Articles by JILLIAN WINN

Great Sign Language Music Video Performance of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off

Great Sign Language Music Video Performance of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off

By Jillian Winn
Monday, May 11, 2015

Check out this great sign language music video performance of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off. The video was a collaboration between the Digital Media, Audio and Cinema Program and the Sign Language Interpreter Program at Lansing Community College (LCC). The production was student driven and took around four class periods to complete. The performer, Sam, just finished LCC’s Sign Language Interpreter Program this week and plans to take her state certification test soon to become a certified interpreter in Michigan. Sam originally performed ...
Iconic Signs Featured as the Sign of the Day

Iconic Signs Featured as the Sign of the Day

By Jillian Winn
Friday, March 20, 2015

Next week, from March 22 through March 29, our Sign of the Days will feature iconic signs. Iconic signs convey the meaning of what is being signed. Look for the signs for HELLO, DRINK, EAT, AIRPLANE, CAR, BICYCLE, TYPE, and BALL. You can see more iconic signs by visiting the Iconic Signs wordlist from the soon to be released book Activities in American Sign Language published by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Press. The book by Brenda Cartwright and Sue Bahleda groups signs ...
Voice Contestant Signs the Team She Wants to Be on

Voice Contestant Signs the Team She Wants to Be on

By Jillian Winn
Tuesday, February 24, 2015

When it was time for The Voice contestant Treeva Gibson to choose which coach’s team she wanted to be on, she responded, "I’m going to sign this, so my parents can see who I pick." Her parents were anxiously waiting backstage with an interpreter and her mom burst into a huge smile when the interpreter told her Treeva said she was going to sign. Her mom switched her focus from the interpreter to the monitor and watched Treeva sign (and voice), ...
New movie to watch for: NO ORDINARY HERO: THE SUPERDEAFY MOVIE

New movie to watch for: NO ORDINARY HERO: THE SUPERDEAFY MOVIE

By Jillian Winn
Friday, September 26, 2014

NO ORDINARY HERO: THE SUPERDEAFY MOVIE is a family drama about a deaf actor who plays a superhero on a TV show who must look beyond the cape to inspire a deaf boy to believe in himself. Based on the internationally known SuperDeafy character, NO ORDINARY HERO, featuring Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin, is the evolution story in this fictitious family drama. John Maucere stars as Tony Kane who plays a superhero on TV, but in real life he’s just another ...
Movies to Check out During Deaf Awareness Week

Movies to Check out During Deaf Awareness Week

By Jillian Winn
Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Not sure what you can do to participate in Deaf Awareness Week?  Try to find events in your local area, but if you’re having trouble finding a local Deaf Awareness Week event, a great thing to do is to learn something new about Deaf culture - read some articles, learn a few new signs, or watch a movie about a deaf story. There are a number of movies that feature deaf stories. Some of the most well known movies that feature deaf ...
5 Articles for Deaf Awareness Week

5 Articles for Deaf Awareness Week

By Jillian Winn
Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Here are some helpful Signing Savvy articles to check out for Deaf Awareness week: The mysterious confusion between deafness and blindness Incidental Information You Don't Get when You're Deaf Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing The Use of an Assistance Dog for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clearing up the confusion between Translators, Interpreters, and ...
Deaf Awareness Week is September 22-26, 2014

Deaf Awareness Week is September 22-26, 2014

By Jillian Winn
Sunday, September 21, 2014

Deaf Awareness Week this year is September 22-26, 2014. Deaf Awareness Week, also called International Week of the Deaf (IWD), is celebrated annually and ends with International Day of the Deaf. Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated by national and regional associations of the deaf, local communities, and individuals worldwide. The purpose of Deaf Awareness Week is to increase public awareness of deaf issues, people, and culture.  Activities and events throughout Deaf Awareness Week encourage individuals to come together as a community ...
Living Loud: K.T. Maviglia - Miss Michigan and Miss America Contestant

Living Loud: K.T. Maviglia - Miss Michigan and Miss America Contestant

By Jillian Winn
Friday, September 19, 2014

K.T. Maviglia was a Miss Michigan and Miss America 2015 Contestant. Read the article to learn more about the life and accomplishments of this amazing hard of hearing woman.
Remind students to “Ask the Teacher for Help” with our two minute WonderGrove animated Lesson

Remind students to “Ask the Teacher for Help” with our two minute WonderGrove animated Lesson

By Jillian Winn
Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Help students get back into the swing of the school year by showing them our 12 special "Back to School" instructional WonderGrove animations featuring sign language. The "Ask the Teacher for Help" animation is great to encourage students to ask for help when they are confused. Watch the “Ask the Teacher for Help” instructional animation: Accompanying the animation, there are extention lessons for Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade, all which have been crafted by educators and align to the common ...
Start the School Year off Right with

Start the School Year off Right with "Back to School" Animated Lessons!

By Jillian Winn
Sunday, August 24, 2014

Getting back into the routine of a new school year can be a challenge, but we’ve created 12 special “Back to School” instructional animations featuring sign language to help students make a smooth transition into the new school year. Crafted by educators, the “Back to School” lessons are designed for Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade and include common core extension lessons, active learning tools, and practice exercises to provide a comprehensive tool to teach 12 vital school behaviors ...