activity of the school’s residency with Imagination Stage’s nationally-acclaimed Deaf Access Program.
The residency was designed to work in conjunction with both the MCPS curriculum framework and Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum. The program specifically addressed content standards in Reading, Language, Listening, Foreign Language (American Sign Language), Theatre, and Health Education. The central text used was the children’s book The Garden Wall by award-winning author/illustrator Phyllis Tildes. Students have experienced the story through a variety of learning styles and gained an awareness of the cultural elements and rich diversity within the deaf community. Classroom visits were supplemented by the students’ participation in the interactive exhibit Language for the Eye, which examines different aspects of being deaf/hard of hearing, communication strategies, technology, and a showcase of famous deaf people throughout history.
The residency has been co-facilitated by two teachers from Imagination Stage—one Deaf (Warren “Wawa” Snipe) and one Hearing (Deaf Access Program Director Lisa Agogliati). This unique “co-cultural” teaching team allows the residency to be facilitated bilingually (in English and American Sign Language), and provides strong, positive deaf and hearing adult role-models for the students.
Imagination Stage is currently in affiliation with VSA arts to increase the availability of arts opportunities to students with and without disabilities in inclusive classrooms in Maryland. The Literacy and Learning residency at Barnsley Elementary School was made possible in part through funding provided by the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education.
Members of the Media: for additional information and interviews, or to see a classroom visit or final presentation, please contact Laurie Levy-Page at 301-280-1650.
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